Category Archives: Free Form

Americana, Country, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Free Form, Oldies, Rhythm and Blues

Good News Bad News

September 11, 2026 Dave Leave a comment

No theme this week. No genre studies. No artist retrospectives. Just two hours of great American music. We’re in a free-form mood, wandering once again through the dusty digital archives of the past century in search of songs that simply deserve to be heard. Pour yourself a favorite morning libation and settle in as we journey from the elegant dance band sounds of George Olsen to the gypsy jazz brilliance of Django Reinhardt and the unmistakable blues of Memphis Minnie. Along the way, we’ll kick up a little country dust with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart, and plenty of other musical companions. There may not be a formal theme, but don’t be surprised if the songs begin talking to one another. You’ll hear stories of good news and bad news, bad blood, hard luck, redemption, resilience, and the enduring hope that seems to find its way into the best American music. That’s the beauty of community radio. Sometimes the best discoveries happen when you stop looking for a destination and simply enjoy the journey. Join us Friday morning at 9:00 Pacific on KOWS Community Radio, streaming worldwide at kowsfm.com, and spend a couple of hours exploring the music that shaped where we’ve been—and still has something to say about where we’re going.

No.	Artist	Title	Album	Year	Start At
1	Gregg Allman	I Believe I'll Go Back Home	Low Country Blues	2011	00:00
2	Betty Wright	He's Bad Bad Bad	The Best of Betty Wright	1968	06:07
3	Derailers	Bad Bad Girl	Guaranteed to Satisfy	2008	08:26
4	Doug Sahm	Bad Boy	The Last Real Texas Blues Band Feat. Doug Sahm	1994	11:10
5	Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee	Bad Blood	Cripple Creek	2009	14:33
6	Blind Lemon Jefferson	Bad Luck Blues	Classic Sides Disc 1	2003	23:42
7	John Fogerty	Bad Moon Rising	The Long Road Home: Ultimate John Fogerty Creedence Collection	2005	26:30
8	Johnny Cash	Bad News	The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983 Disc 2	1992	28:45
9	Amy Helm	Good News	Didn't It Rain	2015	31:38
10	Cris Cuddy	Good Bad News	Sally's Waltz	0	35:54
11	Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives	Good News	Saturday Night / Sunday Morning	2014	38:44
12	George Olsen	Good News	Beyond The Blue Horizon	1927	40:10
13	Fats Domino	Bad Luck and Trouble	Fats Domino Out of New Orleans	1961	43:19
14	Sister Rosetta Tharpe	What's That News	The Original Soul Sister: Singing in My Soul [Disc 3]	1944	45:52
15	Marvin Gaye	What's The Matter With You Baby	Anthology [Disc 1]	1995	54:00
16	Memphis Minnie	What's The Matter With The Mill?	21 Classic Blues Songs From The 1920's Vol. 10	1930	56:15
17	Frank Stokes	What's The Matter Blues	Broke Black & Blue [Disc 1] : Up Country Blues	1928	59:21
18	The Sunshine Boys	What's the Matter With Deep Elem	The Western Swing: Doughboys Playboys and Cowboys – Oakie Boogie [Disc 4]	1941	1:02:18
19	Joe Liggins	What's The Reason (1949)	The Chronological Joe Liggins 1948 – 1950	1949	1:09:26
20	Guy Lombardo	What's The Reason (I'm Not Pleasin' You)	Enjoy Yourself: The Hits Of Guy Lombardo	1935	1:12:14
21	The Mills Brothers	What's The Reason (I'm Not Pleasin' You?)	The 1930's Recordings – Chronological Volume 3	1935	1:15:14
22	Johnny Burnette With The Johnny Mann Singers	You're The Reason	25 Greatest Hits	1989	1:17:54
23	Arthur Alexander	You're The Reason	The Greatest Hits	1963	1:20:30
24	Willie Nelson	Reasons To Quit	One Hell Of A Ride	1982	1:24:42
25	Tim Hardin	Reason To Believe	Best Of The Troubadours	0	1:28:08
26	Django Reinhardt	Believe It Beloved	The Classic Early Recordings In Chronological Order [Disc 1]	1935	1:30:04
27	Fern Jones	I Do Believe	The Glory Road	1959	1:33:14
28	Dan Hicks	You Gotta Believe [Album Version]	The Most Of Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks [Bonus Tracks]	1970	1:35:16
29	John Stewart	She Believes In Me	California Bloodlines	2009	1:38:11
30	The Louvin Brothers	Making Believe	Close Harmony [Disc 3]	1958	1:40:43
31	The Haden Triplets	Making Believe	The Haden Triplets	2014	1:43:02
32	Neil Young	I Believe in You	After the Gold Rush	1970	1:46:23
33	Rick Nelson	Believe What You Say	Legacy [Disc 1]	1958	1:53:27
34	Brenda Lee	You Can Depend on Me	American Music Library	1961	1:55:28

Summer’s Last Stand

September 5, 2026 Dave Leave a comment

Labor Day weekend may mark the unofficial end of summer, but around here, summer isn’t going quietly. In this week’s show, we’re giving the season one last fling with a free-form romp through songs of summer nights, summer rain, summer romance, warm breezes and those memories that seem to linger long after the days begin getting shorter. And, as is the common theme, we’ll be traveling all over the musical map. There’s the timeless “Summertime” alongside the cool breeze of Sinatra, some summer soul from Stevie Wonder and War, and plenty of pop memories from Johnny Rivers, Rick Nelson and the Beach Boys. We’ll also wander off the beaten path for some country, rockabilly and Americana from Roger Miller, Dale Hawkins, and the Desert Rose Band. There are lazy nights, lost loves, blackberry summers and even a few reminders that summer isn’t always sunshine and good times. So before we put away the lawn chairs and start thinking about autumn, we’re squeezing every last drop out of the season. Join us for Summer’s Last Stand, Friday morning at 9 Pacific on Deeper Roots—two hours of American music from across the decades, right here on KOWS Community Radio.

No.	Artist	Title	Album	Year	Start At
1	Sam Cooke	Summertime Pt. 1	The Man Who Invented Soul [Box Set] (1 of 4)	0	00:00
2	The Percy Faith Orchestra	Theme From A Summer Place	Lifetime Of Romance: Secret Rendezvous [Disc 1]	1959	04:41
3	Nick Perito	The Green Leaves Of Summer (Album Version)	Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds Motion Picture Soundtrack	1960	06:56
4	The Brothers Four	The Green Leaves Of Summer [Remastered 2017]	Greatest Hits	1960	08:43
5	Desert Rose Band	Summer Wind	A Dozen Roses (Greatest Hits)	1992	11:33
6	Michael Martin Murphey	Summer Ranges	Cowboy Songs Four	1998	14:52
7	Johnny Rivers	Summer Rain	Johnny Rivers Greatest Hits	2007	18:21
8	Stan Kenton	The Things We Did Last Summer	The Ballad Style Of Stan Kenton	1958	27:25
9	Ricky Nelson	That Warm Summer Night	Rick Is 21	2001	30:40
10	The Melodears	Summer Romance	From The Vaults of Gone Vol. 2	0	32:47
11	Joanie Sommers	(Theme From) A Summer Place	Another Banana Split Please	1962	35:01
12	Stevie Wonder	Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer	Greatest Hits Vol. 2	1971	37:15
13	Debbie Reynolds	Summer Romance	Good Old Summertime	1960	46:06
14	The Four Preps	Lazy Summer Night	Dancin' & Romancin' In The '50s And 60s [Disc 3]	0	48:15
15	Jerry Keller	Here Comes Summer	Another Banana Split Please	1959	50:24
16	Dale Hawkins	Summertime Down South	Wildcat Tamer	1999	52:33
17	Dale Ann Bradley	Blackberry Summer	Dale Ann Bradley	2017	55:43
18	The Band of Heathens	Single In The Same Summer	Simple Things	2023	59:19
19	Frank Sinatra	Summer Wind	Fly Me To The Moon	1966	1:09:12
20	Walter Wanderley	Summer Samba	Instrumental Favorites- Latin Rhythms	1966	1:12:04
21	Dakota Staton	Summertime	The Late Late Show	1957	1:15:07
22	Nat King Cole	That Sunday That Summer	30 Greatest Hits Disc 1	0	1:17:12
23	Seals & Crofts	Summer Breeze	AM Gold 1972	1972	1:22:57
24	Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta	Summer Nights	Grease	1978	1:26:16
25	Foggy Otis	Summertime Summertime	When life hands you lemons play the ukulele. (Deluxe Edition)	2026	1:29:50
26	Myron Lee & The Caddies	Magic In A Summer Night	Destination Summer Sea Cruise: 33 Ocean Steamers For Your Vacation	1959	1:33:56
27	Roger Miller	In The Summertime (You Don't Want My Love)	Super Hits	1960	1:35:37
28	Stray Cats	Lonely Summer Nights	Runaway Boys: A Retrospective '81-'92	1981	1:37:22
29	The Beach Boys	Summer Means New Love	Today! / Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)	1965	1:40:36
30	Googie Ren‚	Swingin' Summer Love	Summer Days And Summer Nights – 31 Beach Pearls	1958	1:42:32
31	War	Summer	The Best of War and More	1991	1:44:36
32	Lou Rawls	Summer Wind	Rawls Sings Sinatra	2003	1:52:56
33	The Sandals	Theme From Endless Summer	Cowabunga	0	1:55:38

Americana, Country, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Fifties Country, Oldies, Theme Time, Uncategorized

High Lonesome Country

September 5, 2026 Dave Leave a comment

There’s something about being lonesome that country music understands better than just about any other kind of music. It might be a love that walked out the door, a highway stretching toward nowhere, or just that empty feeling when the night gets a little too quiet. This morning on Deeper Roots, we’re calling it High Lonesome Country, and we’ll be traveling through more than seventy years of country music that knows that feeling all too well. We’ll hear from some familiar voices along the way—Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Roger Miller and Don Gibson—but we’ll also dig a little deeper into the dusty corners of country music for Charlie Moore, Clyde Moody, Bill Clifton, Jimmie Skinner and others whose names may have faded some with the passing years, but whose music certainly hasn’t. From honky-tonk and bluegrass to old-time country and sounds from a newer generation, we’ll find out that lonesome never really goes out of style. So settle in for two hours of lost love, empty rooms, weary hearts and that unmistakable high lonesome sound. This is Deeper Roots.

No.	Artist	Title	Album	Year	Start At
1	Radney Foster	Just Call Me Lonesome	Del Rio Texas Revisited	0	00:00
2	James Hand	Mighty Lonesome Man	Mighty Lonesome Man	2012	06:43
3	Charley Crockett	Mighty Lonesome Man	10 for Slim: Charley Crockett Sings James Hand	2021	09:10
4	Hank Snow	Lonesome 7-7203	1964 (Warped 6406)	1964	11:52
5	George Jones	Talk to Me Lonesome Heart	61* [Box Set] Disc 1	2003	14:44
6	The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band	I Know What It Means To Be Lonesome	Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol. III	2002	17:00
7	Milo Twins	Weary Lonesome Blues	1939-1947 (Warped 3972)	1939	20:42
8	Delmore Brothers	Remember I Feel Lonesome Too	1944-1946 (Warped 4401)	1945	29:72
9	Delmore Brothers	I'm Lonesome Without You	1944-1946 (Warped 4401)	1946	32:00
10	Clyde Moody	I Know What It Means to Be Lonesome	1945-1947 (Warped 4500)	2012	34:37
11	Hank Williams	Long Gone Lonesome Blues	24 Greatest Hits Vol. 2	1950	37:14
12	Hank Williams	I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry	24 Greatest	1952	39:47
13	Jimmie Skinner	Tuck Away My Lonesome Blues	1960-1962 (Warped 6188)	2013	42:30
14	Bill Clifton	Lonesome for You	1963 (Warped 6366F)	1963	44:25
15	Bill Clifton	Lonesome Field	1963 (Warped 6366F)	1963	47:00
16	Country Gentlemen	Sad and Lonesome Day	1963-1964 (Warped 6371)	2011	50:35
17	Charlie Moore	Lonesome Guitar	1964-1966 (Warped 6562)	2011	59:24
18	Waylon Jennings	Lonesome Onry And Mean	Nashville Rebel (1970-1974)	2006	1:01:58
19	Steve Young	Lonesome Onry And Mean	Seven Bridges Road	0	1:05:27
20	Hawkshaw Hawkins	Lonesome 7-7203	22 Greatest Hits	0	1:09:02
21	Louvin Brothers	Weary Lonesome Blues	A Tribute To The Delmore Brothers	1960	1:11:41
22	Dolly Parton & Alison Krauss	The Last Word In Lonesome Is Me	King Of The Road: A Tribute To Roger Miller [Disc 2]	2018	1:14:19
23	Roger Miller	The Last Word In Lonesome Is Me	All Time Greatest Hits	1965	1:17:14
24	Don Gibson	Oh Lonesome Me	30 Years Of No. 1 Country Hits 2/4	0	1:24:10
25	Don Gibson	Lonesome Old House	A Legend In My Time	1959	1:26:33
26	Johnny Bond	Lonesome Train	Put Me To Bed	1956	1:28:41
27	Harlan Howard	I Hope You're Lonesome	1959-1963	2015	1:30:49
28	Buddy Jones	Mean Old Lonesome Blues	The Western Swing: Doughboys/Playboys & Cowboys – Playboy Stomp [Disc 2]	1999	1:33:06
29	Johnny Horton	Goodbye Lonesome (Hello Baby Doll)	36 All-Time Greatest Hits	2021	1:38:04
30	Billy Graves	The Lonesome Ape	Age of Worry?From Country-Pop to Freak-Folk: The Space Age Relics of Monument Records 1960?1970	1966	1:40:21
31	The Seldom Scene	Another Lonesome Day	Act 3	2005	1:42:44
32	Porter Wagoner	Walk That Lonesome Valley	20 All-Time Greatest Hits	2005	1:44:45
33	Kitty Wells	Lonesome Valley	Jubilation! Great Gospel Performances: Vol. 3: Country Gospel	1959	1:48:23
34	Vince Gill	High Lonesome Sound	20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection – Best Of Bluegrass	1996	1:53:38
35	Elvis Presley	Just Call Me Lonesome	The Country Collection	1967	1:56:06

Blues, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Early Pop, Playlists, Theme Time

1925 Songs

September 4, 2026 Dave Leave a comment

What did America sound like in 1925? Join us for a special episode of Deeper Roots as Dave welcomes Josh Rosenthal, founder of Tompkins Square Records, into the studio for an extraordinary musical deep dive. Josh takes us inside the newly minted anthology, Dick Spottswood & Tompkins Square Present…1925 Songs. This 32-track collection spotlights a pivotal, watershed year in American music history—the moment electrical recording began replacing acoustic horns, allowing the vibrant, raw sounds of early jazz, country blues, and hillbilly music to reach a coast-to-coast audience for the very first time. Deeper Roots may be about a century of America’s music… but this week, we’re taking you back a century plus one! Don’t miss it.

No.	Artist	Title	Album	Year	Start At
1	Dora Carr	Cow Cow Blues	Roots 'N' Blues/The Retrospective 1925-1950	1925	00:00
2	Wheat Street Female Quartet	Go Down Moses	Dick Spottswood & Tompkins Square Present 1925 Songs	1925	16:31
3	Rosa Lee Carson	The Drinker's Child	Dick Spottswood & Tompkins Square Present 1925 Songs	1925	19:17
4	Bascom Lamar Lunsford	Sherman Valley	Dick Spottswood & Tompkins Square Present 1925 Songs	1925	44:11
5	Tweedy Brothers	Cripple Creek	Dick Spottswood & Tompkins Square Present 1925 Songs	1925	46:47
6	Clifford's Louisville Jug Band	Struttin' The Blues	Dick Spottswood & Tompkins Square Present 1925 Songs	1925	1:00:42
7	Dr. James Roach	Gue Gue Solingae	Dick Spottswood & Tompkins Square Present 1925 Songs	1925	1:18:24
8	Brownlee's Orchestra of New Orleans	Peculiar	Dick Spottswood & Tompkins Square Present 1925 Songs	1925	1:21:25
9	Papa Charlie Jackson	Drop That Sack	Papa Charlie Done Sung That Song – [Disc 2]	1925	1:26:18
10	Ma Rainey	Chain Gang Blues	Ma Rainey	1925	1:29:38
11	Blind Lemon Jefferson	All I Want Is That Pure Religion	Dick Spottswood & Tompkins Square Present 1925 Songs	1925	1:32:49
12	Bennie Moten's Kansas Cityÿ Orchestra	Kater Street Rag	The Real Kansas City Of The '20s '30s & '40s	1925	1:35:58
13	Butterbeans & Susie	Brown Skin Gal	Butterbeans & Susie Vol. 1-(1924-25)	1925	1:38:29
14	Cliff Edwards	Paddlin' Madelaine Home	Fascinating Rhythm 1922-1935	1925	1:41:38
15	Ida Cox	Coffin Blues	The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records Volume 1 (1917-1927)	1925	1:49:16
16	Seminole Syncopators	Sailing on Lake Pontchartrain	Dick Spottswood & Tompkins Square Present 1925 Songs	1925	1:52:30
17	Kelly Harrell	The Wreck On The Southern Old 97	Lonesome Whistle	1925	1:55:23

Americana, Country, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Favorites, Free Form, Jazz, Oldies, Rock

Trouble Bound

July 18, 2026 Dave Leave a comment

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
1	Elvis Presley	A Mess Of Blues	The Essential 60's Masters I [Disc 1]	1960	00:00
2	John Hiatt	Dust Down a Country Road	Walk On	1995	05:01
3	Jay & The Americans	This Magic Moment	Come A Little Bit Closer – The Best of Jay and The Americans	1968	08:59
4	Emmylou Harris	Save The Last Dance For Me	Profile II: The Best Of Emmylou Harris	1978	11:50
5	The Neville Brothers	Sitting in Limbo	Fiyo on the Bayou	1981	15:23
6	Jackson Browne	Everywhere I Go	I'm Alive	1993	19:18
7	Grady Martin	The Fuzz	I Got A Woman : Gems From The Decca Vaults [Disc 3]	1961	28:31
8	Ricky Nelson	My Babe	James Burton – The Early Years 1957-1969	0	30:48
9	Don Rich & The Buckaroos	I'm a-Comin' Back Home to You	Guitar Pickin' Man	2016	33:20
10	Merle Travis	Pretty Girl (Jolie Fille)	The Guitar Picker CD4 (1954-56)	0	35:17
11	Chet Atkins	Blue Angel	The Essential Chet Atkins [RCA]	1996	37:16
12	Doc Watson	Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar	1964-1965 (Warped 6411F)	2016	39:35
13	The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band	Wreck on the Highway	Will the Circle Be Unbroken [Bonus Tracks] Disc 1	1972	48:30
14	Red Simpson	The Highway Patrol	Swing West 1: Bakersfield	1966	51:50
15	The Blasters	Trouble Bound	Testament: The Complete Slash Recordings (1981-1985) (2 of 2)	2002	54:00
16	Dave Edmunds	Trouble Boys	Single Trax 1970-1981	1978	57:43
17	Lee Hazlewood	Trouble Is A Lonesome Town	400 Miles From L.A. 1955-56	1956	1:00:54
18	Buck Owens	Hello Trouble	Buck 'Em: The Music of Buck Owens (1955-1967)	1964	1:03:07
19	Ernest Tubb & The Texas Troubadors	This Troubled Mind O'Mine	Daddy of 'Em All	1957	1:04:52
20	Bob Dylan	If Not for You	Biograph Disc 1	1985	1:12:00
21	Ruben Blades	Ollie's Doo-Wop	Nothing But The Truth	1988	1:14:37
22	The Treniers	Go! Go! Go!	The Dawn Of Doo-Wop Vol. 4: Doo-Wop Dancin'	1951	1:17:01
23	The 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
24	The Catalinas	You're Driving Me Crazy	Dance The Night Away	1999	1:21:30
25	Cab Calloway	Mama I Wanna Make Rhythm	Chronological 1937-38	1937	1:30:40
26	Peggy Lee	Alright OK You Win	Magic Moments: Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 2)	2004	1:33:42
27	Rosemary Clooney	Botch-A-Me (Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina)	Tenderly	1952	1:36:32
28	Bunny Berigan & His Boys	I Can't Get Started	Columbia Records' 125th Anniv.	1936	1:38:46
29	Bob Dylan	4th Time Around	Blonde on Blonde	1966	1:42:06
30	Buddy Holly	Bo Diddley [1963 Album Version]	Rave On: The Very Best Of ?	1963	1:46:33
31	Bo 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
32	Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys	(I've Got A) Humpty Dumpty Heart	Vintage Collections	1947	1:54:44
33	Dean Martin	I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine	Capitol Records' From The Vaults	1950	1:57:05

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

Travelin’ Blues 2026

July 11, 2026 Dave Leave a comment

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

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

Americana, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Folk and Tradition, Gospel, Oldies, Soul, Theme Time

Wake Up Everybody

July 3, 2026 Dave Leave a comment

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
1	Mahalia Jackson	I Will Move On Up A Little Higher	Folk Blues & Gospel: Will the Circle Be Unbroken	1999	00:00
2	The Edwin Hawkins Singers	I'm Going Through	Oh Happy Day: The Best Of The Edwin Hawkins Singers	1969	08:19
3	The Blind Boys Of Alabama	I Shall Not Be Moved	I'll Find A Way	2013	13:20
4	Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder	I Shall Not Be Moved	Get On Board	2022	15:56
5	Connie Smith	Farther Along	Connie Smith 1965-1966	2011	20:10
6	Sam Cooke And The Soul Stirrers	Farther Along	The Complete Specialty Recordings [Disc 3]	1956	22:59
7	Larry Campbell	Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning	Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams	2015	30:59
8	The Browns	Fair and Tender Ladies	Classics 1963-1964 (Warped 6384)	2010	34:59
9	Willie Nelson	Healing Hands of Time	Wanted! The Outlaws [Bonus Tracks]	1996	37:25
10	Elvis Presley	(There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)	Elvis By The Presleys [Disc 1]	1957	39:39
11	The Impressions	Keep On Pushing	Ultimate Collection: The Impressions	1964	42:58
12	Joe Ely	The Road Goes On Forever	The Best Of Joe Ely 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection	1992	50:29
13	Sara Evans	Born To Fly	Laying Tracks	2003	54:56
14	B.B. King & Dr. John	There Must Be A Better World Somewhere	Deuces Wild	1997	58:46
15	The Bronzemen	Hold On (Keep Yo' Hand On The Plow)	The Bronzemen – Radio Transcriptions (1939)	1939	1:03:24
16	Mahalia Jackson	Keep Your Hand on the Plow	The World's Greatest Gospel Singer	1954	1:10:33
17	Sam Cooke	A Change Is Gonna Come	Hard To Find Jukebox Classics 1960-64: 30 Amazing Stereo Hits	2016	1:12:58
18	Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions	People Get Ready	Akeelah And The Bee (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)	2006	1:15:32
19	Fats Domino	Walking To New Orleans	The Rock 'n' Roll Era: 1960	1960	1:18:08
20	The Four Tops	Reach Out I'll Be There	The Classic Sixties: 1966	1966	1:20:02
21	Ray Charles	I Believe to My Soul	Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection Disc 1	1997	1:22:58
22	Keb' Mo'	Wake Up Everybody	Peace…Back By Popular Demand	2004	1:30:06
23	The Staple Singers	I'll Take You There	I'll Take You There	1972	1:34:07
24	Jo Stafford	On The Sunny Side of the Street	Candy	1944	1:37:14
25	Chet Baker	Look for the Silver Lining	Chet Baker Sings	1956	1:40:07
26	Louis Armstrong	What A Wonderful World	Lifetime Of Romance: Falling In Love [Disc 2]	1967	1:42:44
27	The Band	The Weight	Northern Songs – Canada's Best And Brightest	1968	1:44:59
28	Sly & the Family Stone	Everyday People	Anthology	1981	1:52:11
29	Bruce Springsteen	Streets of Minneapolis	Streets of Minneapolis – Single	2026	1:54:30

Americana, Blues, Country, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Free Form, Oldies, Soul

Nine Pound Hammer

May 30, 2026 Dave

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
1	John Prine	Nine Pound Hammer	Sweet Revenge	1973	00:00
2	The Louvin Brothers	Are You Teasing Me	Capitol Country Music Classics	0	05:15
3	Willie Nelson	House Of Gold	Country Music	2010	08:05
4	The Grateful Dead	Operator	American Beauty	1970	12:37
5	Elvis Presley	The Girl of My Best Friend	Artist of the Century Disc 2	1999	14:57
6	Ral Donner	Girl Of My Best Friend	American Music Library: The Hits Of 1961	1961	17:13
7	The Band	Jemima Surrender	The Band	1969	19:21
8	Johnny Cash	I Will Rock And Roll With You	The Legend: Old Favorites And New [Disc 2]	1978	28:06
9	Ivory Joe Hunter	You Can't Stop This Rocking and Rolling	Ivory Joe Hunter	2005	30:49
10	Chuck Willis	Caldonia	Roots of Rock 'n' Roll:Rough and Rowdy Vol. 3	1952	33:03
11	The Debs	Whaddaya Want	Rhythm 'N' Blues: Early Doo Wop 1943-55 vol. 2	2005	35:22
12	Videos	Trickle Trickle	Doo Wop Box Disc 3	1994	37:52
13	Jackie Wilson	That's Why (I Love You So)	7 Classic Albums	1959	45:55
14	The Sheppards	Elevator Operator	Golden Classics	1989	47:54
15	Howlin' Wolf	My Life	Smokestack Lightning /The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960	1956	49:26
16	John Lee Hooker	One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer	The Definitive Collection	1966	52:23
17	Dusty Owens	Hello Operator	Talking on the Telephone Vol. 2	1953	55:16
18	Freddy Cannon	Buzz Buzz-A-Diddle It	Talking on the Telephone Vol. 3	1961	57:33
19	Steve Forbert	Complications	Jackrabbit Slim	1979	1:05:20
20	Steve Goodman	Somebody Else's Troubles	Somebody Else's Troubles	1999	1:08:59
21	Jo-el Sonnier	Cajun Woman	The Complete Mercury Sessions	1992	1:12:40
22	Lil' Band Of Gold	Cajun Twist	Americana Roots Songbook: Louisiana	2002	1:15:12
23	Skeets McDonald	The Tattooed Lady	Dirty Boogie: The Fortune Records Story	1950	1:19:20
24	Sam Cooke	Out In The Cold Again	The Rhythm And The Blues	1961	1:25:03
25	The Amazing Rhythm Aces	Amazing Grace (Used to Be Her Favorite Song)	Stacked Deck	1975	1:27:26
26	The Blind Boys of Alabama	Amazing Grace	Hear Music volume 6	0	1:30:41
27	Edd Presnell	Amazing Grace	Bluegrass Roots	2003	1:34:59
28	The Valiants and Sandy Vale	Suntan Tattoo	Banana Split for My Baby	1959	1:36:39
29	Eddie Cochran	Hallelujah I Love Her So	The London American Story – 1960	1959	1:38:41
30	David Bromberg; Dr. John	Such a Night	The Last Waltz [Rhino Box Set] Disc 1	2002	1:40:58
31	The Band	(I Don't Want To Hang Up My) Rock 'N' Roll Shoes	A Musical History [Disc 4]	1971	1:45:37
32	Randy Newman	I'm Different	Trouble in Paradise	1983	1:55:13
33	Randy Newman	Maybe I'm Doin' It Wrong	Sail Away	1970	1:57:43

Burning Love Letters

May 16, 2026 Dave

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
1	Elvis Presley	Elvis [Excerpt From Interview Held Sept.22 1958]	Elvis: A Legendary Performer Vol. 1	1958	00:00
2	Pat Smith	Elvis Elvis	Gals of the Big D Jamboree	1958	00:25
3	Billy Boyle	My Baby's Crazy 'Bout Elvis	The Greatest Novelty Songs	1962	05:31
4	Nervous Norvus	Elvis You're A G.I. Now	Stone Age Woo	1958	08:03
5	Bobby Bare	All American Boy	All American Boy – CD 1	1963	10:14
6	The Hunt Sisters	Elvis Is Rocking Again	Dirty Boogie:The Fortune Records Story	1960	13:09
7	Janis Martin	My Boy Elvis	Loud Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 1	1999	14:40
8	George Jones	The King Is Gone (So Are You)	One Woman Man	1989	23:33
9	Steve Goodman	Elvis Imitators	Artistic Hair	1983	26:47
10	Syd Straw & The Del Lords	Listening To Elvis	200 Cadillacs	2003	29:36
11	Horace Logan	Announcements (& Elvis Has Left the Building)	At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight (Disc 7)	2017	33:19
12	Gillian Welch	Elvis Presley Blues	Artist's Choice: Emmylou Harris	0	33:52
13	Dan Reeder	Clean Elvis	Oh Boy! A Sampler	0	43:56
14	Cris Cuddy	Dear Elvis	Dear Elvis	2015	46:31
15	Greg Brown	Jesus and Elvis	Poet Game	1994	49:49
16	John Stewart	I Want To Be Elvis	Havana	2003	53:17
17	Loudon Wainwright III	Happy Birthday Elvis	Career Moves	1993	56:39
18	Leon Russell	Elvis and Marilyn	Americana	1978	1:00:37
19	Sonny Burgess	Bigger Than Elvis	Sonny Burgess	1996	1:09:05
20	Stray Cats	Elvis on Velvet	Runaway Boys: A Retrospective '81-'92	1997	1:11:43
21	Mojo Nixon	Elvis Is Everywhere	Bo-Day-Shus!!!	1986	1:15:59
22	Derailers	I Love Me Some Elvis	Genuine	2003	1:20:50
23	Hayes Carll	Jesus and Elvis	What It Is	2019	1:27:07
24	The Tractors	The Elvis Thing	Farmers in a Changing World	1998	1:30:25
25	Alannah Myles	Black Velvet	The Atlantic Story [UK] Disc 2	0	1:35:42
26	Kacey Musgraves	Velvet Elvis	Golden Hour	2018	1:39:38
27	Marc Cohn	Walking in Memphis	VH1 Classic: The Cuts	2003	1:42:07
28	Paul Simon	Graceland	Graceland	1986	1:46:11
29	Cowboy Junkies	Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis)	The Trinity Session	1988	1:54:27

Americana, Country, Deeper Roots on KOWS, Gospel, Oldies, Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Theme Time

Tears On The Vinyl

May 9, 2026 Dave

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

A Century of America's Music