Face the Music and Vote! American Routes 2020 Election Show
By mail, by ballot box, by pulling a lever or pushing a button on November 3rd, Americans will exercise their democratic right to vote for President, Senators, Congresspeople and, in many local elections, for legislators and judges to mosquito control officers and dogcatchers. It’s a big one folks! So we’ve created a soundtrack in words and music to get you to the polls. With jazz and gospel takes on American anthems; cool versions of civil rights songs like “If I Had a Hammer” and “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free”; blues treatments warning “Be Careful How You Vote!”; a soul variation on “This Land is Your Land”; and songs about revolution… and restraint. It’s time to face the music and vote!
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Star Spangled Banner Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra Make American Great Again!, Troubadour Jass Records
Mr. President Have Pity on the Working Man Randy Newman Good Old Boys , Warner
Political Science Natalie Merchant Rarities: 1998-2017, Nonesuch
Every Man a King Randy Newman Good Old Boys , Warner
Vote 'Em Out Willie Nelson Vote 'Em Out Single , Sony
Vote, Baby Vote Deee-lite Infinity Within , Elektra
Compared to What John Legend and The Roots Wake Up, Sony
Instrumental: Lift Every Voice and Sing Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff The Best of Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff , Fantasy
I Wish I knew How It Would Feel to be Free Nina Simone Silk and Soul , RCA
Be Careful How You Vote Sunnyland Slim Be Careful How You Vote , Airway Records
Lift Every Voice and Sing Southern Sons 1940s Vocal Groups: Southern Sons and Richmond’s Harmonizing Four , Document
This Land is Your Land Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings Naturally , Daptone Records
Instrumental: Rebel Rouser Bill Frisell Guitar in the Space Age, Songtone LLC
The Man in Black Johnny Cash The Man in Black , Columbia
Crawl Into the Promised Land Rosanne Cash Crawl Into the Promised Land Single , Blue Note
For What It's Worth Staple Singers Freedom Highway , Epic
Fortunate Son Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Clearwater Revival , Fantasy
U.S. Blues Grateful Dead Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel , WB
Yes We Can Part 1 Lee Dorsey Yes We Can and Then Some , Polydor
One Love/People Get Ready Bob Marley and the Wailers Exodus, Island
Closing Bed: Stripes Otha Turner and the Afrossippi Allstars Otha Turner and the Afrossippi Allstars , Birdman Records
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: America the Beautiful The Happyland Band Saints Paradise: Trombone Shout Band of the United House of Prayer , Smithsonian Folkways
If I Had a Hammer Toussaint McCall Nothing Takes the Place of You, Fuel 2000
Right to Rock Trini Lopez Right To Rock single , Volk Records
V.O.T.E. (Public Service Announcement) Chris Stamey with Yo La Tengo V.O.T.E , Yep Roc
El Mexicano Los Cenzontles American Roulette , Los Centzontles
Will the Wolf Survive Los Lobos How Will the Wolf Survive , Slash
Instrumental: Kerr's Negro Jig Carolina Chocolate Drops Leaving Eden , Nonesuch
Think About Your Fellow Man The Cate Brothers Voices of Americana: When Love Comes , Demon Music Group
Old King Coal Sturgill Simpson Cuttin’ Grass Vol 1: The Butcher Shop Sessions , High Top Mountain Records
Breadline Blues 2008 Del McCoury, Mac Wiseman, Tim O'Brien, and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Moneyland, McCoury Music
I Pity the Poor Immigrant Marion Williams The New Message , Atlantic
Political World Carolina Chocolate Drops Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan , Amnesty International
The New Mr. President Big Boy Henry Work's Many Voices Vol.1 LP , JEMF
Funky President (People It's Bad) James Brown Star Time , Polydor
Instrumental: We Shall Overcome Bill Frisell Valentine , Blue Note
Alabama John Coltrane The Gentle Side of John Coltrane , Impulse
Tryin' Times Roberta Flack First Take , Atlantic
Tryin' Times Ernest Franklin Holy Spirit: Spiritual Soul and Gospel Funk from Shreveport’s Jewel Records , Harmless
The Times They Are A-Changin' Bob Dylan The Times They Are A-Changin' , Columbia
Closing bed: Blues for Langston and LaRue Charles Lloyd Vanished Gardens , Blue Note