Old Records

Country, gospel, and rhythm and blues are the major arteries that flow to the heart of Americana musical traditions, each influencing the other through shared themes of storytelling, emotion, and spirituality. Gospel’s uplifting harmonies and spiritual fervor inspired both the heartfelt narratives of country music and the soulful expressions of rhythm and blues. Similarly, rhythm and blues infused gospel energy into secular music, while country music borrowed melodic and vocal elements from both genres. The “golden age” of these genres is often considered to be the mid-20th century, roughly the 1940s through the 1960s, when their innovation and cross-pollination laid the groundwork for modern popular music, including rock and roll. This week on Deeper Roots we’re going to flip through some classic old records (as we love to do) and highlight the morning with performances from the likes of Otis Spann, Merle Travis, Sue Foley, Sturgill Simpson, and a few dozen others.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Margie Singleton Old Records One More Record Please Amazon
2Seasick Steve Dark Man from Another Time (Bonus Version) Amazon
3Sturgill Simpson Breakers Roar A Sailor's Guide To Earth Amazon
4The Everly Brothers Bowling Green Walk Right Back: The Everly Brothers on Warner Bros. Disc 2 Amazon
5The Kossoy Sisters Bowling Green Bluegrass Jamboree Amazon
6Merle Travis Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) Ash Grove 12/9/1966 Amazon
7Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) We've Got a Live One Here! Amazon
8The Louvin Brothers There's A Grave In The Wave Of The Ocean Close Harmony [Disc 7] Amazon
9Hart Valley Drifters Nine Pound Hammer Folk Time Amazon
10Van Morrison Dark Night Of The Soul Three Chords And The Truth Amazon
11The Riders Of The Purple Sage Cool Water (Radio) Cowboy Crooners Sing Songs Of The West Cd 1 Amazon
12The Harmonizing Four Wade In The Water Jesus Rocked The Jukebox: Small Group Black Gospel (1951-1965) Amazon
13The Soul Stirrers Jesus I'll Never Forget [Album Version] The Ladykillers Music From The Motion Picture Amazon
14Mahalia Jackson Dark Was The Night Moving On Up A Little Higher Amazon
15Bing Crosby Down to the Old Ox Road Bing Crosby in Hollywood (1930-1934), Vol. 1 Amazon
16Sue Foley Freight Train One Guitar Woman Amazon
17Porter Wagoner Banks of the Ohio 1968 (Warped 6846) Amazon
18Roy Rogers with Country Washburne My Chickashay Girl 26 All-Time Country Classics Amazon
19Merle Haggard Time Changes Everything The Peer Sessions Amazon
20Jimmie Dolan The Wheel That Does The Squeakin' Juke Box Boogie Amazon
21Raul Malo Weary Blues from Waitin' The Nashville Acoustic Sessions Amazon
22Ted Daffan's Texans Born To Lose 26 All-Time Country Classics Amazon
23Norridge Mayhams And The Blue Chips I'm A Rattlesnakin' Daddy Norridge Mayhams and The Blue Chips Amazon
24Mae West I'm An Occidental Woman In An Oriental Mood For Love The Mae West Collection Amazon
25Jewel Paige & Her Brown Brownies Give It Up If You Take Me Back Amazon
26Julia Lee Snatch It And Grab It (06-11-47) 1947 Amazon
27Slim Gaillard Thunderbird ABC Of The Blues Vol 12 Amazon
28John Hiatt Thunderbird Master of Disaster Amazon
29Chuck Berry Jaguar and Thunderbird The Chess Box Disc 2 Amazon
30Otis Spann Mule Kicking In My Stall Cryin' Time Amazon
31Lowell Fulson Blue Shadows Chess Blues Disc 4 Amazon

Legend: Grady Martin

He was a member of Nashville’s A-Team. He invented the electric guitar ‘fuzz’ effect by accident in a Marty Robbins recording session. He played on some of the most recognizable hit songs and landmark albums; not just country but rock, soul, folk, country rock and released some jazz guitar albums of his own. You can hear his work day in and day out: the Spanish-style acoustic work on Marty’s El Paso, the opening and unforgettable lick on Roy Orbison’s Oh Pretty Woman, plus dozens upon dozens more. He was one of the most sought after session men in the industry. Oh, and his jazz work with Mancini, Hirt and Fountain were followed by a gig as session leader for Vanguard Records’ album releases of Joan Baez, Buffy Sainte-Marie and Country Joe. If there’s a word that goes a step beyond prolific, it describes Grady Martin. Join us for a show that celebrates the legend. 

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Roy Orbison Oh, Pretty Woman Shades of Roy Orbison Amazon
2Grady Martin & Don Cherry Long John Boogie Grady Martin Amazon
3Mimi Roman Little Lovin' Foot Tappin' & Dance At Screamin' Festival Vol. 1 Amazon
4Patsy Cline Stop, Look and Listen Rockin' Patsy Amazon
5Janis Martin Will You Willyum Grady Martin Amazon
6Roy Hall Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On Grady Martin Amazon
7Red Foley Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy Hillbilly Fever [Disc 3] Amazon
8Red Foley, Grady Martin Pinball Boogie Hillbilly Fever [Disc 4] Amazon
9Red Foley My Window Faces South Hillbilly Fever [Disc 4] Amazon
10Burl Ives With Grady Martin & His Slew Foot Five Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves Roughneck Blues 1949 – 1956 Amazon
11Marvin Rainwater Whole Lotta Woman Whole Lotta Woman Amazon
12Jimmy Lloyd Where The Rio De Rosa Flows Grady Martin Amazon
13Red Sovine How Do You Think I Feel Grady Martin Amazon
14Brenda Lee Little Jonah (Rock On Your Steel Guitar) Brenda Lee Rocks Amazon
15Johnny Horton I'm Coming Home Honky Tonk Man: The Essential Johnny Horton 1956-1960 (1 of 2) Amazon
16Johnny Burnette The Train Kept A Rollin' Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 4 Amazon
17Warner Mack Roc-A-Chicka Rock'N'Roll & Rock-A-Billy Inferno Amazon
18Autry Inman Mary Nell Grady Martin Amazon
19Marty Robbins Don't Worry American Music Library: The Hits Of 1961 Amazon
20Lefty Frizzell Saginaw, Michigan (Grady Martin) Classic Country Amazon
21Marty Robbins El Paso A Lifetime of Song (1951-1982) Amazon
22Elvis Presley Please Don't Drag That String Around From Nashville To Memphis: The Essential 60's Masters [Disc 2] Amazon
23Joe Henderson Snap Your FIngers Oxford American Music Issue #13-Mississippi Amazon
24Ray Price For The Good Times Columbia Country Classics – Volume 4: The Nashville Sound Amazon
25Brenda Lee I'm Sorry Miss Dynamite Amazon
26Jeanne Pruett Satin Sheets Classic Country: 1970-1974 [Disc 2] Amazon
27Loretta Lynn Coal Miner's Daughter Classic Country: 1970-1974 Amazon
28Willie Nelson On The Road Again One Hell Of A Ride Amazon
29Sammi Smith Help Me Make It Through The Night Country Ladies Amazon
30Conway Twitty Don't Cry No More Grady Martin Amazon
31Johnny Horton Honky Tonk Man Columbia Country Classics Volume 2: Honky Tonk Heroes Amazon
32Johnny Horton The Battle Of New Orleans Classic Country Amazon
33Mervin Shiner & Grady Martin Settin' The Woods On Fire Grady Martin Amazon
34Johnny Burnette Rock Billy Boogie Roughneck Blues 1949 – 1956 Amazon