AMERICAN ROUTES
Songs as Poems; Poems as Songs Songs as Poems; Poems as Songs August 10th, 2022 (Hour 1)
Songs as Poems; Poems as Songs

We listen for poetry in music and music in poetry, songs as poems and poems as songs with Langston Hughes, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Ken Nordine. Plus, a visit to New York’s City Lore with poet-folklorist Steve Zeitlin, who rides the POEMobile to the People’s Poetry Gathering and then back to New Orleans to meet Louisiana’s poet laureate, Mona Lisa Saloy.

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SONG MAKERS AND SONG TAKERS: WILLIAM BELL AND CHRIS SMITHER

January 18th, 2017

This week on American Routes, we hear from great songwriters and performers and those who emulate them. Original songs can take on new form and meaning when interpreted by different voices, and we’ll hear some of those renditions and transformations this week. We’ll hear the rocking Southern sound of the Drive-By Truckers covering Bob Dylan, and Ray Charles doing Hank Williams. Our guest William Bell, from Memphis, will tell us all about his music being played by the Byrds, and bluesman Albert King. And we’ll go live on stage in Northampton Massachusetts with folk-blues guitarist Chris Smither for songs and stories.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Rent Party Booker T. Jones
    The Road From Memphis, Anti-
  • I Can't Stand the Rain Ann Peebles
    Ann Peebles - St. Louis Woman/Memphis Soul, HiBook Records
  • You Don't Miss Your Water William Bell
    The Complete Stax / Volt Singles: 1959-1968, Atlantic
  • SEGMENT: William Bell

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Willow Weep for Me Book T. Jones
    Soul Limbo, Stax
  • Cold Cold Heart Dinah Washington
    Jazz Masters 19, Verve
  • Half as Much Ray Charles
    The Complete Country & Western Recordings 1959-1986, Rhino
  • Worried Man Blues George Jones
    Winding Stream: The Carters, The Cashes and the Course of Country Music, Omnivore Records
  • Ain't Nobody Dori Freeman
    Dori Freeman, Dirt Free Records
  • 16 Tons Eugene Church
    16 Tons 45 rpm single, King
  • Instrumental: Slim Jenkins' Place Booker T. Jones
    The Complete Stax / Volt Singles: 1959-1968, Atlantic
  • Like a Rolling Stone Drive-By Truckers
    The Fine Print 2003-2008, New West
  • Tonight I'll Be Staying Here with You Esther Phillips
    How Many Roads: Black American Sings Bob Dylan, ACE Records
  • It Ain't Me Babe Johnny Cash
    Orange Blossom Special, Columbia
  • Stuck Inside of Mobile with the (Memphis Blues Again) Bob Dylan
    Blonde on Blonde, Columbia
  • Closing Bed: I Can't Stand the Rain Booker T. Jones
    That's the Way it Should Be, Columbia

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Statesboro Blues Chris Smithers
    Don't Drag it On, Poppy
  • My Creole Belle Mississippi John Hurt
    Avalon blues, Origin Records
  • Dixie Flyer Randy Newman
    The Randy Newman Songbook, Vol 2, Nonesuch
  • Old Jim Crow Nina Simone
    Nina Simone in Concert, Philips Records
  • Okra Olu Dara
    In The World: From Natchez to New York, Atlantic
  • Les Ognons Albert Nicholas And His Creole Serenaders
    Jazz a la Creole, G.H.B. Records
  • Instrumental: Watermelon Man Herbie Hancock
    Takin' Off, Columbia
  • SEGMENT: Chris Smithers

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Instrumental, No. 2 Carl Perkins and Scotty Moore
    The Classic Carl Perkins, Bear Family
  • Match Box Carl Perkins
    The Classic Carl Perkins, Bear Family
  • Honey Don't Carl Perkins
    The Classic Carl Perkins, Bear Family
  • Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby The Beatles
    Beatles for Sale, Parlophone
  • Homeward Bound Simon & Garfunkel
    Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, Columbia
  • American Tune Allen Toussaint
    American Tunes, Nonesuch
  • Closing Bed: St. Charles Street Parade Wardell Quezergue
    After the Math, Jazz Foundation

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • August 10th, 2022

    SONGS AS POEMS; POEMS AS SONGS

    Listen
  • August 3rd, 2022

    CARIBBEAN CRUISE & SOUTH LOUISIANA SOJOURN: GARIFUNA GUITARIST AURELIO & CREOLE ACCORDIONIST CEDRIC WATSON

    Listen
  • July 27th, 2022

    THE FOLK REVIVAL REVISITED

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