Category Archives: Mountain Music

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

Crime Does Not Pay

Tune in this week for crimes, misdemeanors and general lawlessness as we lean on a theme that explores music that explores one hundred years of crime in different form. We’ll also ask law enforcement to step in as needed with pursuits, chain gangs, and K9 units. From Elmer Bernstein to The Crickets, Mel Tillis to The Byrds, and Bo Diddley, Red River Dave, and blues from Robert Wilkins as our show reminds listeners that Crime Doesn’t Pay…unless you’ve already got the cheese or you’re on the grift with the government behind you. Join our listening audience for the best roots radio show you’ll find here in the North Bay. We’ll make sure this week’s show covers the theme with tracks and treasures, classic influences and much more. So, whether you’re tuning in from a big city street or a quiet back road, settle in, turn it up, and let the stories music take you there. It’s another week of Deeper Roots on KOWS Community Radio.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Tex Morton Crime Does Not Pay The Great Vintage Country Amazon
2Delmore Brothers Fugitive's Lament Brown's Ferry Blues Amazon
3Robert Wilkins Police Sergeant Blues Memphis Blues, 1928-1935 Amazon
4Joe Smith Kidnapping is a Terrible Crime Lead Kindly Light Amazon
5Jimmie Driftwood Jesse James Americana, Vol. 2 Amazon
6The Byrds Pretty Boy Floyd Sweetheart of the Rodeo Amazon
7Merle Haggard And The Strangers The Legend Of Bonnie And Clyde (2006 Digital Remaster) Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard Amazon
8Sons of the Pioneers Outlaw (1952) Wagons West (CD4) Amazon
9Andy Griffith Police Department Blues Rocks, Blues & Old Timey Songs Amazon
10James Talley Are They Gonna Make Us Outlaws Again? Tryin' Like The Devil Amazon
11Merle Haggard I'm A Lonesome Fugitive Capitol Collector's Series Amazon
12Tom T. Hall A Week In A Country Jail Classic Country Vol. 15 The Sixties Legends Disc 1 Amazon
13Peter Rowan & Nashville Bluegrass Band Jailer Jailer Legacy Amazon
14Ray Llewelyn Highway Patrol Television's Greatest Hits Volume 4 Amazon
15Junior Brown Highway Patrol Junior High Amazon
16The Crickets I Fought the Law Rockin' Originals: Original Versions of Famous Songs Amazon
17Helen Grayco Lilly's Lament (Cell 29) Destination Jail: 31 Prison Songs From Behind The Bars Amazon
18Tom Edwards Cook County Jail Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wastelands Volume 2 Amazon
19Red River Dave California Hippie Murders Hillbillies In Hell (Country Music's Tormented Testament 1952-1974) Amazon
20Johnny Rebb And His Rebels Hey Sheriff Destination Jail: 31 Prison Songs From Behind The Bars Amazon
21Jimmy Young Chain Gang Destination Jail: 31 Prison Songs From Behind The Bars Amazon
22Bo Diddley Cops And Robbers Have Guitar Will Travel Amazon
23Ray Anthony & His Orchestra Dragnet TV Land presents Favorite TV Theme Songs Amazon
24Elmer Bernstein Staccato's Theme Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 7: The Crime Scene Amazon
25Russ Tamblin & The Jets Gee, Officer Krupke West Side Story Amazon
26Freddie 'Bama Boy' Hall & His Gadsden Band This Crooked World Bob Dylan – Radio Radio – Theme Time Radio Hour Volume Four [Disc 3] Amazon
27Eddie Cole & The Three Peppers Police Katanga! Ahbe Casabe: Exotic Blues & Rhythm VOL. 1 & 2 Amazon
28Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra Call The Police Jumpin' With the Big Swing Bands Amazon
29Fats Waller & His Rhythm Twenty-Four Robbers 100 Ans De Jazz Amazon
30Wayne Hancock Johnny Law Swing Time Amazon
31Randy Newman Jolly Coppers on Parade Lonely at the Top: The Best of Randy Newman Amazon

O Brother Revisited

Roots music found commercial success in 2000 with the release of the movie O Brother Where Art Thou, a finely crafted but outrageous tale of Depression-era America with fantastical imagery of hair wax, baptisms, and chain gangs woven into a tapestry built from Homer’s Odyssey. The music, assembled by T-Bone Burnett, was a major component of the film and recorded before the film even began with Burnett working with the Coen brothers while the script was in its working phases. It would become an effort that elevated a genre at the turn of the century called Americana. This week’s show will share some of the period-specific music that helped to propel the notion that blues, jazz, bluegrass, country, and gospel could be used to put that time and a ghostly familiar culture into focus. We’ll use O Brother’s musical sensibilities to take us somewhere quite familiar (and at the same time quite terrifying) as we pay homage with Americana roots, featuring sounds from The Carters, Jesse Fuller, Dan Tyminski, Jimmie Rodgers, W. Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel & His Hillbilly Boys, among others.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Estil C. Ball Lonesome Valley Sounds of the South [Disc 3] – Negro Church Music & White Spirituals Amazon
2The Carter Family With Special Guest Johnny Cash Lonesome Valley Keep On The Sunny Side Amazon
3Harry McClintock Big Rock Candy Mountain O Brother, Where Art Thou? Amazon
4Jimmie Davis With Charles Mitchell's Orchestra You Are My Sunshine Decca Country Classics 1934-1973 [Disc 1] Amazon
5Alison Krauss Down To The River To Pray A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection Amazon
6Peasall Sisters Fair and Tender Ladies Home to You Amazon
7Roberta Martin Singers The Old Ship of Zion Halleluja Gospel & Prayers Amazon
8The Stanley Brothers A Life Of Sorrow Stanley Brothers & Clinch Mountain Boys Amazon
9Dan Tyminski/Soggy Bottom Boys Man of Constant Sorrow O Brother, Where Art Thou? Amazon
10W. Lee & His Hillbilly Boys Please Pass The Biscuits Pappy Western Swing Chronicles Vol. 4 1933-1938 Amazon
11Country Gentlemen I Am Weary (Let Me Rest) 1963 (Warped 6305) Amazon
12The Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys Clinch Mountain Backstep Constant Sorrow: Bluegrass From Root To Flower [Disc 3] Amazon
13The Whites Keep on the Sunny Side O Brother, Where Art Thou? Amazon
14Chuck Wagon Gang I'll Fly Away 1941-1948 (Warped 4128) Amazon
15Hannah Peasall/Leah Peasall/Sarah Peasall/The Peasall Sisters In the Highways O Brother, Where Art Thou? Amazon
16Ralph Stanley Oh, Death (Featuring Gillian Welch) Clinch Mountain Sweethearts Amazon
17Jesse Fuller Amazing Grace 15 Down Home Gospel Classics Amazon
18The Statler Brothers Statler Brothers – Amazing Grace Bless This House [Disc 3] Amazon
19The Stanley Brothers Angel Band O Brother, Where Art Thou? Amazon
20Bill Monroe & His Blue Grass Boys Cryin' Holy Unto My Lord Constant Sorrow: Bluegrass From Root To Flower [Disc 2] Amazon
21Doc Watson In the Jailhouse Now Memories Amazon
22Robert Johnson They're Red Hot ABC Of The Blues Vol 18 Amazon
23Lefty Frizzell My Rough And Rowdy Ways Songs Of Jimmie Rodgers Amazon
24Jimmie Rodgers Frankie And Johnnie Recordings 1927 – 1933 [Disc 2] Amazon
25Peerless Four Trouble in My Way Southern Journey Vol 8 (Velvet Voices: Eastern Shores Choirs, Quartets, and Colonial Era Music) Amazon
26Chuck Wagon Gang/Jack Greene Family Bible 70th Anniversary Amazon
27J.E. Mainer's Mountaineers Goin' Down To The River Of Jordan Take Me To The Water Amazon
28The Carter Family River Of Jordan Can The Circle Be Unbroken Amazon
29W. Lee O'Daniel O'Daniel radio show sign off Western Swing Chronicles Vol. 4 1933-1938 Amazon
30The Carter Family Can The Circle Be Unbroken Can The Circle Be Unbroken Amazon
31John Hartford Indian War Whoop [Instrumental] O Brother, Where Art Thou? Amazon

Covering Bill Monroe

The music of Bill Monroe is the theme of our show today. We’ll be featuring some classic tunes from the Monroe catalog including some traditional tunes as well as those written by the master himself. The performers include those from all walks:  Ray Charles, Elvis, Doc Watson, Bruce Hornsby, and a collection of bluegrass favorites including Jim & Jessie McReynods, Ricky Skaggs, The Seldom Scene and a couple dozen others; all of them covering Bill Monroe’s music with some loyal to the arrangements while others putting their own spin on it. Join Dave Stroud once again for a collection of sounds from those dusty digital bins, those deeper wells, here on Sonoma County Community’s own community radio. Free Form. Free Speech. No Bull. Your alternative radio station in the North Bay.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Elvis Presley Working On The Building Amazing Grace – His Greatest Sacred Performances (Disc 1) Amazon
2Ray Charles Blue Moon Of Kentucky (Swingova) Complete Country & Western Recordings: 1959-1986 [Disc 2] Amazon
3John Fogerty Blue Moon Of Kentucky Songs of Bill Monroe Amazon
4Leon Russell Uncle Pen Hank Wilson's Back [Bonus Tracks] Amazon
5The Louvin Brothers What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul Close Harmony [Disc 8] Amazon
6The Devil Makes Three What Would You Give (In Exchange for Your Soul) Redemption & Ruin Amazon
7Jerry & Tammy Sullivan Wicked Path Of Sin Legend Lives on-a Tribute to Bill Monroe Amazon
8Jim & Jesse McReynolds Wicked Path Of Sin Music Among Friends Amazon
9Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers Walls Of Time At The Ryman [Live] Amazon
10The Johnson Mountain Boys Walls Of Time Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration: A Classic Bluegrass Tribute Disc 2 Amazon
11Hazel And Alice True Life Blues Bill Monroe Centennial Celebration: A Classic Bluegrass Tribute Disc 2 Amazon
12Bruce Hornsby & Ricky Skaggs Toy Heart (Live) Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby: Cluck Ol' Hen (Live) Amazon
13Red Allen Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong The Folkways Years 1964 – 1983 Amazon
14The Million Dollar Quartet Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong The Million Dollar Quartet: 50th Anniversary Special Edition Amazon
15Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs Six White Horses 1957-1959 (Warped 5722) Amazon
16The Bluegrass Band Six White Horses 2nd Cut Amazon
17Doc Watson The Girl In The Blue Velvet Band Good Deal! Amazon
18Mac Wiseman The Girl In The Blue Velvet Band Great Folk Ballads Amazon
19Doc Watson/Merle Watson Roll on Buddy Doc Watson on Stage (Featuring Merle Watson) Amazon
20Ramblin' Jack Elliott Roll On Buddy The Essential Ramblin' Jack Elliott Amazon
21Doc Watson My Rose of Old Kentucky Memories Amazon
22Dwight Yoakam Rocky Road Blues Big Mon – The Songs of Bill Monroe Amazon
23Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps Rocky Road Blues The Forgotten 45s 1957-1959 (CD2) Amazon
24Doc & Merle Watson New River Train Remembering Merle – Live Recordings 1976-1979 Amazon
25The Seldom Scene Little Georgia Rose Act 3 Amazon
26Earl Scruggs/Foggy Mountain Boys/Lester Flatt Molly and Tenbrooks (The Race Horse Song) The Essential Earl Scruggs (1 of 2) Amazon
27Don Reno & Bill Harrel With The Tennessee Cut-Ups Molly And Tenbrooks 20 Bluegrass Favorites Amazon
28Tony Rice Unit Midnight on the Stormy Deep Hills Of Home: 25 Years Of Folk Music On Rounder Records Amazon
29Doc Watson Midnight on The Stormy Deep Riding the Midnight Train Amazon
30John Hartford, Ronnie McCoury Little Cabin Home On The Hill True Life Blues – The Songs of Bill Monroe Amazon
31Elvis Presley Little Cabin On the Hill Elvis Country Amazon
32Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys Uncle Pen Decca Country Classics 1934-1973 [Disc 2] Amazon

Night at the Opry & Ryman

All live recordings this week, all from the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium. From its early years in a modest Insurance Building as the WSM Barn Dance, the Grand Ole Opry, for all its staid tradition, has become the capitol of country music. Selectively provincial from early on, it brought together country, gospel, and bluegrass radio listeners well into the Golden Age of Country. Deeper Roots digs into the dusty digital archives for recordings from those times in this week’s show plus brings you some new sounds that have grown from the early seeds sown by Uncle Dave Macon, Roy Acuff and George Hay. We’ve got Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, and the Oak Ridge Quartet filling time alongside the Old Crow Medicine Show and Rhonda Vincent. Join in the revelry!

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Roy Acuff Night Train To Memphis Hit The Road -Grand Ole Opry Live Classics Amazon
2Stonewall Jackson Old Showboat (Live at the Grand Ole Opry 1970) Singles Amazon
3Hank Snow I've Been Everywhere Hit The Road -Grand Ole Opry Live Classics Amazon
4Bobby Bare Detroit City Hit The Road -Grand Ole Opry Live Classics Amazon
5The Osborne Brothers Take This Hammer Bluegrass at the Opry Amazon
6George Hamilton IV Abilene Hit The Road -Grand Ole Opry Live Classics Amazon
7Patsy Cline Walkin' After Midnight Live at the Opry Amazon
8Hank Williams I Just Don't Like This Kind of Living Grand Ole Opry Time Amazon
9Dave Dudley Six Days On The Road Hit The Road -Grand Ole Opry Live Classics Amazon
10Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton The Last Thing On My Mind Grand Ole Opry Classic Collection: Duets Amazon
11Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash Jackson Grand Ole Opry Classic Collection: Duets Amazon
12Patsy Cline Just A Closer Walk With Thee [Live (Ryman Auditorium)] The Patsy Cline Collection Amazon
13Oak Ridge Quartet Ole Time Religion Grand Ole Opry Time Amazon
14Oak Ridge Quartet Lead Me to That Rock Grand Ole Opry Time Amazon
15Ronnie Dunn & Rebecca Lynn Howard If I could Only Win Your Love Grand Ole Opry Classic Collection: Duets Amazon
16Bill Monroe Can You Hear Me Callin' Bluegrass at the Opry Amazon
17Mac Wiseman Jimmie Brown The Newsboy Bluegrass Legands – Live At The Ryman Amazon
18Rhonda Vincent Hit Parade Of Love Bluegrass Legands – Live At The Ryman Amazon
19Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs Back Up and Push 1953-X6-XX Grand Old Opry Amazon
20Ricky Skaggs & Emmylou Harris Could You Love Me One More Time Grand Ole Opry Classic Collection: Duets Amazon
21Glen Campbell & Steve Wariner The Hand That Rocks The Cradle Grand Ole Opry Classic Collection: Duets Amazon
22Jim & Jesse Wild Georgia Boy Bluegrass at the Opry Amazon
23The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Grand Ole Opry Song Will the Circle Be Unbroken [Bonus Tracks] Disc 1 Amazon
24Old Crow Medicine Show Welcome To The Ryman Live at the Ryman Amazon
25Old Crow Medicine Show Tell It To Me Live at the Ryman Amazon
26Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers Smoke Along The Track At The Ryman [Live] Amazon
27Marty Stuart Orange Blossom Special Live at the Ryman Amazon
28Band Of Horses Everything's Gonna Be Undone (Live Acoustic) Acoustic At The Ryman (Live) Amazon
29Marty Stuart Hillbilly Rock Live at the Ryman Amazon
30Levon Helm No Depression In Heaven Ramble at the Ryman Amazon
31Minnie Pearl Comedy Grand Ole Opry Time Amazon
32Levon Helm Evangeline Ramble at the Ryman Amazon

Carl Sandburg’s Songbag Pt 2

We had so much fun with our first installment a few months back that we thought it was worth a second installment…well, that and the depth and breadth of the American Songbag certainly lends itself to doing so. It doesn’t hurt either that it fits our deeper roots sensibilities so well. This installment finds us meandering about those classic songs whose topics include mellow blues ballads, hobo songs, Mexican border songs (how appropriate), tarnished love tales, and the ‘road to heaven’. Helping us through our sets we’ll be featuring an interesting collection of performers:  Dave Van Ronk, Dock Boggs, Rosanne Cash, and Peter Case. A host of others will join in the fun on Community Radio for Sonoma County.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Dave Van Ronk Willie The Weeper Down In Washington Square: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection Amazon
2The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Willie the Weeper Dirt, Silver & Gold Disc 1 Amazon
3Dan Zanes Roll The Chariot Parades And Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected By Carl Sandburg For The American Songbag Amazon
4Josh White Barbara Allen Best Of Josh White Amazon
5Delmore Brothers Frozen Girl Brown's Ferry Blues Amazon
6Dock Boggs Pretty Polly Country Blues Amazon
7The Carter Family My Sweetheart Is a Poor Working Girl/Waves of the Sea (Instrumental) On Border Radio – 1939 – vol. 1 Amazon
8Tony Rice House Carpenter Church Street Blues Amazon
9Hylo Brown Pretty Fair Maiden Legends & Tall Tales Amazon
10Ola Belle Reed, John Miller, Burl Kilby The Orphan Girl Ola Belle Reed and Southern Mountain Music on the Mason-Dixon Line Amazon
11David Rawlings Midnight Train Poor David's Almanack Amazon
12Arlo Guthrie Gypsy Davy Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys (Remastered 2004) Amazon
13Peter Case Roving Gambler Sings Like Hell Amazon
14Rosanne Cash Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow The List Amazon
15Aaron Copland, London Symphony Orchestra & William Warfield Old American Songs (Set One): Zion's Walls Copland Conducts Copland (Expanded Edition) Amazon
16Louis Armstrong Ezekiel Saw De Wheel Louis And The Good Book Amazon
17Sister Rosetta Tharpe Things That I used to do (and I Don't Do No More) The Gospel Truth Amazon
18The Robinson Children I Ain't Gwine Study About War No More Swinging Gospel Sounds (1935-1942) Amazon
19The Bronzemen Dese Bones Gwine Rise Again The Bronzemen – Radio Transcriptions (1939) Amazon
20Septeto Habanero Cielito Lindo Cuba. Por La Musica Amazon
21Los Panchos La Cucaracha – La Adelita Cattle Call-Early Cowboy Music And It's Roots Amazon
22Dan Zanes Lo Que Digo Parades And Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected By Carl Sandburg For The American Songbag Amazon
23Kathy Reid-Naiman Pretty Betty Martin Dear Jean: Artists Celebrate Jean Ritchie Amazon
24Laurie Lewis Weevily Wheat Laurie Lewis & Her Bluegrass Pals Amazon
25Dan Zanes Cuckoo Waltz Parades And Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected By Carl Sandburg For The American Songbag Amazon
26Tom Paxton Times A-Getting Hard, Boys Seeds – The Songs Of Pete Seeger, Vol. 3 (Disc 2 Of 2 – Friends Of Pete) Amazon
27Bobby Bare Times Are Gettin' Hard Memories – RCA Singles 1962 – 1969 Amazon
28Ronnie Gilbert Lincoln And Liberty Songs Of The Civil War Amazon
29Jim Kweskin & Geoff Muldaur The Boll Weevil Penny's Farm Amazon
30Dave Van Ronk Gamblers Blues Dust Bowl Blues Essential American Folk Amazon

Music of Albert E. Brumley Sr.

The music of Albert E. Brumley resides in a shadowy corner of country gospel, but when it’s given the light of day, the glow is blinding.  He was a shape note music composer and publisher whose southern gospel pieces are familiar to many. There’s not a lot of information about Albert but the musical legacy of his “I’ll Fly Away”, “Rank Strangers”, and “Turn Your Radio On” are masterpieces of the genre made popular by everyone from The Carters to Bill Monroe and Aretha Franklin to Alan Jackson and Kanye West.  We’ll spend time with his music today, sharing numerous interpretations for you on a Friday morning in Sebastopol, live from KOWS studio at the UMC in the heart of town.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Chuck Wagon Gang/George Jones Turn Your Radio On 70th Anniversary Amazon
2The Dillards Introduction There Is A Time: 1963-70 Amazon
3The Dillards I'll Fly Away There Is A Time: 1963-70 Amazon
4The Humbard Family I'll Fly Away [Album Version] Roots 'N' Blues/The Retrospective 1925-1950 Amazon
5Stamps-Baxter Quartet When We Sing Around The Throne Eternal Close Harmony: A History of Southern Gospel Music Amazon
6The Del McCoury Band The Lord Is Writing Down Names The Promised Land Amazon
7The Del McCoury Band It's Surprising What The Lord Can Do The Promised Land Amazon
8Clinch Mountain Boys/Jim Lauderdale/Ralph Stanley This World Is Not My Home I Feel Like Singing Today Amazon
9Fern Jones This World Is Not My Home The Glory Road Amazon
10Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys The Prettiest Flowers Will Be Blooming Ralph Stanley 1971-1973 Disc One Amazon
11The Louvin Brothers He Set Me Free Close Harmony [Disc 6] Amazon
12Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys Standing By the River Ralph Stanley 1971-1973 Disc 4 Amazon
13The Country Gentlemen Rank Strangers To Me The Early Rebel Recordings [Disc 3] Amazon
14Ricky Skaggs Rank Stranger Bluegrass Rules! Amazon
15Leon Redbone If We Never Meet Again This Side of Heaven Double Time Amazon
16Elvis Presley If We Never Meet Again He Touched Me: The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley Disc 1 Amazon
17Doc Watson I'll Meet You In The Morning Milestones [Disc 2] Amazon
18Albert E. Brumley, Jr./Merle Haggard I'll Meet You in the Morning Two Old Friends Amazon
19Johnnie and Jack I Heard My Name on the Radio 1947-1950 (Warped 4720) Amazon
20Coon Creek Girls Flowers Blooming In The Wildwood Flowers In The Wildwood Amazon
21Rangers Quartet I've Found A Hiding Place Close Harmony: A History of Southern Gospel Music Amazon
22Marty Stuart Lord, Give Me Just a Little More Time Souls' Chapel Amazon
23Mac Wiseman By the Side of the Road Voice of the Spirit, Gospel of the South Amazon
24Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver By The Side Of The Road Beyond The Shadows Amazon
25The Del McCoury Band I'll Put On A Crown And Walk Around The Promised Land Amazon
26The Del McCoury Band It's An Unfriendly World The Promised Land Amazon
27Merle Travis If We Never Meet Again Hot Pickin' [Disc 1] Amazon
28The Kingsmen I'd Rather Be An Old-Time Christian Crossroads: Southern Roots Amazon
29Jimmie Davis 'Twill Be Sweet When We Meet Nobody's Darlin' But Mine Amazon
30Carl Story I've Found a Hiding Place Country & Western Hit Parade 1947 Amazon
31Wade Bowen I'll Fly Away Then Sings My Soul: Songs for My Mother Amazon
32Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch I'll Fly Away Down From The Mountain: Live Concert Performances By The Artists & Musicians Of "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Amazon
33NRBQ Down In My Heart Stay With We Amazon
34Lyle Lovett I'm A Soldier In The Army Of The Lord Smile: Songs From The Movies Amazon

California’s Burning

We are remembering what happened here in Sonoma County last October when the firestorm hit, devastating communities and lives. Over 5000 homes and dozens of lives were lost. Disaster struck overnight and our music today reflects back with songs of disaster, songs of burning hell, and music that reminds us that Mother Nature will have its way. Blues from John Lee Hooker and Howlin’ Wolf, traditional country gospel from Bill Neely and Kitty Wells, and more in a Friday evening remembrance.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1The David Thom Band California's Burning That Old Familiar Amazon
2Under The Radar Ride These Flames Beyond The Niche Amazon
3Kitty Wells He Will Set Your Fields on Fire Dust on the Bible (1959) Amazon
4Kilby Snow, Mike Seeger He Will Set Your Fields On Fire Close To Home: Old Time Music From Mike Seeger's Collection, 1952-1967 Amazon
5Clyde Moody 06 – Where There's Smoke (There's Bound to Be Fire) The Hillbilly Waltz King Amazon
6Bill Neely Satan's Burning Hell Texas Law & Justice Amazon
7Howlin' Wolf The Natchez Burning Blues From Hell Amazon
8John Lee Hooker Burning Hell The Ultimate Collection 1948-1990 [Disc 2] Amazon
9John Lee Hooker The Motor City Is Burning The Definitive Collection Amazon
10Otis Spann Burning Fire The Great Blues Men Amazon
11Bob Brozman American House Fire Blues Fire in the Mind Amazon
12Dave Alvin Barn Burning King Of California Amazon
13Dave Alvin California's Burning Dave Alvin and The Guilty Women Amazon
14John Mellencamp Eden Is Burning John Mellencamp Amazon
15Dixon Brothers The School House Fire Down In The Basement: Joe Bussard's Treasure Trove Of Vintage 78s: 1926-1937 Amazon
16J. H. Howell Burning Of Cleveland School Classic Field Recordings Amazon
17Max Steiner And The MGM Studio Orhestra Atlanta in Flames Gone With the Wind Amazon
18Dixie Jubilee Singers & Bryant's Jubilee Quartet What's You Gonna Do When The World's On Fire? Dixie Jubilee Singers (1924-1928) & Bryant's Jubilee Quartet (1931) Amazon
19Selah Jubilee Singers I'm Tormented In The Flames Complete Recorded Works – Vol. 1 (1939-1941) Amazon
20Sisters Of Song In God's House Fire In My Bones : Raw + Rare + Otherworldly African-American Gospel, 1944-2007 Amazon
21Mandolin Orange Wildfire Blindfaller Amazon
22Lightnin' Hopkins Burnin' in L.A. Po' Lightnin' Amazon
23D.L. Menard/Eddie LeJeune/Ken Smith Les Flammes D'Enfer (The Flames of Hell) The Best of Louisiana Music [Rounder] Amazon
24Jude Taylor and His Burning Flames Burnin Flames Special Putomayo Presents Zydeco Amazon
25Buckwheat Zydeco Where There's Smoke There's Fire Menagerie Amazon
26Buddy Miller Fire and Water Universal United House Of Prayer Amazon
27Janiva Magness Your House Is Burnin' Love Wins Again Amazon

Carl Sandburg’s Songbag

Published in 1927, populist poet Carl Sandburg’s anthology of American folksongs was in print for over 70 years. It influenced generations of musicians and is a cornerstone in the foundation of American folk and tradition. Sandburg himself described it as a “ragbag of stripes and streaks of color from nearly all ends of the earth…rich with the diversity of the United States.” Today’s show pulls samples from the book featuring performances by Dan Zanes, Bob Dylan, The Weavers, The Blue Sky Boys, and David Rawlings. True Americana from the deeper wells of America’s music.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Zora Layman & The Hometowners When The Curtains Of The Night Are Pinned Back By The Stars Howdy! 25 Hillbilly All-Time Greats Amazon
2Johnny Cash The Streets of Laredo Come Along And Ride This Train [Disc 2] Amazon
3Sons of the Pioneers Lone Star Trail Songs of the Prairie – CD2 Amazon
4Tex Ritter Whoopee Ti Yi Yo (Git Along Little Dogies) Have I Stayed Away Too Long Amazon
5The Weavers Get Along Little Dogies The Weavers Almanac Amazon
6Woody Guthrie Buffalo Skinners (traditional, arr. Woody Guthrie) Woody at 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection [Disc 2] Amazon
7Oscar Brand The Tenderfoot Pie In The Sky Amazon
8The Blue Sky Boys Trail To Mexico American Roots- A History Of American Folk Music: [Disc 1] Amazon
9Marc Williams The Little Old Sod Shanty On My Claim Howdy! 25 Hillbilly All-Time Greats Amazon
10Mac Wiseman Turkey In The Straw Sings Old Time Country Favorites Amazon
11The Blue Sky Boys Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet Presenting The Blue Sky Boys Amazon
12Dan Zanes I Was Born Almost Ten Thousand Years Ago Parades And Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected By Carl Sandburg For The American Songbag Amazon
13Dan Zanes California Parades And Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected By Carl Sandburg For The American Songbag Amazon
14Hylo Brown Sweet Betsy From Pike Legends & Tall Tales Amazon
15BR5-49 Sweet Betsy from Pike Song of America Amazon
16Tennessee Ernie Ford Who Will Shoe Your Pretty Little Foot This Lusty Land Amazon
17Gid Tanner & The Skillet Lickers The Old Gray Mare And The Skillet Lickers Vol. 2 Amazon
18David Rawlings Money Is the Meat in the Coconut Poor David's Almanack Amazon
19Kilby Snow Chicken Reel (Folk) Masters of Old-Time Country Autoharp Amazon
20The Everly Brothers Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet Songs Our Daddy Taught Us Amazon
21Carolina Chocolate Drops Sourwood Mountain Dona Got A Ramblin' Mind Amazon
22Molly Mason & Jay Ungar The Lover's Lament The Lovers' Waltz Amazon
23Marty Robbins Red River Valley All-Time Greatest Hits Amazon
24Dick Curless Red River Valley A Tombstone Every Mile (7CD Set) CD2 (1950-1969) Amazon
25The Doc Watson Family One Morning In May Tradition Amazon
26Dave Van Ronk Kentucky Moonshiner Inside Dave Van Ronk Amazon
27Otis Redding Down In The Valley Dreams To Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology [Disc 1] Amazon
28Slim Whitman Down In The Valley Country Greats #2 Amazon
29Bob Dylan Froggie Went A-Courtin' Good As I Been To You Amazon
30Tex Ritter Froggie Went A-Courtin' Singing In The Saddle Amazon
31Dan Zanes The Monkey's Wedding Parades And Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected By Carl Sandburg For The American Songbag Amazon
32Doc Watson The Ship That Never Returned My Dear Old Southern Home Amazon
33Hank Penny It Ain't Gonna Rain No More King Of Hillbilly Bebop [Disc 1] Amazon

Ships Upon the Sea

A wayfaring lot…music that touches on seafaring tragedies, punctuated by the loss of that most famous of them all: the HMS Titanic. This week’s show will focus on music that commemorated the ships that were lost at sea; tragedies that were headlines around the world; songs of the seafaring life and the sailors and crew that were a part of it.  The stories are told in songs from the wells of tradition. We’ll hear from Frank Hutchison, Papa Harvey Hull, Pink Anderson, The Dillards and Dan Zanes. We’ll also hear some classic maritime music from the Smithsonian catalogs. Blues, country, folk, and so much more…all celebrating those ships upon the sea and the ones we lost along the way.

No.Artist Title Album Buy
1Bob Gibson Titanic Joy Joy! The Young and Wonderful Bob Gibson Amazon
2Rory Block Titanic (When That Great Ship Went Down) Confessions of A Blues Singer Amazon
3Pink Anderson The Ship Titanic Gospel, Blues, and Street Songs Amazon
4Charley Jordan Titanic Blues Charley Jordan Volume 2 1931-1934 Amazon
5Hi Henry Brown Titanic Blues 21 Classic Blues Songs From The 1920's Vol. 10 Amazon
6Bessie Jones And Group The Titanic Alan Lomax Collection Sampler Amazon
7Papa Harvey Hull & "Long Cleve" Reed Sinking Of The Titanic Never Let The Same Bee Sting You Twice Amazon
8Richard (Rabbit) Brown Sinking Of The Titanic Times Ain't Like They Used To Be – Volume 1 Amazon
9Lead Belly Titanic The Definitive Leadbelly [Disc 3] – Leaving Blues Amazon
10Frank Hutchison The Last Scene Of The Titanic If You Take Me Back Amazon
11Clyde Spencer And Harry Fannin The Sinking Of The Titanic Folksongs Of Another America: Field Recordings From The Upper Midwest, 1937-1946 [Disc 1] Amazon
12Tom Darby & Jimmie Tarlton After The Sinking Of The Titanic On The Banks Of A Lonely River Amazon
13Roy Acuff The Great Titanic compliments of grimriper2u@yahoo.com Amazon
14Woody Guthrie When That Great Ship Went Down This Land Is Your Land: The Asch Recordings Vol. 1 Amazon
15Ralph Stanley Storms Are On The Ocean [Album Version] A Distant Land To Roam: Songs Of The Carter Family Amazon
16Gordon Lightfoot The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald Songbook [Box Set] Disc 3 Amazon
17Jimmie Driftwood The Ship That Never Returned Americana, Vol. 3 Amazon
18Little Jimmy Dickens When The Ship Hit The Sand The Essential "Little" Jimmy Dickens Amazon
19Arlo Guthrie with The Dillards The Sinking of the Ruben James Thirty Two Cents Postage Due Amazon
20June Carter Cash Sinking in the Lonesome Sea Wildwood Flower Amazon
21Ashley Monroe The Storms Are On The Ocean Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited Amazon
22Cowboy Copas A Thousand Miles of Ocean Settin' Flat On Ready Amazon
23Red Allen Out on the Ocean Lonesome and Blue: The Complete County Recordings Amazon
24The Country Gentlemen Take Me In A Lifeboat The Early Rebel Recordings [Disc 2] Amazon
25Dan Zanes Across The Western Ocean Parades And Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected By Carl Sandburg For The American Songbag Amazon
26The Dicey Doh Singers The Sloop John B. Classic Maritime Music Amazon
27Sam Eskin Clear Away the Track and Let the Bullgine Run Classic Maritime Music Amazon
28Henry Morrison & St. Simon's Island Singers I'm Gonna Sail Like A Ship On The Ocean Sounds of the South [Disc 3] – Negro Church Music & White Spirituals Amazon
29Louis Prima & Keely Smith Barnacle Bill The Sailor Breaking It Up! Amazon