Category Archives: Rhythm and Blues

Let’s Live

This week we celebrate the simple joys that have always bound American music together. Deeper Roots travels back nearly a century—from the roaring jazz of Ethel Waters, Fletcher Henderson, and Coleman Hawkins to the contemporary wit of Kacey Musgraves—finding common threads of laughter, resilience, friendship, and the everyday pleasures that make life worth living. Along the way we’ll make a party heavy stop in New Orleans with Aaron Neville, Fats Domino, James Booker, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, and Art Neville, then head into the hills with bluegrass, country, and Appalachian traditions as the road we ride takes us from Oklahoma to Kentucky. With deep blues, gospel, western swing, big band classics, and timeless folk ballads all sharing the same stage, our show this week revels in music that reminds us there’s always another reason to celebrate the journey.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Aaron Neville Let's Live Treacherous [Disc 1] 1961 00:00
2James Booker Medley: Tico Tico / Papa Was A Rascal / So Swell When You're Well Classified 1982 05:29
3Dr. John Traveling Mood The Ultimate Dr. John 1987 10:18
4Fats Domino The Girl I Love [Version 2] This Is Gold Disc 1 2004 12:56
5Aaron Neville My True Story My True Story 2013 16:24
6Irma Thomas While the City Sleeps Time Is on My Side: The Best of Irma Thomas Vol. 1 1964 19:14
7Kansas Joe and Memphis Minnie I'm Wild About My Stuff Flashbacks #1 Drug Songs 1917-1944 0 28:43
8Blind Boy Fuller Trucking My Blues Away No. 2 (take 2) Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order – Volume 2 (29 April to 12 July 1937) 1937 31:39
9Ollie Shepard King Of All Evil Vol. 2-1939-41 1939 34:23
10Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon Stewball Classic African-American Ballads (Smithsonian Folkways) 1959 37:04
11Angelic Gospel Singers with the Dixie Humming Birds One Day When the Moon Goes Down in the Valley of Time: African-American Gospel 1939-51 2013 40:35
12Rory Block Lord I Feel Just Like Goin' On I Belong To The Band: A Tribute To Rev. Gary Davis 2012 42:45
13Ethel Waters and Her Jazz Band Ev'rybody Mess Aroun Tight Women and Loose Bands 1921-1931 1926 52:04
14Cleo Brown Boogie Woogie Picking the Blues – Compiled By John Mayall – Boogie Woogie Pioneers 1935 54:46
15Benny Carter (With Lionel Hampton Orchestra) I'm in the Mood for Swing RCA Victor Jazz-The First Half-Century-The 30's 1938 57:08
16Coleman Hawkins Body and Soul RCA Victor Jazz-The First Half-Century-The 30's 1939 1:00:26
17Alan Lomax How Many Biscuits Can You Eat? Ballad Operas-Martins & The Co 0 1:07:53
18W. Lee & His Hillbilly Boys Please Pass The Biscuits Pappy Western Swing Chronicles Vol. 4 1933-1938 1938 1:08:37
19Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs 'How Many Biscuits' 1953-X6-XX Grand Old Opry 1953 1:11:11
20NRBQ Hot Biscuits and Sweet Marie Kick Me Hard 1979 1:11:31
21Kacey Musgraves Biscuits Pageant Material 2015 1:13:51
22Mazzy Star I'm Gonna Bake My Biscuit Fade Into You (Single) 1994 1:17:02
23Joshua Hedley Fresh Hot Biscuits All Hat 2025 1:20:33
24Kenny Baker Monroe's Hornpipe Plays Bill Monroe 1977 1:26:09
25Jack Guthrie No Need to Knock on My Door Oklahoma Hills 1946 1:29:13
26Merle Travis Missouri The History Of Country & Western Music – Vol. 11 0 1:31:35
27Kentuckians Journey's End Keep on Going: The Rebel & Melodeon Recordings 2004 1:34:15
28Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver Better Times A' Comin' Mark Twain: Words & Music [Disc 1] 2011 1:37:27
29Mac Wiseman It's Mighty Dark To Travel Grassroots To Bluegrass 1990 1:40:00
30Johnny Cash Thanks a Lot The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983 Disc 1 1958 1:42:36
31Jimmy Wakely Moon Over Montana Vintage Collections 0 1:45:10
32Leon Redbone Sweet Lorraine Any Time 2001 1:48:03
33Enric Madriguera B‚same Mucho The Minute Samba 1944 1:53:51
34The Dixie Cups Iko Iko The Big Easy 1965 1:56:59

Heartland R&B

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

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

Let’s Do It!

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

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


Tears On The Vinyl

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

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

Backbeat ’50

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

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

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

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