Category Archives: Country Blues

Travelin’ Blues 2026

This Friday, Deeper Roots presents an encore broadcast from February 2020, exploring the rich intersection of gospel, blues, and tradition through the theme of the “Travelin’ Blues.” Whether the journey leads down the King’s Highway toward salvation or along a lonely back road toward temptation, we’ll steer clear of the toll roads and follow the winding paths where sacred and secular music have traveled side by side for generations. Along the way you’ll hear performances from Rory Block, Chris Smither, Eric Clapton, Freddie King, The Golden Gate Quartet, and many more. Originally conceived as the first installment in a series of programs about songs of the road, this episode explores highways and journeys through the language of the blues and gospel. Join us for two hours of American roots music where every mile has a story to tell.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Maria Muldaur Travelin' Shoes 1974 00:00
2Blind Sammie (Blind Willie McTell) Travelin' Blues 1929 05:42
3Taj Mahal Farther On Down The Road 2000 08:49
4Roland Stone Down The Road 1960 11:56
5Freddie Slack Down The Road 2003 14:15
6Eric Clapton Further On Down the Road 2013 20:57
7Chris Smither Look Down the Road 0 26:32
8Mattie Delaney Down The Big Road Blues 1930 29:06
9Unidentified Quartet I Look Down The Road And Wonder 2010 36:43
10The Golden Gate Quartet I Looked Down The Road And Wondered 1939 39:49
11Rory Block If You Haven't Any Hay Get On Down The Road 2014 44:12
12Paul Butterfield's Better Days Highway 28 1972 52:29
13Johnny Guitar Watson Highway 60 2006 55:28
14Lowell Fulson Highway 99 2008 57:47
15Gatemouth Moore Highway 61 Blues 2000 1:00:42
16Honeyboy Edwards Strollin' Down Highway 61 0 1:03:13
17Snooks Eaglin Traveling Mood 1995 1:08:42
18Doc Pomus Traveling Dog 1949 1:10:54
19Ella Johnson & Buddy Johnson Get On Down The Road 1958 1:13:19
20Ernie Andrews With Maxwell Davis Orchestra Travelin' Baby 1951 1:16:17
21Slim Gaillard & His Boogiereeners Travelin' Blues 1945 1:18:44
22T-Bone Walker Travelin' Blues 1950 1:21:44
23Smiley Lewis Lonesome Highway 2010 1:28:47
24Howling Wolf Driving This Highway 1952 1:31:00
25Freddie King Key To The Highway 1970 1:33:51
26Freddie King Living On The Highway 1971 1:37:11
27Little Walter Key To The Highway 0 1:41:20
28Eric Clapton Traveling Riverside Blues 2004 1:44:04
29Tommy McLennan Travelin' Highway Blues 1941 1:50:03
30Cripple Clarence Lofton Travelin' Blues 1939 1:52:58
31Eric Bibb/Rory Block/Maria Muldaur Travelin' Woman Blues 2004 1:55:03

Country Shed Shakers

This week’s show peels back the velvet curtain of the Golden Age of Country music and introduces some lower chart shed shakers from the outskirts of Nashville. While the charts were full of polished crooners and weeping violins, there was a different sound brewing in and around the perimeter—a raw, frantic energy that didn’t belong in a ballroom. These are the tracks that blurred the line between the honky-tonk and the garage. We’ll deliver the distorted side of that golden age with some familiar names (Buck Owens, Jerry Reed, Johnny Bond) and some of those who were lost to those dusty Ernest Tubb Record Shop dollar bins (Eddie Zack, Jimmy Swan, Benny Barnes), all  in a package meant to get those fingers poppin’. Hope you can join us for some gritty, low-fi country vibes.

No.Artist Title Album
1Luke Wills' Rhythm Busters Shut Up And Drink Your Beer Stompin' Singers & Western Swingers ([Disc 3] It Ain't Far To The Bar)
2Luke Wills' Rhythm Busters High Voltage Gal Stompin' Singers & Western Swingers ([Disc 3] It Ain't Far To The Bar)
3Sheb Wooley Mule Boogie Country & Western Nuggets
4Smokey Hogg And His Guitar Crawdad Rhythm & Western Volume 1 – When Two Worlds Collide
5Billy Strange Hell Train Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974)
6Hawkshaw Hawkins Waitin' for My Baby Country & Western Nuggets
7Bobby Lord No More No More No More Country & Western Nuggets
8Buck Owens Hot Dog Bound for Bakersfield 1953-56
9Wanda Jackson Hot Dog! That Made Him Mad Queen Of Rockabilly
10The Hurricanes Pistol Packin' Mama Rhythm & Western Volume 1 – When Two Worlds Collide
11Johnny Bond Somebody's Pushin' Put Me To Bed
12Jerry Reed When I Found You Country & Western Nuggets
13Jerry Reed Mister Whizz Country & Western Nuggets
14Eddie Zack I?m Gonna Roll and Rock Country & Western Nuggets
15Jimmy Murphy Sixteen Tons Rock `n? Roll Country & Western Nuggets
16Jimmy Swan Country Cattin? Country & Western Nuggets
17Johnny Bond Lonesome Train Put Me To Bed
18Skeets McDonald I Got A New Field To Plow Skeets McDonald – One Classic Album & Singles Collection
19Dusty Payne My Walkin' Shoes The Other Side of Bakersfield Vol. 2; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West'
20The Farmer Boys Somehow Someway Someday The Other Side of Bakersfield
21Billy Walker I've Got Leavin' On My Mind Whirlpool – Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight
22Jimmie Peters Rhythm of Love Country & Western Nuggets
23Titus Turner A Knockin' At My Baby's Door Rhythm & Western Volume 1 – When Two Worlds Collide
24Dave Rich Tuggin? At My Heart Strings Country & Western Nuggets
25Freddie Hart Heaven Only Knows Country & Western Nuggets
26Faron Young Honey Stop Country & Western Nuggets
27Benny Barnes King for a Day Country & Western Nuggets
28Ferlin Husky Wang Dang Do Country & Western Nuggets
29Little Jimmy Dickens Hey Ma (Hide the Daughter) Country & Western Nuggets
30Dave Rich Burn On Love Fire Country & Western Nuggets
31Lee Bonds Home Coming Country & Western Nuggets
32Johnny David Race With The Devil Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974)
33Steve Bledsoe Bang Bang You're Dead Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter
34Jimmie Pearson And The Melody Makers Nobody Cares Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter
35Cowboy Copas Bury Me Face Down Hillbillies in Hell Country Music?s Tormented Testament Volume 5
36Black Jack Wayne Red Silk Stockings and Green Perfume Country & Western Nuggets
37Mel Tillis You Are The Reason Country & Western Nuggets
38Rink Hardin What Did I Do Country & Western Nuggets
39Wynn Stewart Big Big Love Country & Western Nuggets

Down & Dirty Blues

This week’s show leans into the rougher side of the tradition: the places where bruised pride, bad decisions, and raw truth find their way into song. “The down and dirty blues” isn’t a stylistic claim so much as a shared attitude — the kind shaped by rent coming due, lovers turning cold, and the kind of trouble that sits heavy in the gut. Across the past century, singers and players have used these stories to put plainspoken feeling into motion, building grooves that don’t promise comfort so much as recognition. Across two hours, we’ll move through voices that carried this edge with conviction — men and women from the 1930s onward who weren’t at all shy about calling out mean mistreaters or confessing their own missteps. You’ll hear hard-driving cuts where guitars sting, pianos roll, and vocals land with a certain bruising weight. Tune in for the likes of Victoria Spivey, Lonnie Johnson, Dirty Red, Little Joe Blue, Howlin’ Wolf and a couple dozen others. The ‘dirty dozen’ doesn’t get much dirtier than this.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Annisteen Allen Down By The River Get Hot Sleazy Rhythm & Blues Vol. 3 Amazon
2Howlin' Wolf Down In The Bottom Moanin' In The Moonlight Amazon
3Victoria Spivey Down Hill Pull Moaning The Blues (The Blues Collection Vol.65) Amazon
4Memphis Minnie Dirty Mother For You Blues Classics: '27_'69 [Disc 1] Amazon
5Dirty Red Mother Fuyer Eat to The Beat: The Dirtiest of Them Dirty Blues Amazon
6Little Junior Parker Dirty Friend Blues Abc of the Blues, Vol. 36 Amazon
7Little Joe Blue Dirty Work Goin' On Chess Blues Disc 4 Amazon
8Little Johnny Jones & The Chicago Hound Dogs Dirty By The Dozen (Sweet Little Woman) The Flair Story – Dust My Rhythm & Blues Amazon
9Muddy Waters Down South Blues More Real Folk Blues Amazon
10Smokey Hogg Dirty Mistreater The Mercury Blues Story (1945-1955) – Southwest Blues, Vol. 2 Amazon
11B.B. King Every Day I Have the Blues Pure R&B: Vol. 3- Let the Good Times Roll [Disc 1] Amazon
12Amos Milburn Hard Driving Blues Eat to The Beat: The Dirtiest of Them Dirty Blues Amazon
13T-Bone Walker It's a Lowdown Dirty Deal The Very Best of T-Bone Walker [Koch] Amazon
14Piano Red – Dr. Feelgood Don't Tell Me No Dirty The Doctor's in – Disc 4 Amazon
15J.B. Lenoir Low Down Dirty Shame Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: J.B. Lenoir Amazon
16Lonnie Johnson The Dirty Dozen Lonnie Johnson: Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 6 (1930-31) Amazon
17Victoria Spivey From 1 to 12 (Dirty Dozen) The Victoria Spivey Collection 1926-1937 Amazon
18Little Milton I Play Dirty Living The Blues: The 70's Blues Classics Amazon
19Jimmy Reed Down The Road You Dont Have To Go (The Blues Collection Vol.18) Amazon
20Bobby Bland Driftin' Blues The Best Of Bobby Bland Amazon
21Jimmy Witherspoon Bar Fly Blues Raw Blues Amazon
22Wynonie Harris Hard Luck Blues Battle of the Blues – Volume 2 Amazon
23John Lee Hooker Blues Before Sunrise Don't Look Back Amazon
24The Leap Frogs Dirty Britches No Jive: Authentic Southern Country Blues Amazon
25George Harmonica Smith/Long Gone Miles Low Down Dirty Shame [#] Juke Joint Blues 1950's-1960's Amazon
26Rory Block Low Down Dirty Dog Blues Blues Walkin' Like a Man: A Tribute To Son House Amazon
27Amina Claudine Myers Dirty No-Gooder's Blues Oxford American 11th Edition Southern Music CD [Disc 2, "Arkansas Masters"] Amazon
28Dinah Washington Big Long Slidin' Thing Eat to The Beat: The Dirtiest of Them Dirty Blues Amazon
29Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends Don't Come Too Soon Eat to The Beat: The Dirtiest of Them Dirty Blues Amazon
30Buddy Guy First Time I Met the Blues Chess Blues Disc 4 Amazon
31Geeshie Wiley Last Kind Words Blues Before The Blues: Early American Black Music Scene (Vol. 2) Amazon
32Dave Bartholomew & His Orchestra My Ding-A-Ling Eat to The Beat: The Dirtiest of Them Dirty Blues Amazon

Harmonica Legends

Got a harmonica romp through the past one hundred years of America’s Music this coming Friday morning. We’ll be following the harmonica’s journey along and across the American crossroads…one that began in the 19th century, when inexpensive German-made “mouth harps” made their way into the hands of soldiers, travelers, and rural families. Its portability and expressive bends made it a natural fit for early blues and country porch settings. From that country blues porch setting to the juke joints where electric blues, rock, soul, blues, and Americana meet and mingle. We’ll be opening the vaults for some classic tracks from the likes of Little Walter, DeFord Bailey, Mickey Raphael, Sonny Boy Williamson, Charlie Musselwhite, and a couple dozen others as we celebrate the “mouth harp” for its blistering, distorted lead influencing generations of performers of all stripes. Drop in…we’d be glad to have you visit this Friday morning. 

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1DeFord Bailey Fox Chase Country Music: A Film By Ken Burns – The Soundtrack [Disc 1] Amazon
2DeFord Bailey Davidson County Blues When The Sun Goes Down: Walk Right In – The Secret Story Of Rock & Roll Amazon
3Sonny Boy Williamson Your Funeral And My Trial His Best: Sonny Boy Williamson – The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection Amazon
4Slim Harpo Buzzin' [Single Version] The Best Of Slim Harpo Amazon
5Paul Butterfield Blues Band Shake Your Money Maker Blues Masters, Vol. 15: Slide Guitar Classics Amazon
6Junior Wells Messin' With The Kid Living The Blues – 1965 – 1969 Blues Classics Amazon
7Jimmy Reed Big Boss Man MOJO: Rock! Rock! Rock! Amazon
8Little Walter My Babe His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) Amazon
9James Cotton, Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Billy Branch Who Let's Dance: The Best Of Ballroom: Swing, Lindy, Jitterbug and Jive Amazon
10James Cotton Feat. Joe Bonamassa Cotton Mouth Man Cotton Mouth Man Amazon
11Taj Mahal Leaving Trunk The Best Of Taj Mahal Amazon
12Charlie Musselwhite Christo Redemptor Stand Back! Amazon
13Slim Harpo Baby Scratch My Back The Excello Singles Anthology Disc 2 Amazon
14Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee Fox Chase – Mouth Organ The Long Road to Freedom: An Anthology of Black Music [Disc 3] Amazon
15Bill "Jazz" Gillum Don't You Scandalize My Name Jazz Gillum: Complete Recorded Works Vol.1 1936-49 Amazon
16Howlin' Wolf Moanin' At Midnight Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: The Road To Memphis Amazon
17Howlin' Wolf Smokestack Lightnin' Blowing The Fuse: 1956 Amazon
18Woody Guthrie Pastures Of Plenty American Roots- A History Of American Folk Music: [Disc 4] Amazon
19Jesse Fuller San Francisco Bay Blues Friends Of Old Time Music [Disc 2] Amazon
20Ramblin' Jack Elliott Roll On Buddy The Essential Ramblin' Jack Elliott Amazon
21Bob Dylan Blowin' In The Wind Sing America Amazon
22Charlie McCoy Orange Blossom Special The Real McCoy Amazon
23Norton Buffalo Eighteen Wheels Lovin' In The Valley Of The Moon Amazon
24Willie Nelson On the Road Again Revolutions of Time: The Journey 1975-1993 Disc 1 Amazon
25Bruce Channel Hey Baby (Delbert McClinton Harp) Don't Do It: The Smash Record Story 1961-1962 [Disc 2] Amazon
26The Fabulous Thunderbirds I Believe I'm In Love Essential Fabulous Thunderbirds Amazon
27Bob Dylan I Want You Blonde on Blonde Amazon
28Willie Nelson City Of New Orleans The Essential Willie Nelson Amazon
29Neil Young/Stray Gators Heart of Gold Harvest Amazon
30Ozark Mountain Daredevils If You Wanna Get To Heaven The Ozark Mountain Daredevils Amazon
31Bruce Springsteen The River Chapter & Verse Amazon
32Alfred Lewis Friday Moan Blues Harmonica Blues Amazon

Rhythm & Bayou Romp

The sounds of New Orleans carry a mood that’s both jubilant and deeply human; it dances and mourns in the same breath. It’s the sound of the street parade meeting the juke joint: syncopated, earthy, and alive with horns, piano rolls, and that unmistakable backbeat shuffle. Unlike the more urban polish of Chicago blues or the rural cry of the Delta, New Orleans R&B has always felt like a conversation between the sacred and the profane, where gospel chords meet barroom swagger. Just beyond the Crescent City’s lights, where the waters of the bayou take form, we’ve got the accordians and fiddles of the swamp, where there’s humor, head and heartbreak woven into the DNA of the deep South. It is joyous and haunted, elegant and raw, as well as endlessly resilient. The music of New Orleans inspired an ethos — that music could be communal, unrestrained, and celebratory no matter the hardship. It taught America how to dance through its troubles, to find rhythm in resilience, and to turn sorrow into sound that still shakes the rafters and demands a communal dance to this day. This week’s show raises the flag of the Crescent City and her environs with a rhythm and bayou romp!

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Roomful Of Blues New Orleans Best of Roomful of Blues The Alligator Records Years Amazon
2Rusty & Doug Kershaw Louisiana Man Louisiana & The Old New Orleans Sound Amazon
3Jimmy Newman A Fallen Star Louisiana & The Old New Orleans Sound Amazon
4Alvin Robinson Down Home Girl Louisiana & The Old New Orleans Sound Amazon
5Joe Barry I'm a Fool to Care Louisiana & The Old New Orleans Sound Amazon
6Rod Bernard Pardon Mr. Gordon Chess New Orleans [Disc 2] Amazon
7Barbara George I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) Highlights From Crescent City Soul: Sound Of New Orleans 1947-1974 Amazon
8Irma Thomas & Marcia Ball I Just Can't Get New Orleans Off My Mind Goin' Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino [Disc 2] Amazon
9The Hawketts Your Time's Up Chess New Orleans [Disc 1] Amazon
10Sugar Boy Crawford No More Heartaches Chess New Orleans [Disc 1] Amazon
11Clifton Chenier The Big Wheel (Squeeze Box Shuffle) Chess New Orleans [Disc 1] Amazon
12Clifton Chenier Calinda Destination New Orleans Amazon
13Bobby Mitchell I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 2] Amazon
14Fats Domino The Big Beat Fats Domino Out of New Orleans Amazon
15Dr. John Blue Monday Goin' Back To New Orleans Amazon
16Fats Domino What's Wrong Fats Domino Out of New Orleans Amazon
17Theryl De Clouet I Get Lifted A Celebration Of New Orleans Music To Benefit MusiCares Hurrincane Relief 2005 Amazon
18Sammy Naquin New Orleans Waltz Best of Cajun Instrumentals Amazon
19Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie Canaille Doctors Professors Kings & Queens: Box New Orleans Amazon
20Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys La Crhve De Faim (Starvation 2-Step) Doctors Professors Kings & Queens: Box New Orleans Amazon
21Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys New Orleans Beat La Toussaint Amazon
22Lil' Queenie & The Percolators My Darlin' New Orleans Doctors Professors Kings & Queens: Box New Orleans Amazon
23Sunpie And The Louisiana Sunspots Bunny Bread Destination New Orleans Amazon
24Johnny Adams Release Me Doctors Professors Kings & Queens: Box New Orleans Amazon
25Jimmy Clanton Another Sleepless Night Louisiana & The Old New Orleans Sound Amazon
26Jewel King 3X7=21 New Orleans R&B Outbreak Amazon
27Charles "Hungry" Williams So Glad You're Mine The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 1] Amazon
28Archibald Stack O Lee Sound Of The City, The – New Orleans [UK] Disc 1 Amazon
29Great Day of New Orleans Singers You've Got To Be Modernistic Black American Choirs 1926-31 Amazon
30Great Day of New Orleans Singers Shout On Black American Choirs 1926-31 Amazon
31The Red Stick Ramblers Main Street Blues Doctors Professors Kings & Queens: Box New Orleans Amazon
32Dirty Dozen Brass Band Mardi Gras In New Orleans A Celebration Of New Orleans Music To Benefit MusiCares Hurrincane Relief 2005 Amazon

Sun Shadows: The Untold Tracks

In the long view, rock ‘n roll’s rise was no surprise as it’s sound had been peeking through the tall grass since the 1930s with some risque (and risky) rhythm and blues, gospel celebrations and fast-paced swinging country sounds. When Sam Phillips’ small operation in Memphis kicked off, who would have guessed that the fusion of all these sounds would somehow resonate with it’s blend of hillbilly, blues, rhythm and gospel influences. But it did. And here we are. Tune into Deeper Roots as we go a bit deeper into the sounds of Sun Records, beyond the Elvis, Roy, Johnny, Carl and Jerry Lees. We’ll turn our attention to others from the early years including The Miller Sisters, Slim Rhodes, Barbara Pittman and The Prisonaires. The music we’ve got is sometimes raw, sometimes wild and always headed in the same direction. Don’t miss this one!

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Bobbie Jean Cheaters Never Win Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
2Jack Clement Ballad of a Teenage Queen The Sun Country Box CD6 I Was There When It Happened Amazon
3Bobbie & the Boys To Tell the Truth Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
4The Prisonaires There Is Love in You Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
5The Prisonaires Just Walking in the Rain Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
6Miller Sisters Finders Keepers Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
7Miller Sisters It Only Hurts for a Little While Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
8Roy Orbison Trying to Get to You Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
9Slim Rhodes Band Bad Girl Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
10Slim Rhodes Band (Vocal: Sandy Brooks) Take and Give Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
11Slim Rhodes Do What I Do The Sun Country Box CD1 Memphis Bounce Amazon
12Ken Cook I Was a Fool Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
13Ray Smith Sail Away Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
14Charlie Feathers So Ashamed The Sun Country Box CD6 I Was There When It Happened Amazon
15Jimmy Williams That Depends On You Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
16Sonny Burgess Sweet Misery Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
17Carl Mann I'm Bluer Than Anyone Can Be Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
18Tommy Blake Ballad of a Broken Heart The Sun Country Box CD6 I Was There When It Happened Amazon
19Warren Smith I'd Rather Be Safe Than Sorry Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
20Jeanie Greene aka Mary Johnson River of No Return Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
21Mikki Wilcox I Know What It Means Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
22Mikki Wilcox Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
23Barbara Pittman Two Young Fools in Love Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
24Barbara Pittman No Matter Who's to Blame Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
25Little Hannah Fay The Miracle of You Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
26Maggie Sue Wimberly Daydreams Come True Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
27Harold Jenkins aka Conway Twitty Just in Time Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
28Vernon Taylor Breeze Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
29The Sunrays Love Is a Stranger Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
30The Five Tinos Sitting By My Window Sun Ballads 1953-62 Amazon
31Scotty Moore & Elvis Presley How Do You Think I Feel The Sun Country Box CD2 Boogie Blues Amazon
32Harmonica Frank Floyd Step It Up and Go The Sun Country Box CD1 Memphis Bounce Amazon
33Smokey Joe Baugh The Signifying Monkey The Sun Country Box CD2 Boogie Blues Amazon

Echoes of Blues Greats

There’s an echo in the well of Americana and it reverberates from tradition and some of the early songsmiths and blues masters who delivered the blues proper through the depths of the past century of America’s music. We’ll be pulling some of the classic blues covers of songs composed by just a small collection of the great blues masters: Charley Patton, Muddy Waters, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Lonnie Johnson, Blind Blake and beyond in this week’s episode. There is seldom enough time to make a dent in only two hours but we’ll do our best with covers from some of the inheritors like BB King, Carl Perkins, Bob Dylan, Jorma Kaukonen and a couple dozen others. We’re excavating some deeper roots this week and then tilling the airwaves with freshly turned songs of the earth; a landscape of blues cutting a deep swath across the musical landscape of the past 100 years. Celebrating blues and those who brought it home this week on KOWS Community Radio.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Graham Parker Poor Me Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
2Rising Sons By And By (Poor Me) [Album Version] Rising Sons Amazon
3Charlie Musselwhite Pea Vine Blues Down the Dirt Road: The Songs of Charley Patton Amazon
4Jorma Kaukonen & Tom Hobson Police Dog Blues Quah [Bonus Tracks] Amazon
5Jimmie Dale Gilmore Black Snake Moan Braver Newer World Amazon
6Bo Diddley Diddy Wah Diddy Bo Knows Bo Amazon
7Bob Dylan See That My Grave Is Kept Clean Bob Dylan Amazon
8Andy Fairweather Low Matchbox The Invisible Bluesman Amazon
9Carl Perkins Matchbox Dixie Fried Amazon
10Sam Price and his Texas Blusic Match Box Blues 1929-1941 Amazon
11B.B. King Tomorrow Night Reflections Amazon
12Lonnie Johnson, John Hughes, Roy Coulter Tomorrow Night Tomorrow Night Amazon
13John Sebastian I Found A Dream – (Live At Winterland) Faithful Virtue: The Reprise Recordings – Faithful Virtue: The Reprise Recordings [Disc 3] Amazon
14Lonnie Johnson I Found A Dream Blues & Ballads (With Elmer Snowden) (Reissued 1990) Amazon
15Ramblin' Jack Elliott Rambler's Blues A Stranger Here Amazon
16Elmore James Call It Stormy Monday Greatest Blues Legends Amazon
17Roomful of Blues I Know Your Wig Is Gone That's Right Amazon
18Boz Scaggs T-Bone Shuffle Come On Home Amazon
19Peter Wolf Rollin' & Tumblin' A Tribute To Muddy Waters – King Of The Blues Amazon
20Shannon McNally The Stuff You Gotta Watch Black Irish Amazon
21Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Cross My Heart Chess Blues Guitar / Two Decades Of Killer Fretwork, 1949-1969 Amazon
22Johnny Winter Help Me The Progressive Blues Experiment Amazon
23Dr. John/John Hammond, Jr./Michael Bloomfield Last Night Triumvirate Amazon
24Tommy Castro And The Painkillers Bad Luck Method To My Madness Amazon
25Dinah Washington Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? Verve Unmixed Amazon
26Louis Jordan Caldonia Number Ones Amazon
27B.B. King Jack, You're Dead! Let the Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordan Amazon
28Muddy Waters Don't Go No Farther His Best, 1956 To 1964 Amazon
29Muddy Waters Got My Mojo Working Chess Blues Disc 3 Amazon
30Muddy Waters The Same Thing The Definitive Collection Amazon
31Big Daddy Wilson Couldn't Keep It to Myself Deep in My Soul Amazon

Over The Hill

While we often touch on the contemporary songs of our own and subsequent generations in the show, we also like to drill into the performers and sounds that contributed to our musical heritage. The foundation of America’s music is not just a single flavor. It is a melting pot of many from all corners: the British Isles, the African continent, the islands of the Caribbean, and points south and north. The resulting harmonies, topics, and musical celebrations have further woven themselves into the fabric of our culture. This week’s show leans on some pieces that were suggested by a listener and this allowed me to take liberties when digging a bit deeper for the show. We’ll hear from Pete Seeger, The Million Dollar Quartet, Buck Owens, Alison Krauss and Mississippi Fred McDowell. We’ll also take in the American Songbag’s In The Pines and then proceed down the river and over the hill in the show this week.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives 99-1/2 Won't Do [Live] The Gospel Music Of Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives [Live] Amazon
2Annie Mae & Fred McDowell I'm Going Over The Hill The Essential Guide To Gospel Amazon
3Stringbean Going Over the Hill Layin' Low Amazon
4John Martyn Over the Hill Couldn't Love You More Amazon
5Mahalia Jackson Just Over the Hill Sunday Morning Prayer Meeting with Mahalia Jackson Amazon
6Buck Owens Goin' Down To The River Buck Owens Four Classic Albums [Disc 4] Amazon
7Alison Krauss Down To The River To Pray Oxford American Southern Sampler 2000 Amazon
8Ray Charles I'm Going Down To The River Ain't That Fine Amazon
9Suzy Boggus It All Falls Down To The River w/ McCrary Sisters Prayin' For Sunshine Amazon
10Mississippi Fred McDowell Going Down The River The First Recordings Amazon
11Etta Baker & Taj Mahal Going Down The Road Feeling Bad Etta Baker With Taj Mahal Amazon
12Bobby Bare Going Down the Road (I Ain't Going to Be Treated This Way) fcc warning Darker Than Light Amazon
13Down Like Silver To the River Light That Match – Single Amazon
14Lead Belly Where Did You Sleep Last Night? Best Of Leadbelly Amazon
15The Browns In the Pines Classics 1960 (Warped 6062) Amazon
16Dave Van Ronk In the Pines The Folkway Years: 1959-1961 Amazon
17Robert Johnson Crossroads Blues Bob Dylan Presents: Cover to Cover – The Originals Amazon
18Elmore James Standing At The Crossroads Let's Cut It: The Very Best Of Elmore James Amazon
19The Million Dollar Quartet Great Speckled Bird The Million Dollar Quartet: 50th Anniversary Special Edition Amazon
20Buzz Cason Hats Off to Hank Rare Songs of a Tribute to Hank Amazon
21Hank Williams & Hank Williams, Jr. There's A Tear In My Beer Fifty Years Of Hits – Vol 10 Amazon
22Hank Williams, Jr. Tee Tot Song Almeria Club Amazon
23Dallas Wayne Crank the Hank Rare Songs of a Tribute to Hank Amazon
24Pat Johnson Hank And Tee Tot Acoustic Rainbow Roots Volume 48 Amazon
25Washboard Sam Bucket's Got a Hole in It [Remastered 2002] That's Chicago's South Side (When the Sun Goes Down series) Amazon
26Hank Williams My Bucket's Got A Hole In It Low Down Blues Amazon
27Waylon Jennings Hank Williams Syndrome Rare Songs of a Tribute to Hank Amazon
28Odetta Alabama Bound Sings Ballads And Blues Amazon
29Sister Rosetta Tharpe 99 1/2 Won't Do Gospel Train Amazon
30Buddy Greene Big Daddy's Alabama Bound A Tribute to John D. Loudermilk Amazon
31Bob Dylan Lay Lady Lay Nashville Skyline Amazon
32Bob Dylan I Threw It All Away Nashville Skyline Amazon

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.Artist Title Album Buy
1Kay Starr Mississippi Capitol Collectors Series Amazon
2Allen Toussaint Bright Mississippi The Bright Mississippi Amazon
3J.J. Cale Mississippi River Grasshopper Amazon
4Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys Mississippi Mud Whoopee Hey Hey! Amazon
5Pops Staples Down In Mississippi Peace To The Neighborhood Amazon
6Charley Pride Roll On Mississippi Anthology Amazon
7Danielia Cotton Roll On Mississippi Roll On Mississippi – Single Amazon
8Bruce Cockburn Sunrise on the Mississippi Dart to the Heart Amazon
9Bob Dylan Mississippi Love and Theft Amazon
10Hank Penny Mississippi Muddle King Of Hillbilly Bebop [Disc 1] Amazon
11Jimmie Skinner I Miss the Mississippi and You 1960-1962 (Warped 6188) Amazon
12Delmore Brothers Mississippi Shore 1946-1947 (Warped 4679) Amazon
13The Browns Mister and Mississippi Classics 1963-1964 (Warped 6384) Amazon
14Boswell Sisters Roll On Mississippi Boswell Sisters Amazon
15Sammy Price & the Blues Singers Mississippi Moan Sammy Price and the Blues Singers Vol. 1 1938 – 1941 Amazon
16Roy Book Binder Mississippi John The Hillbilly Blues Cats Amazon
17Charlie Musselwhite Blues Up The River Mississippi Son Amazon
18Rufus Thomas Funky Mississippi The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol.2: 1968-1971 [Disc 1] Amazon
19Mountain Mississippi Queen Super Hits Of The '70s: Have A Nice Day, Vol. 1 Amazon
20The New Christy Minstrels Mighty Mississippi Ramblin' Amazon
21Tennessee Ernie Ford Mr. And Mississippi The History Of Country & Western Music (Disc 19) Amazon
22Cheryl Wheeler Lighting Up The Mighty Mississippi Sylvia Hotel Amazon
23George Jones & Melba Montgomery I'd Jump The Mississippi Vintage Collections Amazon
24Bobbie Gentry Mississippi Delta Ode To Billy Joe Amazon
25SNCC Freedom Singers; Jones, Marshall In The Mississippi River Voices Of The Civil Rights Movement, [Disc 2] (Ensembles) Amazon
26Mavis Staples Down In Mississippi (Cd) We'll Never Turn Back Amazon
27Merle Haggard Miss the Mississippi and You The Peer Sessions Amazon
28Jesse Winchester Mississippi, You're On My Mind The Best Of Jesse Winchester Amazon
29Marty Stuart Mississippi Railroad Blues [Instrumental][Instrumental] Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions Amazon
30Doc & Merle Watson Mississippi Heavy Water Blues Sittin' Here Pickin' the Blues Amazon

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.Artist Title Album Buy
1Cookie & the Cupcakes Mathilda Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
2Joe Barry I'm A Fool To Care Don't Do It: The Smash Record Story 1961-1962 [Disc 2] Amazon
3Joe Barry Teardrops in My Heart I'm a Fool to Care: The Complete Recordings 1958-1977, Vol. 1 Amazon
4Joe Barry Little Jewel of the Vieux Carre I'm a Fool to Care: The Complete Recordings 1958-1977, Vol. 1 Amazon
5Rockin' Sidney Shirley Jean Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
6John Fred Shirley The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 3] Amazon
7Rod Bernard This Should Go On Forever Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
8Rod Bernard Diggy Liggy Lo Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
9Rod Bernard Colinda Swamp Gold, Vol. 2 Amazon
10Warren Storm Prisoner's Song Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
11Warren Storm Hey Ma Ma Boppin' By The Bayou – Made In The Shade Amazon
12Lil' Band Of Gold/Warren Storm Please Mr. Sandman Americana Roots Songbook: Louisiana Amazon
13Little Bob & The Lollipops Nobody But You Oxford American 11th Edition Southern Music 2009 Amazon
14Lil' Bob & the Lollipops I Got Loaded Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
15Johnnie Allan Lonely Days & Lonely Nights Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
16Jivin' Gene Breaking Up Is Hard To Do Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
17Dale & Grace I'm Leaving It All Up to You Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
18Clint West Our Love Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
19Clint West Big Blue Diamonds Swamp Gold, Vol. 2 Amazon
20Cookie & His Cupcakes Breaking Up Is Hard To Do Rhythm 'n' Bluesin' By The Bayou – Vocal Groups Amazon
21Cookie And The Cupcakes Until Then Louisiana & The Old New Orleans Sound Amazon
22Cookie & The Cupcakes Got You on My Mind Swamp Gold, Vol. 2 Amazon
23Shelton Dunaway & The Cupcakes Mary Lou Doing The Popeye The History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 5] Amazon
24Tommy McLain Sweet Dreams Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
25Tommy McLain Before I Grow Too Old The Essential Collection Amazon
26Tommy McLain Before I Grow Too Old I Ran Down Every Dream Amazon
27Tommy McLain Somebody (Radio Edit) I Ran Down Every Dream Amazon
28The Uniques All These Things Swamp Gold, Vol. 2 Amazon
29Randy & the Rockets Lets Do the Cajun Twist Swamp Gold, Volume 1 Amazon
30Joe Barry Just Because Don't Do It: The Smash Record Story 1961-1962 [Disc 2] Amazon
31Cookie & The Cupcakes I Cried Bob Dylan Presents: Radio Radio, Theme Time Radio Hour, Vol. 1 Amazon
32Tommy McLain I Ran Down Every Dream (feat. Elvis Costello) I Ran Down Every Dream Amazon
33Rockin' Sidney My Toot-Toot Alligator Stomp: Cajun Zydeco Classics Amazon