Category Archives: Deeper Roots on KOWS

New Beginnings

This week’s Deeper Roots, our first show of 2026, is most appropriately built for fresh starts and open horizons—a musical reset button for the soul. Our Friday morning journey will wind its way across gospel, folk, jazz, swing, and Americana, all tied together by the promise of new beginnings and the belief that tomorrow can be better than today. You’ll hear voices of resilience and joy including The Staple Singers, poetic reinvention from Bob Dylan, the irrepressible optimism and swing of Louis Prima, the elegant, forward-moving guitar lines of Herb Ellis, and the border-crossing storytelling of Carrie Rodriguez. Settle in as we welcome brand new days with music that lifts spirits, opens doors, and reminds us that hope is always worth tuning in for. And you can do just that this Friday morning on KOWS.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1Aretha FranklinA Change Is Gonna ComeI Never Loved a Man the Way I Love YouAmazon
2Bruce CockburnSunrise on the MississippiDart to the HeartAmazon
3Norah JonesSunriseFeels Like HomeAmazon
4Louis PrimaUntil SunriseBeepin' & Boppin'Amazon
5Frankie Newton & OrchestraThe World Is Waiting For The SunriseSwing Is Here / Small-Band Swing 1935-1939Amazon
6The Midnight MinstrelsThere's a New Day ComingThe Big Broadcast – Volume 5Amazon
7Herb EllisSunriseDown HomeAmazon
8Luther DickinsonHurry up SunriseBlues & Ballads (A Folksinger's Songbook) Volumes I & IIAmazon
9Harold Melvin & The Blue NotesWake Up EverybodySweet Soul Of The 70s: The Sounds Of Philedelphia Disc 1Amazon
10Keb' Mo'Wake Up EverybodyPeace…Back By Popular DemandAmazon
11Corinne Bailey RaePut Your Records On2007 Grammy NomineesAmazon
12Tracy ChapmanNew BeginningNew BeginningAmazon
13Ruthie FosterBrand New DayPromise of a Brand New DayAmazon
14Esther Phillips With The Dixie FlyersBrand New Day (LP Version)Set Me FreeAmazon
15The Staple SingersBrand New DayThe Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol.2: 1968-1971 [Disc 6]Amazon
16Jackie LomaxNew DayCome And Get It – The Best Of Apple RecordsAmazon
17Pete SeegerKeep Your Eyes On The Prize [Album Version]Pete Seeger: A Link In The ChainAmazon
18Bruce SpringsteenEyes on the PrizeWe Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions [DualDisc] Disc 1Amazon
19Mavis StaplesEyes On The Prize (Cd)We'll Never Turn BackAmazon
20Carrie RodriguezEyes On The PrizeLove and CircumstancesAmazon
21Flock Of DimesAwake For The SunriseCountry Roots Oxford American Southern Music Issue Vol. 24Amazon
22Bob DylanNew MorningChronicles, Vol. 1Amazon
23Florence + The MachineDog Days Are OverLungsAmazon
24Carsie BlantonHopeAfter the RevolutionAmazon
25Dixie ChicksWide Open SpacesCountry: The American Tradition [Disc 2]Amazon
26Elvis PresleyThere's a Brand New Day On the HorizonElvis Double Features: Love in Las Vegas + RoustaboutAmazon
27Jackie DeShannonPut A Little Love In Your HeartIt's My Party – The Great Girl Groups And Singers Of The 60'sAmazon
28Curtis MayfieldWe Got To Have PeaceThe Very Best Of Curtis MayfieldAmazon

Who We Lost 2025 Pt. 2

We bring you an encore of part 2 of our 2025 remembrance where we pay tribute to another group of performers and contributors who left us with an Americana legacy.  Over the past century, American music has been shaped by rare combinations of talent, wit, wisdom, and deeply personal approaches to arrangement, rhythm, and delivery. This year we reflect on the contributions from artists and architects of sound whose work continues to resonate. In this episode, we will move from the pop sounds of Jane Morgan and Richard Chamberlain to the legendary late century performers like the Grateful Dead, Sly Stone, and Bad Company. We’ll also take some time to remember Joe Ely, Ozzy Osbourne, Johnny Tillotson and Tom Lehrer. Hope you can drop in for this second, and last chapter of 2025. You can listen live, online, at 9 Pacific each Friday at www.kowsfm.com/listen.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1Tom LehrerThe Old Dope PeddlerSong & More SongsAmazon
2Lalo SchifrinMission ImpossibleTelevision's Greatest Hits Volume IAmazon
3Jane MorganA Girl Named Johnny CashEverything You Always Wanted To Know About Rock 'n' Roll, Volume 2Amazon
4Richard ChamberlainBlue GuitarThe Look Of Love [Disc 1]Amazon
5Wink MartindaleDeck Of CardsChills & Fever: The Dot Records Story 1955-1962Amazon
6The Poni-TailsBorn Too LateThe Teen Years Collection: Volume 4- My Special Angel [Disc 2]Amazon
7The McCoysHang On SloopySimply The Best 60's [Disc 1]Amazon
8Johnny TillotsonTalk Back Trembling LipsTalk Back Trembling LipsAmazon
9Bobby ShermanJulie, Do You Love Me70s Music Explosion – Sunshine Disc 2Amazon
10Rick DerringerRock And Roll, Hoochie KooRockin' 70s [Disc 1]Amazon
11Ozzy OsbourneNo More TearsRock: Train Kept a Rollin' Disc 2Amazon
12Bad CompanyFeel Like Makin' LoveG.I. JaneAmazon
13Sly & the Family StoneEveryday PeopleAnthologyAmazon
14Carl CarltonEverlasting LovePure Disco, Vol. 2Amazon
15Roy AyersRunning AwaySummer of SamAmazon
16Cleo LaineLet's Slip AwayDestination Lust – Chicksville U.S.A.Amazon
17Sheila JordanBaltimore OrioleThe Classic Hoagy Carmichael [Disc 3]Amazon
18Sam Moore Feat. Bekka BramlettDon't Play That Song (You Lied)Overnight SensationalAmazon
19Grateful DeadFire On The MountainThe Arista Years 1977-1995Amazon
20Jill SobuleI Kissed a GirlJill SobuleAmazon
21New Lost City RamblersShady GroveBound For GloryAmazon
22Michael HurleySweet LucyThe Rounder Records StoryAmazon
23Josh White, Jr.Delia's GoneClassic African-American Ballads (Smithsonian Folkways)Amazon
24J.J. CaleCrazy MamaThe Very Best of J.J. CaleAmazon
25Jimmy CliffThe Harder They ComeArtist's Choice: Willie Nelson: Music That Matters To HimAmazon
26Bill Kirchen & Austin de LoneThink It OverTransatlanticanaAmazon
27Joe ElyFingernailsHonky Tonk MasqueradeAmazon
28Johnny RodriguezRidin My Thumb To MexicoBack To BackAmazon
29Derek & the DominosLaylaThe Cream of ClaptonAmazon
30Chuck MangioneFeels So GoodIntolerable CrueltyAmazon

Who We Lost 2025 Pt 1

Another year turns, and once again we pause to honor the legacies that aren’t left behind so much as carried forward—alive in the music itself. Over the past century, American music has been shaped by rare combinations of talent, wit, wisdom, and deeply personal approaches to arrangement, rhythm, and delivery. This year we reflect on the contributions from artists and architects of sound whose work continues to resonate: voices and visionaries such as Raul Malo, Flaco Jiménez, Steve Cropper, Phil Upchurch, Jerry Butler, Brian Wilson, David Johansen, Tony Bennett, and Garth Hudson. Their influence spans genres, generations, and countless records that still speak loud and clear. With just two hours, hard choices have to be made—so this tribute begins as Part 1 of a two part reflection. We hope you’ll tune in for a thoughtful look back at the artists whose legacies defined the soundtrack of our lives.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1Jerry Butler & The ImpressionsFor Your Precious LovePure R&B: Vol. 3- Let the Good Times Roll [Disc 1]Amazon
2Deeper Roots RadioWho We Lost 2025 Pt 1Deeper Roots RadioAmazon
3Sugar Pie DeSantoI Want To KnowDown In The BasementAmazon
4Steve CropperTupelo[Pt. 1]The Complete Stax/Volt Soul SinglesAmazon
5Wilson PickettIn the Midnight HourRed, White & Rock Disc 2Amazon
6The TurtlesIt Ain't Me Babe20 Greatest HitsAmazon
7Little Anthony & The ImperialsHurt So BadThe Best Of Little Anthony And The I MperialsAmazon
8April Stevens/Nino TempoDeep PurpleBillboard Top Rock & Roll Hits: 1963Amazon
9Deeper Roots RadioWho We Lost 2025 Pt 1Deeper Roots RadioAmazon
10Lenny WelchSince I Fell For YouLifetime Of Romance: Secret Rendezvous [Disc 2]Amazon
11Tony BennettPut on a Happy FaceThe Essential Tony Bennett [Columbia/Legacy] Disc 1Amazon
12Connie FrancisWho's Sorry Now_Your Hit Parade – 1958Amazon
13Peter, Paul & MaryPuff, The Magic DragonMovingAmazon
14The Kingston TrioWhere Have All The Flowers Gone (JOE HICKERSON)Tom Dooley And Other Folksong HitsAmazon
15Melba MontgomeryWe Must Have Been Out of Our MindsThe Essential George Jones: The Spirit of Country Disc 1Amazon
16Deeper Roots RadioWho We Lost 2025 Pt 1Deeper Roots RadioAmazon
17Roberta FlackThe First Time Ever I Saw Your FaceArtist's Choice: Johnny CashAmazon
18Marianne FaithfullAs Tears Go ByMarianne Faithfull's Greatest HitsAmazon
19The YoungbloodsGet TogetherGet Together: The Essential YoungbloodsAmazon
20The StandellsDirty Water (LARRY TAMBLYN)The Classic Sixties: 1966Amazon
21The Electric PrunesGet Me To The World On TimeNuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era, Vol. 4Amazon
22The CricketsI Fought the LawRockin' Originals: Original Versions of Famous SongsAmazon
23Phil Upchurch ComboYou Can't Sit Down (Part 1Teen Beat, Volume 3Amazon
24Deeper Roots RadioWho We Lost 2025 Pt 1Deeper Roots RadioAmazon
25Dave "Baby" CortezThe Happy OrganThe 50's – A Decade to Remember: Do You Wanna DanceAmazon
26The Beach BoysIn My RoomClassics: Selected By Brian WilsonAmazon
27Brian WilsonLay Down BurdenImaginationAmazon
28Barry GoldbergShady HotelBarry GoldbergAmazon
29The BandChest FeverMusic From Big PinkAmazon
30Brewer & ShipleyOne Toke Over The Line70s Music ExplosionAmazon
31Buster PoindexterHot Hot HotBuster PoindexterAmazon
32Tommy McLainBefore I Grow Too OldI Ran Down Every DreamAmazon
33Flaco Jimenez With Toby Torres & Jose MoranteVictimas del Huracan BeulahBob Dylan – artist's choiceAmazon
34Todd SniderAlright GuyThat Was Me: The Best Of Todd Snider 1994-1998Amazon
35Deeper Roots RadioWho We Lost 2025 Pt 1Deeper Roots RadioAmazon
36The MavericksMoon & Stars (with Sierra Ferrell)Moon & StarsAmazon
37The MavericksChristmas (Baby Please Come Home)Hey! Merry Christmas!Amazon

Steve Cropper Tribute

Long before you ever knew his name, Steve Cropper’s music was a part of your life if you grew up with a radio tuned to soul, rock, or R&B. You were already absorbing his fingerwork: that clipped, chiming guitar on “Green Onions,” the taut groove that made Wilson Pickett sound ten feet tall, or the unmistakable snap of Stax rhythm sections he helped shape. We lost a giant who contributed to the Americana musical landscape this past week and our show this week will reflect on his body of work. He wasn’t just part of the soundtrack of our lives, he was part of the atmosphere, a presence whose playing taught you—quietly and consistently—what feel really meant. To grow up with Steve Cropper’s music is to realize, eventually, that he helped define not just a sound but a sensibility—one where the groove is tight, the soul runs deep, and the guitar part is always exactly what the song needs and not a note more.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1Otis Redding(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The BayStax Number OnesAmazon
2Booker T. & The MG'sGreen OnionsLet There Be Drums Vol 2: The 60'sAmazon
3Steve CropperBaby Don't Do It (Steve Cropper with B.B. King & Shemekia Copeland)Dedicated – A Salute To The 5 RoyalesAmazon
4The TonettesTeardrop SeaThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (2 of 9)Amazon
5Carla ThomasWhat a Fool I've BeenThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (2 of 9)Amazon
6Carla ThomasComfort MeThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (5 of 9)Amazon
7Johnny DayeWhat'll I Do for SatisfactionThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (8 of 9)Amazon
8Steve Cropper, Pops Staples, Albert KingTupelo[Pt. 1]The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (2 of 9)Amazon
9Wilson PickettDon't Fight It [Unedited Single Master]A Man & A Half: The Best Of Wilson Pickett [Disc 1]Amazon
10Wilson PickettIn the Midnight HourRed, White & Rock Disc 2Amazon
11Barbara & the BrownsIn My HeartThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (4 of 9)Amazon
12Booker T. & The MG'sTime Is TightStax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 2]Amazon
13Mable JohnWait You DogThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (8 of 9)Amazon
14Rufus ThomasCan Your Monkey Do the DogThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (3 of 9)Amazon
15The AstorsCandyStax 50th Anniversary Celebration [Disc 1]Amazon
16Bobby MarchanYou Won't Do RightThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (3 of 9)Amazon
17Eddie FloydKnock on WoodThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (6 of 9)Amazon
18Otis ReddingFa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)Dreams To Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology [Disc 1]Amazon
19Otis ReddingThat's How Strong My Love IsDreams To Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology [Disc 1]Amazon
20Steve Cropper & The Midnight HourToo Much Stress (feat. Brian May & Billy Gibbons)FriendlytownAmazon
21Steve CropperTwo WrongsFire It UpAmazon
22Steve CropperThirty Second Lover (Steve Cropper with Steve Winwood)Dedicated – A Salute To The 5 RoyalesAmazon
23Aretha FranklinThinkThe Definitive CollectionAmazon
24Booker T. & the MG'sSoul-LimboThe Very Best of Booker T. & the MG'sAmazon
25Wendy ReneWhat Will Tomorrow Bring?Dave Godin's Deep Soul Treasures Vol. 2Amazon
26William BellWho Will It Be TomorrowThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (3 of 9)Amazon
27Eddie FloydYum Yum Yum (I Want Some)Stax 50th Anniversary Collection [Disc 3]Amazon
28Wilson PickettNinety-Nine & A Half (Won't Do)A Man & A Half: The Best Of Wilson Pickett [Disc 1]Amazon
29The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band and Dom Flemons featuring Steve CropperShake Your Money MakerShake Your Money Maker (Single)Amazon
30Steve CropperMy Sugar Sugar (Steve Cropper with John Popper)Dedicated – A Salute To The 5 RoyalesAmazon
31Steve Cropper & Pops StaplesWaterThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (2 of 9)Amazon
32The Mad LadsPatch My HeartThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (6 of 9)Amazon
33Cheryl Johnson/Pam JohnsonThat's My GuyThe Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959-1968 (2 of 9)Amazon
34The Blues BrothersSoul ManThe Definitive CollectionAmazon
35Booker T. & the MG'sSlim Jenkin's PlaceThe Very Best of Booker T. & the MG'sAmazon

Down & Dirty Blues

This week’s show leans into the rougher side of the tradition: the places where bruised pride, bad decisions, and raw truth find their way into song. “The down and dirty blues” isn’t a stylistic claim so much as a shared attitude — the kind shaped by rent coming due, lovers turning cold, and the kind of trouble that sits heavy in the gut. Across the past century, singers and players have used these stories to put plainspoken feeling into motion, building grooves that don’t promise comfort so much as recognition. Across two hours, we’ll move through voices that carried this edge with conviction — men and women from the 1930s onward who weren’t at all shy about calling out mean mistreaters or confessing their own missteps. You’ll hear hard-driving cuts where guitars sting, pianos roll, and vocals land with a certain bruising weight. Tune in for the likes of Victoria Spivey, Lonnie Johnson, Dirty Red, Little Joe Blue, Howlin’ Wolf and a couple dozen others. The ‘dirty dozen’ doesn’t get much dirtier than this.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1Annisteen AllenDown By The RiverGet Hot Sleazy Rhythm & Blues Vol. 3Amazon
2Howlin' WolfDown In The BottomMoanin' In The MoonlightAmazon
3Victoria SpiveyDown Hill PullMoaning The Blues (The Blues Collection Vol.65)Amazon
4Memphis MinnieDirty Mother For YouBlues Classics: '27_'69 [Disc 1]Amazon
5Dirty RedMother FuyerEat to The Beat: The Dirtiest of Them Dirty BluesAmazon
6Little Junior ParkerDirty Friend BluesAbc of the Blues, Vol. 36Amazon
7Little Joe BlueDirty Work Goin' OnChess Blues Disc 4Amazon
8Little Johnny Jones & The Chicago Hound DogsDirty By The Dozen (Sweet Little Woman)The Flair Story – Dust My Rhythm & BluesAmazon
9Muddy WatersDown South BluesMore Real Folk BluesAmazon
10Smokey HoggDirty MistreaterThe Mercury Blues Story (1945-1955) – Southwest Blues, Vol. 2Amazon
11B.B. KingEvery Day I Have the BluesPure R&B: Vol. 3- Let the Good Times Roll [Disc 1]Amazon
12Amos MilburnHard Driving BluesEat to The Beat: The Dirtiest of Them Dirty BluesAmazon
13T-Bone WalkerIt's a Lowdown Dirty DealThe Very Best of T-Bone Walker [Koch]Amazon
14Piano Red – Dr. FeelgoodDon't Tell Me No DirtyThe Doctor's in – Disc 4Amazon
15J.B. LenoirLow Down Dirty ShameMartin Scorsese Presents the Blues: J.B. LenoirAmazon
16Lonnie JohnsonThe Dirty DozenLonnie Johnson: Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 6 (1930-31)Amazon
17Victoria SpiveyFrom 1 to 12 (Dirty Dozen)The Victoria Spivey Collection 1926-1937Amazon
18Little MiltonI Play DirtyLiving The Blues: The 70's Blues ClassicsAmazon
19Jimmy ReedDown The RoadYou Dont Have To Go (The Blues Collection Vol.18)Amazon
20Bobby BlandDriftin' BluesThe Best Of Bobby BlandAmazon
21Jimmy WitherspoonBar Fly BluesRaw BluesAmazon
22Wynonie HarrisHard Luck BluesBattle of the Blues – Volume 2Amazon
23John Lee HookerBlues Before SunriseDon't Look BackAmazon
24The Leap FrogsDirty BritchesNo Jive: Authentic Southern Country BluesAmazon
25George Harmonica Smith/Long Gone MilesLow Down Dirty Shame [#]Juke Joint Blues 1950's-1960'sAmazon
26Rory BlockLow Down Dirty Dog BluesBlues Walkin' Like a Man: A Tribute To Son HouseAmazon
27Amina Claudine MyersDirty No-Gooder's BluesOxford American 11th Edition Southern Music CD [Disc 2, "Arkansas Masters"]Amazon
28Dinah WashingtonBig Long Slidin' ThingEat to The Beat: The Dirtiest of Them Dirty BluesAmazon
29Julia Lee & Her Boy FriendsDon't Come Too SoonEat to The Beat: The Dirtiest of Them Dirty BluesAmazon
30Buddy GuyFirst Time I Met the BluesChess Blues Disc 4Amazon
31Geeshie WileyLast Kind Words BluesBefore The Blues: Early American Black Music Scene (Vol. 2)Amazon
32Dave Bartholomew & His OrchestraMy Ding-A-LingEat to The Beat: The Dirtiest of Them Dirty BluesAmazon

Flour Power

What a show for the day after Thanksgiving! This week we roll out a two-hour celebration of bakery-inspired tunes—an irresistible mix of cakes, pies, donuts, cookies, and every sugary delight ever to find its way into a lyric. We’ll be mixing up a blend from a century’s worth of music, from early jazz confections and country-fried treats to soulful blues pastries, golden-era pop indulgences, and rock-and-roll slices served hot from the oven. It’s all about how bakery imagery has sweetened American music’s storytelling. Jazz bands swing like a spoon in batter; country artists offer homestyle wisdom baked into every verse; blues singers lean into the bittersweet with slow-cooked grooves; and rock outfits bring the heat with songs that crust, crackle, and pop. Whether it’s a dusty 78 from the 1920s or a modern track with sprinkles of retro charm, the playlist draws straight from the musical pantry of the past hundred years. This week’s highlights include performances from Dan Hicks, NRBQ, Curtis Salgado, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller and a whole lot more. Tune into community radio for West Sonoma County. KOWS-LP 92.5 FM Occidental, streaming to planet Earth at kowsfm.com/listen.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1Paul Chaplain And His EmeraldsShortnin' BreadRadio Radio Vol.5 [Disc 3] Bob DylanAmazon
2Dan Hicks & The Hot LicksSweetheart (Waitress In A Donut Shop)The Blue Thumb Years 1971-1973Amazon
3Warren SmithSinging the Blues (& Donut Ad)At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight (Disc 18)Amazon
4Johnny CashGive My Love to Rose (& Donut Ad)At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight (Disc 20)Amazon
5The Carolyn Sills ComboThat Doughnut SongThat Doughnut SongAmazon
6Andy KirkDunkin' A DoughnutAn Anthology Of Big Band Swing 1930-1955 [Disc 1]Amazon
7The ModernairesCoffee Five, Doughnuts FiveThe Very Best of the Modernaires With Paula KellyAmazon
8Rosemary ClooneyCherry Pies Ought To Be YouTenderlyAmazon
9Eileen Barton & The New YorkersIf I Knew You Were Comin' (I'd've Baked a Cake)Cookin' Choice Cuts from the Famous FiftiesAmazon
10Art Mooney & His OrchestraIf I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked A CakeMeet Me At The Candy Store: 31 Sweets For The Dentist's JoyAmazon
11Nat RussellChocolataMeet Me At The Candy Store: 31 Sweets For The Dentist's JoyAmazon
12GalacticBaker's DozenLate For The FutureAmazon
13Curtis SalgadoCookie DoughAmericana Roots Songbook: Modern BluesAmazon
14Jay & The TechniquesApples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie45's on CD, Vol. 4: 1967-1969Amazon
15Linda MartellThe Wedding Cake (Remastered 2022)Color Me Country (Sun Records 70th / Remastered 2022)Amazon
16Fats Waller & His RhythmShortnin' Bread100 Ans De JazzAmazon
17Fats WallerYou Can't Have Your Cake (And Eat It)The Definitive Fats Waller: His Rhythm, His Piano, Vol. 1 [Disc 2]Amazon
18Frank ZappaMuffin ManThe Best Of Frank ZappaAmazon
19Chuck Cabot & His OrchestraChocolate Cha ChaMeet Me At The Candy Store: 31 Sweets For The Dentist's JoyAmazon
20Ella Mae MorseThe Patty Cake ManBarrelhouse, Boogie, And The Blues [Disc 1]Amazon
21Texas Top HandsYou Can't Have Your CakeCountry & Western, Vol.2 [Disc 9]Amazon
22NRBQRC Cola And A Moon PiePeek-A-Boo: The Best Of NRBQ, 1969-1989 [Disc 1]Amazon
23NRBQHot Biscuits and Sweet MarieKick Me HardAmazon
24Mamie BradleyThe Patty CakeMeet Me At The Candy Store: 31 Sweets For The Dentist's JoyAmazon
25Marvin & JohnnyCherry PieArt Laboe's Memories Of El Monte/The Roots Of L.A.'s Rock And RollAmazon
26The Four ClefsI Like Pie, I Like CakeBob Dylan Presents: Radio Radio, Theme Time Radio Hour, Vol. 1Amazon
27The NewbeatsBread and ButterBillboard Top Rock & Roll Hits: 1964Amazon
28Ella FitzgeraldThe Muffin ManChronological Classics: Ella Fitzgerald 1940-41Amazon
29Louis JordanBeans and Corn BreadNumber OnesAmazon
30Billy Hughes BuckaroosTake Your Hands Off It (Birthday Cake)Swinging Hollywood Hillbilly Cowboys: The West Coast IndiesAmazon
31Johnny Cash & The Light Crust DoughboysW. Lee O'Daniel (And The Light Crust Dough Boys)Johnny Cash is Coming To TownAmazon
32Lonnie JohnsonHe's A Jelly Roll BakerRCA Record Label: The 1st Note In Black Music [Disc 1]Amazon

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.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1DeFord BaileyFox ChaseCountry Music: A Film By Ken Burns – The Soundtrack [Disc 1]Amazon
2DeFord BaileyDavidson County BluesWhen The Sun Goes Down: Walk Right In – The Secret Story Of Rock & RollAmazon
3Sonny Boy WilliamsonYour Funeral And My TrialHis Best: Sonny Boy Williamson – The Chess 50th Anniversary CollectionAmazon
4Slim HarpoBuzzin' [Single Version]The Best Of Slim HarpoAmazon
5Paul Butterfield Blues BandShake Your Money MakerBlues Masters, Vol. 15: Slide Guitar ClassicsAmazon
6Junior WellsMessin' With The KidLiving The Blues – 1965 – 1969 Blues ClassicsAmazon
7Jimmy ReedBig Boss ManMOJO: Rock! Rock! Rock!Amazon
8Little WalterMy BabeHis Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection)Amazon
9James Cotton, Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Billy BranchWhoLet's Dance: The Best Of Ballroom: Swing, Lindy, Jitterbug and JiveAmazon
10James Cotton Feat. Joe BonamassaCotton Mouth ManCotton Mouth ManAmazon
11Taj MahalLeaving TrunkThe Best Of Taj MahalAmazon
12Charlie MusselwhiteChristo RedemptorStand Back!Amazon
13Slim HarpoBaby Scratch My BackThe Excello Singles Anthology Disc 2Amazon
14Sonny Terry & Brownie McGheeFox Chase – Mouth OrganThe Long Road to Freedom: An Anthology of Black Music [Disc 3]Amazon
15Bill "Jazz" GillumDon't You Scandalize My NameJazz Gillum: Complete Recorded Works Vol.1 1936-49Amazon
16Howlin' WolfMoanin' At MidnightMartin Scorsese Presents The Blues: The Road To MemphisAmazon
17Howlin' WolfSmokestack Lightnin'Blowing The Fuse: 1956Amazon
18Woody GuthriePastures Of PlentyAmerican Roots- A History Of American Folk Music: [Disc 4]Amazon
19Jesse FullerSan Francisco Bay BluesFriends Of Old Time Music [Disc 2]Amazon
20Ramblin' Jack ElliottRoll On BuddyThe Essential Ramblin' Jack ElliottAmazon
21Bob DylanBlowin' In The WindSing AmericaAmazon
22Charlie McCoyOrange Blossom SpecialThe Real McCoyAmazon
23Norton BuffaloEighteen WheelsLovin' In The Valley Of The MoonAmazon
24Willie NelsonOn the Road AgainRevolutions of Time: The Journey 1975-1993 Disc 1Amazon
25Bruce ChannelHey Baby (Delbert McClinton Harp)Don't Do It: The Smash Record Story 1961-1962 [Disc 2]Amazon
26The Fabulous ThunderbirdsI Believe I'm In LoveEssential Fabulous ThunderbirdsAmazon
27Bob DylanI Want YouBlonde on BlondeAmazon
28Willie NelsonCity Of New OrleansThe Essential Willie NelsonAmazon
29Neil Young/Stray GatorsHeart of GoldHarvestAmazon
30Ozark Mountain DaredevilsIf You Wanna Get To HeavenThe Ozark Mountain DaredevilsAmazon
31Bruce SpringsteenThe RiverChapter & VerseAmazon
32Alfred LewisFriday Moan BluesHarmonica BluesAmazon

Rock Roll and Soul

This week’s Deeper Roots takes a wide turn down the backroads of American music, delivering a two-hour free form ride through the crossroads where rock, soul, blues, and Americana meet and mingle. We’ll be opening the vaults for an eclectic blend honoring the roots while keeping one foot in the groove — where a deep cut from Garland Jeffreys might slide right up against raw King Curtis Memphis soul, a bouncy David Lindley number, or the tight shuffle of a Chess Records blues side. We’ll be connecting the dots between decades and genres with warmth and curiosity. Whether it’s Louvin-soaked harmonies, road-weary country soul, or the smoky after-hours mood of the juke joint, this week’s celebration once more explores the shared DNA of American sound. Tune in for stories between the songs, unexpected transitions, and a handpicked setlist that speaks to both memory and motion — a sonic journey that proves the roots run deep, wide, and ever surprising.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1The Traveling WilburysLast NightTraveling Wilburys, Vol. 1Amazon
2The Mar-KeysLast NightAmerican Music Library: The Hits Of 1961Amazon
3Little WalterLast NightCadillac Records [Disc 1]Amazon
4Simon & GarfunkelHomeward BoundArtist's Choice: Willie Nelson: Music That Matters To HimAmazon
5Nat King Cole TrioHomeward Bound (1993 Digital Remaster)The Nat King Cole Trio: The Complete Capitol Transcription Sessions [Disc 2]Amazon
6Deeper Roots RadioRock Roll and SoulDeeper Roots RadioAmazon
7Annie RossTwistedKing Pleasure Sings/Annie Ross Sings [Remastered]Amazon
8David LindleyTwist and ShoutEl Rayo-XAmazon
9King CurtisSoul TwistSoul SerenadeAmazon
10Gary U.S. BondsDear Lady TwistGary "U.S" Bonds – 30 Original Greatest HitsAmazon
11Phil FlowersTwistin' BeatStompin' 8Amazon
12The Traveling WilburysWilbury TwistTraveling Wilburys, Vol. 3Amazon
13Deeper Roots RadioRock Roll and SoulDeeper Roots RadioAmazon
14Doc & Richard WatsonMoody RiverThird Generation BluesAmazon
15Bob GallionMy Square Dancin' Mama (She's Done Learned to Rock and Roll)Warped 5611 – Bob Gallion – 1956 – 1959Amazon
16The Louvin BrothersI Don't Believe You've Met My BabyCapitol Country Music ClassicsAmazon
17Bobby "Blue" BlandYield Not To TemptationThe Definitive CollectionAmazon
18Eddie FloydWhy Is The Wine Sweeter (On The Other Side)The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Vol. 2: 1968-1971 [Disc 4]Amazon
19Al KentYou've Got To Pay The PriceKent's Cellar Of Soul: Volume 2Amazon
20Timmy WillisMr Soul SatisfactionKent's Cellar Of Soul: Volume 2Amazon
21Deeper Roots RadioRock Roll and SoulDeeper Roots RadioAmazon
22Dee Dee WarwickWe're Doing FineKent's Cellar Of Soul: Volume 2Amazon
23Deeper Roots RadioRock Roll and SoulDeeper Roots RadioAmazon
24Warren ZevonSearching For A HeartI'll Sleep When I'm Dead (An Anthology) [Disc 2]Amazon
25John Lee HookerI'm in the MoodHis Best Chess Sides (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection)Amazon
26Garland JeffreysCool Down BoyGhost Writer/One-Eyed Jack/American Boy & Girl [[Disc 1]]Amazon
27Linda RonstadtJust One LookLiving In The U.S.A.Amazon
28The SpidellsHmmm, With Feeling, DarlingKent's Cellar Of Soul: Volume 2Amazon
29Deeper Roots RadioRock Roll and SoulDeeper Roots RadioAmazon
30Chuck WillisHang Up My Rock And Roll ShoesI Remember Chuck Willis / The King Of The StrollAmazon
31Joe Boot & The Fabulous WindsRock And Roll RadioStompin' 2Amazon
32The DarlenesI Still Like Rock And RollWhere The Girls Are Volume 8Amazon
33Glenn MillerRunnin' WildThe Golden Years: 1938-1942 [Disc 1]Amazon
34Warren ZevonReconsider MeSentimental HygieneAmazon
35Chuck BerryRock And Roll MusicJohnny B. Goode-His Complete 50's Chess RecordingsAmazon
36Chuck ProphetBad Year for Rock and RollBobby Fuller Died For Your SinsAmazon
37Freddy CannonIf You Were A Rock And Roll RecordThe Best of Freddy Cannon – Big Blast From Boston!Amazon
38Fats DominoI'm In The Mood For LoveHere Stands FatsAmazon
39Deeper Roots RadioRock Roll and SoulDeeper Roots RadioAmazon
40RamonesDo You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?Modern Rock: Lost Hits Of The 70sAmazon

Rhythm & Bayou Romp

The sounds of New Orleans carry a mood that’s both jubilant and deeply human; it dances and mourns in the same breath. It’s the sound of the street parade meeting the juke joint: syncopated, earthy, and alive with horns, piano rolls, and that unmistakable backbeat shuffle. Unlike the more urban polish of Chicago blues or the rural cry of the Delta, New Orleans R&B has always felt like a conversation between the sacred and the profane, where gospel chords meet barroom swagger. Just beyond the Crescent City’s lights, where the waters of the bayou take form, we’ve got the accordians and fiddles of the swamp, where there’s humor, head and heartbreak woven into the DNA of the deep South. It is joyous and haunted, elegant and raw, as well as endlessly resilient. The music of New Orleans inspired an ethos — that music could be communal, unrestrained, and celebratory no matter the hardship. It taught America how to dance through its troubles, to find rhythm in resilience, and to turn sorrow into sound that still shakes the rafters and demands a communal dance to this day. This week’s show raises the flag of the Crescent City and her environs with a rhythm and bayou romp!

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1Roomful Of BluesNew OrleansBest of Roomful of Blues The Alligator Records YearsAmazon
2Rusty & Doug KershawLouisiana ManLouisiana & The Old New Orleans SoundAmazon
3Jimmy NewmanA Fallen StarLouisiana & The Old New Orleans SoundAmazon
4Alvin RobinsonDown Home GirlLouisiana & The Old New Orleans SoundAmazon
5Joe BarryI'm a Fool to CareLouisiana & The Old New Orleans SoundAmazon
6Rod BernardPardon Mr. GordonChess New Orleans [Disc 2]Amazon
7Barbara GeorgeI Know (You Don't Love Me No More)Highlights From Crescent City Soul: Sound Of New Orleans 1947-1974Amazon
8Irma Thomas & Marcia BallI Just Can't Get New Orleans Off My MindGoin' Home: A Tribute To Fats Domino [Disc 2]Amazon
9The HawkettsYour Time's UpChess New Orleans [Disc 1]Amazon
10Sugar Boy CrawfordNo More HeartachesChess New Orleans [Disc 1]Amazon
11Clifton ChenierThe Big Wheel (Squeeze Box Shuffle)Chess New Orleans [Disc 1]Amazon
12Clifton ChenierCalindaDestination New OrleansAmazon
13Bobby MitchellI'm Gonna Be a Wheel SomedayThe History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 2]Amazon
14Fats DominoThe Big BeatFats Domino Out of New OrleansAmazon
15Dr. JohnBlue MondayGoin' Back To New OrleansAmazon
16Fats DominoWhat's WrongFats Domino Out of New OrleansAmazon
17Theryl De ClouetI Get LiftedA Celebration Of New Orleans Music To Benefit MusiCares Hurrincane Relief 2005Amazon
18Sammy NaquinNew Orleans WaltzBest of Cajun InstrumentalsAmazon
19Geno Delafose & French Rockin' BoogieCanailleDoctors Professors Kings & Queens: Box New OrleansAmazon
20Steve Riley & The Mamou PlayboysLa Crhve De Faim (Starvation 2-Step)Doctors Professors Kings & Queens: Box New OrleansAmazon
21Steve Riley & The Mamou PlayboysNew Orleans BeatLa ToussaintAmazon
22Lil' Queenie & The PercolatorsMy Darlin' New OrleansDoctors Professors Kings & Queens: Box New OrleansAmazon
23Sunpie And The Louisiana SunspotsBunny BreadDestination New OrleansAmazon
24Johnny AdamsRelease MeDoctors Professors Kings & Queens: Box New OrleansAmazon
25Jimmy ClantonAnother Sleepless NightLouisiana & The Old New Orleans SoundAmazon
26Jewel King3X7=21New Orleans R&B OutbreakAmazon
27Charles "Hungry" WilliamsSo Glad You're MineThe History of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues [Disc 1]Amazon
28ArchibaldStack O LeeSound Of The City, The – New Orleans [UK] Disc 1Amazon
29Great Day of New Orleans SingersYou've Got To Be ModernisticBlack American Choirs 1926-31Amazon
30Great Day of New Orleans SingersShout OnBlack American Choirs 1926-31Amazon
31The Red Stick RamblersMain Street BluesDoctors Professors Kings & Queens: Box New OrleansAmazon
32Dirty Dozen Brass BandMardi Gras In New OrleansA Celebration Of New Orleans Music To Benefit MusiCares Hurrincane Relief 2005Amazon

Halloween 2025

Halloween in America, on the anniversary of the first quarter century of the millennium. We celebrate the night by wearing masks, by flirting with fear, by turning the grotesque into entertainment. But here in 2025, you can’t help but feel like the masks didn’t come off this year. The trick-or-treaters will return home tonight, but the parade of make-believe monsters marched straight into the daylight this past January — and some of them are occupying the most important offices in our fragile democracy. What used to be a night for play-acting power, for pretending to be the villain, has turned into a movement that’s forgotten the difference between costume and conviction. The slogans sound patriotic, the anger sounds righteous, and the cruelty wears the grin of normalcy. Halloween, at least, has an ending — sunrise, candy wrappers, a hangover of sugar and smoke. But America’s current masquerade? The lights came on, and the masks stayed put.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumBuy
1David & RoselynMarie LavauxThe Mississippi River of Song: A Musical Journey Down the MississippiAmazon
2Dr. JohnMarie LaveauThe Best Of The Parlophone YearsAmazon
3Mississippi John HurtSpider SpiderConcord Music Halloween Eclectic 2020Amazon
4Memphis MinnieBlack Cat Blues – Take 1Queen Of Country Blues [Disc 5] (1936-1937)Amazon
5Bob DunnGraveyard Blues1939-1940 (Warped 3921)Amazon
6Tampa RedWitchin' Hour BluesBlues, Blues, Hoodoo, Halloween – Scary Blues & Jazz 1925-1961Amazon
7Memphis MinnieHoodoo LadyBlues, Blues, Hoodoo, Halloween – Scary Blues & Jazz 1925-1961Amazon
8Robert JohnsonMe And The Devil BluesABC Of The Blues Vol 18Amazon
9Rev. Emmett DickinsonA Black Cat Has Crossed Your PathApple Bobbing Mix Vol. 2Amazon
10Charles SheffieldIt's Your Voodoo Working100 Northern Soul ClassicsAmazon
11St. Louis Bessie (Mae Smith)Ghost Creepin' BluesBlues, Blues, Hoodoo, Halloween – Scary Blues & Jazz 1925-1961Amazon
12The Hollywood FlamesFrankenstein's DenThe Hollywood FlamesAmazon
13EelsFresh BloodHombre LoboAmazon
14AC DCHells BellsBack in BlackAmazon
15Original London Cast recordingIn The Air Tonight  American PsychoConcord Music Halloween Eclectic 2020Amazon
16The FranticsWerewolfThe Roots Of PsychobillyAmazon
17RedboneThe Witch Queen Of New OrleansRockin' 70s [Disc 2]Amazon
18Sam the Sham & the PharaohsI've Got a Voodoo Doll1963-1968 – The Complete Wooly Bully Years vol.1Amazon
19Ike Turner & His Kings Of RhythmShe Made My Blood Run ColdApple Bobbing Mix Vol. 2Amazon
20Louis ArmstrongSpooks!A Very Vintage HalloweenAmazon
21The DupontsScreamin' Ball (At Dracula Hall)Roulette Rock & Roll, Vol. 2Amazon
22John CarpenterHalloween ThemeHalloween: 20th AnniversaryAmazon
23Dr. JohnWitchy RedTelevisionAmazon
24Bettye LaVetteWitchcraft in the AirMotor City SoulAmazon
25The Deep River BoysSwinging at the SianceThe Ultimate Rockin' Halloween Party (American Horror Songs 1930s – 1950s)Amazon
26Parham-Pickett Apollo Syncopaters (W/"Tiny" Parham & Junie C. Cobb)Mojo StrutA Very Vintage HalloweenAmazon
27Truett & GeorgeGhost DanceDiabolical Hoodoo: Vintage Songs Of Devilry, Doom & Hellfire 1920-1952Amazon
28Nina SimoneI Put a Spell on YouAnthology Disc 1Amazon
29Screamin' Jay HawkinsI Put a Spell on YouBlues, Blues, Hoodoo, Halloween – Scary Blues & Jazz 1925-1961Amazon
30Roy BuchananHaunted HouseRoy BuchananAmazon
31Tom WaitsWhistlin' Past The GraveyardUsed Songs 1973-1980Amazon
32Dinah Washington / Max RichterThis Bitter Earth / On The Nature Of DaylightShutter Island [Disc 2]Amazon