Category Archives: Theme Time

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, 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

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

Deeper Roots on KOWS, Early Rock, Jazz, Oldies, Rhythm and Blues, Rock, Theme Time, Urban Blues

Backbeat ’50

May 2, 2026 Dave

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

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

Women’s History Month

March 14, 2026 Dave

This week we celebrate Women’s History Month the way we know best — by following the music. For more than a century, women have shaped the sound of America’s story. They didn’t just sing the songs — they wrote them, bent them, electrified them, sanctified them, and sometimes had to fight just to be heard over them. From the tent shows and juke joints of the 1920s to arena stages and global spotlights, women have carried rhythm, blues, gospel, country, rock, pop — and the truth — on their shoulders. Tune in this coming Friday morning for a journey that begins at the foundation. Before rock and roll. Before crossover radio. When the blues was still carving its name into shellac and history. We’ll then make our way into the genres of jazz, country, rock, and gospel where women’ influenced the deeper roots of American music and you find their fingerprints everywhere — in the blues phrasing, in the gospel shout, in the country confession, in the pop hook, in the rock-and-roll roar.

No.	Artist	Title	Album
1	Ma Rainey	Ma Rainey's Black Bottom	Ma Rainey
2	Keb' Mo' Featuring Rosanne Cash	Put A Woman In Charge	Put A Woman In Charge
3	Bessie Smith & Louis Armstrong	St. Louis Blues	I Heard It On NPR: Shake These Blues
4	Memphis Minnie	Me And My Chauffeur Blues	Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey [Disc 2]
5	Ethel Waters	Heat Wave	Ethel Waters 1929 -1939 (feat. Duke Ellington & Benny Goodman)
6	Billie Holiday	God Bless The Child	Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday On Columbia 1933-1944 [Disc 10]
7	Ella Fitzgerald	Goody, Goody	75th Birthday Celebration [Disc 2]
8	Dinah Washington	What a Diff'rence a Day Makes	The Essential Dinah Washington: The Great Songs
9	Jimmie Grier	The Object Of My Affection	50 #1 Hits Of The '20s & '30s
10	Ivie Anderson	It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)	An Introduction To Ivie Anderson
11	Tommy Dorsey, The Pied Pipers, Jo Stafford	Embraceable You	I Got Rhythm: The Music of George Gershwin
12	Sister Rosetta Tharpe	Rock Me	Oxford American 10th Anniversary Southern Music CD [Disc 2] "Past Masters" [2008]
13	Mahalia Jackson	Move On Up A Little Higher, Pt. 1	Good News (Vol 3) Get Away Jordan
14	Nina Simone	See Line Women	The Ultimate Nina Simone
15	Betty Carter	Open the Door	American Beauty
16	Judy Garland	Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart	Your Hit Parade – 1943
17	Sarah Vaughan	I Feel So Smoochie	September Song
18	Kay Starr	Rock and Roll Waltz	Your Hit Parade – 1956
19	Peggy Lee	Sugar (That Sugar Baby O' Mine)	The Capitol Collector's Series
20	Katie Shore	You're From Texas	It's All Her Fault: A Tribute To Cindy Walker
21	Mother Maybelle Carter	Keep on the Sunny Side	Ash Grove (Live April 20, 1963)
22	Patsy Cline	Why Can't He Be You	The Patsy Cline Collection
23	Kitty Wells	It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels	American Roots Music (Disc One-Country)
24	Dolly Parton	Jolene	Country Music: A Film By Ken Burns – The Soundtrack [Disc 2]
25	Loretta Lynn	She's Got You	Classic Country 1975-1979 [Disc 2]
26	Wanda Jackson	Funnel Of Love	Queen Of Rockabilly
27	Etta James	Come What May	The Complete Modern & Kent Recordings 1
28	Aretha Franklin	Think	30 Greatest Hits [Disc 1]
29	Ruth Brown	Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean	Ruth Brown: The Definitive Soul Collection [[Disc 1]]
30	The Crystals	Da Doo Ron Ron	The Best Of The Crystals
31	LaVern Baker	Jim Dandy (Japan 2012 Remaster)	Atlantic Rock & Roll
32	Carole King	I Feel the Earth Move	A Natural Woman: The Ode Collection (1968-1976) (1 of 2)
33	Joni Mitchell	Chelsea Morning	Hits
34	Joan Baez	Farewell, Angelina	Baez Sings Dylan
35	Emmylou Harris	If I Could Only Win Your Love	Fifty Years Of Hits – Vol 5

Deeper Roots on KOWS, Early Rock, Oldies, Rhythm and Blues, Rock, Theme Time

The Hijacked Jukebox

March 7, 2026 Dave

Join Dave Stroud for a look at a fascinating, if somewhat cringey, slice of music history, where white cover versions of black R&B nuggets were whitewashed across the pop charts in the 1950s. While the ‘cover version’ was a standard industry practice, so were the ‘sanitized’ versions of R&B hits by black artists that made them more ‘palatable’ for white radio audiences, spotlighting white artists while the original creators stayed in the shadows. It’s certainly something that could be the topic of numerous Deeper Roots episodes but we’ll limit our scope to a two hour exploration, measuring the original against the cover. On one side of the house we’ll hear from Fats Domino (a popular source for the practic), Big Joe Turner, The Moonglows and a handful of others. The other side of the house has the names of Pat Boone, Art Mooney, The Fontane Sisters and others among the dubious roster ‘favorites’. Radio and media helped to democratize the landscape but today’s parallels with the frothing ‘look over thereness’ of right wing hate is unmistakable and hard to ignore. It was George Santayana who observed that “those who do not learn from history, are bound to repeat it.“

No.	Artist	Title	Album
1	The Fontane Sisters	Hearts Of Stone	Vintage Music " Vols 3 & 4
2	The Jewels	Hearts of Stone	Doo Wop Box Disc 1
3	The Fontane Sisters	Rock Love	They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4
4	Lula Reed	Rock Love	Rhythm & Western Volume 4 – I Hang My Head and Cry
5	Eileen Barton	Fujiyama Mama	They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4
6	Annisteen Allen	Fujiyama Mama	From the Ghetto
7	The Crew Cuts	Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream)	Magic Moments: Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 2)
8	The Chords	Sh-Boom	Glory Days Of Rock 'N' Roll: Doo-Wop [Disc 1]
9	The McGuire Sisters	Sincerely	Magic Moments: Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 2)
10	The Moonglows	Sincerely	Pure R&B: Vol. 1- Got My Mojo Workin [Disc 2]
11	The Crew Cuts	Don't Be Angry	High School Favorites
12	Nappy Brown	Don't Be Angry [1955 Version]	Down In The Alley – The Complete Savoy Singles A's & B's
13	The Fontane Sisters	Please Don't Leave Me	They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.3
14	Fats Domino	Please Don't Leave Me	Rock And Rollin
15	Pat Boone	The Fat Man	They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4
16	Fats Domino	The Fat Man	Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: Piano Blues – A Film By Clint Eastwood
17	Pat Boone	Long Tall Sally	The London American Story Disc 1
18	Little Richard	Long Tall Sally	Specialty Profiles: Larry Williams
19	Art Mooney	Tutti Frutti	They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4
20	Little Richard	Tutti Frutti	Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 3
21	Johnnie Ray	Flip Flop And Fly	They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4
22	Big Joe Turner	Flip Flop And Fly	Big Joe Turner: The Definitive Blues Collection [[Disc 2]]
23	Bill Haley & His Comets	Shake, Rattle and Roll	From The Original Master Tapes
24	Big Joe Turner	Shake, Rattle & Roll	Loud, Fast & Out of Control: The Wild Sounds of the '50s [Box] Disc 1
25	Teresa Brewer	Tweedle Dee	The Best Of Teresa Brewer
26	LaVern Baker	Tweedlee Dee	Pure R&B: Vol. 5- Pioneers [Disc 2]
27	Gale Storm	Why Do Fools Fall in Love	The London American Story Disc 1
28	Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers	Why Do Fools Fall in Love	Gems from the Columbia Vaults, Pt. 1
29	Georgia Gibbs	Dance With Me Henry	Georgia Gibbs Greatest Hits
30	Etta James	The Wallflower	The Best of Etta James [EMI-Capitol Special Markets]
31	Jean Dinning	Bo Diddley	They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4
32	Bo Diddley	Bo Diddley	Pure R&B: Vol. 2- Somethings Got a Hold on Me [Disc 2]
33	The Hilltoppers	Teardrops From My Eyes	They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4
34	Ruth Brown	Teardrops From My Eyes	Ruth Brown: The Definitive Soul Collection [[Disc 1]]
35	Jaye P Morgan	Baby Don't Do It	They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.3
36	The 5 Royales	Baby Don't Do It	The Complete Singles 1952-1962
37	Perry Como	Ko Ko Mo	They Tried To Rock – The Popsters Vol.4
38	The Flamingos	Ko Ko Mo	The Best Of The Flamingos
39	Ricky Nelson	I'm Walkin'	Legacy [Disc 1]

A Century of America's Music