Labor Day
Relax and celebrate work and the music it has inspired on this Labor Day edition of American Routes. Worldly blues man and one-time farmhand Taj Mahal talks about tilling the soil as well as plowing through musical boundaries. The late oral historian and radioman Studs Terkel discusses work in America and his own labors over the decades. And New Orleans tinsmith and trumpeter Lionel Ferbos recalls balancing two careers. You’ll also hear a work-related music mix including Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Nina Simone, Roy Orbison and many more.
HOUR ONE
Blue Monday Fats Domino Out of New Orleans , Bear Family
Workin' Man Blues Jerry Lee Lewis Killer Country , Mercury
Cakewalk into Town Taj Mahal Recycling the Blues and Other Related Stuff , CBS
Got Me A New Love Thing James Andrews Satchmo of the Ghetto , NYNO
Labor Day Lord Invader Calypso in New York , Folkways
Instrumental: Things Are Gonna Work Out Fine Taj Mahal Natch'l Blues , Columbia
INTERVIEW: Taj Mahal
Je Suis en Recolteur (I'm A Farmer) Clifton Chenier Bogalusa Boogie , Arhoolie
Sixteen Tons Johnnie Taylor Lifetime , Stax
Instrumental: Can't Be Still Booker T & the MGs The Complete Stax/Volt Singles 1959-1968 , Atlantic
Lining Track Leadbelly Sings Folk Songs , Folkways
Temp 'Em Up Solid Ry Cooder Paradise and Lunch , Warner
SEGMENT: Lionel Ferbos
Nice Work If You Can Get It Ella Fitzgerald Ella Sings Gershwin , Decca
Work Song Grant Green
2 By 5: Guitar Jazz , 32 Jazz
HOUR TWO
Five O'Clock Whistle Duke Ellington Centennial Edition: Complete RCA Victor Recordings 1927-1973 , RCA
I'm Not Going To Work Today Clyde McPhatter A Shot of Rhythm and Blues , Sundazed
Bertha Roosevelt Charles, Rev. Rogers and Big Louisiana Louisiana Prison Worksongs , Arhoolie
Chain Gang The Persuasions We Came To Play , Capitol
Work Song Nina Simone Anthology: The Colpix Years , Rhino
The Peanut Vendor Billie and De De Pierce Gulf Coast Blues , Arhoolie
Okra Olu Dara In The World: From Natchez To New York , Atlantic
Instrumental: The Work Song Arthur Lyman Sonic Sixties , Ryko
Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No.8) Jimmie Rodgers The Singing Brakeman , Bear Family
Erie Canal Suzanne Vega Freedom: Songs from the Hearts of America , Columbia
Factory Girl Rolling Stones Beggar's Banquet , ABKCO
I've Been Working Van Morrison His Band And The Street Choir , Warner
Workin' for the Man Roy Orbison For the Lonely: 18 Greatest Hits , Rhino
Instrumental: Nice Work If You Can Get It Art Tatum The Deï¬nitive Art Tatum , BlueNote
INTERVIEW: Studs Terkel
Hallelujah, I'm a Bum Fats Waller Fine Arabian Stuff , High Note
Blues for Everybody Champion Jack Dupuree Blues for Everybody , Charly
I Can't Wait to Get Off Work (and See My Baby on Montgomery Avenue) Tom Waits Small Change , Asylum
End Bed: Work Song Charles Mingus The Complete Debut Recordings Vol.3 , Debut