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Across the Blue Ridge #26 - Summer Party Music, Cultural Crossroads

by Paul Brown

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a powerful gospel and blues singer, and an outstanding lead guitarist who blazed a stylistic trail for the emerging forms of R & B and rock and roll. She performs a gospel song, My Man and I, on this week’s Across the Blue Ridge. Smithsonian Folkways

This week we mark the start of summer with a great selection of roots music that's fun to listen to above all.  Whether it's a fiddle tune, a banjo song, a gospel number or a bit of the blues, you'll find good humor abounding and tremendous variety in styles that will keep you comfortable.  Along the way, we'll hear great artists including Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a gospel and blues singer affectionately known as the mother of rock and roll.  She was an outstanding lead guitarist and and an equally powerful singer.  The Maddox Brothers and Rose put in an appearance too, along with Dock Boggs, Jimmy Martin and many others.  Along with the fun, you may find yourself making new connections between types of music you might have thought were unrelated.

Episode 26 Playlist

  1. Daisy Mae – Jason Carter
    On the Move
    Rounder 1997
     
  2. When It's Peach Pickin' Time In Georgia – Ash & F
    From the Old School
    Independent Release, date unknown
     
  3. Green River March – Happy Valley Pals
    Happy Valley Pals
    Martin Records 2015
     
  4. Took My Gal A-Walkin'  -- Taylor Rorrer
    Playing Poole
    Flyin' Cloud 2010
     
  5. Texas Breakdown – Slate Mountain Ramblers
    Family Tradition
    Independent Release 2016
     
  6. I'm Worried Now – Beverly Smith & John Grimm
    The Sound Of The Whip-Poor-Will
    Independent Release 2012
     
  7. The River of Jordan – Sheets Family Band
    A Southern Girl's Reply
    Independent Release  2011
     
  8. BREAK 1
    Gray Eagle – Presley Barker
    Presley Barker
    Independent Release 2015
     
  9. My Cabin In Caroline – Flatt & Scruggs
    Flatt & Scruggs 1948-59 Vol. 1
    Bear Family  1991
     
  10. Foggy Mountain Special – Flatt & Scruggs
    Flatt & Scruggs 1948-59 Vol. 3
    Bear Family  1991
     
  11.  Never Let Your Deal Go Down – Etta Baker
    One Dime Blues
    Rounder 1991
     
  12. Shortnin' Bread – Lewis “Big Sweet” Harriston
    Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina and Virginia
    Smithsonian Folkways 1998
     
  13. Leavin' Tennessee – Longview
    High Lonesome
    Rounder 1999
     
  14. The Last Words of Copernicus – Alabama Sacred Harp Singers
    Southern Journey Vol. 1
    Rounder 1997
     
  15.  BREAK 2
    Take Me Back To Georgia – Matt Brown & Greg Reish
    Speed Of The Plow
    Independent Release 2015
     
  16. Sally Let Your Bangs Hang Down – Maddox Brothers & Rose
    Maddox Brothers And Rose Their Original Recordings 1946-51
    Arhoolie 2000
     
  17. Sunny Side Of The Mountain – Jimmy Martin
    You Don't Know My Mind
    Rounder 1992
     
  18.  My Man And I – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
    The Gospel of the Blues
    Geffen 2003
     
  19.  Gonna Lay Down This World For My Lord – Lightnin' Wells
    Shake ‘Em On Down
    CD Baby 2008
     
  20. I'm Gonna Wake Up In Glory Someday
    Best Of The Cooke Duet
    Freeland 1994
     
  21.  Tennessee Border – Hank Williams
    I Ain't Got Nothin' But Time
    Polydor 1985

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