Category Archives: Country Blues

Americana, Blues, Country Blues, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Folk and Tradition, Theme Time

Travelin’ Blues 2026

July 11, 2026 Dave

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	Year	Start At
1	Maria Muldaur	Travelin' Shoes	1974	00:00
2	Blind Sammie (Blind Willie McTell)	Travelin' Blues	1929	05:42
3	Taj Mahal	Farther On Down The Road	2000	08:49
4	Roland Stone	Down The Road	1960	11:56
5	Freddie Slack	Down The Road	2003	14:15
6	Eric Clapton	Further On Down the Road	2013	20:57
7	Chris Smither	Look Down the Road	0	26:32
8	Mattie Delaney	Down The Big Road Blues	1930	29:06
9	Unidentified Quartet	I Look Down The Road And Wonder	2010	36:43
10	The Golden Gate Quartet	I Looked Down The Road And Wondered	1939	39:49
11	Rory Block	If You Haven't Any Hay Get On Down The Road	2014	44:12
12	Paul Butterfield's Better Days	Highway 28	1972	52:29
13	Johnny Guitar Watson	Highway 60	2006	55:28
14	Lowell Fulson	Highway 99	2008	57:47
15	Gatemouth Moore	Highway 61 Blues	2000	1:00:42
16	Honeyboy Edwards	Strollin' Down Highway 61	0	1:03:13
17	Snooks Eaglin	Traveling Mood	1995	1:08:42
18	Doc Pomus	Traveling Dog	1949	1:10:54
19	Ella Johnson & Buddy Johnson	Get On Down The Road	1958	1:13:19
20	Ernie Andrews With Maxwell Davis Orchestra	Travelin' Baby	1951	1:16:17
21	Slim Gaillard & His Boogiereeners	Travelin' Blues	1945	1:18:44
22	T-Bone Walker	Travelin' Blues	1950	1:21:44
23	Smiley Lewis	Lonesome Highway	2010	1:28:47
24	Howling Wolf	Driving This Highway	1952	1:31:00
25	Freddie King	Key To The Highway	1970	1:33:51
26	Freddie King	Living On The Highway	1971	1:37:11
27	Little Walter	Key To The Highway	0	1:41:20
28	Eric Clapton	Traveling Riverside Blues	2004	1:44:04
29	Tommy McLennan	Travelin' Highway Blues	1941	1:50:03
30	Cripple Clarence Lofton	Travelin' Blues	1939	1:52:58
31	Eric Bibb/Rory Block/Maria Muldaur	Travelin' Woman Blues	2004	1:55:03

Americana, Country, Country Blues, Country Swing, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Fifties Country, Oldies, Rockabilly

Country Shed Shakers

April 18, 2026 Dave

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

Blues, Country Blues, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Oldies, Rhythm and Blues, Urban Blues

Down & Dirty Blues

December 6, 2025 Dave

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

Blues, Country Blues, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Folk and Tradition, Mountain Music, Oldies

Harmonica Legends

November 22, 2025 Dave

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
1	DeFord Bailey	Fox Chase	Country Music: A Film By Ken Burns – The Soundtrack [Disc 1]
2	DeFord Bailey	Davidson County Blues	When The Sun Goes Down: Walk Right In – The Secret Story Of Rock & Roll
3	Sonny Boy Williamson	Your Funeral And My Trial	His Best: Sonny Boy Williamson – The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
4	Slim Harpo	Buzzin' [Single Version]	The Best Of Slim Harpo
5	Paul Butterfield Blues Band	Shake Your Money Maker	Blues Masters, Vol. 15: Slide Guitar Classics
6	Junior Wells	Messin' With The Kid	Living The Blues – 1965 – 1969 Blues Classics
7	Jimmy Reed	Big Boss Man	MOJO: Rock! Rock! Rock!
8	Little Walter	My Babe	His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection)
9	James Cotton, Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Billy Branch	Who	Let's Dance: The Best Of Ballroom: Swing, Lindy, Jitterbug and Jive
10	James Cotton Feat. Joe Bonamassa	Cotton Mouth Man	Cotton Mouth Man
11	Taj Mahal	Leaving Trunk	The Best Of Taj Mahal
12	Charlie Musselwhite	Christo Redemptor	Stand Back!
13	Slim Harpo	Baby Scratch My Back	The Excello Singles Anthology Disc 2
14	Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee	Fox Chase – Mouth Organ	The Long Road to Freedom: An Anthology of Black Music [Disc 3]
15	Bill "Jazz" Gillum	Don't You Scandalize My Name	Jazz Gillum: Complete Recorded Works Vol.1 1936-49
16	Howlin' Wolf	Moanin' At Midnight	Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: The Road To Memphis
17	Howlin' Wolf	Smokestack Lightnin'	Blowing The Fuse: 1956
18	Woody Guthrie	Pastures Of Plenty	American Roots- A History Of American Folk Music: [Disc 4]
19	Jesse Fuller	San Francisco Bay Blues	Friends Of Old Time Music [Disc 2]
20	Ramblin' Jack Elliott	Roll On Buddy	The Essential Ramblin' Jack Elliott
21	Bob Dylan	Blowin' In The Wind	Sing America
22	Charlie McCoy	Orange Blossom Special	The Real McCoy
23	Norton Buffalo	Eighteen Wheels	Lovin' In The Valley Of The Moon
24	Willie Nelson	On the Road Again	Revolutions of Time: The Journey 1975-1993 Disc 1
25	Bruce Channel	Hey Baby (Delbert McClinton Harp)	Don't Do It: The Smash Record Story 1961-1962 [Disc 2]
26	The Fabulous Thunderbirds	I Believe I'm In Love	Essential Fabulous Thunderbirds
27	Bob Dylan	I Want You	Blonde on Blonde
28	Willie Nelson	City Of New Orleans	The Essential Willie Nelson
29	Neil Young/Stray Gators	Heart of Gold	Harvest
30	Ozark Mountain Daredevils	If You Wanna Get To Heaven	The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
31	Bruce Springsteen	The River	Chapter & Verse
32	Alfred Lewis	Friday Moan Blues	Harmonica Blues

Americana, Country Blues, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Folk and Tradition, Oldies, Rhythm and Blues, Theme Time

Rhythm & Bayou Romp

November 9, 2025 Dave

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

Americana, Country, Country Blues, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Early Rock, Oldies, Rockabilly, Theme Time

Sun Shadows: The Untold Tracks

July 18, 2025 Dave

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

Blues, Country Blues, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Folk and Tradition, Theme Time, Urban Blues

Echoes of Blues Greats

March 15, 2025 Dave

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

Americana, Country, Country Blues, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Folk and Tradition, Gospel, Oldies

Over The Hill

January 12, 2025 Dave

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
1	Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives	99-1/2 Won't Do [Live]	The Gospel Music Of Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives [Live]
2	Annie Mae & Fred McDowell	I'm Going Over The Hill	The Essential Guide To Gospel
3	Stringbean	Going Over the Hill	Layin' Low
4	John Martyn	Over the Hill	Couldn't Love You More
5	Mahalia Jackson	Just Over the Hill	Sunday Morning Prayer Meeting with Mahalia Jackson
6	Buck Owens	Goin' Down To The River	Buck Owens Four Classic Albums [Disc 4]
7	Alison Krauss	Down To The River To Pray	Oxford American Southern Sampler 2000
8	Ray Charles	I'm Going Down To The River	Ain't That Fine
9	Suzy Boggus	It All Falls Down To The River w/ McCrary Sisters	Prayin' For Sunshine
10	Mississippi Fred McDowell	Going Down The River	The First Recordings
11	Etta Baker & Taj Mahal	Going Down The Road Feeling Bad	Etta Baker With Taj Mahal
12	Bobby Bare	Going Down the Road (I Ain't Going to Be Treated This Way) fcc warning	Darker Than Light
13	Down Like Silver	To the River	Light That Match – Single
14	Lead Belly	Where Did You Sleep Last Night?	Best Of Leadbelly
15	The Browns	In the Pines	Classics 1960 (Warped 6062)
16	Dave Van Ronk	In the Pines	The Folkway Years: 1959-1961
17	Robert Johnson	Crossroads Blues	Bob Dylan Presents: Cover to Cover – The Originals
18	Elmore James	Standing At The Crossroads	Let's Cut It: The Very Best Of Elmore James
19	The Million Dollar Quartet	Great Speckled Bird	The Million Dollar Quartet: 50th Anniversary Special Edition
20	Buzz Cason	Hats Off to Hank	Rare Songs of a Tribute to Hank
21	Hank Williams & Hank Williams, Jr.	There's A Tear In My Beer	Fifty Years Of Hits – Vol 10
22	Hank Williams, Jr.	Tee Tot Song	Almeria Club
23	Dallas Wayne	Crank the Hank	Rare Songs of a Tribute to Hank
24	Pat Johnson	Hank And Tee Tot	Acoustic Rainbow Roots Volume 48
25	Washboard Sam	Bucket's Got a Hole in It [Remastered 2002]	That's Chicago's South Side (When the Sun Goes Down series)
26	Hank Williams	My Bucket's Got A Hole In It	Low Down Blues
27	Waylon Jennings	Hank Williams Syndrome	Rare Songs of a Tribute to Hank
28	Odetta	Alabama Bound	Sings Ballads And Blues
29	Sister Rosetta Tharpe	99 1/2 Won't Do	Gospel Train
30	Buddy Greene	Big Daddy's Alabama Bound	A Tribute to John D. Loudermilk
31	Bob Dylan	Lay Lady Lay	Nashville Skyline
32	Bob Dylan	I Threw It All Away	Nashville Skyline

Americana, Country, Country Blues, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Folk and Tradition

Down the Mississippi

June 30, 2024 Dave 2 Comments

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

Americana, Country Blues, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Early Rock, Oldies, Rock, Theme Time

Swamp Pop Fest

June 15, 2024 Dave

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

A Century of America's Music