Down the Mississippi

With its ever-changing course, its flowing waters and historical significance, the Mississippi River serves as a powerful metaphor for the American story. The river is a lifeblood nourishing the land while also serving as a path to freedom itself, symbolizing the pursuit of freedom and progress from the North to the Gulf of Mexico. Additional to all of this are its routes of trade and commerce that highlight both the American spirit and prosperity. This week’s Deeper Roots show celebrates the river that got its name after the northern Minnesota people, the Ojibway, and their name for ‘big river’ as well as songs of the namesake state and delta as well. Performances include mid-century recordings from country favorites the Delmore Brothers and Jimmie Skinner, blues from Charlie Musselwhite and the Rufus Thomas, as well as classic recordings of Bob Dylan, Charley Pride, Pops Staples and the Boswell Sisters. Tune into West County radio each Friday morning at 9 Pacific.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1Kay StarrMississippiCapitol Collectors SeriesAmazon
2Allen ToussaintBright MississippiThe Bright MississippiAmazon
3J.J. CaleMississippi RiverGrasshopperAmazon
4Janet Klein and Her Parlor BoysMississippi MudWhoopee Hey Hey!Amazon
5Pops StaplesDown In MississippiPeace To The NeighborhoodAmazon
6Charley PrideRoll On MississippiAnthologyAmazon
7Danielia CottonRoll On MississippiRoll On Mississippi – SingleAmazon
8Bruce CockburnSunrise on the MississippiDart to the HeartAmazon
9Bob DylanMississippiLove and TheftAmazon
10Hank PennyMississippi MuddleKing Of Hillbilly Bebop [Disc 1]Amazon
11Jimmie SkinnerI Miss the Mississippi and You1960-1962 (Warped 6188)Amazon
12Delmore BrothersMississippi Shore1946-1947 (Warped 4679)Amazon
13The BrownsMister and MississippiClassics 1963-1964 (Warped 6384)Amazon
14Boswell SistersRoll On MississippiBoswell SistersAmazon
15Sammy Price & the Blues SingersMississippi MoanSammy Price and the Blues Singers Vol. 1 1938 – 1941Amazon
16Roy Book BinderMississippi JohnThe Hillbilly Blues CatsAmazon
17Charlie MusselwhiteBlues Up The RiverMississippi SonAmazon
18Rufus ThomasFunky MississippiThe Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol.2: 1968-1971 [Disc 1]Amazon
19MountainMississippi QueenSuper Hits Of The '70s: Have A Nice Day, Vol. 1Amazon
20The New Christy MinstrelsMighty MississippiRamblin'Amazon
21Tennessee Ernie FordMr. And MississippiThe History Of Country & Western Music (Disc 19)Amazon
22Cheryl WheelerLighting Up The Mighty MississippiSylvia HotelAmazon
23George Jones & Melba MontgomeryI'd Jump The MississippiVintage CollectionsAmazon
24Bobbie GentryMississippi DeltaOde To Billy JoeAmazon
25SNCC Freedom Singers; Jones, MarshallIn The Mississippi RiverVoices Of The Civil Rights Movement, [Disc 2] (Ensembles)Amazon
26Mavis StaplesDown In Mississippi (Cd)We'll Never Turn BackAmazon
27Merle HaggardMiss the Mississippi and YouThe Peer SessionsAmazon
28Jesse WinchesterMississippi, You're On My MindThe Best Of Jesse WinchesterAmazon
29Marty StuartMississippi Railroad Blues [Instrumental][Instrumental]Ghost Train: The Studio B SessionsAmazon
30Doc & Merle WatsonMississippi Heavy Water BluesSittin' Here Pickin' the BluesAmazon

Tex Mex Fest

We took a journey to the south in last week’s show and this week, we head further west where we’ll share a vibrant and dynamic genre that reflects the rich cultural fusion of its geographic origins, combining traditional Mexican folk music with contemporary American influences of country, rhythm and blues, and rock. With the accordion and bajo sexto, drums, bass and guitar punching a hefty rhythm whose lyrics are often filled with catchy hooks and danceable beats, it is prominently featured in festivals, celebrations and public events across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. We’ll share some of the influentials from across the border like Lydia Mendoza as well as the mainstays and popular artists of the past half century including Freddy Fender, Doug Sahm, The Texas Tornados, Flaco Jimenez, The Mavericks and a dozen others in this week’s Deeper Roots fest.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1Conjunto Sotavento de Nacho FierroLa BambaTex Mex Folk 1920s to 1950sAmazon
2Lydia MendozaJurameLone StarAmazon
3Lydia MendozaMal HombreAmerican Roots Music [Disc 4]Amazon
4Las Hermanas MendozaMis pensamientosThe Rough Guide to Tex-MexAmazon
5Little Joe & La FamiliaLas NubesAmerican Roots Music [Disc 4]Amazon
6Conjunto BernalMi Unico CaminoLone StarAmazon
7Ritchie ValensLa BambaSouthern California With Fond MemoriesAmazon
8Freddy FenderBefore The Next Teardrop FallsBefore The Next Teardrop FallsAmazon
9Los Super SevenCupido (ft. Freddy Fender & Rick Trevino)Heard It On The XAmazon
10Freddy FenderWasted Days And Wasted NightsCountry CrossroadsAmazon
11The Texas TornadosWho Were You Thinkin' OfTexas TornadosAmazon
12Doug SahmNuevo LaredoBest of Sir Douglas 68-75Amazon
13Sir Douglas QuintetDynamite WomanMono Singles '68-'72Amazon
14Sir Douglas QuintetShe's About A MoverSir DouglasAmazon
15Tejas Brothers (w/ Augie Meyers and Larry Joe Taylor)RosaLive a Little MoreAmazon
16Los LobosWill the Wolf Survive?El Cancionero: Mas y Mas (1 of 4)Amazon
17The MavericksVolver, VolverCollection [2003]Amazon
18The MavericksVen Hacia Mi (Come Unto Me) [Conjunto Version]In Time (10th Anniversary Deluxe)Amazon
19Eddie "Lalo" Torres Y Su ConjuntoArriba San AntonioThe Rough Guide to Tex-MexAmazon
20Santiago Jimenez Jr.Alma de TejasThe Rough Guide to Tex-MexAmazon
21Flaco JimenezEl PesudoFlaco JimenezAmazon
22Flaco JiminezThe Girls From Texas featuring Ry Cooder (Album Version)PartnersAmazon
23Flaco JimenezPor Una Mujer BonitaFlaco JimenezAmazon
24Linda RonstadtMi Ranchito (My Little Ranch)Mas CancionesAmazon
25Ry Cooder w/Sam SamudioNo QuieroThe Border/Alamo BayAmazon
26Sam The Sham & The PharaohsWooly BullyMemphis Celebrates 50 Years Of Rock 'n' RollAmazon
27David Lindley & El Rayo-XTexas TangoVery GreasyAmazon
28Charley PrideIs Anybody Goin' To San AntoneCountry USA 1970Amazon
29Marty RobbinsEl PasoAll-Time Greatest HitsAmazon

Swamp Pop Fest

Swamp pop. What is it and where does Tex Mex begin and country blues end? Well, just listen for that Louisiana backbeat, a taste of torch song and rocking rhythm. We’ll take on the music of Tex Mex next week but this week we’ll be sampling some of the greats of that splinter genre referred to as ‘swamp pop’; music that was grafted from a number of different root source sounds. Swamp pop remains an important cultural expression of the Acadiana region, celebrated for its heartfelt and nostalgic qualities. While it never achieved the widespread commercial success of other genres, swamp pop has maintained a dedicated following and continues to be performed by contemporary musicians. We’ll share the sounds of some of the genre’s most popular:  Warren Storm, Tommy McLain, Rod Bernard, Clint West and so many others. Drop on by.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1Cookie & the CupcakesMathildaSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
2Joe BarryI'm A Fool To CareDon't Do It: The Smash Record Story 1961-1962 [Disc 2]Amazon
3Joe BarryTeardrops in My HeartI'm a Fool to Care: The Complete Recordings 1958-1977, Vol. 1Amazon
4Joe BarryLittle Jewel of the Vieux CarreI'm a Fool to Care: The Complete Recordings 1958-1977, Vol. 1Amazon
5Rockin' SidneyShirley JeanSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
6John FredShirleyThe History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 3]Amazon
7Rod BernardThis Should Go On ForeverSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
8Rod BernardDiggy Liggy LoSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
9Rod BernardColindaSwamp Gold, Vol. 2Amazon
10Warren StormPrisoner's SongSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
11Warren StormHey Ma MaBoppin' By The Bayou – Made In The ShadeAmazon
12Lil' Band Of Gold/Warren StormPlease Mr. SandmanAmericana Roots Songbook: LouisianaAmazon
13Little Bob & The LollipopsNobody But YouOxford American 11th Edition Southern Music 2009Amazon
14Lil' Bob & the LollipopsI Got LoadedSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
15Johnnie AllanLonely Days & Lonely NightsSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
16Jivin' GeneBreaking Up Is Hard To DoSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
17Dale & GraceI'm Leaving It All Up to YouSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
18Clint WestOur LoveSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
19Clint WestBig Blue DiamondsSwamp Gold, Vol. 2Amazon
20Cookie & His CupcakesBreaking Up Is Hard To DoRhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Vocal GroupsAmazon
21Cookie And The CupcakesUntil ThenLouisiana & The Old New Orleans SoundAmazon
22Cookie & The CupcakesGot You on My MindSwamp Gold, Vol. 2Amazon
23Shelton Dunaway & The CupcakesMary Lou Doing The PopeyeThe History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 5]Amazon
24Tommy McLainSweet DreamsSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
25Tommy McLainBefore I Grow Too OldThe Essential CollectionAmazon
26Tommy McLainBefore I Grow Too OldI Ran Down Every DreamAmazon
27Tommy McLainSomebody (Radio Edit)I Ran Down Every DreamAmazon
28The UniquesAll These ThingsSwamp Gold, Vol. 2Amazon
29Randy & the RocketsLets Do the Cajun TwistSwamp Gold, Volume 1Amazon
30Joe BarryJust BecauseDon't Do It: The Smash Record Story 1961-1962 [Disc 2]Amazon
31Cookie & The CupcakesI CriedBob Dylan Presents: Radio Radio, Theme Time Radio Hour, Vol. 1Amazon
32Tommy McLainI Ran Down Every Dream (feat. Elvis Costello)I Ran Down Every DreamAmazon
33Rockin' SidneyMy Toot-TootAlligator Stomp: Cajun Zydeco ClassicsAmazon

J.J. Cale Tribute

When J.J. Cale’s first album came on the scene in 1972, it exuded something different…some kind of “timeless cool” with it’s imposing John Bunyan raccoon album cover and understated country sound setting it apart from everything else out there. Not psychedelia, not rock exactly, and certainly not the LA sound that was hip at the time. It was, as it has since been coined, the “Tulsa sound”. Many have covered John Weldon Cale’s music and many have become rock standards while others languish only to be rediscovered year after year by new listeners who hear that “timeless cool” and those breezy treasures he left us. We’ll feature a number of covers today, as well as his own originals in a show that will take you down a river whose currents are slow but determined.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1J.J. CaleCall The DoctorNaturallyAmazon
2Eric ClaptonCall Me the BreezeThe Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ CaleAmazon
3Case GarrettCall Me The BreezeAuroraAmazon
4Marc CohnAfter MidnightListening Booth: 1970Amazon
5Waylon JenningsClydeOnly Daddy That'll Walk the Line: The RCA Years Disc 2Amazon
6The BandCrazy MamaHigh On The HogAmazon
7Maria MuldaurCajun MoonLouisiana Love CallAmazon
8J.J. CaleHey BabyThe Very Best of J.J. CaleAmazon
9Widespread PanicTravelin' LightChoice Cuts: The Capricorn Years 1991-1999Amazon
10Eric ClaptonTravelin' LightReptileAmazon
11Eric Clapton/J.J. CaleDon't Cry SisterThe Road to EscondidoAmazon
12John Mayall & The BluesbreakersSensitive KindA Sense of PlaceAmazon
13Chris SmitherMagnoliaHappier BlueAmazon
14Shannon McNallyMagnoliaMagnolia – SingleAmazon
15Tony Joe WhiteLouvelda (feat. J.J. Cale)Collected [CD3]Amazon
16J.J. CaleRock and Roll RecordsOkieAmazon
17Eric ClaptonAfter MidnightThe Cream of ClaptonAmazon
18J.J. CaleAnyway the Wind BlowsOkieAmazon
19KansasBringing It BackKansasAmazon
20Eric Clapton/J.J. CaleDangerThe Road to EscondidoAmazon
21Shannon McNallyLow RiderBlack IrishAmazon
22J.J. CaleRoll OnRoll OnAmazon
23Eric Clapton/J.J. CaleHeads in GeorgiaThe Road to EscondidoAmazon
24The TractorsThe Tractors-Rhythm BoneTrade UnionAmazon
25Eric ClaptonMagnolia (feat. John Mayer)The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ CaleAmazon