Category Archives: Americana

Country Hotshots

This Friday on Deeper Roots, we’re tipping our hats to some of the finest country artists of the 20th century with a journey far beyond the familiar hits. From the outlaw spirit of Waylon Jennings and the wit of Roger Miller to the Bakersfield fire of Dwight Yoakam, the timeless charm of Little Jimmy Dickens, and many more, we’ll dig into the deep tracks, hidden gems, and overlooked performances that helped define country music’s rich legacy. If you enjoy discovering songs that deserve another listen—or hearing legendary artists from a fresh perspective—this is a show you won’t want to miss. Join us Friday morning at 9:00 AM on KOWS Community Radio for two hours of classic country, unexpected favorites, and the stories behind the music. Come along as we celebrate the deeper roots of country music, one great song at a time.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Porter Wagoner I'll Go Down Swinging The Essential Porter Wagoner 1964 00:00
2Buck Owens I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water Honky Tonk Man: Buck Sings Country Classics 2013 05:06
3Buck Owens Close Up the Honky Tonks Buck 'Em: The Music of Buck Owens (1955-1967) 1964 07:34
4Charlie Walker Close All the Honky Tonks Charlie Walker – 1959-1964 2013 09:55
5Merle Haggard And The Strangers Honky Tonk Night Time Man (24-Bit Digitally Remastered 06) Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard 2006 12:03
6Merle Haggard Honky Tonkin' Roots Vol. 1 2001 14:37
7Dale Watson Heaven's Gonna Have A Honky Tonk Call Me Insane 2015 17:24
8Dale Watson Wine Don't Lie An Empty Glass: A Collection of Drinkin' Songs 2001 19:54
9Joshua Hedley Mr. Jukebox Mr. Jukebox 2018 27:41
10Joshua Hedley This Time Mr. Jukebox 2018 30:51
11James Hand Baby Baby Don't Tell Me That The Truth Will Set You Free 2006 33:21
12James Hand Banks of the Brazos The Truth Will Set You Free 2006 36:39
13Little Jimmy Dickens Crazy Worried Mind Country Boy [Disc 1] 1949 38:40
14Little Jimmy Dickens I Wish You Didn't Love Me So Much [Album Version] Various Artists The Essential Little Jimmy Dickens 1951 41:24
15Faron Young Face to the Wall The Complete Capitol Hits of Faron Young (2 of 2) 2000 48:51
16Bill Anderson Goodbye Cruel World Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1961 51:07
17Gary Stewart Can't You See Oxford American 10th Anniversary Southern Music CD [Disc 2] Past Masters [2008] 1978 53:36
18Gary Stewart Honky-Tonkin' Out of Hand 1975 56:14
19Dwight Yoakam Train in Vain Reprise Please Baby: The Warner Bros. Years Disc 2 2002 59:40
20Dwight Yoakam It Only Hurts When I Cry If There Was a Way 1990 1:02:56
21Wynn Stewart Come On Very Best of: 1958 – 1962 1958 1:09:58
22Wynn Stewart Big City Very Best of: 1958 – 1962 1960 1:12:04
23Waylon Jennings Will The Wolf Survive? Complete MCA Recordings 1986 1:14:24
24Waylon Jennings Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line: The RCA Years Disc 1 1993 1:17:47
25Willie Nelson Bubbles in My Beer Lost Highway 2009 1:20:04
26Willie Nelson Three Days Mr. Record Man – The Early Singles As & BS 2016 1:22:49
27Ferlin Husky I Feel Better All Over The Other Side of Bakersfield Vol. 2; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West' 1954 1:27:51
28Ferlin Husky Draggin' the River Ferlin Husky Singles 0 1:30:22
29George Jones I'm Ragged But I'm Right George Jones The Absolutely Essential 3 CD Collection 1956 1:32:27
30George Jones I'm a One Woman Man The Essential George Jones: The Spirit of Country Disc 2 1994 1:34:44
31Webb Pierce I Ain't Never 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Webb Pierce 1959 1:36:56
32Webb Pierce Crazy Wild Desire I Got A Woman : Gems From The Decca Vaults [Disc 2] 1962 1:38:48
33Lefty Frizzell If You've Got the Money Best 1950 1:41:06
34Lefty Frizzell Shine Shave Shower (It's A Saturday) Best 1950 1:44:00
35Roger Miller Lou's Got The Flu King Of The Road – The Genius Of Roger Miller (CD1) 1964 1:46:26
36Johnny Cash Tennessee Flat Top Box Classic Cash 1961 1:48:10
37Johnny Cash Understand Your Man I Walk The Line 1964 1:54:01
38Willie Nelson The Party's Over Naked Willie 1966 1:56:40

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

Trouble Bound

Free form and completely eclectic—that is the absolute best way to introduce this week’s episode of Deeper Roots. Every so often, we love to shake things up by forgoing our usual archival explorations of specific genres, artists, or historical themes. Instead, Dave is opening up his personal vault for a special curation of deep tracks and personal favorites that he has been setting aside over the past couple of months just to share with you.  We are bridging eras and styles in a way only Deeper Roots can. Expect a magical blend of sounds, including early Cotton Club sounds of Cab Calloway alongside beach music from The Catalinas, rocking guitar fuzz with Grady Martin paired with the Buckaroo guitar sounds of Don Rich, and some Dylan, Merle, Berigan and Clooney. Join us for a scenic, unpredictable journey through the back roads of American music each and every Friday morning at 9am Pacific on KOWS Community Radio, streaming 24/7 at kowsfm.com/listen.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Elvis Presley A Mess Of Blues The Essential 60's Masters I [Disc 1] 1960 00:00
2John Hiatt Dust Down a Country Road Walk On 1995 05:01
3Jay & The Americans This Magic Moment Come A Little Bit Closer – The Best of Jay and The Americans 1968 08:59
4Emmylou Harris Save The Last Dance For Me Profile II: The Best Of Emmylou Harris 1978 11:50
5The Neville Brothers Sitting in Limbo Fiyo on the Bayou 1981 15:23
6Jackson Browne Everywhere I Go I'm Alive 1993 19:18
7Grady Martin The Fuzz I Got A Woman : Gems From The Decca Vaults [Disc 3] 1961 28:31
8Ricky Nelson My Babe James Burton – The Early Years 1957-1969 0 30:48
9Don Rich & The Buckaroos I'm a-Comin' Back Home to You Guitar Pickin' Man 2016 33:20
10Merle Travis Pretty Girl (Jolie Fille) The Guitar Picker CD4 (1954-56) 0 35:17
11Chet Atkins Blue Angel The Essential Chet Atkins [RCA] 1996 37:16
12Doc Watson Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar 1964-1965 (Warped 6411F) 2016 39:35
13The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Wreck on the Highway Will the Circle Be Unbroken [Bonus Tracks] Disc 1 1972 48:30
14Red Simpson The Highway Patrol Swing West 1: Bakersfield 1966 51:50
15The Blasters Trouble Bound Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings (1981-1985) (2 of 2) 2002 54:00
16Dave Edmunds Trouble Boys Single Trax 1970-1981 1978 57:43
17Lee Hazlewood Trouble Is A Lonesome Town 400 Miles From L.A. 1955-56 1956 1:00:54
18Buck Owens Hello Trouble Buck 'Em: The Music of Buck Owens (1955-1967) 1964 1:03:07
19Ernest Tubb & The Texas Troubadors This Troubled Mind O'Mine Daddy of 'Em All 1957 1:04:52
20Bob Dylan If Not for You Biograph Disc 1 1985 1:12:00
21Ruben Blades Ollie's Doo-Wop Nothing But The Truth 1988 1:14:37
22The Treniers Go! Go! Go! The Dawn Of Doo-Wop Vol. 4: Doo-Wop Dancin' 1951 1:17:01
23The Chanters No No No Doo Wop Box Vol. 3: 101 More Vocal Group Gems from the Golden Age of Rock-N-Roll Disc 1 2000 1:19:21
24The Catalinas You're Driving Me Crazy Dance The Night Away 1999 1:21:30
25Cab Calloway Mama I Wanna Make Rhythm Chronological 1937-38 1937 1:30:40
26Peggy Lee Alright OK You Win Magic Moments: Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 2) 2004 1:33:42
27Rosemary Clooney Botch-A-Me (Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina) Tenderly 1952 1:36:32
28Bunny Berigan & His Boys I Can't Get Started Columbia Records' 125th Anniv. 1936 1:38:46
29Bob Dylan 4th Time Around Blonde on Blonde 1966 1:42:06
30Buddy Holly Bo Diddley [1963 Album Version] Rave On: The Very Best Of ? 1963 1:46:33
31Bo Diddley Don't Let It Go (Hold On To What You Got) 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection – The Best Of Bo Diddley 1959 1:48:50
32Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys (I've Got A) Humpty Dumpty Heart Vintage Collections 1947 1:54:44
33Dean Martin I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine Capitol Records' From The Vaults 1950 1:57:05

Travelin’ Blues 2026

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

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

Wake Up Everybody

Tomorrow isn’t a guarantee; it’s a promise we keep to one another. In times when the airwaves and headlines feel crowded with division, hatred, and the loud noise of demagoguery, all in reaction to barbarous and vile language from the highest quarters, the antidote has always been found in the music. This week on Deeper Roots, we are celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary by stepping directly into the storm with a playlist designed to uplift, fortify, and remind us of what’s worth fighting for.  Count on sounds from Gillian Welch, Willie Nelson, Sam Cooke, Chet Baker and a few dozen more as we dive deep into a century of American music, bringing you powerful songs of the spirit from the gospel canon alongside timeless anthems of resistance that call on us to rise above the attacks on our shared democracy. This isn’t just a look back at history—it’s a toolkit for the present.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Mahalia Jackson I Will Move On Up A Little Higher Folk Blues & Gospel: Will the Circle Be Unbroken 1999 00:00
2The Edwin Hawkins Singers I'm Going Through Oh Happy Day: The Best Of The Edwin Hawkins Singers 1969 08:19
3The Blind Boys Of Alabama I Shall Not Be Moved I'll Find A Way 2013 13:20
4Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder I Shall Not Be Moved Get On Board 2022 15:56
5Connie Smith Farther Along Connie Smith 1965-1966 2011 20:10
6Sam Cooke And The Soul Stirrers Farther Along The Complete Specialty Recordings [Disc 3] 1956 22:59
7Larry Campbell Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams 2015 30:59
8The Browns Fair and Tender Ladies Classics 1963-1964 (Warped 6384) 2010 34:59
9Willie Nelson Healing Hands of Time Wanted! The Outlaws [Bonus Tracks] 1996 37:25
10Elvis Presley (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me) Elvis By The Presleys [Disc 1] 1957 39:39
11The Impressions Keep On Pushing Ultimate Collection: The Impressions 1964 42:58
12Joe Ely The Road Goes On Forever The Best Of Joe Ely 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection 1992 50:29
13Sara Evans Born To Fly Laying Tracks 2003 54:56
14B.B. King & Dr. John There Must Be A Better World Somewhere Deuces Wild 1997 58:46
15The Bronzemen Hold On (Keep Yo' Hand On The Plow) The Bronzemen – Radio Transcriptions (1939) 1939 1:03:24
16Mahalia Jackson Keep Your Hand on the Plow The World's Greatest Gospel Singer 1954 1:10:33
17Sam Cooke A Change Is Gonna Come Hard To Find Jukebox Classics 1960-64: 30 Amazing Stereo Hits 2016 1:12:58
18Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions People Get Ready Akeelah And The Bee (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2006 1:15:32
19Fats Domino Walking To New Orleans The Rock 'n' Roll Era: 1960 1960 1:18:08
20The Four Tops Reach Out I'll Be There The Classic Sixties: 1966 1966 1:20:02
21Ray Charles I Believe to My Soul Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection Disc 1 1997 1:22:58
22Keb' Mo' Wake Up Everybody Peace…Back By Popular Demand 2004 1:30:06
23The Staple Singers I'll Take You There I'll Take You There 1972 1:34:07
24Jo Stafford On The Sunny Side of the Street Candy 1944 1:37:14
25Chet Baker Look for the Silver Lining Chet Baker Sings 1956 1:40:07
26Louis Armstrong What A Wonderful World Lifetime Of Romance: Falling In Love [Disc 2] 1967 1:42:44
27The Band The Weight Northern Songs – Canada's Best And Brightest 1968 1:44:59
28Sly & the Family Stone Everyday People Anthology 1981 1:52:11
29Bruce Springsteen Streets of Minneapolis Streets of Minneapolis – Single 2026 1:54:30

The Ladies of Americana

This week on Deeper Roots, we’re celebrating the women who helped shape Americana music. From pioneering artists who blazed trails through country, folk, blues, and gospel to the remarkable performers carrying those traditions into the 21st century, we’ll spend two hours exploring voices that transformed the sound of American roots music. We’ll begin with some of the giants of the genre—artists such as the Carter Family, Patsy Cline, and Dolly Parton—women whose talent, determination, and vision helped create the foundation upon which generations would build. Then we’ll follow the road they paved through the work of contemporary Americana artists including Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Margo Price, Sierra Ferrell, and others who continue to redefine and expand the genre today.Join us for a journey through the past, present, and future of Americana music, celebrating the women whose stories, songs, and spirit remain at the very heart of the American musical experience.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Patsy Cline Strange Her Legendary Recordings #1 0 00:00
2Anita Carter Ring Of Fire Country Boy's Dream 1962 04:44
3June Carter Cash Church In The Wildwood / Lonesome Valley Church In The Wildwood 2006 06:36
4Dolly Parton Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me 1968-1969 1969 09:29
5Tammy Wynette Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad Classic Country Vol. 15 The Sixties Legends Disc 1 1999 11:18
6Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers Half As Much At The Ryman [Live] 1992 13:16
7k.d. lang & the Reclines Full Moon Full of Love Absolute Torch and Twang 1989 15:34
8Carlene Carter Me and the Wildwood Rose Hindsight 20/20 1996 24:40
9Rosanne Cash The Way We Make A Broken Heart It'll Come To You: The Songs Of John Hiatt 2003 28:25
10Lucinda Williams Hard Road Happy Woman Blues 1980 32:11
11Neko Case Bowling Green The Virginian 1997 34:29
12Gillian Welch Acony Bell Coal Country Music 1996 42:13
13Eliza Gilkyson Borderline Paradise Hotel 2005 45:13
14Carolina Chocolate Drops Cornbread and Butterbeans Songs from Sing Out! v.53#3 2010 47:48
15Rhiannon Giddens You're the One You're The One 2023 50:54
16Carrie Rodriguez & The Sacred Hearts Perfidia Lola 2016 54:12
17Mavis Staples Anytime We Get By 2019 57:08
18Tami Neilson Pretty Paper Pretty Paper (Single) 2020 1:04:35
19Sierra Ferrell In Dreams In Dreams – Single 2021 1:07:09
20Loretta Lynn/Margo Price One's On the Way (feat. Margo Price) One's On the Way (feat. Margo Price) 2021 1:09:45
21Connie Smith Here Comes My Baby Back Again Here Comes My Baby Back Again – Single 2021 1:12:21
22Mary Gauthier Fall Apart World Dark Enough to See the Stars 2022 1:15:56
23Tanya Tucker Breakfast In Birmingham (ft. Brandi Carlile) Sweet Western Sound 2023 1:19:47
24Eilen Jewell The Pill Butcher Holler 2024 1:26:15
25Lindi Ortega The Spiritual Advisor From The Ether 2024 1:29:20
26Hurray For The Riff Raff Hawkmoon The Past Is Still Alive 2024 1:31:51
27Sweet Megg Canberra (Baby Blue) Never Been Home 2025 1:35:28
28Sierra Hull Boom A Tip Toe High Wire 2025 1:39:36
29Larkin Poe Little Bit Bloom 2025 1:43:22
30Bonnie Raitt I Will Not Be Broken Bonnie Raitt: Opus Collection 2011 1:47:24
31Margo Price Don't Let The Bastards Get You Down (Clean Edit) Hard Headed Woman 2025 1:53:52
32Samantha Fish Sweet Southern Sounds (Radio Edit) Paper Doll 2025 1:56:38

Twisted Country Tales

We’re taking an encore spin this morning…going back to a show first broadcast as “Country Leftovers” in late 2019. But it deserved a better name “…and I fell asleep with a troubled dream and dreamed I road on the hellbound train.” Just one line from one track from our Friday morning Deeper Roots show which focuses on some country songs ‘from the edge’. An eclectic blend of sometimes morose and other times kitschy stories of mid-century country singers looking for the next “Big Bad John” with stories of engine mishaps, disturbances of mind and relationships, and the general consensus of lyrical country that ‘the world is a monster’. Hillbillies, rabble rousers, and would-be crooners give us those tormented testimonies of country music. Join us for a very unusual collection of sounds from the archives of the fifties and sixties, when country blossomed; the songs we’ll feature had a hard time cracking the Top 100 because the stories told are ‘out there’, even for country music.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Dick Flood Hellbound Train Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 0 00:00
2Bill Anderson Goodbye Cruel World Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1961 06:53
3Rocky Porter The World Is A Monster The World Is A Monster 0 09:47
4Johnny Tyler God's Gonna Turn Us To Dust Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1957 12:05
5Buck Ritchey The Slave Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1968 14:10
6Anita Carter Satan's Child Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1963 21:03
7Art Kilmer & The Up-Town Four The Devil's Twist Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1964 23:57
8Roy And Georgia And The SO And SO's Devil Get Away From Me Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Rapture 1966 25:57
9David Ingles (Satan Has Been) Paralyzed Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1977 28:43
10Jimmy Minor Satan's Chauffeur Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1960 31:06
11Steve Bledsoe Bang Bang You're Dead Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1971 37:26
12The Looper Trio Life Beyond Death Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Rapture 1970 39:51
13Danny Dill The Eyes Of Death The Hangman's Blues: Prison Songs In Country Music (1956-1972) 1960 42:00
14Faron Young Live Fast Love Hard Die Young 1953-1956 (Warped 5455) 2012 44:30
15Autry Inman Six Rounds Of Love And Hate Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1964 46:47
16Johnny Price Marijuana The Devil Flower Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1969 55:52
17Don Bowman Spanish Weed 1967 (Warped 6706) 1967 58:32
18Wendell Austin (And The Country Swings) LSD Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1968 1:00:38
19Bud Freeman & The Summa Cum Laude Orchestra Please Tell The World (A Message From The Grave) Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1970 1:02:58
20Travelin' Texans Beating On The Bars Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wastelands Volume 2 0 1:03:52
21Red River Dave California Hippie Murders Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1970 1:05:40
22Mel Tillis Loco Weed (Single Version) The Best of Mel Tillis 1990 1:07:49
23Olin Bingham They Wouldn't Listen To A Kid Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1971 1:16:58
24Jack Cook My Evil Mind Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wastelands Volume 1 0 1:20:08
25Ray Sanders Graveyard Dance Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1966 1:22:16
26Bill Carter Shot Four Times And Dyin' Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wastelands Volume 2 0 1:23:58
27Len Barrow Hades Highway Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 0 1:32:50
28Don Bailey Fourteen Stories Down Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) 1966 1:35:10
29Charlie Gore Sin City Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1968 1:38:00
30Eddie Noack Ain't The Reaping Ever Done Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1973 1:41:09
31Eddie Noack Before You Use That Gun Hillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter 1973 1:43:54
32Johnny Bond & His Red River Valley Boys All I Can Do Is Cry The World Is A Monster 0 1:46:21
33Troy Hess Please Don't Go Topless Mother Hillbillies in Hell 1972 1:46:21
34Jimmy Dean Big Bad John (Uncensored Version) Best of Answer Songs vol 3 1961 1:53:05
35Wanda Jackson Jesus Put A Yodel In My Soul Hillbillies in Hell 1974 1:56:01

Nine Pound Hammer

We’ve got ourselves a musical breadcrumb trail show featuring songs connected by titles, themes, characters, occupations, relationships, Cajun culture, tattoos, grace, summer romance, and a healthy dose of American eccentricity. We’ll be taking our journey from country to rockabilly, some Howlin’ Wolf, classic doo-wop, folk, gospel, swamp pop, and everything in between. It’s a scenic route through a century of American music. Starting with John Prine’s “Nine Pound Hammer,” we’ll follow a trail that winds through the Louvin Brothers, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, The Band, Johnny Cash, John Lee Hooker, Sam Cooke, and many others. Join us for another Friday morning two hours winding through the back roads. Because that’s where the roots run deepest. 

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1John Prine Nine Pound Hammer Sweet Revenge 1973 00:00
2The Louvin Brothers Are You Teasing Me Capitol Country Music Classics 0 05:15
3Willie Nelson House Of Gold Country Music 2010 08:05
4The Grateful Dead Operator American Beauty 1970 12:37
5Elvis Presley The Girl of My Best Friend Artist of the Century Disc 2 1999 14:57
6Ral Donner Girl Of My Best Friend American Music Library: The Hits Of 1961 1961 17:13
7The Band Jemima Surrender The Band 1969 19:21
8Johnny Cash I Will Rock And Roll With You The Legend: Old Favorites And New [Disc 2] 1978 28:06
9Ivory Joe Hunter You Can't Stop This Rocking and Rolling Ivory Joe Hunter 2005 30:49
10Chuck Willis Caldonia Roots of Rock 'n' Roll:Rough and Rowdy Vol. 3 1952 33:03
11The Debs Whaddaya Want Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55 vol. 2 2005 35:22
12Videos Trickle Trickle Doo Wop Box Disc 3 1994 37:52
13Jackie Wilson That's Why (I Love You So) 7 Classic Albums 1959 45:55
14The Sheppards Elevator Operator Golden Classics 1989 47:54
15Howlin' Wolf My Life Smokestack Lightning /The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960 1956 49:26
16John Lee Hooker One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer The Definitive Collection 1966 52:23
17Dusty Owens Hello Operator Talking on the Telephone Vol. 2 1953 55:16
18Freddy Cannon Buzz Buzz-A-Diddle It Talking on the Telephone Vol. 3 1961 57:33
19Steve Forbert Complications Jackrabbit Slim 1979 1:05:20
20Steve Goodman Somebody Else's Troubles Somebody Else's Troubles 1999 1:08:59
21Jo-el Sonnier Cajun Woman The Complete Mercury Sessions 1992 1:12:40
22Lil' Band Of Gold Cajun Twist Americana Roots Songbook: Louisiana 2002 1:15:12
23Skeets McDonald The Tattooed Lady Dirty Boogie: The Fortune Records Story 1950 1:19:20
24Sam Cooke Out In The Cold Again The Rhythm And The Blues 1961 1:25:03
25The Amazing Rhythm Aces Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song) Stacked Deck 1975 1:27:26
26The Blind Boys of Alabama Amazing Grace Hear Music volume 6 0 1:30:41
27Edd Presnell Amazing Grace Bluegrass Roots 2003 1:34:59
28The Valiants and Sandy Vale Suntan Tattoo Banana Split for My Baby 1959 1:36:39
29Eddie Cochran Hallelujah I Love Her So The London American Story – 1960 1959 1:38:41
30David Bromberg; Dr. John Such a Night The Last Waltz [Rhino Box Set] Disc 1 2002 1:40:58
31The Band (I Don't Want To Hang Up My) Rock 'N' Roll Shoes A Musical History [Disc 4] 1971 1:45:37
32Randy Newman I'm Different Trouble in Paradise 1983 1:55:13
33Randy Newman Maybe I'm Doin' It Wrong Sail Away 1970 1:57:43

Rockabilly Shakin’ Goin’ On

Roll down the windows and put that pedal to the metal because we’ve got two hours of wild rhythms and deep cuts this coming Friday. We’ll be digging into those slap-back echo, train-beat rhythms and wild-eyed energy of rockabilly music — that explosive blend of country, blues, boogie and early rock ’n’ roll that rattled America in the 1950s and helped redraw the cultural map for a generation of teenagers looking for something loud, fast and a little dangerous. Now sure, everybody knows the giants — Elvis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis — but tonight’s show leans into the side roads and back highways of rockabilly history. Alongside a few familiar names, we’ll spend two hours with the obscure cats, regional stars, one-hit wonders and forgotten firebrands producing some of the wildest sounds ever pressed onto vinyl. From Sonny Fisher and Ronnie Self to Roy Duke, Sonny Burgess, Johnny Garner and Laura Lee Perkins, this is the sound of American youth culture before it was polished, corporate or safe.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Louie Innis Sing Your Song Baby Hillbilly Bop 'n' Boogie: King/Federal Roots of Rockabilly 1944 – 56 2002 00:10
2Tex Williams Let's Go Rockabilly The Hillbillies – They Tried to Rock Vol.2 1957 05:28
3Johnny Garner DidiDidi Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1958 07:30
4Lew Williams Cat Walk Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1956 09:32
5Gene Vincent Cat Man Bluejean Bop-And His Blue Caps 0 11:40
6Sonny Fisher Pink And Black Classic Rockabilly-Cool Cats & Hot Chicks 1956 13:56
7Ronnie Self Rocky Road Blues 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 15:53
8Ronnie Dawson Action Packed Rockin' Bones: The Legendary Masters [Disc 1] 0 24:29
9The Strikes If You Can't Rock Me Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1957 26:36
10Bob Luman Make Up Your Mind Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1957 29:03
11Dave Rich Red Sweater Grady Martin 1957 31:29
12Laura Lee Perkins I Just Don't Like This Kind Of Lovin' Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1958 33:40
13Dave Rich Burn On Love Fire Country & Western Nuggets 1958 35:27
14Sid King & The Five Strings Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 37:15
15Wanda Jackson Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On Queen Of Rockabilly 1964 45:25
16Ricky Nelson Stood Up Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1957 48:05
17Johnny Burnette Rock n Roll Trio Please Don't Leave Me Tear It Up 1956 49:53
18Roy Duke Behave Be Quiet Or Be Gone 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 52:05
19The Collins Kids I'm In My Teens 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 54:05
20Billy & Don Hart Rock-A-Bop-A-Lina 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 56:20
21Johnny Horton I'm Coming Home American Originals 1956 1:02:45
22Johnny Horton Honky Tonk Mind (The Woman I Need) 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 1:04:48
23Jerry Lee Lewis Real Wild Child (Wild One) A Half Century Of Hits [Disc 1] 1958 1:06:58
24Warren Smith Got Love If You Want It The Best of Sun Rockabilly Vol. 2 1958 1:08:49
25Sonny Burgess Itchy The Best of Sun Rockabilly Vol. 2 1999 1:10:53
26Johnny Cash Rockabilly Blues (Texas 1955) The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983 Disc 3 1992 1:13:09
27Johnny Burnette Rock n Roll Trio Honey Hush Tear It Up 1956 1:16:26
28Carl Perkins Hambone Grady Martin 1962 1:22:33
29Carl Perkins Where The Rio De Rosa Flows 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2010 1:24:51
30Charlie Feathers Matchbox Good Rockin' Tonight 0 1:27:51
31Tommy Blake You Better Believe It Sun Rockabilly Meltdown [Disc 2] 2009 1:30:20
32Tommy Blake You Better Believe It Koolit: The Sun Years Plus 1958 1:32:05
33Unknown Rockabilly Band Zynnin' Boppin' By The Bayou – Baby Dolls & Drive-Ins 0 1:34:36
34Conway Twitty I Vibrate (From My Head to My Feet) The Rock 'N' Roll Years CD2 1997 1:36:03
35Conway Twitty Don't Cry No More Grady Martin 1963 1:38:03
36Mac Curtis Grandaddy's Rockin' Classic Rockabilly 1956 1:40:33
37Skeets McDonald You Oughta See Grandma Rock Classic Rockabilly 1956 1:42:31
38Gene Henslee Rockin Baby Essential Rockabilly The Imperial Story 1954 1:44:27
39Johnny Burnette Rock n Roll Trio Your Baby Blue Eyes Tear It Up 1956 1:46:25
40Joe Clay Ducktail Classic Rockabilly-Cool Cats & Hot Chicks 1956 1:53:26
41Johnny Burnette Do Baby Do The Train Kept a-Rollin' Memphis to Hollywood – CD2 0 1:55:50
42The Collins Kids Whistle Bait 100 Rare '50s Rockabilly Tracks 2026 1:57:33

Burning Love Letters

From rocking celebrations to hard-earned reflections, this week’s episode of Deeper Roots turns its attention to the man they called “The King.” We’ve got two hours with songs about Elvis Presley — musical tributes, name-drops, eulogies, and love letters from artists across the past century. Some are playful, some reverent, and some wrestle with the contradictions that made Elvis both larger than life and painfully human. Together, they form a kind of American scrapbook around a figure who never really left the cultural conversation. From the wide-eyed devotion of artists like George Jones, Janis Martin, and Bobby Bare, to later songs reflecting on the strange and tragic arc that carried Elvis from hip-shaking revolutionary to Vegas spectacle, from the Nixon White House photo-op to a lonely and frightening decline, these recordings trace the many ways America mythologized him. Whether delivered as tribute, cautionary tale, obituary, or heartfelt fan letter, the songs on this morning’s show reveal just how deeply Elvis worked his way into the DNA of rock ’n’ roll mythology — and into the imagination of generations that followed.

No.Artist Title Album Year Start At
1Elvis Presley Elvis [Excerpt From Interview Held Sept.22 1958] Elvis: A Legendary Performer Vol. 1 1958 00:00
2Pat Smith Elvis Elvis Gals of the Big D Jamboree 1958 00:25
3Billy Boyle My Baby's Crazy 'Bout Elvis The Greatest Novelty Songs 1962 05:31
4Nervous Norvus Elvis You're A G.I. Now Stone Age Woo 1958 08:03
5Bobby Bare All American Boy All American Boy – CD 1 1963 10:14
6The Hunt Sisters Elvis Is Rocking Again Dirty Boogie:The Fortune Records Story 1960 13:09
7Janis Martin My Boy Elvis Loud Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 1 1999 14:40
8George Jones The King Is Gone (So Are You) One Woman Man 1989 23:33
9Steve Goodman Elvis Imitators Artistic Hair 1983 26:47
10Syd Straw & The Del Lords Listening To Elvis 200 Cadillacs 2003 29:36
11Horace Logan Announcements (& Elvis Has Left the Building) At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight (Disc 7) 2017 33:19
12Gillian Welch Elvis Presley Blues Artist's Choice: Emmylou Harris 0 33:52
13Dan Reeder Clean Elvis Oh Boy! A Sampler 0 43:56
14Cris Cuddy Dear Elvis Dear Elvis 2015 46:31
15Greg Brown Jesus and Elvis Poet Game 1994 49:49
16John Stewart I Want To Be Elvis Havana 2003 53:17
17Loudon Wainwright III Happy Birthday Elvis Career Moves 1993 56:39
18Leon Russell Elvis and Marilyn Americana 1978 1:00:37
19Sonny Burgess Bigger Than Elvis Sonny Burgess 1996 1:09:05
20Stray Cats Elvis on Velvet Runaway Boys: A Retrospective '81-'92 1997 1:11:43
21Mojo Nixon Elvis Is Everywhere Bo-Day-Shus!!! 1986 1:15:59
22Derailers I Love Me Some Elvis Genuine 2003 1:20:50
23Hayes Carll Jesus and Elvis What It Is 2019 1:27:07
24The Tractors The Elvis Thing Farmers in a Changing World 1998 1:30:25
25Alannah Myles Black Velvet The Atlantic Story [UK] Disc 2 0 1:35:42
26Kacey Musgraves Velvet Elvis Golden Hour 2018 1:39:38
27Marc Cohn Walking in Memphis VH1 Classic: The Cuts 2003 1:42:07
28Paul Simon Graceland Graceland 1986 1:46:11
29Cowboy Junkies Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis) The Trinity Session 1988 1:54:27