SUPPORT GREAT STORYTELLING
We rely on your support to remain on air and online. Your contribution helps us bring you interviews with great American artists and the carefully curated music mix that you’ve enjoyed over the years.
Donate
AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM
FRIENDS OF ROBERT JOHNSON
Two hours of music surrounding the forefather of the blues, Robert Johnson. The guitarist and singer is remembered by four other Delta bluesmen: guitarist Johnny Shines rode the rails with Johnson in the 1930s, pianist and guitarist Henry Townsend jammed with him, Robert Junior Lockwood is Johnson’s stepson and the late diddly-bow player Lonnie Pitchford followed in his footsteps. We’ll also hear Johnson tunes in the hands of latter-day artists the Rolling Stones and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
HOUR ONE
- Open Bed: Black Ace Robert Johnson
The Complete Recordings, Columbia - Cross Road Blues Robert Johnson
The Complete Recordings, Columbia - Crossroads Cream
The Very Best of Cream, Polydor - Terraplane Blues Robert Johnson
King of the Delta Blues, Columbia/Legacy - Dynaflow Blues The Johnny Shines Blues Band
Chicago Blues Today! Vol. 3, Vanguard - SEGMENT: Johnny Shines
- Instrumental: Overall Junction Albert King
Blues Masters: The Very Best of Albert King, Rhino - Milk Cow Blues Kokomo Arnold
The Roots of Robert Johnson, Yazoo - Milk Cow Blues Rose Maddox
America'a Most Colorful Hillbilly Band, Vol. 1, Arhoolie - Milkcow Blues Boogie Elvis Presley
The Essential 50s Masters, RCA - Dust My Broom Ike & Tina Turner
Bold Soul Sister, Hip-O - I Believe I’ll Go Back Home Clifton Chenier
King of the Bayous, Arhoolie - Walking Blues Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt, Warner Brothers - Sweet Old Chicago Roosevelt 'The Honeydripper' Sykes
Blues By Roosevelt 'The Honeydripper' Sykes, Smithsonian Folkways - Instrumental: Memphis Blues Eubie Blake
Memories of You - the Rare Piano Rolls, Biograph - SEGMENT: Henry Townsend
- It's A Hard Road to Travel Henry Townsend
Mule, Nighthawk - Go Ahead Buddy Bill Weldon
The Roots of Robert Johnson, Yazoo - They're Red Hot Robert Johnson
The Complete Recordings, Columbia - They're Red Hot Red Hot Chili Peppers
The Essential Red Hot Chili Peppers, EMI - Closing Bed: The Blue Horizon Johnny Shines
Blues Reference, Disques Black & Blue
HOUR two
- Open Bed: Miles Runs the Voodoo Down Miles Davis
Bitches Brew, Columbia - Hell Hound On My Trail Robert Johnson
King of the Delta Blues, Colubmia/Legacy - Hell Hound On My Trail Cassandra Wilson
Blue Light 'Til Dawn, Blue Note - Preachin' Blues Son House
Mojo Workin' - Blues for the Next Generation, Columbia/Legacy - Love In Vain Robert Johnson
King of the Delta Blues, Columbia/Legacy - Stop Breaking Down Rolling Stones
Exile On Main Street, Virgin - Instrumental: Feelin’ Bad Blues Ry Cooder
Music By Ry Cooder, Warner - Stop Breaking Down Rolling Stones
Exile on Main Street, Virgin - SEGMENT: Robert Junior Lockwood
- Ramblin' On My Mind Front Range
Ramblin' On My Mind, Sugar Hill - Sitting On Top of the World The Mississippi Sheiks
The Roots of Robert Johnson, Yazoo - Come On In My Kitchen Robert Johnson
King of the Delta Blues, Columbia/Legacy - Instrumental: Elmer’s Blues Lonnie Johnson with Elmer Snowden
Blues & Ballads, Bluesville - SEGMENT: Lonnie Pitchford
- Walkin’ Blues Muddy Waters
Rollin’ Stone, MCA - Crossroads Cowboy Junkies
Whites Off Earth Now!, RCA - Closing Bed: Cross Road Blues Marcus Roberts
Blues For the New Millennium , Columbia
