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 |
|---|
| 1 | Bonnie Bramlett | You've Really Got A Hold On Me | Lady's Choice |  |
| 2 | Barrett Strong | Misery | Northern Soul – The Early Years – 100 Classic And Rare Tracks (CD2) | |
| 3 | The Miracles | Bad Girl | The 35th Anniversary Collection | |
| 4 | The Contours | Whole Lotta Woman | The Very Best of The Contours | |
| 5 | Smokey Robinson & the Miracles | Shop Around | Motown: The Classic Years Disc 1 | |
| 6 | Mary Wells/The Love-Tones | You Beat Me to the Punch | Motown: The Classic Years Disc 1 | |
| 7 | Gene Chandler | You Threw A Lucky Punch | Northern Soul – The Early Years – 100 Classic And Rare Tracks (CD2) | |
| 8 | Mary Wells | The One Who Really Loves You | Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 1 | |
| 9 | Mary Wells | Two Lovers | The Soul of Detroit – Disc 1 | |
| 10 | The Miracles | Going to a Go-Go | Motown: The Classic Years Disc 1 | |
| 11 | Brenda Holloway | When I'm Gone | Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 2 | |
| 12 | Carolyn Crawford | My Smile Is Just a Frown (Turned Upside Down) | Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 1 | |
| 13 | The Miracles | Baby Don't You Go [Single Version] | The 35th Anniversary Collection [Disc 2] | |
| 14 | The Temptations | The Way You Do The Things You Do | The Best Of The Temptations, Vol. 1: The 60s | |
| 15 | Marvelettes | Way Over There | Northern Soul – The Early Years – 100 Classic And Rare Tracks (CD3) | |
| 16 | Marvin Gaye | Ain't That Peculiar | Marvin Gaye Icon | |
| 17 | The Contours | First I Look at the Purse | The Very Best of The Contours | |
| 18 | The Temptations | Get Ready | The Best Of The Temptations, Vol. 1: The 60s | |
| 19 | Marvin Gaye | One More Heartache | Anthology [Disc 1] | |
| 20 | Marvin Gaye | I'll Be Doggone | 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Marvin Gaye, Vol. 1 | |
| 21 | Marvin Gaye | Take This Heart Of Mine | Anthology [Disc 1] | |
| 22 | The Contours | Determination | The Very Best of The Contours | |
| 23 | Chris Clark | From Head To Toe | Soul Sounds – Remaster | |
| 24 | The Marvelettes | Don't Mess With Bill | 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Marvelettes | |
| 25 | The Marvelettes | The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game | 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Marvelettes | |
| 26 | Johnny Rivers | The Tracks of My Tears | Greatest Hits [Capitol] | |
| 27 | Smokey Robinson & the Miracles | More Love | Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 Disc 3 | |
| 28 | Tammi Terrell | He's The One I Love | Come On And See Me: The Complete Solo Collection | |
| 29 | Diana Ross & The Supremes | The Composer | The Best Of Diana Ross & The Supremes [Disc 2] | |
| 30 | The Four Tops | Still Water (Love) | The Ultimate Collection | |
| 31 | Smokey Robinson & the Miracles | Tears of a Clown | Motown: The Classic Years Disc 2 | |
| 32 | The Supremes | Floy Joy | Gold Disc 2 | |
| 33 | Rare Earth | Get Ready | Soundsavers – Old School No. 6 | |
| 34 | Rita Coolidge | The Way You Do The Things You Do | Delta Lady: The Rita Coolidge Anthology [Disc 2] | |
| 35 | Sylvester | Ooo Baby Baby | The Original Hits [1989 Fantasy] | |
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 |
|---|
| 1 | Warren Barker | Caper At The Coffee House (From '77 Sunset Strip') | Jazz Noir | |
| 2 | The Manhattan Transfer | Java Jive | Anthology – Down in Birdland [Disc 1] | |
| 3 | King Cole Trio | You're The Cream In My Coffee | The Cocktail Combos [Disc 1] | |
| 4 | Ella Mae Morse | Coffee Date | Singles 3 | |
| 5 | Patricia Kaas | Black Coffee | Jazz a Saint Germain | |
| 6 | Jack Barlow | Hot Cup Of Coffee | I Live The Country Songs I Sing | |
| 7 | Merle Travis | I Can't Afford The Coffee | The Guitar Picker CD4 (1954-56) | |
| 8 | Tex Ritter | 01 – Coffee Pot | (2000) High Noon (CD 4) | |
| 9 | Claude Gray | I4ll Have an Other Cup of Coffee | Country & Western Nuggets | |
| 10 | Lefty Frizzell | Make That One for the Road a Cup of Coffee | 1962-1965 (Warped 6382) | |
| 11 | Curtis Gordon | Caffeine And Nicotine | Bob Dylan: Radio Radio [Disc 1] | |
| 12 | Jon Rauhouse | Corn & Coffee | Steel Guitar Rodeo | |
| 13 | Frank Sinatra | The Coffee Song | Radio Radio Vol.5 [Disc 1] Bob Dylan | |
| 14 | Enric Madriguera And His Hotel Biltmore Orchestra | Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee | American Dance Bands – Playing the Music of Irving Berlin | |
| 15 | Pancho Cantaneo y los Cubaztecas | Moliendo Cafe | Cuba. Por La Musica | |
| 16 | Terry Snyder / Earl Palmer | Binga Banga Bongo-Percolator | Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 8: Cocktail Capers | |
| 17 | Ella Mae Morse w/Big Dave and His Orchestra | Forty Cups of Coffee | Barrell House Boogie and the Blues | |
| 18 | The Modernaires | Coffee Five, Doughnuts Five | The Very Best of the Modernaires With Paula Kelly | |
| 19 | The Ink Spots | Java Jive | The Great Entertainers | |
| 20 | Atilla | Coffee, Coffee | Mo 33004 | |
| 21 | Greg Brown | Good Morning Coffee | If I Had Known | |
| 22 | Kim Lenz | Percolate | Slowly Speeding | |
| 23 | Julie London | Black Coffee | 36 All-Time Greatest Hits Disc 1 | |
| 24 | Ruth Etting | You're The Cream In My Coffee | Love Me or Leave Me CD1 | |
| 25 | Brook Benton | Another Cup Of Coffee | Best Of Brook Benton | |
| 26 | The Boswell Sisters | Coffee In The Morning And Kisses In The Night [Album Version] | That's How Rhythm Was Born | |
| 27 | Emmett Miller | You're The Cream In My Coffee | Minstrel Man From Georgia | |
| 28 | The Larks | Coffee, Cigarettes And Tears | Bob Dylan: Radio Radio [Disc 1] | |
| 29 | Bellevue Cadillac | Cuppa Joe | Hipsters, Zoots & Wingtips, Vol. 3 | |
| 30 | Lefty Frizzell | Cigarettes and Coffee Blues | Life's Like Poetry (Disc 5) | |
| 31 | Otis Redding | Cigarettes And Coffee | Oxford American Southern Music Issue Vol. 25 | |
| 32 | Neil Young + Promise of the Real | A Rock Star Bucks A Coffee Shop | The Monsanto Years | |
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 |
|---|
| 1 | Big Joe Turner | Love Roller Coaster | Big Joe Turner: The Definitive Blues Collection [[Disc 2]] | |
| 2 | Big Maybelle | Whole Lot-Ta Shakin' Goin' On | OKeh Rhythm & Blues | |
| 3 | Ann Cole | Got My Mojo Working | The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] | |
| 4 | Mabel Scott | Elevator Boogie | Swing Baby Swing!: House Rocking Swing and Jump Jive Boogie | |
| 5 | Etta James | Spoonful | The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] | |
| 6 | Shirley Gunter & The Queens | Oop Shoop | The Flair Story – Dust My Rhythm & Blues | |
| 7 | LaVern Baker | You'd Better Find | Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll/Volume 2 [Disc 5] | |
| 8 | Little Esther & the Dominoes | The Deacon Moves In | Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 1 | |
| 9 | Ruth Brown | This Little Girls Gone Rockin' | The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] | |
| 10 | The Drifters With Clyde McPhatter | Such A Night | Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters | |
| 11 | Hank Ballard & The Midnighters | Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go | American Music Library: The Hits Of 1960 | |
| 12 | Tabby Thomas | I'd Love To Tell | Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies | |
| 13 | Louis Jordan | Roc Doc | From the Ghetto | |
| 14 | Fats Domino | Don't Come Knockin' | Rhythm & Western Volume 3 – Lovesick Blues | |
| 15 | The Flairs | She Wants To Rock | The Flair Story – Dust My Rhythm & Blues | |
| 16 | Titus Turner | Hungry Man | Exotic Blues & Rhythm Volume 7 & 8 Boom-A-Lay & Chug-A-Lug | |
| 17 | Little Johnny Jones & The Chicago Hound Dogs | Dirty By The Dozen (Sweet Little Woman) | The Flair Story – Dust My Rhythm & Blues | |
| 18 | The Lollypoppers | A Bottle of Pop | Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 2 | |
| 19 | Julia Lee | Tell Me Daddy | The Girls Gone Rockin' Rhythm & Blues Queens [Disc 1] | |
| 20 | Varetta Dillard | Them Their Eyes | Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll Vol 2 [Disc 13] | |
| 21 | Varetta Dillard | Mercy, Mr. Percy | The Lovin' Bird | |
| 22 | Varetta Dillard | Promise Mr Thomas | From the Ghetto | |
| 23 | Viola Wells (Miss Rhapsody) | Sweet Man | Were Sisters Under the Skin – Female Blues & Boogie 1944 to 1949 | |
| 24 | Chuck Willis & His Orchestra | Lawdy Miss Mary | OKeh Rhythm & Blues | |
| 25 | Champion Jack Dupree | Shim Sham Shimmy | Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll Vol 2 [Disc 15] | |
| 26 | Little Willie John | Leave My Kitten Alone | Various Artists: Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll/Volume 2/[Disc 10] | |
| 27 | Gladys Hill | Please Don't Touch My Bowl | Get Hot Sleazy Rhythm & Blues Vol. 3 | |
| 28 | Young Jessie | Shuffle In The Gravel | From the Ghetto | |
| 29 | Roy Milton | Rhythm Cocktail | ABC Of The Blues Vol 30 | |
| 30 | The Ravens | Midnight Blues | OKeh Rhythm & Blues | |
| 31 | The Blenders | Don't Play Around with Love | Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 1 | |
| 32 | The Ebonaires | Lawd, Lawd, Lawd | Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55, vol. 1 | |
| 33 | Cab Calloway | Gambler's Guitar | Rhythm & Western Volume 3 – Lovesick Blues | |
| 34 | Gloria Gunter | Move On Out | Cat Scratchin' | |
| 35 | The Coasters | Yakety Yak | 50 Coastin' Classics [Disc 1] | |
| 36 | The Coasters | Run Red Run | 50 Coastin' Classics [Disc 2] | |
| 37 | Big Joe Turner | Flip Flop And Fly | Big, Bad & Blue: Anthology [Disc 2] | |
| 38 | Big Joe Turner | Well, All Right | Big Joe Rocks | |
| 39 | Big Joe Turner | Midnight Special Train | Atlantic Rock & Roll | |
A Century of America's Music
