Playlist - 12/28/2014 - 1950s Rockabilly and Atomic Platters

Hi Folks.

This show was shortened to one hour by a spurts preemption, so we concentrated on two topics, both supported by excellent compilations from the folks at Bear Family.

Fred Kirby

The first part of the show was 1950s rockabilly from the classic Four Star record label.  Some sources date rock & roll to the mid-1950s with Bill Haley or Elvis Presley, but over the years, and especially today, we have heard on Red Rooster Party music dated from 1945 that sure sounds like rock & roll.

Following that segment we transitioned to songs and public service announcements related to the hysteria prevalent following the revelation of atomic weapons in 1945.  The topic appears to have been in continuous thought from Fred Kirby's first song about it in 1945 just days after Hiroshima through the early 1960s, and we heard a good sampling through that period.


We'll be back next Sunday, spurts preemption notwithstanding, so join us then.

Jim & Marti

Artist / Song / Album / Label / Year

• Sammy Masters / Pink Cadillac / That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 26 Rockabilly From the Vault of Four Star Records / Bear Family  / 1956
• Arkie Shibley / Hot Rod Race / That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 26 Rockabilly From the Vault of Four Star Records / Bear Family  / 1950
• The Miller Brothers (voc. Jimmy McGraw) / Loco Choo Choo / That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 26 Rockabilly From the Vault of Four Star Records / Bear Family  / 1956
• Maddox Brothers & Rose (voc. Don Maddox) / New Step It Up And Go / That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 26 Rockabilly From the Vault of Four Star Records / Bear Family  / 1951
• Frank Simon / Sugar Plum Boogie / That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 26 Rockabilly From the Vault of Four Star Records / Bear Family  / 1953
• Jimmy Wolford / Teeny Weeny Man / That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 26 Rockabilly From the Vault of Four Star Records / Bear Family  / 1958
• T. Texas Tyler / Shake 'Em Up Rock / That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 26 Rockabilly From the Vault of Four Star Records / Bear Family  / 1958
• Charlie Ryan / Hot Rod Lincoln / That'll Flat Git It, Vol. 26 Rockabilly From the Vault of Four Star Records / Bear Family  / 1959
• CONELRAD / Radio Alert 'Real Thing' (WBEN AM, Buffalo, NY) / Atomic Platters / Bear Family / 1950s
• Peter Scott Peters / Fallout Shelter / Atomic Platters / Bear Family / 1961
• Slim Gailard / Atomic Cocktail / Atomic Platters / Bear Family / 1946
• The Buchanan Brothers / Atomic Power / Atomic Platters / Bear Family / 1946
• Sam Hinton / Old Man Atom / Atomic Platters / Bear Family / 1950
• The Five Stars / Atomic Bomb Baby / Atomic Platters / Bear Family / 1957
• Connie Francis / Civil Defense Spot: Be Prepared Today, For Survival Tomorrow / Atomic Platters / Bear Family / 1959
• Karl & Harty / When The Atom Bomb Fell / Atomic Platters / Bear Family / 1946
• Johnny Cash / Civil Defense Spot: Help Ourselves / Atomic Platters / Bear Family / 1959
• The Louvin Brothers / The Great Atomic Power / Atomic Platters / Bear Family / 1952
• Fred Kirby / When That Hell Bomb Falls / Atomic Power / Bear Family / 1950

Playlist - 12/21/2014 - Christmas

Hi Folks.

In our tradition of really digging into the roots of our musical traditions, we presented our Christmas show consisting of an eclectic array of music across the span of the 20th century.

We drew heavily on two compilations -- one being The Spirit of Christmas Past that collects seasonal music from the UK that is clearly influenced by American trends, and Where Will You Be Christmas Day?, an astonishing collection of seasonal music from 1917 to 1959.

We also drew from some Christmas gems of Spike Jones, and some cowboy Christmas music from Michael Martin Murphey, Riders In The Sky, and the Bar-J Wranglers.




We couldn't let the season go by without The Christmas Guest, a popular recitation performed for us this year by Andy Griffith.


We hope you enjoyed this show and will tune in for more early 20th century music next Sunday.

Marti & Jim

Artist / Song / Album / Label / Year

• Golden Gate Quartet / Cheer The Weary Traveler / Complete Recorded Works Volume 2  / Document / 1939
• Bing Crosby acc. John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra / White Christmas / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1942
• Dinah Shore with members of the American War Dept. Armed Forces Radio Service Orchestra dir. by Meredith Wilson / I'll Walk Alone (Thru Every Christmas) / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1944
• Fats Waller & His Rhythm / Swingin' Them Jingle Bells / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1936
• Max Miller with members of Mayfair D. O. dir. by Ronnie Munro / The Christmas Dinner / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1937
• Judy Garland with George Stoll's Orchestra / Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1944
• Jack Teagarden & Johnny Mercer with Paul Whiteman's Orchestra / Christmas Night In Harlem / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1934
• Paul Robeson With Lawrence Brown / Mary Had A Baby Boy, Yes Lord / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1931
• Bing Crosby with Max Terr's Mixed Chorus accomp. by John Scott Trotter & His Orch. / Silent Night, Holy Night / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1942
• Bransby Williams & Co. / A Charles Dickens Christmas... / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1933
• BBC Dance Orch. Dir. by Henry Hall; The Three Sisters (vocal) / The Fairy On The Christmas Tree / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1936
• BBC Dance Orch. dir. by Henry Hall; Dan Donovan & chorus (vocal) / The Santa Claus Express / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1935
• London Church Carol Choir with bells & celeste; Berkeley Mason (organ) / Christmas Carols - Vocal Gems: Intro; Once In Royal David's City - Good King Wenceslas - It Came Upon The Midnight Clear / The Spirit of Christmas Past / Living Era / 1934
• Spike Jones / Jingle Bells Medley: Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town, The Christmas Song, Jingle Bells / It's A Spike Jones Christmas / Rhino / 1956
• Spike Jones / All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth / It's A Spike Jones Christmas / Rhino / 1948
• Spike Jones / The Night Before Christmas Song / It's A Spike Jones Christmas / Rhino / 1956
• Spike Jones / I'm Getting Nuttin for Christmas / It's A Spike Jones Christmas / Rhino / 1956
• Fiddlin' John Carson / Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over / Complete Recorded Works Volume 5 / Document / 1927
• Vera Hall Ward / The Last Month Of The Year / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1959
• Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers / Christ Was Born On Christmas Day / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1929
• Lead Belly / Christmas Is A-Coming / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1940s
• Lord Executor / Christmas Is A Joyful Day / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1937
• Pawlo Humeniuk / Dance Under the Willows (Tanec Pid Werbamy) / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1926
• Buell Kazee / Lady Gay / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1928
• Alabama Sacred Harp Singers / Sherburne / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1959
• Kelly Pace, Aaron Brown, Joe Green, Paul Hayes, and Matthew Johnson / Holy Babe / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1939 [Alabama prisoners performing]
• Rev. J. M. Gates / He Was Born In a Manger / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1927
• Rev. Edward W. Clayborn (The Guitar Evangelist) / Wrong Way To Celebrate Christmas / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1928
• Walter Davis / Santa Claus / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1935
• McKinney's Cotton Pickers / Gee, Ain't I Good to You? / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1929
• Bessie Smith / At The Christmas Ball / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1925
• Butterbeans & Susie / Papa Ain't No Santa Claus (And Mama Ain't No Christmas Tree) / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1930
• Kansas City Kitty / Christmas Morning Blues / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1934
• Leroy Carr / Christmas In Jail, Ain't That a Pain / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1929
• Lord Beginner / Christmas Morning the Rum Had Me Yawning / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1939
• Fiddlin’ John Carson and His Virginia Reelers / Christmas Time Will Soon Be Over / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1927
• Norman Edmonds / Breaking Up Christmas / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1959
• Mary Harris / Happy New Year Blues / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1935
• Lightnin' Hopkins / Happy New Year / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1953
• Maddox Brothers and Rose / Jingle Bells / Where Will You Be Christmas Day? / Dust-to-Digital / 1951
• Andy Griffith / The Christmas Guest / The Christmas Guest - Stories and Songs of Christmas / Sparrow Records / 2003
• Riders In The Sky / Sidemeat's Christmas Stew / Christmas the Cowboy Way / Rounder / 1999
• Riders In The Sky / The Twelve Days of Cowboy Christmas / Christmas the Cowboy Way / Rounder / 1999
• Michael Martin Murphey / Line Rider's Christmas / Cowboy Christmas - Cowboy Songs II / Warner Bros. / 1991
• Michael Martin Murphey / The Cowboy Christmas Ball / Cowboy Christmas - Cowboy Songs II / Warner Bros. / 1991
• Bar-J Wranglers / Dueling Banjos - Sleighride / Christmas for Cowboys / Self-released / .

Playlist - 12/14/2014 - Dogs, Cats, Possums, etc.

Marti and Jimmy

Hi Folks.

Today's show consisted of songs about dogs, cats, possums, and a few other critters, most of which we have first-hand experience.

Jim & Marti

Artist / Song / Disk / Label / Year

• Hoosier Hot Shots / Where Has My Little Dog Gone? / Doggone Country / CMH / 1939
• Dock Walsh with The Carolina Tar Heels / Bull Dog Down In Sunny Tennessee / Doggone Country / CMH / 1962
• Grandpa Jones / Old Rattler / Doggone Country / CMH / 1976
• Homer & Jethro / (How Much) Is That Hound Dog In The Window? / The Weird World of Homer & Jethro / BMG / 1953
• T. Texas Tyler / Dad Gave My Dog Away / Doggone Country / CMH / 1948
• Hoosier Hot Shots / Hound Dog / Doggone Country / CMH / 1960s
• Al Hopkins & The Bucklebusters / Oh Where Is My Little Dog Gone / Doggone Country / CMH / 1927
• Walter Brennan / Tribute To A Dog / Old Shep / CMH / 1960
• Louisiana Honeydrippers / Old Blue / Doggone Country / CMH / 1960s
• Gid Tanner & The Skillet Lickers / Ya Gotta Quit Kicking My Dog Aroun' / Doggone Country / CMH / 1926
• Jimmie Davis / The Poodle Dog Song / Doggone Country / CMH / 1950
• Jenks "Tex" Carman" / My Dog, My Everything / Cow Punk / Bear Family / 1961
• Walter Brennan / Old Shep / Old Shep / CMH / 1960
• Bill Monroe and Doc Watson / Have A Feast Here Tonight / Live Duet Recordings 1963-1980: Off The Record Volume 2 / Smithsonian Folkways / 1964
• The Osborne Brothers / Tennessee Hound Dog / Doggone Country / CMH / 1977
• Earl Taylor & The Stony Mountain Boys / Fox Chase / Doggone Country / CMH / 1977
• The Eddie Adcock Band / Dog / Doggone Country / CMH / 1989
• Yodeling Slim Clark / The Cat Came Back / Cowboy & Yodel Songs / Jasmine Records / 1950
• Oscar Brand / Good Old Cat / I Love Cats / Self-released / 2003
• Oscar Brand / Them Doggone Cats / I Love Cats / Self-released / 2003
• Wayne Taylor,Jesse McReynolds, Tim White, et al / God Made the Possum / The Possum Tapes / Fat Dog / 1993
• Leroy Troy / Five Pounds Of Possum / Suppertime Serenade / Bos Records / 2010
• Jenks "Tex" Carman / Possum Twist / Cow Punk / Bear Family / 1963
• Jerry Clower / Seein' Eye Dog / Live At Dollywood / MCA Nashville / 1997
• Mark Glaze, Carl Jackson, Jesse McReynolds, Tim White, et al / Possum Party / The Possum Tapes / Fat Dog / 1993
• Jesse McReynolds, Jim McReynolds, Tim White, Carl Jackson, et al / Possum Blues / The Possum Tapes / Fat Dog / 1993
• Walter Family / That's My Rabbit, My Dog Caught It / Kentucky Mountain Music / Yazoo / 1933
• Crockett Family Mountaineers / Little Rabbit / Rabbit Where's Your Mammy / Kentucky Mountain Music / Yazoo / 1931
• Howard & Peak / Three Black Sheep / Kentucky Mountain Music / Yazoo / 1928
• J. E. Mainer with Red Smiley and The Blue Grass Cut-Ups / Papa's Billy Goat / The Legendary J. E. Mainer, Volume 3 / Rural Rhythm / 1967
• Tom T. Hall / Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine / The Definitive Collection / Universal / 1972
• Burl Ives / I Found My Best Friend In The Dog Pound / Doggone Country / CMH / 1963
• J. E. Mainer with Red Smiley and The Blue Grass Cut-Ups / I Had an Old Grey Mare / The Legendary J.E. Mainer, Volume 3 / Rural Rhythm / 1967
• Fiddlin John Carson / The Cat Came Back / Fiddlin John Carson Vol. 1 1923 - 1924 / Document Records / 1924
• Fiddlin John Carson / The Kickin' Mule / Fiddlin John Carson Vol. 1 1923 - 1924 / Document Records / 1923

Playlist - 12/7/2014 - Remembering Ray Davis

Hi Folks.  


Jim had to leave town on a business trip and was not able to be in the studio in person for this show, but he left behind an hour-long version of his tribute to Ray Davis, the D.C. and Baltimore bluegrass DJ who had passed away December 3rd.  Jim first aired a version of this show on his early Saturday morning midnight fill-in on WHUS, and updated it for this show.  Marti concluded the show with an hour of her own programming.

The Washington Post printed a good obituary for Ray Davis December 14th, and you may be able to see it here.

The Ray Davis tribute consisted of some of Ray's "Basement Tapes" -- recordings he made at Johnny's Used Cars in Baltimore or later in his own home studio.  When released, they were on Ray's own Wango (WON-go) label, named for his hometown in Maryland.

The Ray Davis part of the playlist is below.  Marti's part of the playlist will be added shortly.

Jim & Marti

Artist / Song / Album / Label / Year

• Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet / Comin' In On A Wing And A Prayer / Complete Recorded Works Vol. 4 / Document / 1943
• The Gillis Brothers / Train 45 / Freight Train Special Volume Two  / Wango / 1993
• Ray Davis / Old Folks Home / Plum Pitiful Volume Two / Wango / 1973
• The Stanley Brothers / In The Pines / Freight Train Special Volume Two  / Wango / 1963
• Ralph Stanley / The Vacant Chair / Plum Pitiful Volume Two / Wango / 1996
• Ray Davis / Soldier's Last Letter / Plum Pitiful Volume Two / Wango / 1973
• Mac Wiseman / A Hero's Death / Plum Pitiful Volume Two / Wango / 1996
• Warrior River Boys / My Dixie Home / Freight Train Special Volume Two  / Wango / 1996
• Lost & Found / Bringin' In the Georgia Mail / Freight Train Special Volume One / Wango / 1996
• Clyde Moody / White House Blues / Plum Pitiful Volume Two / Wango / 1962
• Ralph Stanley & James King / Life Of Sorrow / Plum Pitiful Volume Two / Wango / 1987
• Ray Davis / The Mother's Watch / Memories of Mother / Wango / 1975
• The Stanley Brothers / Jordan, Heavenly Light Is Shining On Me, Someone's Last Day, Rank Stranger / Radio Series Volume Six / Wango / 1963
• Stanley Brothers / Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone / Plum Pitiful Volume Two / Wango / 1964