JORMA KAUKONEN: Ain’t In No Hurry
JORMA KAUKONEN Ain’t In No Hurry Red House 282 www.redhouserecords.com Jorma Kaukonen is really in a serene place in his life now. He gets out and plays live as much as he wants to, … Continue reading →
GURF MORLIX: Eatin’ At Me
GURF MORLIX Eatin’ At Me Rootball www.gurfmorlix.com Gurf Morlix won mainstream recognition during his time as Lucinda Williams’ guitar player, musical director and producer. After they had a falling out over the band’s musical … Continue reading →
Which Side Are You On? – Coal and Blood, Part 2
Twice in recent weeks I’ve delved into Hazel Dickens’s work to find songs that walk the line between life and death in America’s coal fields. “Black Lung” is no murder ballad, but we saw how it used Primitive Baptist singing … Continue reading →
Playing Favorites
WFDU-FM’s TRADITIONS Playlist for February 22, 2015 With the annual WFDU-FM fund drive coming to an end, my co-host Bill Hahn and I shared a number of listener favorites and requests on this week’s broadcast. We aired these songs partially as … Continue reading →
SORM Playlist #15-08: Legacy of Leadbelly
(airing the week starting 2-18-15)
Smithsonian Folkways is releasing a massive 5CD collection of the music of Leadbelly on February 24th. On this week’s edition we will listen to some of the songs on that great collection. We’ll also hear some classic renditions of Leadbelly … Continue reading →
The Legend of Lead Belly Continues to Grow
WFDU-FM’s TRADITIONS Playlist for February 15, 2015 Huddie Ledbetter, best known to the world as Lead Belly, passed away in December 1949, a few short months before the Weavers recording of his “Goodnight Irene” entered the Billboard best seller chart. … Continue reading →
The Yablonski Murder – Coal and Blood, Part 1
“Well it’s cold blooded murder friends, I’m talking about …” Such is the accusation that opens the angry chorus of “The Yablonski Murder.” Hazel Dickens penned the musical indictment in January of 1970 after she read the newspaper story describing what … Continue reading →
Turn Your Radio On
WFDU-FM’s TRADITIONS Fund Drive Playlists for February 1 & 8, 2015 The Carter Family recording of “Heaven’s Radio” and John Hartford‘s version of “Turn Your Radio On” are two of my “lucky charm” songs that I play on my WFDU-FM … Continue reading →
BOB DYLAN: Shadows In The Night
Bob Dylan Shadows In The Night Columbia 88875057962 www.columbiarecords.com I once asked the late Mimi Baez Farińa what Bob Dylan is like as a person. She replied that she didn’t know because she hadn’t … Continue reading →
GREENSKY BLUEGRASS: If Sorrows Swim
Greensky Bluegrass If Sorrows Swim Big Blue Zoo www.greenskybluegrass.com I popped this latest release from Michigan-based Greensky Bluegrass into iTunes, sank back into my chair to listen, and was about a third of the … Continue reading →