Nine Pound Hammer

We’ve got ourselves a musical breadcrumb trail show featuring songs connected by titles, themes, characters, occupations, relationships, Cajun culture, tattoos, grace, summer romance, and a healthy dose of American eccentricity. We’ll be taking our journey from country to rockabilly, some Howlin’ Wolf, classic doo-wop, folk, gospel, swamp pop, and everything in between. It’s a scenic route through a century of American music. Starting with John Prine’s “Nine Pound Hammer,” we’ll follow a trail that winds through the Louvin Brothers, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, The Band, Johnny Cash, John Lee Hooker, Sam Cooke, and many others. Join us for another Friday morning two hours winding through the back roads. Because that’s where the roots run deepest. 

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1John Prine Nine Pound Hammer Sweet Revenge 1973 00:00
2The Louvin Brothers Are You Teasing Me Capitol Country Music Classics 0 05:15
3Willie Nelson House Of Gold Country Music 2010 08:05
4The Grateful Dead Operator American Beauty 1970 12:37
5Elvis Presley The Girl of My Best Friend Artist of the Century Disc 2 1999 14:57
6Ral Donner Girl Of My Best Friend American Music Library: The Hits Of 1961 1961 17:13
7The Band Jemima Surrender The Band 1969 19:21
8Johnny Cash I Will Rock And Roll With You The Legend: Old Favorites And New [Disc 2] 1978 28:06
9Ivory Joe Hunter You Can't Stop This Rocking and Rolling Ivory Joe Hunter 2005 30:49
10Chuck Willis Caldonia Roots of Rock 'n' Roll:Rough and Rowdy Vol. 3 1952 33:03
11The Debs Whaddaya Want Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55 vol. 2 2005 35:22
12Videos Trickle Trickle Doo Wop Box Disc 3 1994 37:52
13Jackie Wilson That's Why (I Love You So) 7 Classic Albums 1959 45:55
14The Sheppards Elevator Operator Golden Classics 1989 47:54
15Howlin' Wolf My Life Smokestack Lightning /The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960 1956 49:26
16John Lee Hooker One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer The Definitive Collection 1966 52:23
17Dusty Owens Hello Operator Talking on the Telephone Vol. 2 1953 55:16
18Freddy Cannon Buzz Buzz-A-Diddle It Talking on the Telephone Vol. 3 1961 57:33
19Steve Forbert Complications Jackrabbit Slim 1979 1:05:20
20Steve Goodman Somebody Else's Troubles Somebody Else's Troubles 1999 1:08:59
21Jo-el Sonnier Cajun Woman The Complete Mercury Sessions 1992 1:12:40
22Lil' Band Of Gold Cajun Twist Americana Roots Songbook: Louisiana 2002 1:15:12
23Skeets McDonald The Tattooed Lady Dirty Boogie: The Fortune Records Story 1950 1:19:20
24Sam Cooke Out In The Cold Again The Rhythm And The Blues 1961 1:25:03
25The Amazing Rhythm Aces Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song) Stacked Deck 1975 1:27:26
26The Blind Boys of Alabama Amazing Grace Hear Music volume 6 0 1:30:41
27Edd Presnell Amazing Grace Bluegrass Roots 2003 1:34:59
28The Valiants and Sandy Vale Suntan Tattoo Banana Split for My Baby 1959 1:36:39
29Eddie Cochran Hallelujah I Love Her So The London American Story – 1960 1959 1:38:41
30David Bromberg; Dr. John Such a Night The Last Waltz [Rhino Box Set] Disc 1 2002 1:40:58
31The Band (I Don't Want To Hang Up My) Rock 'N' Roll Shoes A Musical History [Disc 4] 1971 1:45:37
32Randy Newman I'm Different Trouble in Paradise 1983 1:55:13
33Randy Newman Maybe I'm Doin' It Wrong Sail Away 1970 1:57:43

Rockabilly Shakin’ Goin’ On

Roll down the windows and put that pedal to the metal because we’ve got two hours of wild rhythms and deep cuts this coming Friday. We’ll be digging into those slap-back echo, train-beat rhythms and wild-eyed energy of rockabilly music — that explosive blend of country, blues, boogie and early rock ’n’ roll that rattled America in the 1950s and helped redraw the cultural map for a generation of teenagers looking for something loud, fast and a little dangerous. Now sure, everybody knows the giants — Elvis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis — but tonight’s show leans into the side roads and back highways of rockabilly history. Alongside a few familiar names, we’ll spend two hours with the obscure cats, regional stars, one-hit wonders and forgotten firebrands producing some of the wildest sounds ever pressed onto vinyl. From Sonny Fisher and Ronnie Self to Roy Duke, Sonny Burgess, Johnny Garner and Laura Lee Perkins, this is the sound of American youth culture before it was polished, corporate or safe.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Louie Innis Sing Your Song Baby Hillbilly Bop 'n' Boogie: King/Federal Roots of Rockabilly 1944 – 56 2002 00:10
2Tex Williams Let's Go Rockabilly The Hillbillies – They Tried to Rock Vol.2 1957 05:28
3Johnny Garner DidiDidi Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1958 07:30
4Lew Williams Cat Walk Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1956 09:32
5Gene Vincent Cat Man Bluejean Bop-And His Blue Caps 0 11:40
6Sonny Fisher Pink And Black Classic Rockabilly-Cool Cats & Hot Chicks 1956 13:56
7Ronnie Self Rocky Road Blues 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 15:53
8Ronnie Dawson Action Packed Rockin' Bones: The Legendary Masters [Disc 1] 0 24:29
9The Strikes If You Can't Rock Me Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1957 26:36
10Bob Luman Make Up Your Mind Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1957 29:03
11Dave Rich Red Sweater Grady Martin 1957 31:29
12Laura Lee Perkins I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Lovin' Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1958 33:40
13Dave Rich Burn On Love Fire Country & Western Nuggets 1958 35:27
14Sid King & The Five Strings Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 37:15
15Wanda Jackson Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On Queen Of Rockabilly 1964 45:25
16Ricky Nelson Stood Up Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1957 48:05
17Johnny Burnette Rock n Roll Trio Please Don't Leave Me Tear It Up 1956 49:53
18Roy Duke Behave Be Quiet Or Be Gone 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 52:05
19The Collins Kids I'm In My Teens 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 54:05
20Billy & Don Hart Rock-A-Bop-A-Lina 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 56:20
21Johnny Horton I'm Coming Home American Originals 1956 1:02:45
22Johnny Horton Honky Tonk Mind (The Woman I Need) 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 1:04:48
23Jerry Lee Lewis Real Wild Child (Wild One) A Half Century Of Hits [Disc 1] 1958 1:06:58
24Warren Smith Got Love If You Want It The Best of Sun Rockabilly Vol. 2 1958 1:08:49
25Sonny Burgess Itchy The Best of Sun Rockabilly Vol. 2 1999 1:10:53
26Johnny Cash Rockabilly Blues (Texas 1955) The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983 Disc 3 1992 1:13:09
27Johnny Burnette Rock n Roll Trio Honey Hush Tear It Up 1956 1:16:26
28Carl Perkins Hambone Grady Martin 1962 1:22:33
29Carl Perkins Where The Rio De Rosa Flows 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 1:24:51
30Charlie Feathers Matchbox Good Rockin' Tonight 0 1:27:51
31Tommy Blake You Better Believe It Sun Rockabilly Meltdown [Disc 2] 2009 1:30:20
32Tommy Blake You Better Believe It Koolit: The Sun Years Plus 1958 1:32:05
33Unknown Rockabilly Band Zynnin' Boppin' By The Bayou – Baby Dolls & Drive-Ins 0 1:34:36
34Conway Twitty I Vibrate (From My Head to My Feet) The Rock 'N' Roll Years CD2 1997 1:36:03
35Conway Twitty Don't Cry No More Grady Martin 1963 1:38:03
36Mac Curtis Grandaddy's Rockin' Classic Rockabilly 1956 1:40:33
37Skeets McDonald You Oughta See Grandma Rock Classic Rockabilly 1956 1:42:31
38Gene Henslee Rockin Baby Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1954 1:44:27
39Johnny Burnette Rock n Roll Trio Your Baby Blue Eyes Tear It Up 1956 1:46:25
40Joe Clay Ducktail Classic Rockabilly-Cool Cats & Hot Chicks 1956 1:53:26
41Johnny Burnette Do Baby Do The Train Kept a-Rollin' Memphis to Hollywood – CD2 0 1:55:50
42The Collins Kids Whistle Bait 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2026 1:57:33

Burning Love Letters

From rocking celebrations to hard-earned reflections, this week’s episode of Deeper Roots turns its attention to the man they called “The King.” We’ve got two hours with songs about Elvis Presley — musical tributes, name-drops, eulogies, and love letters from artists across the past century. Some are playful, some reverent, and some wrestle with the contradictions that made Elvis both larger than life and painfully human. Together, they form a kind of American scrapbook around a figure who never really left the cultural conversation. From the wide-eyed devotion of artists like George Jones, Janis Martin, and Bobby Bare, to later songs reflecting on the strange and tragic arc that carried Elvis from hip-shaking revolutionary to Vegas spectacle, from the Nixon White House photo-op to a lonely and frightening decline, these recordings trace the many ways America mythologized him. Whether delivered as tribute, cautionary tale, obituary, or heartfelt fan letter, the songs on this morning’s show reveal just how deeply Elvis worked his way into the DNA of rock ’n’ roll mythology — and into the imagination of generations that followed.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Elvis Presley Elvis [Excerpt From Interview Held Sept.22 1958] Elvis: A Legendary Performer Vol. 1 1958 00:00
2Pat Smith Elvis Elvis Gals of the Big D Jamboree 1958 00:25
3Billy Boyle My Baby's Crazy 'Bout Elvis The Greatest Novelty Songs 1962 05:31
4Nervous Norvus Elvis You're A G.I. Now Stone Age Woo 1958 08:03
5Bobby Bare All American Boy All American Boy – CD 1 1963 10:14
6The Hunt Sisters Elvis Is Rocking Again Dirty Boogie:The Fortune Records Story 1960 13:09
7Janis Martin My Boy Elvis Loud Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 1 1999 14:40
8George Jones The King Is Gone (So Are You) One Woman Man 1989 23:33
9Steve Goodman Elvis Imitators Artistic Hair 1983 26:47
10Syd Straw & The Del Lords Listening To Elvis 200 Cadillacs 2003 29:36
11Horace Logan Announcements (& Elvis Has Left the Building) At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight (Disc 7) 2017 33:19
12Gillian Welch Elvis Presley Blues Artist's Choice: Emmylou Harris 0 33:52
13Dan Reeder Clean Elvis Oh Boy! A Sampler 0 43:56
14Cris Cuddy Dear Elvis Dear Elvis 2015 46:31
15Greg Brown Jesus and Elvis Poet Game 1994 49:49
16John Stewart I Want To Be Elvis Havana 2003 53:17
17Loudon Wainwright III Happy Birthday Elvis Career Moves 1993 56:39
18Leon Russell Elvis and Marilyn Americana 1978 1:00:37
19Sonny Burgess Bigger Than Elvis Sonny Burgess 1996 1:09:05
20Stray Cats Elvis on Velvet Runaway Boys: A Retrospective '81-'92 1997 1:11:43
21Mojo Nixon Elvis Is Everywhere Bo-Day-Shus!!! 1986 1:15:59
22Derailers I Love Me Some Elvis Genuine 2003 1:20:50
23Hayes Carll Jesus and Elvis What It Is 2019 1:27:07
24The Tractors The Elvis Thing Farmers in a Changing World 1998 1:30:25
25Alannah Myles Black Velvet The Atlantic Story [UK] Disc 2 0 1:35:42
26Kacey Musgraves Velvet Elvis Golden Hour 2018 1:39:38
27Marc Cohn Walking in Memphis VH1 Classic: The Cuts 2003 1:42:07
28Paul Simon Graceland Graceland 1986 1:46:11
29Cowboy Junkies Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis) The Trinity Session 1988 1:54:27

Tears On The Vinyl

They say that tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it. Whether they are shed in the dark of a midnight heartbreak, the overwhelming light of a spiritual awakening, or the quiet ache of a memory that just won’t fade, these tiny drops of salt water carry the weight of our history. Today, we’re tracing those trails down the cheeks of American music. with a show whose theme is ‘tears’.  We’ve got two hours of the lonesome, the joyful, and the broken-hearted. Featured artists include Etta James, Mac Wiseman, Big Maybelle, Faron Young and The Pilgrim Travelers, spanning the past century of America’s music from the mid-1930s to a cover of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s Ocean of Tears from 2019. We’ll experience tears that take us from remorse to pure joy and pleasant surprise full circle to tears brought on by physical pain. So pull up a chair, settle in, and let’s let the music do the weeping for us.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Little Anthony & The Imperials Tears on My Pillow The Best of Little Anthony & The Imperials 1958 00:00
2Chuck Jackson Tears Of Joy The Very Best Of Chuck Jackson 1961-1967 1963 05:35
3Gladys Knight & The Pips Letter Full Of Tears Soul Grooves 2002 08:13
4Tammi Terrell Tears At The End Of A Love Affair Come On And See Me: The Complete Solo Collection 1969 10:52
5Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Tears of a Clown Motown: The Classic Years Disc 2 1970 13:48
6Johnny Rivers The Tracks of My Tears Greatest Hits [Capitol] 1967 16:45
7Etta James Tears Of Joy The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings 1 1956 24:59
8Bonnie Raitt River Of Tears Green Light 1982 27:25
9Big Maybelle Ocean Of Tears The Complete OKeh Sessions 1952-'55 1955 32:10
10Pee Wee Crayton Eyes Full Of Tears Pee Wee's Blues – The Complete Aladdin And Imperial Recordings 1954 34:37
11Ray Charles Drown in My Own Tears Pure Genius: The Complete Atlantic Recordings (1952-1959) (1 of 8) 1959 36:42
12The Jackson Southernaires No Tears in Heaven Great Gospel – No Tears in Heaven 2004 44:04
13The Pilgrim Travelers God Shall Wipe All Tears Away Good News Vol. 4: Glory Glory Hallelujah 1949 49:10
14The Staple Singers I Can't Help From Cryin' Sometime Great Day 1962 51:27
15Robert Plant and The Soweto Gospel Choir Valley Of Tears Goin' Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino [Disc 2] 2007 53:43
16Jean Shepard Crying Holy 24 Greatest Gospel Hits 2009 55:51
17Bad Livers Crying Holy Unto The Lord Dust On The Bible 1998 57:52
18Mac Wiseman Crying Heart Blues Grassroots To Bluegrass 1990 1:07:57
19Country Gentlemen Silence or Tears Warped 6119 – Country Gentlemen – 1961 1961 1:10:20
20David Grisman; Emory Gordy; Herb Pedersen; Jim Buchanan; Vince Gill The Children Are Crying Here Today 1982 1:12:56
21Dolly Parton Endless Stream of Tears The Grass Is Blue 1999 1:15:28
22Faron Young Trail Of Tears Hello Walls / The Young Approach 1961 1:18:01
23Dick Curless Tears Instead of Cheers A Tombstone Every Mile (7CD Set) CD6 (1950-1969) 1996 1:20:10
24Tennessee Ernie Ford Ocean Of Tears The History Of Country & Western Music (Disc 20) 0 1:24:50
25JP Harris Ocean of Tears (feat. Miss Tess) Why Don't We Duet in the Road (Again) – EP 2019 1:27:23
26Skeets McDonald Curtain Of Tears Skeets McDonald – One Classic Album & Singles Collection 1952 1:29:57
27Ray Campi Curtain Of Tears Country Boy's Dream 1988 1:32:17
28Ella Fitzgerald Crying My Heart Out For You Cryin' Mood 1939 1:36:02
29Anita O'Day And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine Sentimental Journey: Great Ladies of Song 1944 1:39:08
30Dinah Washington You're Crying (from The Swingin' Miss D) Dinah Washington: Eight Classic Albums 1956 1:42:12
31Chris Connor Time Out For Tears Warm Cool: The Atlantic Years [Disc 1] 1999 1:45:39
32Dinah Shore Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside) Your Hit Parade: 1946 1946 1:48:18
33Lula Reed I'll Drown In My Own Tears Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio 1951 1:53:57
34Johnny Ray Cry Columbia Records 125th Anniversary 1951 1:56:47

Backbeat ’50

It’s a 1950 heatwave of rhythm and blues sounds this morning on Deeper Roots. We’ll move away from anything that might be polite or polished and turn our attention to the sweat-soaked, neon-lit world of rhythm and blues, a sound that was the early morning thunder and lightning just ahead of the dawn of rock ‘n roll. We’re focusing on the year 1950 where jump blues started to grow teeth — where the saxophones were honking, the backbeats hitting harder, and indie labels from Memphis to LA were capturing lightning in a bottle. From the smoky corners of the Delta to the high voltage clubs of the North, we’re digging deep into the crates for the some pounding rhythms from Dave Bartholomew, Julia Lee, Bull Moose Jackson, Jimmy McCracklin as well as Buddy and Ella Johnson…oh, and some Tiny Bradshaw’s Breaking Up The House. As Chuck Berry pointed out: “…it’s got a backbeat, you can’t lose it, any old time you use it”.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Sister Wynona Carr Don't Miss That Train Dragnet For Jesus 1950 00:00
2Buddy & Ella Johnson Walk the Chalk Line Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll/Volume 2 [Disc 7] 1950 05:22
3Ella Johnson No More Love Voodoo Voodoo: Feisty Fifties Females 1950 07:56
4Jimmy McCracklin Rockin? All Day (a/k/a Rockin? and Reelin?) Electric Blues?Part 1: Beginnings 1939-1954 1950 10:56
5Bull Moose Jackson Big Fat Mamas Are Back In Style Again Bull Moose Jackson 1947-1950 1950 13:34
6Cleo Brown Roll It Boogie Boogie Woogie Gals – 1939-57 1950 15:54
7Eunice Davis Rock Little Daddy Boogie Woogie Gals – 1939-57 1950 25:17
8Austin McCoy Happy Pay Day Part 1 More Mellow Cats & Kittens 1950 27:46
9Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra w/Myra Johnson Silent George Risque Rhythm: Nasty 50s R&B 1950 30:56
10Jewel King 3×7=21 Get Hot Sleazy Rhythm & Blues Vol. 3 1950 33:32
11Jewel King I Broke My Mother's Rule Gettin' Funky [Disc 4] 1950 36:04
12Julia Lee Can't Get Enough Of That Stuff Kansas City Star [Disc 5] 1950 38:17
13Violet Hall He's An Ivory Beating Baby (On The Baby Grand) Boogie Woogie Gals – 1939-57 1950 41:16
14Johnnie Brown I'm Gonna Stop (Foolin' Around) Jumpin' The Blues:MCA Label(ACE CD) 1950 48:49
15Tiny Bradshaw Breaking Up the House Breaking Up the House [Disc 2] 1950 51:12
16Tiny Bradshaw Well Oh Well Breaking Up the House [Disc 2] 1950 53:51
17Wynonie Harris I Want To Love You Baby All She Wants To Do Is Rock 1950 56:29
18Dave Bartholomew Ain't Gonna Do It (Rest Of My Life) Gettin' Funky [Disc 2] 1950 59:21
19Connie Jordan I'm Gonna Rock (Till My Rocker Breaks Down) Jumpin' The Blues:MCA Label(ACE CD) 1950 1:07:07
20Ruth Brown I'll Wait For You Miss Rhythm Greatest Hits And More Disc 1 1950 1:09:52
21Ivory Joe Hunter We're Going to Boogie Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll Vol 2 [Disc 13] 1950 1:12:25
22King Perry Everything's Gonna Be Alright Tonight Various Artists: Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll/Volume 2/[Disc 1] 1950 1:15:25
23Gene Phillips Women Women Women Hot R&B and Cool Blues 1946-52 1950 1:17:46
24Erline Harris Jump And Shout Get Hot Sleazy Rhythm & Blues Vol. 3 1950 1:20:35
25Percy Mayfield Strange Things Happening Poet of the Blues 1950 1:25:26
26The Robins If It's So The Dawn Of Doo-Wop Vol. 4: Doo-Wop Dancin' 1950 1:28:12
27The Dominoes Chicken Blues The Dawn Of Doo-Wop Vol. 4: Doo-Wop Dancin' 1950 1:31:14
28H-Bomb Ferguson Rock H-Bomb Rock Stompin' 14 1950 1:34:02
29Roy Brown & His Mighty Mighty Men Love Don't Love Nobody Original Blues/Greatest Hits 1950 1:36:10
30Little Esther & Mel Walker w; Johnny Otis Orchestra Cupid's Boogie Roots of Rock 'n' Roll – Rough and Rowdy Vol. 3 1950 1:38:51
31The Ravens My Baby's Gone OKeh Rhythm & Blues 1950 1:41:24
32The Three Riffs Cherry In My Lemon And Lime Hot Harmony Groups 1932-1951: Vol 1: That's the Rhythm 1950 1:44:09
33Harry Van Walls Tee-nah-nah Atlantic Rhythm & Blues: 1947-1974 [Disc 1] 1950 1:46:34
34Fats Domino Hey La Bas Boogie Gettin' Funky [Disc 3] – The Hitmakers 1950 1:53:53
35Fats Domino The Fat Man Gettin' Funky [Disc 3] – The Hitmakers 1950 1:56:14