The Great American Songbook

The Great American Songbook

Something different this week. We’ll be reflecting on the Spring Issue of a magazine that cuts through the heart of what we love doing here on both Blue Moon Americana as well as Deeper Roots. There are a handful of publications that make the cut but No Depression magazine is truly special and the Spring 2021 issue is something to revel in. The writing, the artists, and the arc of ‘The Great American Songbook’, from Stephen Foster to Louis Armstrong is given thoughtful and insightful treatment. Our show this week puts a soundtrack with a century of America’s music explored: Dock Boggs’ Pretty Polly, George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, The Blue Sky Boys’ cover of Knoxville Girl, and some incredible Latin vocals from one Omara Portuondo. The magazine is worth the read and the music is worth a listen. Tune in on a Saturday among the Sonoma County skies for the best of community radio.

No.
1Artist Title Album Buy
2Paul Robeson Joe Hill Songs of Free Men Amazon
3George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue Nipper's Greatest Hits: The 20's Amazon
4Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Summertime Porgy & Bess Amazon
5Chick Webb & His Orchestra A-Tisket, A-Tasket Ken Burns Jazz [Disc 2] Amazon
6Loudon Wainwright III You Rascal You (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) I'd Rather Lead a Band Amazon
7Dinah Washington They Didn't Believe Me (from "The Swingin' Miss D") Dinah Washington: Eight Classic Albums Amazon
8Billie Holiday Autumn in New York Ken Burns Jazz Amazon
9Omara Portuondo El Hombre Que Se Fue (The Man That Got Away) Black Magic (Magia Negra) Amazon
10Desi Arnaz Holiday In Havana The Best of Desi Arnaz: The Mambo King Amazon
11Perez Prado Cuban Mambo Rumba Gone Mambo Amazon
12Xavier Cugat Papa Loves Mambo Lounge Music Goes Latin Amazon
13Stephen Foster Beautiful Dreamer The Songs of Stephen Foster Amazon
14John Prine My Old Kentucky Home, Goodnight Beautiful Dreamer: the Songs of Stephen Foster Amazon
15Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick Oh! Susanna Sing The Songs Of Vern & Ray Amazon
16Mavis Staples Hard Times Come Again No More Beautiful Dreamer: the Songs of Stephen Foster Amazon
17Dock Boggs Pretty Polly 78s Amazon
18Dirk Powell I Ain't Playing Pretty Polly When I Wait For You Amazon
19The Blue Sky Boys Story Of The Knoxville Girl Absolutely Bluegrass Amazon
20Nelstone's Hawaiians Village School The Harry Smith B-Sides Amazon
21Dock Boggs Oh Death Dock Boggs Is Legendary Amazon
22Ray Charles Georgia on My Mind Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection Disc 2 Amazon
23Ella Fitzgerald Night And Day Night And Day: The Cole Porter Songbook Amazon
24Bettye LaVette Blues For The Weepers Blackbirds Amazon
25Carl Sandburg All Night Long Folk Song America-A 20th Century Revival [Disc 1] Amazon
26The Carter Family Hello Stranger Carter Family, vol. 2: 1935-1941 (Disc 3) Amazon
27The Stoneman Family Too Late The Harry Smith B-Sides Amazon
28Mississippi John Hurt Nobody's Dirty Business The Harry Smith B-Sides Amazon
29M. Ward Along the Santa Fe Trail Migration Stories Amazon
30Ella Fitzgerald In The Still Of The Night Music & Moonlight Amazon