Category Archives: American Popular

Heartland R&B

We revisit a show from ten years back that focused on R&B, sax, and a time before rock ‘n’ roll shook the world. A time of honkers and shouters. This week on Deeper Roots, we dig into the wild, joyful, and groundbreaking world of mid-century rhythm and blues through the lens of Arnold Shaw’s classic book Honkers and Shouters: The Golden Years of Rhythm and Blues. From the jump bands and saxophone blowouts to the gospel-fueled vocalists and hard-driving dance records that packed juke joints and ballrooms, we’ll explore the artists, producers, and cultural forces that gave birth to modern popular music. Join us for two hours of the sounds and stories that laid the foundation for rock ‘n’ roll and changed American music forever. We’ve got a wild one in store for you, one that we first tackled a decade ago here on Deeper Roots.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Ivory Joe Hunter I Got Your Water On The Chronological Ivory Joe Hunter : 1947 – 1950 1949 00:00
2Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra Harlem Shout Swingsation: Jimmie Lunceford 1998 05:56
3Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra Intro 1 Big Band Jazz Jubilee Sessions [Disc 3] 1945 08:47
4Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra Three Bones Big Band Jazz Jubilee Sessions [Disc 3] 1945 10:01
5Sister Rosetta Tharpe Shout Sister Shout Shout Sister Shout [[Disc 1]] The Original Soul Sister 1941 19:00
6Lucky Millinder; Sister Rosetta Tharpe Trouble in Mind The Gospel of Blues 2003 21:40
7Lucky Millinder; Sister Rosetta Tharpe I Want a Tall Skinny Papa The Gospel of Blues 2003 24:05
8Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra w/Myra Johnson Silent George Risque Rhythm: Nasty 50s R&B 1950 26:54
9Wynonie Harris; Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra Teardrops From My Eyes All She Wants To Do Is Rock 1950 29:29
10Wynonie Harris Hard Ridin? Mama Playful Baby 1947 37:12
11Wynonie Harris I Don't Know Where to Go Women Whiskey & Fish Tails 0 39:42
12Eddie Durham Swingin' the Blues King Cole Trio: Legendary 1941-44 Broadcast Transcriptions (The) 2011 41:57
13Count Basie Topsy Ken Burns Jazz: Count Basie 1937 43:57
14Count Basie Swingin' The Blues Ken Burns Jazz: Count Basie 1938 47:07
15Joe Liggins Daddy on My Mind Joe Liggins 1948-1950 1950 53:54
16Joe Liggins Rag Mop The Chronological Joe Liggins 1948 – 1950 1950 56:35
17Bull Moose Jackson Shorty's Got To Go Bad Man Jackson 1946 59:56
18Bull Moose Jackson If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin') Badman Jackson Thats Me 1955 1:02:35
19Bull Moose Jackson Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me Badman Jackson Thats Me 1949 1:04:57
20Big Jay McNeely & His Blue Jays Deacon's Hop Jump Jive & Swing 1948 1:13:30
21Big Jay McNeely All That Wine Is Gone Jumpin' Like Mad: Cool Cats & Hip Chicks Non-Stop Dancin' [Disc 1] 1951 1:16:16
22Big Mcneely Jay Willie And The Cool Cat Swing-O-Rama : Beautiful Babies 1949 1:19:08
23The Swallows It Ain't the Meat Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55 vol. 2 2005 1:21:50
24Tiny Bradshaw The Train Kept A-Rollin' Sentimental Journey 1951 1:26:26
25Tiny Bradshaw Intro 2 Big Band Jazz: The Jubilee Sessions 1944 1:29:08
26Tiny Bradshaw It's Sand Man Big Band Jazz: The Jubilee Sessions 1944 1:29:26
27Freddie Slack & His Orchestra w; T-Bone Walker Rifette R&B Jukebox Hits 1943 1943 1:32:05
28Freddie Slack With The Will Bradley Trio Down The Road A Piece Juke Joint Jump: A Boogie Woogie Celebration 1940 1:35:05
29Ivory Joe Hunter Stop Rockin' That Train The Chronological Ivory Joe Hunter : 1947 – 1950 1947 1:38:09
30Earl Bostic Flamingo Artist's Choice: Rolling Stones 1946 1:40:52
31Earl Bostic Always The E.P. Collection 1999 1:43:31
32Big Joe Turner Sun Risin' Blues Big Bad & Blue: Anthology [Disc 1] 1940 1:46:26
33The Cab Calloway Orchestra Cab Calloway Introducing Illinois Jacquet Carnegie Hall 7/6/1973 1973 1:54:40
34The Cab Calloway Orchestra w; Illinois Jacqauet Jumpin' Jacquet Carnegie Hall 7/6/1973 1973 1:54:58

Let’s Do It!

This week on Deeper Roots, the records come with instructions. From dance crazes and rhythm commands to songs about not knowing what comes next, we’re asking — and answering — ‘Let’s Do It!.’ Two hours of blues, rock ’n’ roll, soul, and jukebox rhythm from the past century, all with a demand that we get our booties moving or our bodies boogie’n. From Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King to The Dovells, Chubby Checker and Rosco Gordon, we’re digging deep with some classic blues and rare soul. But we’ve also got some rockin’, stompin’, rompin’, swingin’ to do with dances like the swim, the twist, the slop, and the boomerang…and we’ve even got Bobby Dunn pleading that we “Do The Bobby Dunn”. Nothing’s off limits and it’s nothing but fun on this week’s show as we explore something thematic that we’re excited to share with you. Whether it’s a party you’re hosting or you’re just out there in the yard prepping for the coming summer, turn it up. That’s right…do it!

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1The Four Blazes Do The Do Mary Jo 1954 00:00
2Howlin' Wolf Do The Do Muddy & The Wolf 1969 05:13
3Mabel Franklin Let's Do The Wiggle Stompin' 2 1965 07:22
4Lightnin' Hopkins Do The Boogie Lightnin' Sam Hopkins 1962 09:37
5B.B. King Let's Do the Boogie Do the Boogie! B.B. King's Early '50s Classics 1994 14:00
6Rufus Thomas Can Your Monkey Do the Dog The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (3 of 9) 1964 16:23
7Rufus Thomas (Do the) Push and Pull (Part 1) Stax Number Ones 2010 18:44
8Junior Walker & The All Stars Do The Boomerang The Ultimate Collection 1965 27:55
9Sugar Pie DeSanto Do The Whoopie Brunswick Lost Soul – Volume 1 1967 30:13
10Sugar Sweet Do the Dive Rhythm & Blues Goes Rock & Roll Vol 2 [Disc 12] 1963 32:36
11Dee Dee Sharp Do The Bird Girls Of Rock & Roll 0 34:56
12Bobby Dunn Do The Bobby Dunn Rare Soul: Groove & Grind 1963-1973 [Disc 4] 2015 37:08
13The Olympics Baby Do The Philly Dog Northern Soul Originals 1999 40:15
14Jackie Lee Do The Temptation Walk All Nighter Hits 0 47:19
15Dave Baby Cortez Do the Slop Happy Organs Wild Guitars 1994 49:46
16Little Joe Cook Let's Do the Slop Peanuts and Other Delicacies: The Little Joe Cook Story (1951-1962) 1956 52:58
17March Wind Do The Sweetback Stax 50th Anniversary Collection [Disc 3] 1994 55:21
18The Matta Baby Do the Pearl Girl (Part 2) All Night Long: Northern Soul Floor Fillers 2016 58:34
19The 5 Royales Do the Cha Cha Cherry The Complete Singles 1952-1962 1958 1:05:58
20The Hilltoppers Do The Bop Chills & Fever: The Dot Records Story 1955-1962 1955 1:08:10
21Isaac Clark Do The Dog Funk Rare Soul: Groove & Grind 1963-1973 [Disc 4] 2015 1:10:16
22Rosco Gordon Do The Chicken (Dance With You) Rockin' Memphis [Disc 1] 1956 1:13:14
23The Isley Brothers Do The Twist [Remastered 1991] Complete United Artists Sessions 1963 1:15:45
24The Staple Singers Do The Cissy [Stingers] The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles Vol. 2: 1968-1971 [Disc 2] 1969 1:18:27
25The Meters Do The Dirt Cabbage Alley 1972 1:21:12
26Bill Doggett Lets Do The Continetal New Discgems From Warner Brothers 1961 1:27:21
27The Dovells Do the New Continental Cameo Parkway 1957-1967 Disc 2 2005 1:30:00
28Fox Hall Do The Rock And Roll Sugar Jump 2019 1:32:36
29Johnny Thunder Everybody Do The Sloopy The Very Best Of Johnny Thunder 1965 1:35:11
30Bobby Freeman (I Do The) Shimmy Shimmy American Music Library: The Hits Of 1960 1960 1:37:49
31Gary U.S. Bonds Do The Bumpsie Gary U.S Bonds – 30 Original Greatest Hits 1965 1:40:19
32Chubby Checker Do The Freddy Classic Rock 1965 1965 1:42:43
33Little Bobby Moore Do The Ginger Snap The King Records Story Part2 1962 1:44:56
34Randy & the Rockets Lets Do the Cajun Twist Swamp Gold Volume 1 1991 1:47:33
35Dee Dee Sharp Mashed Potato Time Rare Soul: Groove & Grind 1963-1973 [Disc 4] 1967 1:54:15
36Chubby Checker Let's Twist Again Oldies But Goodies 2022 1:56:44


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

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

King Cole Covers

Nat King Cole’s transition from a respected jazz pianist to a mainstream icon was a perfect storm of technical brilliance, a groundbreaking vocal style, and a persona that radiated “suave sophistication.” While jazz purists sometimes lamented his move toward pop, it was his ability to blend jazz’s complexity with pop’s accessibility that made him a household name. He delivered hit after hit with a penchant for candidates (or entries from) the Great American Songbook. With this in mind, we’ll take this week’s show in an direction that honors the songs he became most famous for…from Bobby Troup’s Route 66 to Billy Strayhorn’s Lush Life…covered by others including some rocking tributes, some ballads in the style of country and bluesy soul numbers from Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke. We don’t stop there.  Join Dave Stroud for another celebration from a hundred years of America’s music

No.Artist Title Album
1Tiny Bradshaw Straighten Up and Fly Right Breaking Up the House [Disc 1]
2The Andrews Sisters Straighten Up and Fly Right Golden Age of the Andrews Sisters [Disc 1]
3Oscar Brown Jr. Straighten Up And Fly Right [Album Version] Sin & Soul… And Then Some
4Bobby Darin Nature Boy As Long As I'm Singing: The Bobby Darin Collection [Disc 2]
5Aaron Neville Nature Boy Nature Boy: The Standards Album
6Madeleine Peyroux Smile Half The Perfect World
7Jimmy Durante Smile As Time Goes By: Best of
8Chuck Berry Route 66 Cars
9Asleep at the Wheel Route 66 The Best of Asleep at the Wheel
10Wayne Newton L-O-V-E Wild Cool & Swingin'
11Natalie Cole L-O-V-E Unforgettable: With Love
12Charley Pride Ramblin' Rose 20 Classics
13Slim Whitman Ramblin' Rose All-Time Greatest Hits Vol 2
14Raul Malo Ramblin' Rose Quarantunes
15Brenda Lee Pretend This Is Brenda
16Carl Mann Pretend The Forgotten 45s 1957-1959 (CD3)
17Dinah Washington Unforgettable Jazz 'Round Midnight: Dinah Washington
18Peggy Lee Unforgettable Peggy Lee – The Marvelous Miss Lee
19Jimmy Wakely Mona Lisa The Collection 1940-53 CD2
20Carl Mann Mona Lisa Where Rock Was Born
21The Neville Brothers Mona Lisa Fiyo on the Bayou
22Marvin Gaye Too Young Ballads
23Frankie Laine Too Young I Hear Music
24Linda Ronstadt Lush Life Round Midnight [Disc 2]
25Sammy Davis Jr. Lush Life I've Gotta Be Me: The Best Of Sammy Davis Jr.
26Little Joe Cook I Love You for Sentimental Reasons Peanuts and Other Delicacies: The Little Joe Cook Story (1951-1962)
27Sam Cooke (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons Greatest Hits
28Raul Malo (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons The Nashville Acoustic Sessions
29Ray Noble The Very Thought of You Love Is the Sweetest Thing(Disc 2)
30Nancy Wilson The Very Thought Of You Lady Sings The Blues [Disc 1]
31Leon Redbone Sweet Lorraine Any Time
32Frank Sinatra Sweet Lorraine Reprise Collection [Disc 4]
33Nat King Cole The Frim Fram Sauce Jumpin' Like Mad: Cool Cats & Hip Chicks Non-Stop Dancin' [Disc 1]
34Nat King Cole Paradise The Very Thought Of You

Berry Covers

This week’s episode finds the heart of rock ‘n roll; that recipe of a rhythm and blues with just the right pinch of just about everything else. Chuck Berry’s legacy stands as one of the most important stories in rock ‘n roll’s 75 or so years. His music, particularly in those early years, was covered ad nauseum but it was always done best in an artist’s own voice. Why? Because the music speaks for itself. We’ll share music from Sleepy Labeef to Nina Simone, Linda Ronstadt to Peter Gammons (!), and Conway Twitty to the late, great John Hammond. Covers include You Never Can Tell, Sweet Little Sixteen, Nadine, and No Money down with another dozen, all honoring the King (or is it the Prime Minister) of Rock ‘n Roll whose 100th birthday will be celebrated later this year.


No.Artist Title Album
1Aaron Neville You Never Can Tell
2Peter Gammons Carol
3Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Around and Around (Live at the Fillmore 1997)
4Nina Simone Brown Eyed Handsome Man
5Lyle Lovett Brown Eyed Handsome Man
6Elvis Presley Maybelline
7Marty Robbins Maybelline
8Hard Working Americans School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)
9Elvis Presley Memphis Tennessee
10George Benson Memphis Tennessee
11Angela Strehli You Never Can Tell
12Emmylou Harris You Never Can Tell
13George Thorogood & The Destroyers No Particular Place To Go
14Jerry Lee Lewis Roll Over Beethoven
15Sleepy Labeef Roll Over Beethoven
16Buck Owens Johnny B. Goode
17Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Johnny B. Goode (Live at the Fillmore 1997)
18Arlen Roth Sweet Little Sixteen
19Jerry Lee Lewis; Ringo Starr Sweet Little Sixteen
20Ronnie Wood with his Wild Five Rock 'n' Roll Music (featuring Imelda May)
21Linda Ronstadt Back In The U.S.A.
22Reckless Kelly Back In the USA
23Kevin Russell Nadine
24John Hammond Nadine
25John Hammond No Money Down
26Duane Allman No Money Down
27Conway Twitty Reelin' and Rockin'
28Johnnie Allan Promised Land
29The Band Promised Land
30Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks Thirty Days
31Jeff Lynne Let It Rock
32Dion Sweet Little Rock and Roller (Album)

Women’s History Month

This week we celebrate Women’s History Month the way we know best — by following the music. For more than a century, women have shaped the sound of America’s story. They didn’t just sing the songs — they wrote them, bent them, electrified them, sanctified them, and sometimes had to fight just to be heard over them. From the tent shows and juke joints of the 1920s to arena stages and global spotlights, women have carried rhythm, blues, gospel, country, rock, pop — and the truth — on their shoulders. Tune in this coming Friday morning for a journey that begins at the foundation. Before rock and roll. Before crossover radio. When the blues was still carving its name into shellac and history. We’ll then make our way into the genres of jazz, country, rock, and gospel where women’ influenced the deeper roots of American music and you find their fingerprints everywhere — in the blues phrasing, in the gospel shout, in the country confession, in the pop hook, in the rock-and-roll roar.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Ma Rainey Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Ma Rainey Amazon
2Keb' Mo' Featuring Rosanne Cash Put A Woman In Charge Put A Woman In Charge Amazon
3Bessie Smith & Louis Armstrong St. Louis Blues I Heard It On NPR: Shake These Blues Amazon
4Memphis Minnie Me And My Chauffeur Blues Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey [Disc 2] Amazon
5Ethel Waters Heat Wave Ethel Waters 1929 -1939 (feat. Duke Ellington & Benny Goodman) Amazon
6Billie Holiday God Bless The Child Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday On Columbia 1933-1944 [Disc 10] Amazon
7Ella Fitzgerald Goody, Goody 75th Birthday Celebration [Disc 2] Amazon
8Dinah Washington What a Diff'rence a Day Makes The Essential Dinah Washington: The Great Songs Amazon
9Jimmie Grier The Object Of My Affection 50 #1 Hits Of The '20s & '30s Amazon
10Ivie Anderson It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) An Introduction To Ivie Anderson Amazon
11Tommy Dorsey, The Pied Pipers, Jo Stafford Embraceable You I Got Rhythm: The Music of George Gershwin Amazon
12Sister Rosetta Tharpe Rock Me Oxford American 10th Anniversary Southern Music CD [Disc 2] "Past Masters" [2008] Amazon
13Mahalia Jackson Move On Up A Little Higher, Pt. 1 Good News (Vol 3) Get Away Jordan Amazon
14Nina Simone See Line Women The Ultimate Nina Simone Amazon
15Betty Carter Open the Door American Beauty Amazon
16Judy Garland Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart Your Hit Parade – 1943 Amazon
17Sarah Vaughan I Feel So Smoochie September Song Amazon
18Kay Starr Rock and Roll Waltz Your Hit Parade – 1956 Amazon
19Peggy Lee Sugar (That Sugar Baby O' Mine) The Capitol Collector's Series Amazon
20Katie Shore You're From Texas It's All Her Fault: A Tribute To Cindy Walker Amazon
21Mother Maybelle Carter Keep on the Sunny Side Ash Grove (Live April 20, 1963) Amazon
22Patsy Cline Why Can't He Be You The Patsy Cline Collection Amazon
23Kitty Wells It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels American Roots Music (Disc One-Country) Amazon
24Dolly Parton Jolene Country Music: A Film By Ken Burns – The Soundtrack [Disc 2] Amazon
25Loretta Lynn She's Got You Classic Country 1975-1979 [Disc 2] Amazon
26Wanda Jackson Funnel Of Love Queen Of Rockabilly Amazon
27Etta James Come What May The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings 1 Amazon
28Aretha Franklin Think 30 Greatest Hits [Disc 1] Amazon
29Ruth Brown Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean Ruth Brown: The Definitive Soul Collection [[Disc 1]] Amazon
30The Crystals Da Doo Ron Ron The Best Of The Crystals Amazon
31LaVern Baker Jim Dandy (Japan 2012 Remaster) Atlantic Rock & Roll Amazon
32Carole King I Feel the Earth Move A Natural Woman: The Ode Collection (1968-1976) (1 of 2) Amazon
33Joni Mitchell Chelsea Morning Hits Amazon
34Joan Baez Farewell, Angelina Baez Sings Dylan Amazon
35Emmylou Harris If I Could Only Win Your Love Fifty Years Of Hits – Vol 5 Amazon

The Hijacked Jukebox

Join Dave Stroud for a look at a fascinating, if somewhat cringey, slice of music history, where white cover versions of black R&B nuggets were whitewashed across the pop charts in the 1950s. While the ‘cover version’ was a standard industry practice, so were the ‘sanitized’ versions of R&B hits by black artists that made them more ‘palatable’ for white radio audiences, spotlighting white artists while the original creators stayed in the shadows. It’s certainly something that could be the topic of numerous Deeper Roots episodes but we’ll limit our scope to a two hour exploration, measuring the original against the cover. On one side of the house we’ll hear from Fats Domino (a popular source for the practic), Big Joe Turner, The Moonglows and a handful of others. The other side of the house has the names of Pat Boone, Art Mooney, The Fontane Sisters and others among the dubious roster ‘favorites’. Radio and media helped to democratize the landscape but today’s parallels with the frothing ‘look over thereness’ of right wing hate is unmistakable and hard to ignore. It was George Santayana who observed that “those who do not learn from history, are bound to repeat it.“

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1The Fontane Sisters Hearts Of Stone Vintage Music " Vols 3 & 4 Amazon
2The Jewels Hearts of Stone Doo Wop Box Disc 1 Amazon
3The Fontane Sisters Rock Love They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4 Amazon
4Lula Reed Rock Love Rhythm & Western Volume 4 – I Hang My Head and Cry Amazon
5Eileen Barton Fujiyama Mama They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4 Amazon
6Annisteen Allen Fujiyama Mama From the Ghetto Amazon
7The Crew Cuts Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream) Magic Moments: Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 2) Amazon
8The Chords Sh-Boom Glory Days Of Rock 'N' Roll: Doo-Wop [Disc 1] Amazon
9The McGuire Sisters Sincerely Magic Moments: Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 2) Amazon
10The Moonglows Sincerely Pure R&B: Vol. 1- Got My Mojo Workin [Disc 2] Amazon
11The Crew Cuts Don't Be Angry High School Favorites Amazon
12Nappy Brown Don't Be Angry [1955 Version] Down In The Alley – The Complete Savoy Singles A's & B's Amazon
13The Fontane Sisters Please Don't Leave Me They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.3 Amazon
14Fats Domino Please Don't Leave Me Rock And Rollin Amazon
15Pat Boone The Fat Man They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4 Amazon
16Fats Domino The Fat Man Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: Piano Blues – A Film By Clint Eastwood Amazon
17Pat Boone Long Tall Sally The London American Story Disc 1 Amazon
18Little Richard Long Tall Sally Specialty Profiles: Larry Williams Amazon
19Art Mooney Tutti Frutti They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4 Amazon
20Little Richard Tutti Frutti Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 3 Amazon
21Johnnie Ray Flip Flop And Fly They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4 Amazon
22Big Joe Turner Flip Flop And Fly Big Joe Turner: The Definitive Blues Collection [[Disc 2]] Amazon
23Bill Haley & His Comets Shake, Rattle and Roll From The Original Master Tapes Amazon
24Big Joe Turner Shake, Rattle & Roll Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 1 Amazon
25Teresa Brewer Tweedle Dee The Best Of Teresa Brewer Amazon
26LaVern Baker Tweedlee Dee Pure R&B: Vol. 5- Pioneers [Disc 2] Amazon
27Gale Storm Why Do Fools Fall in Love The London American Story Disc 1 Amazon
28Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers Why Do Fools Fall in Love Gems from the Columbia Vaults, Pt. 1 Amazon
29Georgia Gibbs Dance With Me Henry Georgia Gibbs Greatest Hits Amazon
30Etta James The Wallflower The Best of Etta James [EMI-Capitol Special Markets] Amazon
31Jean Dinning Bo Diddley They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4 Amazon
32Bo Diddley Bo Diddley Pure R&B: Vol. 2- Somethings Got a Hold on Me [Disc 2] Amazon
33The Hilltoppers Teardrops From My Eyes They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4 Amazon
34Ruth Brown Teardrops From My Eyes Ruth Brown: The Definitive Soul Collection [[Disc 1]] Amazon
35Jaye P Morgan Baby Don't Do It They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.3 Amazon
36The 5 Royales Baby Don't Do It The Complete Singles 1952-1962 Amazon
37Perry Como Ko Ko Mo They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4 Amazon
38The Flamingos Ko Ko Mo The Best Of The Flamingos Amazon
39Ricky Nelson I'm Walkin' Legacy [Disc 1] Amazon

Party Goin’ On

Spring’s just around the corner but we’re all holding out with rain, wind and more California sunshine in our forecast until then. Don’t you think that this might call for a party? Well, some of us do and we’re going to mix up the country with the blues, the rock with the rockabilly, and the brassy with the sass as we prepare for the holiday known as President’s Day. I suppose the toddler in the basement wants that named after him, too. Can someone explain the rules of common decency and sense to President McFuddlepants? Please. I beg of you. We’ll leave him out of the party today, though, as we hang in there with a delicious spread of the very best music from the past century, including Mitty Collier, Dr. John, Marty Stuart, Merle Haggard, John Fogerty and Elvin Bishop. We’ll also hear from a local favorite, Doug Blumer and The Bohemian Highway, with a reminder that “The Party’s At Our House”.



No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives Sad House Big Party Saturday Night / Sunday Morning Amazon
2Roque Baños Party at the Restaurant Sexy Beast Amazon
3Dr. John Party Hellfire The Best Of The Parlophone Years Amazon
4Amos Milburn House Party (Tonight) Amos Milburn Rocks Amazon
5Amos Milburn Let's Have A Party ABC Of The Blues Vol 30 Amazon
6Hugo and Luigi Rockabilly Party The Forgotten 45s 1957-1959 (CD1) Amazon
7Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater Party at My House Mean Case of the Blues Amazon
8Jesse Allen Let's Party Stompin' 34 Amazon
9Sam Cooke Having A Party 100 Northern Soul Classics Amazon
10Mink DeVille Party Girls Cabretta Amazon
11Helena Ferguson Where Is The Party Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures – Vol. 5 Amazon
12Claudine Clark Party Lights The Best Of The Girl Groups, Vol. 1 Amazon
13Tammi Terrell Two Can Have A Party Come On And See Me: The Complete Solo Collection Amazon
14Mitty Collier My Party Talking With Her Man: The Chess Singles 1961-1968 Amazon
15Lesley Gore It's My Party 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Lesley Gore Amazon
16Charlie Wilson & His Hayloft Gang The Beer Party (1933) Work Hard, Play Hard, Pray Hard: Hard Time, Good Time, And End Time Music, 1923-1936 Amazon
17Dale Watson Pity Party The Best of the HighTone Years Amazon
18Don Gibson Give Myself A Party The Complete Recordings 1952-1962 Amazon
19Doug Blumer And The Bohemian Highway The Party's At Our House Doug Blumer And The Bohemian Highway Amazon
20Charline Arthur I'm Having A Party All By Myself Welcome To The Club Amazon
21Wanda Jackson There's A Party Going On There's A Party Goin' On Amazon
22Elvin Bishop Party Till The Cows Come Home Tulsa Shuffle Amazon
23Whitney Rose The Last Party Heartbreaker of the Year Amazon
24Merle Haggard Goin' Away Party Unforgettable Amazon
25Rosanne Cash I Don't Want To Spoil The Party Hits: 1979-1989 Amazon
26Porter Wagoner The Party & Dolly Parton 1967-1968 (Warped 6797) Amazon
27John Fogerty Garden Party (With Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmidt) The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again Amazon
28Charlie Faye & The Fayettes You Gotta Give It up (Party Song) The Whole Shebang Amazon
29The Jades with the Pacer's Music The Big Beach Party Banana Split for My Baby Amazon
30Annette Beach Party Cowabunga! The Surf Box Disc 3 Amazon
31The Super Stocks Muscle Beach Party Surf Route 101 Amazon
32Fats Domino What a Party My Blue Heaven: The Best of Fats Domino Amazon
33Smiley Lewis Caldonia's Party Smiley Lewis Vol 1 Amazon