Celebrating Smokey

The songs of Smokey Robinson have stood the test of time, remaining popular and relevant across generations. His compositions have been covered by artists from various genres, further cementing a legend as one of the greatest songwriters of his era. This week, we take a walk through a handful of the many classics he gave us, spanning three decades, focusing primarily on the Motown song machine classics from The Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Mary Wells, and, of course, his own group The Miracles. There is no question that his songwriting style and lyrical finesse have influenced generations of musicians and, coupled with his ability to blend heartfelt lyrics with catchy melodies, standards were set for songwriters in the R&B and soul genres; not to mention the groundswell of the sixties sound of Berry Gordy’s Motown Records. A morning of pure soul and pop that will include some sweet contemporary covers (if we can squeeze them in). 

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Bonnie Bramlett You've Really Got A Hold On Me Lady's Choice Amazon
2Barrett Strong Misery Northern Soul – The Early Years – 100 Classic And Rare Tracks (CD2) Amazon
3The Miracles Bad Girl The 35th Anniversary Collection Amazon
4The Contours Whole Lotta Woman The Very Best of The Contours Amazon
5Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Shop Around Motown: The Classic Years Disc 1 Amazon
6Mary Wells/The Love-Tones You Beat Me to the Punch Motown: The Classic Years Disc 1 Amazon
7Gene Chandler You Threw A Lucky Punch Northern Soul – The Early Years – 100 Classic And Rare Tracks (CD2) Amazon
8Mary Wells The One Who Really Loves You Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 1 Amazon
9Mary Wells Two Lovers The Soul of Detroit – Disc 1 Amazon
10The Miracles Going to a Go-Go Motown: The Classic Years Disc 1 Amazon
11Brenda Holloway When I'm Gone Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 2 Amazon
12Carolyn Crawford My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down) Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 1 Amazon
13The Miracles Baby Don't You Go [Single Version] The 35th Anniversary Collection [Disc 2] Amazon
14The Temptations The Way You Do The Things You Do The Best Of The Temptations, Vol. 1: The 60s Amazon
15Marvelettes Way Over There Northern Soul – The Early Years – 100 Classic And Rare Tracks (CD3) Amazon
16Marvin Gaye Ain't That Peculiar Marvin Gaye Icon Amazon
17The Contours First I Look at the Purse The Very Best of The Contours Amazon
18The Temptations Get Ready The Best Of The Temptations, Vol. 1: The 60s Amazon
19Marvin Gaye One More Heartache Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
20Marvin Gaye I'll Be Doggone 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Marvin Gaye, Vol. 1 Amazon
21Marvin Gaye Take This Heart Of Mine Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
22The Contours Determination The Very Best of The Contours Amazon
23Chris Clark From Head To Toe Soul Sounds – Remaster Amazon
24The Marvelettes Don't Mess With Bill 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Marvelettes Amazon
25The Marvelettes The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Marvelettes Amazon
26Johnny Rivers The Tracks of My Tears Greatest Hits [Capitol] Amazon
27Smokey Robinson & the Miracles More Love Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 3 Amazon
28Tammi Terrell He's The One I Love Come On And See Me: The Complete Solo Collection Amazon
29Diana Ross & The Supremes The Composer The Best Of Diana Ross & The Supremes [Disc 2] Amazon
30The Four Tops Still Water (Love) The Ultimate Collection Amazon
31Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Tears of a Clown Motown: The Classic Years Disc 2 Amazon
32The Supremes Floy Joy Gold Disc 2 Amazon
33Rare Earth Get Ready Soundsavers – Old School No. 6 Amazon
34Rita Coolidge The Way You Do The Things You Do Delta Lady: The Rita Coolidge Anthology [Disc 2] Amazon
35Sylvester Ooo Baby Baby The Original Hits [1989 Fantasy] Amazon

420 Fun

It’s a topical theme…it’s a medicinal thing…it’s a blend of sounds celebrating vipers and jives from the past century.  We will join in the celebration (in spirit anyway) of the date and time that three Marin County teenagers are said to have inaugurated over a half century ago. There is no shortage of material to pull from the well of Americana…whether that be from the 1920s or from the 2010s. We’ll brighten up the playlist with music that will help us kick back. We’ll pour over a selected list of great sounds from the last 100 years that either directly or indirectly find us thinking about (or maybe imbibing in) the herb so many care about. There will be music from John Prine, Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, Ray Charles and some early century jazz nuggets you will find hard to resist. Friday morning sounds from the Cherry Street Historic District of Santa Rosa, California, streaming to West County and the world on KOWS-LP, Occidental 92.5 FM and kowsfm.com/listen. 

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Johnny Price Marijuana, The Devil Flower Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) Amazon
2Cordovas Stone Cold Stoned The Rose of Aces Amazon
3Yonder Mountain String Band Two Hits and the Joint Turned Brown Mountain Tracks, Vol. 2 Amazon
4Sam Bush Granny Wontcha Smoke Some Marijuana Radio John: Songs of John Hartford Amazon
5Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen Seeds And Stems (Again) Lost In The Ozone Amazon
6Jesse Dayton Dope Smokin' Song The Alternate Root 420 Sampler Amazon
7Merle Haggard/Willie Nelson It's All Going to Pot Django and Jimmie Amazon
8Willie Nelson/Snoop Dogg/Kris Kristofferson/Jamey Johnson Roll Me Up (Album version) Heroes Amazon
9k.d. lang Smoke Rings Drag Amazon
10Kacey Musgraves High Time Pageant Material Amazon
11Moonalice It's 420 Somewhere Dave's Way Vol 1 Amazon
12Chris Stapleton Might As Well Get Stoned Traveller Amazon
13Asleep At The Wheel Jack I'm Mellow New Routes Amazon
14Ashley Monroe Weed Instead Of Roses Like A Rose Amazon
15Brothers Osborne Weed Whiskey And Willie Port Saint Joe Amazon
16John Prine Illegal Smile Great Days: The John Prine Anthology Disc 1 Amazon
17Kacey Musgraves Burn One With John Prine Demos Amazon
18Tom Petty You Don't Know How It Feels Wildflowers Amazon
19Ben Harper Burn One Down Fight for Your Mind Amazon
20Julia Lee Marijuana Kansas City Star [Disc 4] Amazon
21The Ink Spots That Cat Is High Cocaine Blues Amazon
22Trixie Smith Jack I'm Mellow Trixie Smith Vol. 2 1925-1929 Amazon
23Buck Washington Save the Roach for Me [FCC Warning n word] When Hemp Was Hip Amazon
24Dave Van Ronk You's A Viper Dave Van Ronk And The Ragtime Jug Stompers Amazon
25Wayne Hancock Viper A-Town Blues Amazon
26Harlan Pepper Reefer The Alternate Root 420 Sampler Amazon
27Ray Charles Let's Go Get Stoned Ultimate Hits Collection [2 of 2] Amazon
28The Devil Makes Three Champagne And Reefer Redemption & Ruin Amazon
29Chris Ardoin and Double Clutchin' Stay In or Stay Out – Pass the Dutchie Putomayo Presents Zydeco Amazon

Cuppa Joe

The history of coffee consumption in 20th century America takes hold in the small cafes, truck stops and coffeehouses which became venues and social spaces for the community. Like music, they helped with the congregation of like minds and served as hubs for intellectual exchange, artistic expression and social activism. And it was all because of the caffeine. Instant and decaf coffees were just an aberration; much like disco. This week’s Deeper Roots drives the theme of coffee home with tracks that span the century including Emmett Miller, the King Cole Trio, The Bobs, Ella Mae Morse and Merle Travis (among others) to tell us a cuppa tale or two. It’s one more Friday show ahead of next week’s 420 observation…one more libation to celebrate.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Warren Barker Caper At The Coffee House (From '77 Sunset Strip') Jazz Noir Amazon
2The Manhattan Transfer Java Jive Anthology – Down in Birdland [Disc 1] Amazon
3King Cole Trio You're The Cream In My Coffee The Cocktail Combos [Disc 1] Amazon
4Ella Mae Morse Coffee Date Singles 3 Amazon
5Patricia Kaas Black Coffee Jazz a Saint Germain Amazon
6Jack Barlow Hot Cup Of Coffee I Live The Country Songs I Sing Amazon
7Merle Travis I Can't Afford The Coffee The Guitar Picker CD4 (1954-56) Amazon
8Tex Ritter 01 – Coffee Pot (2000) High Noon (CD 4) Amazon
9Claude Gray I4ll Have an Other Cup of Coffee Country & Western Nuggets Amazon
10Lefty Frizzell Make That One for the Road a Cup of Coffee 1962-1965 (Warped 6382) Amazon
11Curtis Gordon Caffeine And Nicotine Bob Dylan: Radio Radio [Disc 1] Amazon
12Jon Rauhouse Corn & Coffee Steel Guitar Rodeo Amazon
13Frank Sinatra The Coffee Song Radio Radio Vol.5 [Disc 1] Bob Dylan Amazon
14Enric Madriguera And His Hotel Biltmore Orchestra Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee American Dance Bands – Playing the Music of Irving Berlin Amazon
15Pancho Cantaneo y los Cubaztecas Moliendo Cafe Cuba. Por La Musica Amazon
16Terry Snyder / Earl Palmer Binga Banga Bongo-Percolator Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 8: Cocktail Capers Amazon
17Ella Mae Morse w/Big Dave and His Orchestra Forty Cups of Coffee Barrell House Boogie and the Blues Amazon
18The Modernaires Coffee Five, Doughnuts Five The Very Best of the Modernaires With Paula Kelly Amazon
19The Ink Spots Java Jive The Great Entertainers Amazon
20Atilla Coffee, Coffee Mo 33004 Amazon
21Greg Brown Good Morning Coffee If I Had Known Amazon
22Kim Lenz Percolate Slowly Speeding Amazon
23Julie London Black Coffee 36 All-Time Greatest Hits Disc 1 Amazon
24Ruth Etting You're The Cream In My Coffee Love Me or Leave Me CD1 Amazon
25Brook Benton Another Cup Of Coffee Best Of Brook Benton Amazon
26The Boswell Sisters Coffee In The Morning And Kisses In The Night [Album Version] That's How Rhythm Was Born Amazon
27Emmett Miller You're The Cream In My Coffee Minstrel Man From Georgia Amazon
28The Larks Coffee, Cigarettes And Tears Bob Dylan: Radio Radio [Disc 1] Amazon
29Bellevue Cadillac Cuppa Joe Hipsters, Zoots & Wingtips, Vol. 3 Amazon
30Lefty Frizzell Cigarettes and Coffee Blues Life's Like Poetry (Disc 5) Amazon
31Otis Redding Cigarettes And Coffee Oxford American Southern Music Issue Vol. 25 Amazon
32Neil Young + Promise of the Real A Rock Star Bucks A Coffee Shop The Monsanto Years Amazon

Rhythm Roller Coaster

Swing and jazz music of the late 1930s had just enough time to raise a small ruckus before the second World War broke out. After a celebratory wave swept the nation, there was a need for more of the same but with an upbeat but harder drive to it. It didn’t take long for pre-rock R&B to become popular across demographics as it would gain significant traction among urban youth, particularly in the central hubs of New York, Chicago, Detroit, LA, and New Orleans. This week’s show features a roller coaster of great sounds including tracks from Varetta Dillard, The Lollypoppers, The Flairs, and Little Johnny Jones & The Chicago Hound Dogs. You don’t want to miss this wild ride.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Big Joe Turner Love Roller Coaster Big Joe Turner: The Definitive Blues Collection [[Disc 2]] Amazon
2Big Maybelle Whole Lot-Ta Shakin' Goin' On OKeh Rhythm & Blues Amazon
3Ann Cole Got My Mojo Working The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] Amazon
4Mabel Scott Elevator Boogie Swing Baby Swing!: House Rocking Swing and Jump Jive Boogie Amazon
5Etta James Spoonful The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] Amazon
6Shirley Gunter & The Queens Oop Shoop The Flair Story – Dust My Rhythm & Blues Amazon
7LaVern Baker You'd Better Find Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll/Volume 2 [Disc 5] Amazon
8Little Esther & the Dominoes The Deacon Moves In Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 1 Amazon
9Ruth Brown This Little Girls Gone Rockin' The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] Amazon
10The Drifters With Clyde McPhatter Such A Night Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters Amazon
11Hank Ballard & The Midnighters Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go American Music Library: The Hits Of 1960 Amazon
12Tabby Thomas I'd Love To Tell Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies Amazon
13Louis Jordan Roc Doc From the Ghetto Amazon
14Fats Domino Don't Come Knockin' Rhythm & Western Volume 3 – Lovesick Blues Amazon
15The Flairs She Wants To Rock The Flair Story – Dust My Rhythm & Blues Amazon
16Titus Turner Hungry Man Exotic Blues & Rhythm Volume 7 & 8 Boom-A-Lay & Chug-A-Lug Amazon
17Little Johnny Jones & The Chicago Hound Dogs Dirty By The Dozen (Sweet Little Woman) The Flair Story – Dust My Rhythm & Blues Amazon
18The Lollypoppers A Bottle of Pop Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 2 Amazon
19Julia Lee Tell Me Daddy The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] Amazon
20Varetta Dillard Them Their Eyes Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll Vol 2 [Disc 13] Amazon
21Varetta Dillard Mercy, Mr. Percy The Lovin' Bird Amazon
22Varetta Dillard Promise Mr Thomas From the Ghetto Amazon
23Viola Wells (Miss Rhapsody) Sweet Man Were Sisters Under the Skin – Female Blues & Boogie 1944 to 1949 Amazon
24Chuck Willis & His Orchestra Lawdy Miss Mary OKeh Rhythm & Blues Amazon
25Champion Jack Dupree Shim Sham Shimmy Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll Vol 2 [Disc 15] Amazon
26Little Willie John Leave My Kitten Alone Various Artists: Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll/Volume 2/[Disc 10] Amazon
27Gladys Hill Please Don't Touch My Bowl Get Hot Sleazy Rhythm & Blues Vol. 3 Amazon
28Young Jessie Shuffle In The Gravel From the Ghetto Amazon
29Roy Milton Rhythm Cocktail ABC Of The Blues Vol 30 Amazon
30The Ravens Midnight Blues OKeh Rhythm & Blues Amazon
31The Blenders Don't Play Around with Love Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 1 Amazon
32The Ebonaires Lawd, Lawd, Lawd Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 1 Amazon
33Cab Calloway Gambler's Guitar Rhythm & Western Volume 3 – Lovesick Blues Amazon
34Gloria Gunter Move On Out Cat Scratchin' Amazon
35The Coasters Yakety Yak 50 Coastin' Classics [Disc 1] Amazon
36The Coasters Run Red Run 50 Coastin' Classics [Disc 2] Amazon
37Big Joe Turner Flip Flop And Fly Big, Bad & Blue: Anthology [Disc 2] Amazon
38Big Joe Turner Well, All Right Big Joe Rocks Amazon
39Big Joe Turner Midnight Special Train Atlantic Rock & Roll Amazon