PHILLY SOUL FOLKS & LOUISIANA SWAMP POP: JOHN OATES & JOHNNIE ALLAN
While they don’t all have blue eyes, the white soul and swamp pop guys and gals from Philadelphia and South Louisiana have created distinctive regional sounds of national significance. In Philadelphia, we sample soul roots of the famed band Hall & Oates; and learn from John Oates that — despite years of pop music, big hair and synthesizers — at heart he is also a folkie into country blues and flat-picked guitar a la Doc Watson and Mississippi John Hurt… which he plays live for us! The angelic-voiced Daryl Hall, on the other hand, is more a disciple of the Temptations, who we’ll hear along with the Orlons, The O’Jays, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. In South Louisiana, the simmering pot of music that draws on Cajun, R&B, soul, and country ends up as a tasty dish called Swamp Pop. Johnnie Allan (Guillot) is a Cajun Swamp Pop chef extraordinaire with hits like “South to Louisiana” and a version of the “Promised Land” played on the French accordion. He’s surrounded by music from Earl King, Cookie & the Cupcakes, and Slim Harpo. Tasty indeed!
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Pallet John Oates Mississippi Mile, Victor
Blue Railroad Train Doc and Merle Watson Lonesome Road/ Look Away, Southern Music Distribution
I'm Satisfied Mississippi John Hurt Today!, Vanguard
Kokomo Blues Bonnie Raitt Philadelphia Folk Festival 40th Anniversary, Sliced Bread
Dance Hall Girls John Oates Mississippi Mile, Victor
Instrumental: See See Rider Jimmy Smith Home Cookin', Blue Note
South Street The Orlons Cameo Parkway, 1957-1961, ABKCO
This Train Sister Rosetta Tharpe The Original Soul Sister, Proper
Love Train The O'Jays Back Stabbers, Philadelphia International
Don't Ever Want to Lose Your Love Barbara Mason Cooler Than Ice: The Arctic Records Story, Arctic
You Make My Dreams Daryl Hall & John Oates Voices, RCA
Instrumental: Papa Was a Rolling Stone The Funk Brothers The Best of the Funk Brothers, Motown
The Way You Do the Things You Do The Temptations The Very Best of the Temptations, Motown
Good-Bye The Temptones Cooler Than Ice: The Arctic Records Story, Arctic
SEGMENT: John Oates
Sitting On Top of the World John Oates Live at Preservation Hall, original recording
Miss the Mississippi and You John Oates and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band Live at Preservation Hall, original recording
End Bed: So Long Blues Preservation Hall Jazz Band Best of the Early Years, Preservation Hall
Instrumental: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? The Revelers Play the Swamp Pop Classics, Vol.1 - EP, The Revelers
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: Promised Land Johnnie Allan
The Essential Collection, JIN
Allons Rock and Roll Lawrence Walker
Allons Cajun Rock and Roll, Ace
Okie Dokie Stomp Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown
The Original Peacock Recordings, Rounder
I Hear You Knockin' Lazy Lester
Sound of the Swamp: The Best of Excello Records Vol. 1, Rhino
Fais Do Do Rod Bernard
Swamp Rock 'N' Roll, Ace
Basic Lady Coteau
Highly Seasoned Cajun Music, Rounder
Cajun Twist Lil' Band O' Gold
Lil' Band O' Gold, Shanachie
Instrumental: Wang Wang Blues The Revelers
The Revelers, The Revelers
SEGMENT: Johnnie Allan
Those Lonely, Lonely Nights Earl King Earl's Pearls: The Very Best of Earl King 1955-1960, Westside/Ace
Un Autre Soir d'Ennui Belton Richard The Essential Belton Richard Cajun Music Collection, Swallow
I'm a Fool to Care Joe Barry I'm a Fool to Care, Demon
Rainin' in My Heart Slim Harpo The Sounds of the Swamp: Excello Records Vol. 1, Rhino
You'll Lose a Good Thing Barbara Lynn The Jamie Singles Collection 1962-1965, Jamie
Got You On My Mind Cookie and the Cupcakes Kings of Swamp Pop, Ace
Evangeline Feufollet Feufollet, Feufollet
See You Later Alligator Bobby Charles Walking to New Orleans: The Jewel and Paula Recordings 1964-65, Westside
End Bed: Burgher's Beat John Hart with Lil' Bob & the Lollipops Lafayette Soul Show, Ace