Category Archives: Blues

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)

Heavenly Day

It’s a free form morning as Dave once again digs out some favorites and some deep tracks from the last century of America’s music. He’ll be paying his respects to Doug Sahm’s keyboard master, Augie Meyers, while at the same time picking on some thematic tones, including that of heaven, an early century legend by the name of Lulu, early rhythm and western from 1950 as well as a collection of soul tracks that glistened in the winds from 1967. Tune in for The Ink Spots, Jimmy Newman, John Prine, The Castaleers and Fats Waller…a sampler from the past one hundred years. Free form mornings here on KOWS occur only once in a blue moon so you’ll want to be tuning in for more music discovery from all genre corners. You’re invited to come on up to the house where we’re ready, willing and waiting to entertain, putting the madness of a wannabe king behind you for a two-hour joyful jaunt where you’ll find three chords and the truth.

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

Luck and Fortune

It may be Friday the 13th but that won’t stop us from fortifying ourselves with a ‘luck and fortune’ theme in today’s show. Hopefully, that will tip the scales. May our luck and fortune hold out until the next election. You’re welcome to drop in to our slightly superstitious edition of Deeper Roots on a day that usually sends people dodging ladders and eyeing black cats with suspicion. Whether you’re a believer in the ‘unlucky’ stigma or you consider yourself a master of your own fate, we’ve curated a playlist designed to explore the highs and lows of the cosmic dice roll. We’ll be spinning tracks that dive deep into the world of luck and fortune with some high-stakes anthems of the casino floor to the soulful laments of those down on their luck, we’re covering every corner of the wheel of fate. But…knock on wood…just in case.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Robert Gordon Wheel of Fortune Rock Billy Boogie Amazon
2The Cardinals Wheel Of Fortune Atlantic Rhythm & Blues: 1947-1974 [Disc 1] Amazon
3Vic Damone Something's Coming Jackpot! The Las Vegas Story Amazon
4Joe Liggins Whiskey, Women And Loaded Dice Joe Liggins & The Honeydrippers Amazon
5The Fabulous Thunderbirds Roll Of The Dice Roll Of The Dice Amazon
6Little Milton We Got the Winning Hand Greatest Hits (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) Amazon
7T-Bone Walker You're My Best Poker Hand Best Of Black & White & Imperial Years Amazon
8Helen Humes Fortune Tellin' Man He May Be Your Man Amazon
9The Stokes Crystal Ball Up All Night! 56 Northern Soul Classics Amazon
10Benny Spellman Fortune Teller On The Soul Side Amazon
11Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Fortune Teller Raising Sand Amazon
12Lamont Dozier Fortune Teller Tell Me Original Sound Of Detroit – Vol 1 Amazon
13Elvis Presley Good Luck Charm The Top Ten Hits Disc 2 Amazon
14ZZ Top Viva Las Vegas Rancho Texicano: The Very Best Of ZZ Top [Disc 2] Amazon
15Jimmie Dolan Playin' Dominoes And Shootin' Dice Juke Box Boogie Amazon
16Marty Robbins Ain't I The Lucky One The Essential Marty Robbins: 1951-1982 Amazon
17Paul Evans Happy-Go-Lucky-Me Radio Radio Vol.5 [Disc 3] Bob Dylan Amazon
18Iguanas Fortune Teller Iguanas Amazon
19Chris Isaak Waiting for My Lucky Day Baja Sessions Amazon
20Nick Lowe & His Cowboy Outfit Lucky Dog The Rose of England Amazon
21J.J. Cale Lady Luck Travel Log Amazon
22Dootones Teller Of Fortune The Dootone & Dooto Records Story Amazon
23Ella Fitzgerald I'm Just A Lucky So And So Ella Fitzgerald: A 75th Birthday Salute [Disc 1] Amazon
24Nat King Cole I'm Shooting High Ultra-Lounge: Vegas Baby! Amazon
25Dean Martin Who's Got the Action? Ultra-Lounge: Vegas Baby! Amazon
26Jack Jones This Could Be the Start of Something Ultra-Lounge: Vegas Baby! Amazon
27Frank Sinatra Luck Be a Lady Sinatra Reprise: The Very Good Years Amazon
28Dinah Washington Bad Luck Dinah Washington Sings The Blues Amazon
29Chuck Berry I'm Just a Lucky So and So The Chess Box Disc 2 Amazon
30Gale Storm Lucky Lips Dark Moon * The Best Of Gale Storm Amazon
31Sticks McGhee Whiskey Women And Loaded Dice Stick McGhee Volume 2 – (1951-1960) Amazon
32Kay Starr Wheel Of Fortune Your Hit Parade – 1952 Amazon
33Tony Bennett With Plenty of Money and You Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 15: Wild Cool & Swingin' Too Amazon

Steve Cropper Tribute

Long before you ever knew his name, Steve Cropper’s music was a part of your life if you grew up with a radio tuned to soul, rock, or R&B. You were already absorbing his fingerwork: that clipped, chiming guitar on “Green Onions,” the taut groove that made Wilson Pickett sound ten feet tall, or the unmistakable snap of Stax rhythm sections he helped shape. We lost a giant who contributed to the Americana musical landscape this past week and our show this week will reflect on his body of work. He wasn’t just part of the soundtrack of our lives, he was part of the atmosphere, a presence whose playing taught you—quietly and consistently—what feel really meant. To grow up with Steve Cropper’s music is to realize, eventually, that he helped define not just a sound but a sensibility—one where the groove is tight, the soul runs deep, and the guitar part is always exactly what the song needs and not a note more.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Otis Redding (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay Stax Number Ones Amazon
2Booker T. & The MG's Green Onions Let There Be Drums Vol 2: The 60's Amazon
3Steve Cropper Baby Don't Do It (Steve Cropper with B.B. King & Shemekia Copeland) Dedicated – A Salute To The 5 Royales Amazon
4The Tonettes Teardrop Sea The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (2 of 9) Amazon
5Carla Thomas What a Fool I've Been The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (2 of 9) Amazon
6Carla Thomas Comfort Me The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (5 of 9) Amazon
7Johnny Daye What'll I Do for Satisfaction The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (8 of 9) Amazon
8Steve Cropper, Pops Staples, Albert King Tupelo[Pt. 1] The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (2 of 9) Amazon
9Wilson Pickett Don't Fight It [Unedited Single Master] A Man & A Half: The Best Of Wilson Pickett [Disc 1] Amazon
10Wilson Pickett In the Midnight Hour Red, White & Rock Disc 2 Amazon
11Barbara & the Browns In My Heart The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (4 of 9) Amazon
12Booker T. & The MG's Time Is Tight Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 2] Amazon
13Mable John Wait You Dog The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (8 of 9) Amazon
14Rufus Thomas Can Your Monkey Do the Dog The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (3 of 9) Amazon
15The Astors Candy Stax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 1] Amazon
16Bobby Marchan You Won't Do Right The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (3 of 9) Amazon
17Eddie Floyd Knock on Wood The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (6 of 9) Amazon
18Otis Redding Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) Dreams To Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
19Otis Redding That's How Strong My Love Is Dreams To Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
20Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour Too Much Stress (feat. Brian May & Billy Gibbons) Friendlytown Amazon
21Steve Cropper Two Wrongs Fire It Up Amazon
22Steve Cropper Thirty Second Lover (Steve Cropper with Steve Winwood) Dedicated – A Salute To The 5 Royales Amazon
23Aretha Franklin Think The Definitive Collection Amazon
24Booker T. & the MG's Soul-Limbo The Very Best of Booker T. & the MG's Amazon
25Wendy Rene What Will Tomorrow Bring? Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures Vol. 2 Amazon
26William Bell Who Will It Be Tomorrow The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (3 of 9) Amazon
27Eddie Floyd Yum Yum Yum (I Want Some) Stax 50th Anniversary Collection [Disc 3] Amazon
28Wilson Pickett Ninety-Nine & A Half (Won't Do) A Man & A Half: The Best Of Wilson Pickett [Disc 1] Amazon
29The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band and Dom Flemons featuring Steve Cropper Shake Your Money Maker Shake Your Money Maker (Single) Amazon
30Steve Cropper My Sugar Sugar (Steve Cropper with John Popper) Dedicated – A Salute To The 5 Royales Amazon
31Steve Cropper & Pops Staples Water The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (2 of 9) Amazon
32The Mad Lads Patch My Heart The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (6 of 9) Amazon
33Cheryl Johnson/Pam Johnson That's My Guy The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (2 of 9) Amazon
34The Blues Brothers Soul Man The Definitive Collection Amazon
35Booker T. & the MG's Slim Jenkin's Place The Very Best of Booker T. & the MG's Amazon

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

Rock Roll and Soul

This week’s Deeper Roots takes a wide turn down the backroads of American music, delivering a two-hour free form ride through the crossroads where rock, soul, blues, and Americana meet and mingle. We’ll be opening the vaults for an eclectic blend honoring the roots while keeping one foot in the groove — where a deep cut from Garland Jeffreys might slide right up against raw King Curtis Memphis soul, a bouncy David Lindley number, or the tight shuffle of a Chess Records blues side. We’ll be connecting the dots between decades and genres with warmth and curiosity. Whether it’s Louvin-soaked harmonies, road-weary country soul, or the smoky after-hours mood of the juke joint, this week’s celebration once more explores the shared DNA of American sound. Tune in for stories between the songs, unexpected transitions, and a handpicked setlist that speaks to both memory and motion — a sonic journey that proves the roots run deep, wide, and ever surprising.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1The Traveling Wilburys Last Night Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 Amazon
2The Mar-Keys Last Night American Music Library: The Hits Of 1961 Amazon
3Little Walter Last Night Cadillac Records [Disc 1] Amazon
4Simon & Garfunkel Homeward Bound Artist's Choice: Willie Nelson: Music That Matters To Him Amazon
5Nat King Cole Trio Homeward Bound (1993 Digital Remaster) The Nat King Cole Trio: The Complete Capitol Transcription Sessions [Disc 2] Amazon
6Deeper Roots Radio Rock Roll and Soul Deeper Roots Radio Amazon
7Annie Ross Twisted King Pleasure Sings/Annie Ross Sings [Remastered] Amazon
8David Lindley Twist and Shout El Rayo-X Amazon
9King Curtis Soul Twist Soul Serenade Amazon
10Gary U.S. Bonds Dear Lady Twist Gary "U.S" Bonds – 30 Original Greatest Hits Amazon
11Phil Flowers Twistin' Beat Stompin' 8 Amazon
12The Traveling Wilburys Wilbury Twist Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 3 Amazon
13Deeper Roots Radio Rock Roll and Soul Deeper Roots Radio Amazon
14Doc & Richard Watson Moody River Third Generation Blues Amazon
15Bob Gallion My Square Dancin' Mama (She's Done Learned to Rock and Roll) Warped 5611 – Bob Gallion – 1956 – 1959 Amazon
16The Louvin Brothers I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby Capitol Country Music Classics Amazon
17Bobby "Blue" Bland Yield Not To Temptation The Definitive Collection Amazon
18Eddie Floyd Why Is The Wine Sweeter (On The Other Side) The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971 [Disc 4] Amazon
19Al Kent You've Got To Pay The Price Kent's Cellar Of Soul: Volume 2 Amazon
20Timmy Willis Mr Soul Satisfaction Kent's Cellar Of Soul: Volume 2 Amazon
21Deeper Roots Radio Rock Roll and Soul Deeper Roots Radio Amazon
22Dee Dee Warwick We're Doing Fine Kent's Cellar Of Soul: Volume 2 Amazon
23Deeper Roots Radio Rock Roll and Soul Deeper Roots Radio Amazon
24Warren Zevon Searching For A Heart I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology) [Disc 2] Amazon
25John Lee Hooker I'm in the Mood His Best Chess Sides (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) Amazon
26Garland Jeffreys Cool Down Boy Ghost Writer/One-Eyed Jack/American Boy & Girl [[Disc 1]] Amazon
27Linda Ronstadt Just One Look Living In The U.S.A. Amazon
28The Spidells Hmmm, With Feeling, Darling Kent's Cellar Of Soul: Volume 2 Amazon
29Deeper Roots Radio Rock Roll and Soul Deeper Roots Radio Amazon
30Chuck Willis Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes I Remember Chuck Willis / The King Of The Stroll Amazon
31Joe Boot & The Fabulous Winds Rock And Roll Radio Stompin' 2 Amazon
32The Darlenes I Still Like Rock And Roll Where The Girls Are Volume 8 Amazon
33Glenn Miller Runnin' Wild The Golden Years: 1938-1942 [Disc 1] Amazon
34Warren Zevon Reconsider Me Sentimental Hygiene Amazon
35Chuck Berry Rock And Roll Music Johnny B. Goode-His Complete 50's Chess Recordings Amazon
36Chuck Prophet Bad Year for Rock and Roll Bobby Fuller Died For Your Sins Amazon
37Freddy Cannon If You Were A Rock And Roll Record The Best of Freddy Cannon – Big Blast From Boston! Amazon
38Fats Domino I'm In The Mood For Love Here Stands Fats Amazon
39Deeper Roots Radio Rock Roll and Soul Deeper Roots Radio Amazon
40Ramones Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? Modern Rock: Lost Hits Of The 70s 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