Black & White Crossover in Country Music and Beyond… Plus Blues from Baton Rouge
This week on American Routes, we dip into crossover currents of country music sung by Black American performers, including Ray Charles, Ike and Tina Turner, and Fats Domino. We’ll also hear white musicians influenced by Black music: Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Jimmie Rodgers and Bob Dylan. Then, it’s the Baton Rouge Blues legacy, with recordings from Buddy Guy, Slim Harpo, Silas Hogan, Tabby Thomas and the late harmonica man Raful Neal. Plus a live performance from Raful Neal’s son, Kenny Neal, a mouth harp and guitar player, now the senior statesman and artist from the Baton Rouge Blues scene.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Kerr’s Negro Jig Carolina Chocolate Drops
Leaving Eden, Nonesuch
Country Boy Down in New Orleans Snooks Eaglin
Country Boy Down in New Orleans, Arhoolie
Down Yonder We Go Ballin’ Smiley Lewis
Mama Don’t Like It! 1950-1956, Cherry Red Records
Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On Big Maybelle
R & B: From Doo-Wop to Hip Hop, T-Neck Records
Motorpsycho Nightmare Bob Dylan
Another Side of Bob Dylan, Columbia
My Rough and Rowdy Ways Jimmie Rodgers
The Essential Jimmie Rodgers, Sony
One Room Country Shack Grey Ghost
Playing for the Man at the Door: Field Recordings from the Collection of Mack Mccormick, 1958-1971, Smithsonian Folkways
Instrumental: Sunshine Twist (You Are My Sunshine) Jelly Roll Kings
Rockin’ the Juke Joint Down, Earwig Music Comp
You Are My Sunshine Ike and Tina Turner
You Are My Sunshine: The Best of Ike & Tina, MTI
Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying Etta James
Blue Gardenia, Sony
Time for the Sun to Rise Earl King
The Sonet Blues Story, Universal Music AB
Funny How Time Slips Away Dr. John
Things Happen That Way, Rounder
Instrumental: Carolina Breakdown Etta Baker
Railroad Bill, Pinnacle Productions LLC
I’m Sitting on Top of the World Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
The Early Hits of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, Doxy
Sitting on Top of the World Howlin’ Wolf
The Real Folk Blues, Chess
Half as Much Ray Charles
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Vols 1 & 2, Concord
Hey, Good Lookin’ Ray Charles
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Vols 1 & 2, Concord
Country Boy Rock Lloyd Price
Southern Bred, Vol. 18 – Louisiana and New Orleans R & B Rockers, Koko Mojo
Bo Weevil Fats Domino
Fats Domino Swings, Capitol
Your Cheatin’ Heart Fats Domino
Here He Comes Again! Capitol
Closing bed: I’m an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande) Jimmy Smith
Bashin’ - The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith (Expanded Edition), UMG
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: It Don’t Cost Nothing Kenny Neal
Straight from the Heart, Ruf Records
It’s Been So Long Raful Neal
You Don’t Love Me No More, Whit
First Time I Met the Blues Buddy Guy
I Was Walking Through the Woods (Expanded Edition), UMG
Hoo-doo Blues Silas Hogan
Louisiana Swamp Blues Vol. 6, Wolf
Hoodoo Party Tabby Thomas
Cockroach Run and Other Funny Games, Koko Mojo
Shake Your Hips Slim Harpo
Best of Slim Harpo, Excello
Instrumental: Blues on the Moon Raful Neal
Louisiana Legend, Alligator
Starlight Diamond Kenny Neal
American Routes original recording
Baby Bee Kenny Neal
American Routes original recording
Hoodoo Moon Kenny Neal
American Routes original recording
Hoodoo Moon Kenny Neal
Hoodoo Moon, Alligator
Instrumental: Country Blues #1 Taj Mahal
The Essential Taj Mahal, Warner Bros.
Going Down Slow Kenny Neal
American Routes original recording
Let Life Flow Kenny Neal
American Routes original recording
Steal Away Kenny Neal with Syreeta Neal
American Routes original recording
Funny How Time Slips Away Kenny Neal
American Routes original recording
Mule Bone Kenny Neal
American Routes original recording
Things Have Got to Change Kenny Neal
American Routes original recording
The Things I Used to Do Kenny Neal
American Routes original recording
Old Friends Kenny Neal with Syreeta Neal
American Routes original recording
End bed: Moody Blues Slim Harpo
Slim Harpo Sings: “Rainin’ in My Heart”, Excello