Ho, Ho, Ho

Wednesday, December 24, 2008 - Oh, What a Christmas To Have the Blues ...

Intro
Elvis Presley - Merry Christmas, Baby
Mack Rice - Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'
Lightnin' Hopkins - Santa
Eddie Campbell - Santa's Messin' With the Kid
Big Joe Williams - Christmas Blues
Lemmy Kilmister, Billy Gibbons, and Dave Grohl - Run Rudolph Run

First Break

Louis Jordan - Santa Claus, Santa Claus
Amos Milburn - Let's Make Christmas Merry, Baby
Louis Armstrong and Friends - Christmas In New Orleans
Robert Goulet - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Kay Martin and Her Body Guards - I Know What You Want For Christmas
Jimmy Butler - Trim Your Tree
Earl King - Santa Don't Let Me Down
Canned Heat - Christmas Boogie (The Chipmunk Song)

Second Break

Leadbelly - On a Christmas Day
Bumble Bee Slim - Christmas and No Santa Claus
Lowell Fulson - Lonesome Christmas, Parts I and II
B.B. King - Christmas Celebration
Charles Brown - Christmas Present Blues
Lightnin' Hopkins - Christmas Blues
Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas

Third Break

John Lee Hooker - Blues For Christmas
Leroy Carr - Christmas In Jail (Ain't That a Pain)
Foghat - All I Want For Christmas Is You
Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns - All I Want For Christmas (Is a Little Bit of Music)
Texas Pete Mayes - Christmas Holidays
Sonny Boy Williamson - Sonny Boy's Christmas
The Black Ace - Christmas Time (Beggin' Santa Claus)
Roosevelt Sykes - Let Me Hang Your Stockings In Your Christmas Tree
Seymour Swine and the Squealers - Blue Christmas

Whooooooo

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - Just Killin' Time

Good times. Here's the set:

Intro
Mississippi Joe Callicott - Good Time Blues / Ain't-a Gonna Lie To You
Elmore James - Mean Mistreatin' Mama / Greatest Hits (Cleo Records)
Skip James - Look At the People Standing At the Judgment / Devil Got My Woman [for Jethro]
Son House - Am I Right or Wrong / Complete Library of Congress Recordings 1941-1942
Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page - Tribute To Elmore / Strictly the Blues
David "Honeyboy" Edwards - Bad Whiskey & Cocaine / Delta Bluesman
The Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post / The Allman Brothers Band [Cliff's Pick]

First Break

Pink Anderson - I Had My Fun / Carolina Bluesman, Vol. 1
Louisiana Red - Rollin' Stone / Louisiana Red Sings the Blues
Stackwaddy - Country Line Special / Bugger Off!
Jimmy Reed - Cold & Lonesome / T'aint No Big Thing but He Is ... Jimmy Reed
B.B. King - The Beginning of the End / Take It Home
Elvis Presley - Steamroller Blues (Live) / Aloha From Hawaii: Via Satellite
Lightnin' Hopkins - Glory Be / Houston Bound

Second Break

Billy Boy Arnold - Too Many Old Flames / Eldorado Cadillac
Robert Johnson - Last Fair Deal Gone Down / King of the Delta Blues Singers
Francine Reed - One Monkey (Don't Stop No Show) / I Got a Right! ... To Some of My Best
Eddy Clearwater - Tore Up All the Time / Boogie My Blues Away
Catfish Keith - Come Back, Old Devil / Jitterbug Swing
Magic Slim and the Teardrops - I Can't Trust My Woman / Black Tornado

Third Break

George "Wild Child" Butler - I Just Can't Please Her / Stranger
John Lee Hooker - I'm Bad Like Jesse James / Boom Boom [for Lukas]
Cephas and Wiggins - Crow Jane / Richmond Blues
Slim Harpo - Baby Scratch My Back / Tuesday's Just As Bad (V/A)
Sonny Landreth - Pinegrove Blues / Slide Guitar Blues (V/A - Icehouse Records)
J.B. Lenoir - I've Been Down For So Long / Eisenhower Blues
Blue Cheer - Rock Me Baby / Vincebus Eruptum

Very special holiday celebration coming up next week! Until then, stay positive.

Shoeless

Checkmate

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - Celebrating Chess Records

So last Friday, a little ol' movie about a little ol' label that played some little ol' soul blues came out in theaters ... and they called it Cadillac Records. (The actual label, of course, is the world-famous Chess Records). Since opportunities like this don't arise very often (meaning ever), we decided to celebrate the occasion (as we have a way of doing). We picked up a copy of the soundtrack and played it more or less in its entirety - hopefully you were able to catch it. Cadillac Records is in theaters now - go check it out and enjoy an education in the finest in 50's and 60's blues! Well, that and the ever-beautiful Beyoncé Knowles flexing her vocal muscle in what was likely one of the most daunting roles to undertake in cinematic history (other than Jesus, James Bond, or Johnny Cash) - the legendary Etta James.



With the exception of this week's Cliff's Pick, all songs from the first two sets are from the two-disc deluxe edition of the Cadillac Records OST. Here's the set:

Intro
Buddy Guy - Forty Days and Forty Nights
Jefferey Wright (as Muddy Waters) and Bill Simms, Jr. - Country Blues
Beyoncé Knowles (as Etta James) - All I Could Do Is Cry
Mos Def (as Chuck Berry) - No Particular Place To Go
Eamonn Walker (as Howlin' Wolf) - Smokestack Lightnin'
Jefferey Wright (as Muddy Waters) - I'm a Man
Clarence "Frogman" Henry - Ain't Got No Home / Ain't Got No Home: The Best of Clarence "Frogman" Henry [Cliff's Pick]

First Break

Beyoncé Knowles (as Etta James) - At Last
Terrence Blanchard - Radio Station
Columbus Short (as Little Walter) - My Babe
Jefferey Wright (as Muddy Waters) - I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
Elvis Presley - My Babe
Mos Def (as Chuck Berry) - Maybellene
Soul 7 and Kim Wilson - Juke
Little Walter - Last Night

Second Break

Howlin' Wolf - Forty Four / Moanin' In the Moonlight [from Farmer Ted to J.Weezy]
Little Milton - Blues Get Off My Shoulder / If Walls Could Talk
John Lee Hooker - In the Mood / The Real Folk Blues
Willie Mabon - Seventh Son / Mr. I-Don't-Know Man
Pigmeat Markham - Here Comes the Judge / Here Comes the Judge
Otis Rush - I Can't Quit You Baby / The Devil's Rejects OST
Jimmy McCracklin - Hurt Me / Jimmy McCracklin Sings
Jody Williams - What Kind of Gal Is That? /Chess Blues Guitar, Vol. 1 (V/A)

Third Break

Bo Diddley - Look At My Baby / Road Runner: The Chess Masters 1959-1960
Blue Smitty - Date Bait / House Rockin' Blues (V/A)
Jimmy Witherspoon - When I Been Drinkin' / Jazz Me Blues: The Best of Jimmy Witherspoon
Hound Dog Taylor - Watch Out / The Hound
Sugar Pie DeSanto - Blues Hall of Fame / Refined Sugar
B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone / The Ultimate Collection

You know the business ... send us your requests. Until next week ... stay positive.

Shoeless

'Sup Finals?

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 - You're Never Gonna Sleep Again!

At a time like finals week, a guy like me sure does question why people break their backs for a college degree. They sure don't make it easy ... ha. I'm not complaining, though. College has been the greatest time of my entire life. And to be honest, I wasn't particularly looking forward to driving to and from the studio after back-to-back-to-back-to-back sleepless nights, but as you do time and time again, you guys absolutely made it exciting to be there. As soon as I step in the studio, my cares, my stresses, and my responsibilities just vanish, even if only for that sweet, fleeting moment. We were on the phone during just about the whole show, it seemed like, and those calls made this one of my favorite nights to date. Thank you so much for the kind words, Hot'Lanta - they go miles and miles and miles. I swear, man, Johnny and I are living the dream - this job is awesome.

Here's the set:

Intro
Jimi Hendrix - Catfish Blues / Blues [Cliff's Pick: Super Special Belated Birthday Edition]
Neal Pattman - Momma Whoopin' Blues / Prison Blues
Tom Waits - Filipino Box Spring Hog / Mule Variations [for Uncle Milo]
Slim Fatz - Fly Away / Hard Time Ago
Magic Slim - Highway Is My Home / Highway Is My Home

First Break

Pink Anderson - Weeping Willow Blues / Carolina Bluesman, Vol. 1
T-Bone Walker - Stormy Monday / T-Bone Blues [for Chris]
Willie Hudson - It's You I'm Going To Miss / Meat and Gravy From Bea and Baby (V/A)
John Dee Holeman and Taj Mahal - Give Me Back My Wig / Bull Durham Blues
Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning / Smokestack Lightning
Jimmy Reed - Bright Lights, Big City / Tuesday's Just As Bad (V/A)
Willie King - Betty's Place / I Am the Blues

Second Break

Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis - Crying Won't Make Me Stay / Modern Chicago Blues (V/A)
Dinah Washington - Long John Blues / The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury
Mississippi John Hurt - Nobody's Dirty Business / Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 OKeh Recordings [for David]
Black Cat Bones - Death Valley Blues / Barbed Wire Sandwich
Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and Junior Mance - Talkin' 'Bout Women Obviously / Buddy & the Juniors

Third Break

Lightnin' Slim - Hoodoo Blues (aka Voodoo Blues) / High and Low Down
Robert Wilkins - That's No Way To Get Along / The Original Rolling Stone
The Allman Brothers Band - It's Not My Cross To Bear / The Allman Brothers Band [for Pappy Mahan]
Lightnin' Hopkins - Bald Headed Woman / Texas Blues
The Sultans - Lemon Squeezing Daddy / Vocal Groups: Classic Doo Wop (V/A)
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Bad Boys Blues / Skynyrd Collectybles

I love this job as much or more than I did the very first time I sat down at the mic ... and you guys are a huge part of that. Until next week, stay positive.

Shoeless

Dancin' With the Devil

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 - Pleased To Meet You ... Won't You Guess My Name?

This past Saturday night I had the distinct privilege of sitting down with Eagles of Death Metal frontman (and boogie extraordinaire) Jesse "Boots Electric" Hughes. Now, this guy has a lot of nicknames - and a reputation that certainly precedes him ... look him up - but perhaps the most persistent one is "The Devil" (though for a guy with such an evil nickname, he sure is nice).



Mr. Hughes, whose earliest nickname in rock 'n roll was, in fact, "The Devil," offered phenomenal insight into the importance of the blues during the course of our interview. It was certainly a privilege to enjoy the company of a fellow bluesman, especially one who spreads the gospel at many a crossroads. He even went so far as to quip, when asked what he pictured himself doing in thirty years, that he intends to still be rockin' because he "hope[s] [he] made the right deal with the Devil." Rock 'n roll star or not, Jesse Hughes is either one of the genuinely nicest people I've ever met in my entire life or wears the finest dramatis personæ to which I have ever born witness. In addition, he and the boys in Eagles of Death Metal put on a tremendous, razor-sharp ninety minutes of rock 'n roll done right, stopping between songs only to laud the audience and lean down and kiss girls on the mouth, and even covering the Stones' "Brown Sugar" (which became funny during the interview, as Hughes, a self-admitted "Rolling Stones fanatic," detailed how he, when writing EoDM tunes, was "ripping off Keith Richards harder than Keith Richards"). The conversation went far beyond standard interview fare - we discussed politics, women, family, our mothers, his famous friends, the new Harvey Milk record, life on the road, Dixie, having kids, politics, and the illustrious Claremont Lounge, which he and his bandmates then went onward to frequent. He was charming, eloquent, energetic, and inviting, and I suggest you all go out and buy his new record Heart On because it rules. I'm not getting paid to say any of this, as a disclaimer - I'm a huge fan of the band and I even went so far as to get Jesse to sign my copy of their 2004 debut Peace Love Death Metal (a record from which we've played a number of tracks).

Well, in the spirit of all that electricity, and in spite of the holiday season being upon us, I decided to dedicate a whole show to perhaps the most notorious character in the history of music - the Devil. You know, that guy everyone loves to hate. Now don't get all "People v. Marilyn Manson (Circa 1997)" on me ... in no way do we condone Satanism. Don't call up the fine people at WRAS and tell them about the Satanist propaganda being blasted over the airwaves. Instead, try not being an idiot.

For those of you who actually enjoy just having a good time, here's the set:

Intro
[Jesse Hughes interview excerpt]
Dock Boggs - Sugar Baby [by request of Jesse Hughes]
Eagles of Death Metal - Kiss the Devil / Peace Love Death Metal
Skip James - Devil Got My Woman / Devil Got My Woman
Robert Johnson - Me and the Devil Blues / Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings (Box Set)
Otis Spann - I'd Rather Be the Devil / Take Me Back Home
Charley Patton - Devil Sent the Rain Blues / Founder of the Delta Blues

First Break

Almanac Singers - Get Thee Behind Me, Satan / Which Side Are You On?
JD Duvall - Up Jumped the Devil / Bathe In the Light
John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat - Burning Hell / Hooker 'n Heat
Washboard Sam - She Belongs To the Devil / She Belongs To the Devil: An Anthology 1936-47
Sister Rosetta Tharpe - The Devil Has Thrown Him Down / The Complete Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Vol. 2 - 1942-1944
Bessie Smith - Blue Spirit Blues / Blue Spirit Blues
Junior Walker and the All-Stars - Satan's Blues / The Ultimate Collection
Fats Waller - There's Going To Be the Devil To Pay / Sugar Blues
Tom Waits - Everything Goes To Hell / Blood Money

Second Break

Buddy Guy - She Got the Devil In Her / Sweet Tea
Bo Carter - Old Devil / Bo Carter's Advice
Boo Boo Davis - We're In Hell / East St. Louis
Whitey Morgan and the Waycross Georgia Farmboys - Runnin' With the Devil / Sucking the 70's: Back In the Saddle Again (V/A)
Peetie Wheatstraw - Devil's Son-In-Law / The Devil's Son-In-Law
Sonny Boy Williamson (I) - I Have Been Dealing With the Devil / Sugar Mama
Mary James - Make the Devil Leave Me Alone / Field Recordings, Vol. 8: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama (1934-1947) (V/A)

Third Break

Blind Willie Johnson - Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground / Dark Was the Night
Johnny Shines - Two Steps To Hell / Mr. Cover Shaker
Cactus - Evil / Restrictions
The Kansas City Six - Pagin' the Devil / Lester Young, Volume 1: 1937-1939
Powder River Jack and Kitty Lee - Tying a Knot In the Devil's Tail / Back In the Saddle Again: American Cowboy Songs (V/A)
Bo-Weavil Jackson - Devil & My Brown Blues / Bullfrog Blues (V/A)
Fleetwood Mac - Hellhound On My Trail / Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac
Maylene and the Sons of Disaster - Just Wanted To Make Mother Proud / Maylene and the Sons of Disaster

More great things coming your way in the future ... enjoy your Thanksgiving! Until next week ... stay positive.

Shoeless

Awwwwww ...

Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - Loverboy's Blues

Man, am I really old enough for my friends to be getting married? A proposal this month, a wedding the next ... what's a guy to do? Listen to the blues? Sounds good to me. Here's the set:

Intro
The White Stripes - Ball & Biscuit / Elephant [for Collin and Marissa <3]
T-Model Ford - Jack Daniel Time / Jack Daniel Time [for Uncle Milo]
Roger "Hurricane" Wilson - After Hours / Exodus
Little Brother Montgomery - Mini Skirt Blues / At Home
Cephas & Wiggins - Dog Days of August / Richmond Blues
John Kosco and Lee Richards - Reefer Headed Woman / Unreleased [for Hunter]

First Break

Robert Nighthawk and Forrest City Joe - Sugar Papa / Robert Nighthawk and Forrest City Joe
Lightnin' Slim - That's All Right / That's All Right
Howlin' Wolf - Sittin' On Top of the World / The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions
Mick Jagger and the Red Devils - Still a Fool / The Famous Blues Session
Lurrie Bell - Honey Bee / 700 Blues
Ten Years After - I Woke Up This Morning / Ssssh.

Second Break

Big Joe Williams - Peach Orchard Mama / Piney Woods Blues [from Blind John to Laine]
Dinah Washington - Long John Blues / The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury
Robert Cray - Too Many Cooks / Who's Been Talkin'?
Wilbert Jenkins - Married Woman Blues / Modern Chicago Blues
Southside Jukes - Atlanta Blues / Cool, Cool Place To Go
Leon Russell - Dixie Lullaby / Leon Live
Precious Bryant - You Can Have My Husband / The Truth
Moreland & Arbuckle - Wrong I Do / 1861

Third Break

Papa John Creach - Give Me An Hour In Your Garden (And I'll Show You How To Plant a Rose) / Filthy!
Alberta Hunter - Sweet Georgia Brown / Amtrak Blues
Jimi Hendrix - Jelly 292 / Blues
Burning Plague - She Went Riding / Burning Plague

Pleasure as always, guys! Until next week ... stay positive.

Shoeless

Flatline

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

After two insanely huge weeks, it was pretty nice to kick back and just relax a little bit. Most of the selections fared pretty well in that department, and made for great ambiance while reading. I love being in the studio, no matter how tired I am. School is really grinding away at Johnny and I (as much as or more so than we're grinding away at it), so it's as good a thing as any, as good friends, to be able to sit still for a fixed two hours every single week and stay caught up - you know, get our feet under us a little bit. So what if it's in the middle of the night?! We do this for the love of the game. Here's the set:

Intro
Champion Jack Dupree - I'm a Doctor For Women / Rum and Cola Blues
The All-Stars feat. Jeff Beck - Steelin' / Guitar Boogie
Jessie Mae Hemphill - Standing In My Doorway Crying / She-Wolf
Magic Slim - Country Girl / Highway Is My Home
Professor Louie - Some Bad News / Century of the Blues

First Break

John Lee Hooker - Crawlin' King Snake / King of the Boogie [Cliff's Pick]
Sunnyland Slim - Drinking and Clowning / Meat and Gravy From Bea and Baby
Tom Waits - Chocolate Jesus / Mule Variations
Guitar Gabriel - Miss You Like the Devil / Deep In the South
Five Horse Johnson - Mississippi King / The No. 6 Dance
Jimmy Johnson - When My First Wife Quit Me / Bar Room Preacher
Wyonie Harris - Keep On Churnin' ('Til the Butter Comes) / R&B Hits 1952

Second Break

Hound Dog Taylor - Blue Guitar / Genuine Houserocking Music
Son House - Grinnin' In Your Face / The Original Delta Blues
Big Boy Spires - One of These Days / Drop Down Mama
Mark Lanegan - I'll Take Care of You / I'll Take Care of You
Algia Mae Hinton - When You Kill the Chicken Save Me the Head / Honey Babe
Jesse Fuller - Memphis Boogie / Jazz, Folk Songs, Spirituals, & Blues [for Uncle Milo!]
T-Model Ford - Can't Be Touched / Pee-Wee Get My Gun [for Uncle Milo again!]
The White Stripes - Your Southern Can Is Mine / De Stijl
Byther Smith - Look Over Your Shoulder / All Night Long

Third Break

The Allman Brothers Band - Hot 'Lanta / At Fillmore East [for Elrod]
Muddy Waters - Who's Gonna Be Your Sweet Man When I'm Gone / The London Muddy Waters Session
Victoria Spivey - Hollywood Stomp / Moaning the Blues
T-Bone Walker - She's My Old Time Used To Be / The Complete Capitol-Black & White Recordings
B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix - It's My Own Fault / The Kings' Jam [High Note]

I'm still looking for a good place to find cheap coffee that isn't awful, and any suggestions are certainly more than welcome. Other than that, thanks for tuning in, and you know we love you. Until next week, stay positive!

Shoeless

Red, White, and Blues

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - One Nation Under the Blues

Last night was exciting ... we were part of history, after all! Here's the set:

Intro
Sunnyland Slim - Be Careful How You Vote / Be Careful How You Vote
David "Honeyboy" Edwards - Things Gonna Be Alright / Honeyboy Edwards: Mississippi Delta Bluesman
J.B. Lenoir - Eisenhower Blues / Eisenhower Blues
Koko Taylor - Separate or Integrate / Wang Dang Doodle
Cream - Politician / Wheels of Fire [for Pappy Mahan]
Chuck Berry - Back In the USA / Blues Berry

First Break

Magic Slim - Fannie Mae / Grand Slam
Eddie Vinson - Things Ain't What They Used To Be / Cleanhead Blues
Jimmy Witherspoon - Times Gettin' Tougher Than Tough / Ain't Nobody's Business
B.B. King - Recession Blues / The King of the Blues
B.B. King - Paying the Cost To Be the Boss / Best of B.B. King: 20th Century Masters
Fenton Robinson - Somebody Loan Me a Dime / Somebody Loan Me a Dime
Roosevelt Sykes - We Can Sell That Thing / '44' Blues
Robert Cray - When the Welfare Turns Its Back On You / Who's Been Talkin'

Second Break

Whispering Smith - It's All Over / Over Easy
Willie Dixon - Mellow Down Easy / Little Red Rooster
Johnny Young - My Baby Walked Out In 1954 / Modern Chicago Blues
Taste - Railway and Gun / On the Boards
Hattie Hart - I Let My Daddy Do That / Introduction To the Blues, Volume 1
Willie Williams - Somebody Changed the Lock / Meat and Gravy From Bea and Baby
Mississippi Fred McDowell - When I Lay My Burden Down / Mississippi Blues
John Mayall - Mr. James / Looking Back
Peetie Wheatstraw - Drinking Man Blues / The Devil's Son-In-Law

Third Break

Wyonie Harris - Hurry, Hurry / Around the Clock Blues
Sonny Boy Williamson II - It's Sad To Be Alone / Nine Below Zero
Lightnin' Slim - Good Morning Heartaches / High and Low Down
Piano Red - Everyday I Have the Blues / Live and Feelin' Good
Guitar Shorty and Otis Grand - Kick Out / Blues Guitar Duels
Victoria Spivey - Hollywood Stomp / Moaning the Blues
Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Constipation Blues / ... What That Is! [High Note]

Word to the wise: it's time to learn to love your fellow man. GOD BLESS AMERICA! Until next week, as always, stay positive.

Shoeless

Spook-tacular

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - Do Zombies Get the Blues?

HAPPY EARLY HALLOWEEN FROM THE CROSSROADS! We had a blast last night and we hope you did, too. Here's the set:

Intro
Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Put a Spell On You / Blues Shouter
Bobby "Boris" Pickett - Monster Mash / The Original Monster Mash
Sheb Wooley - Purple People Eater / Elvira's Vinyl Macabre: Oldies but Ghoulies
Clarence Brewer - Halloween Blues / King Clarentz
B.B. King - Haunted House / One Kind Favor
Muddy Waters - Caldonia / The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album [Cliff's Pick]

First Break

Buddy Guy - I Got a Strange Feeling / Stone Crazy
Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited / Highway 61 Revisited
Bobby "Blue" Bland - St. James Infirmary / Standing Pat: The St. James Infirmary Blues Appendix
Carolina Slim - Ain't It Sad / Carolina Slim
Ozella Jones - I Been a Bad, Bad Girl (Prisoner Blues) / Field Recordings, Vol. 7: Florida
Mance Lipscomb - Joe Turner Killed a Man / You Got To Reap What You Sow
Magic Slim - Something More / Highway Is My Home
Harmonica Frank Floyd - Sitting On Top of the World / The Missing Link

Second Break

Erja Lyyntinen - Dreamland Blues / Dreamland Blues
Burning Plague - A .38 / Burning Plague
Boogie Woogie Red - Blues For My Baby / Detroit After Hours, Vol. 1
Johnny Winter - Mean Town Blues / The Progressive Blues Experiment [for Steve]
Dustin Kensrue - I Believe / Please Come Home [from Blind John to Laine]
Eddie "The Chief" Clearwater - Walking Through the Park / West Side Strut

Third Break

Elvin Bishop - Yonder's Wall / The Blues Rolls On
Jeff Beck Group - I Ain't Superstitious / Truth [for the "Jeff Beck Lover" guy]
Arelean Brown - I Love My Man / Meat and Gravy From Bea and Baby
Whispering Smith - I Know You Don't Love Me / Over Easy
Fenton Robinson - Checking On My Woman / Somebody Loan Me a Dime
Pink Floyd - Just Another Twelve Bar / Smoking Blues

By the time we next meet at the Crossroads, the presidential polls will have closed ... so this is our charge to you: whether male or female, black or white, young or old, conservative or liberal, PLEASE vote. Don't get caught up in the politics (no pun intended) or the media hype ... just do some research, and vote for someone you like. It's worth standing in line, I promise. It's time for this great country of ours to come together.

Until next week ... stay positive.

Shoeless

Mildly Wild (or Wildly Mild)

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - Things Are Not Always What They Seem

I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to get to play a thrash metal band on a blues show. Here at the Crossroads, we're breaking down barriers every week ... haha. Here's the set:

Intro
Fenton Robinson - Texas Flood / Somebody Loan Me a Dime
Robert Cray - Sleeping In the Ground / Who's Been Talkin'?
Slim Harpo - Blues Hang-over / I'm a King Bee: The Early Swamp Blues Classics
Eddie Boyd - Blue Monday Blues / Meat and Gravy From Bea and Baby
Danny Glover - Goin' Down Slow / Honeydripper (OST)
The Allman Brothers Band - Jelly Jelly / Brothers and Sisters [Cliff's Pick]

First Break

Son Seals - Last Night / Live and Burning
Leadbelly - What Can I Do To Change Your Mind? / Recorded In Concert, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, June 15, 1949
Albert King - Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven / Lovejoy
Freddie King - Help Me Through the Day / The Best of Freddie King
Bobby "Blue" Bland - Stormy Monday Blues / Ask Me 'Bout Nothing (But the Blues) [for Elrod]
Wyonie Harris - I Gotta Lyin' Woman / Around the Clock Blues
Blind Boy Fuller - I Want Some of Your Pie / Get Your Ya Yas Out

Second Break

Mance Lipscomb - Baby Don't You Lay It On Me / You'll Never Find Another Man Like Mance
Willie Williams - .38 Woman / Meat and Gravy From Bea and Baby
Burning Plague - Life Is Nonsense / Burning Plague
Chick Willis - Something To Remember You By / Stoop Down Baby ... Let Your Daddy See
Blind Lemon Jefferson - Black Snake Moan / Black Snake Moan
The White Stripes - Stop Breaking Down (Live on BBC Radio 1, Evening Session) / B-Sides Collection

Third Break

Peppermint Harris - Sinner's Prayer / Being Black Twice
Buster Benton - Money Is the Name of the Game / Jewel Spotlights the Blues, Volume 2
L.C. McKinley - Sharpest Man In Town / "Nit Wit" Single (1959)
Bob "Catfish" Hodge - Tradition / Get Down
Muddy Waters - She's Nineteen Years Old / The Anthology 1947-1972
Little Milton - Losin' Hand / Welcome To the Club
Elvis Presley - Baby What You Want Me To Do (Live) / Live in Las Vegas
GWAR - Don't Need a Man / Carnival of Chaos [for Jeff ... AWESOME]

(Yes, you read that correctly ... GWAR. As in these guys:)















Hope you enjoyed yourselves. Always a pleasure spending time with you ladies and gents. Until next week ... stay positive.

Shoeless

To Our Pappy

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - Saying Goodbye (Both To a Legend and the Recession Blues)

I hadn't originally intended the exact set that was played last night, for obvious reasons. The only "theme" I had at all was playing a few songs about money and/or the economy, and that wasn't even enough to fill the whole first set; therefore, we were just playing the blues after that. Not long before we went on the air, however, Scarlett O'Sara gave wind of the passing of Pappy Mahan's pappy, and I figured that as loyal as he's been to the Crossroads, we should be loyal right back. Almost the entire third set is dedicated to Grandpappy Mahan, lover of the hillbilly blues. Here's the set:

Intro
Bob "Catfish" Hodge - 300-Pound Fat Mama / Get Down
The White Stripes - Little Room / White Blood Cells
B.B. King - Recession Blues / King of the Blues
Buddy Guy - Money / A Man and the Blues
Furry Lewis and Frank Stokes - I Will Turn Your Money Green / Beale Street Blues
Jimmy Cotton - There Must Be a Panic On / Meat and Gravy From Bea and Baby
Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch, and Allison Krauss - Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby / O Brother, Where Art Thou? OST
Albert King - Born Under a Bad Sign / Born Under a Bad Sign [Cliff's Pick]

First Break

Ike and Tina Turner - I Smell Trouble (Live) / Sing the Blues
Leadbelly - Alberta / Alabama Bound
Otha Turner - Station Blues / From Senegal To Senatobia
Fenton Robinson - Directly From My Heart To You / Somebody Loan Me a Dime
AC/DC - Go Down / Let There Be Rock

Second Break

[The following six tracks are from the compilation Hillbilly Blues and are dedicated to the late, great Grandpappy Mahan ... rest in peace, brother.]
Norman Phelps' Virginia Rounders - Atlanta Blues
Clarence Ashley and Gwen Foster - Times Ain't Like They Used To Be
Jess Hillard - Doggone Them Blues
Nations Brothers - Bankhead Blues
Shelton Brothers with Curly Fox - I'm Sitting On Top of the World
Hartman's Heart Breakers - Give It To Me, Daddy
---------------------------------------------
Elvis Presley - Reconsider Baby / Reconsider Baby
Singin' Sam - My Story / Meat and Gravy From Bea and Baby
Bo Diddley - I Am Looking For a Woman / Bo Diddley's a Roadrunner

Third Break

Elmo Williams and Hezekiah Early - Hoopin' and Hollerin' / Takes One To Know One
Blues Queen Sylvia - Can't Get Along / Midnight Baby
Cream - Spoonful (Live at the Fillmore) / Wheels of Fire

Thanks for all the calls this week! By the way, the beverage I couldn't mention on-air was a Dr. Pepper (of the 52 0z. fountain variety from QuikTrip) ... fun fact. If you take one thing away from this week's show, let it be us reminding you to enjoy life while you've got it - you never know when your show will end. Rest in peace, Grandpappy

Until next week, stay positive.

Shoeless

The Bird's the Word

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 - "Was that the Black Lips you just played ... ?"

I'll keep it brief: thanks for letting us have so much fun week in and week out. We love you guys. Here's the set:

Intro
The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird / Surfin' Bird
Buddy Guy - First Time I Met the Blues / First Time I Met the Blues
Algia Mae Hinton - Going Down This Road / Honey Babe
Big Joe Williams - Stack O' Dollars / Baby Please Don't Go
Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan - Ask Me No Questions / In Session [Cliff's Pick]
Otis Spann - I Came From Clarksdale / The Blues of Otis Spann

First Break

The Black Keys - The Breaks/Run Me Down / The Big Come Up [for Million Mile Matt]
Henry Thomas - Old Country Stomp / Ragtime Texas: Complete Recorded Works 1927 to 1929
The Allman Brothers Band - It's Not My Cross To Bear / The Allman Brothers Band [from Elrod to Stephanie]
Robert Cray - If You're Thinkin' What I'm Thinkin' / Who's Been Talkin' [for Chuck]
Muddy Waters - The Same Thing / Electric Mud

Second Break

Brownie McGhee - Million Lonesome Women / The Complete Brownie McGhee
Steppenwolf - Hoochie Coochie Man / Steppenwolf
Mercy Dee Walton - After the Fight / A Pity and a Shame
Howlin' Wolf - Streamline Woman / The Wolf
Janis Joplin - Maybe / Greatest Hits (1973) [for Pappy Mahan]
Sonny Boy Williamson - Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide / The Essential Sonny Boy Williamson
Victoria Spivey - Dirty TB Blues / Moaning the Blues
Five Horse Johnson - Hollerin' / The No. 6 Dance

Third Break

Peg Leg Howell - Broke and Hungry Blues
The White Stripes - Sugar Never Tasted So Good / The White Stripes
Whispering Smith - Mojo Hand / Over Easy
John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat - Whiskey & Wimmin /Hooker 'n Heat
The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Red House (Extended Version) / Blues Giants: The Essential Songbook

Send us your requests for next week! With the cold coming on, it's high time for the blues. Until we meet again at the Crossroads, my friends, stay positive.

Shoeless

Wingin' It

Wednesday, October 1, 2008 - Improv Night (and not in the good, funny comedy club way ...)

The great irony of technology is that, in being something man has created to be perfect, it is naturally full of flaws. I suppose that, too, is the irony of logic. Nevertheless, technology's demons reared their ugly heads on us last night and we had to roll with the punches. I won't say that I've officially un-endorsed iTunes, but I will be more circumspect from here onward in terms of my software usage. Thank goodness for other free, open-source media players ... I don't know what we would've done without backup. I'm taking this as something cosmic: I've used technology as a crutch for far too long. perhaps it's time to re-learn the thrill of enjoying music the way it's always been done: NATURALLY. [HINT: BUY VINYL BUY VINYL BUY VINYL BUY VINYL BUY VINYL BUY VINYL] Anyway, my apologies for the diatribe. Here's the set:

Intro
Hound Dog Taylor - The Sun Is Shining / Genuine Houserocking Music
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson - I Trusted You (But You Double-Crossed Me) / Cherry Red Blues
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood / Texas Flood [for Murphy]
John Lee Hooker and Canned Heat - Burning Hell / Hooker 'n Heat
Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train A-Comin' (Acoustic) / Blues [Cliff's Pick]
Seasick Steve and the Level Devils - Fallen off a Rock / Dog House Music

First Break

Led Zeppelin - Since I've Been Loving You / Led Zeppelin III
Albert Collins - When the Welfare Turns Its Back / Ice Pickin'
[the rest of this set is by request, for Uncle Milo]:
Freddie King - Big Legged Woman / King of the Blues
Jesse Fuller - Brownskin Girl I Got My Eye On You / San Francisco Blues
T-Model Ford - Look What All You Got / You Better Keep Still

Second Break

Koko Taylor - What Came First, The Egg or the Hen? / What It Takes: The Chess Years [for Mahan]
The Allman Brothers Band - One Way Out (Live at the Fillmore) / Eat a Peach [for Elron]
Albert King - You Threw Your Love on Me Too Strong / Years Gone By
Johnny Jenkins - Rollin' Stone (feat. Duane Allman) / Ton-Ton Macoute!
ZZ Top - Apologies To Pearly / Rio Grande Mud
Charlie Sayles - Baby You Done Wrecked My Life / The Raw Harmonica Blues

Third Break

Byther Smith - Tell Me How You Like It / Tell Me How You Like It
Buddy Guy, Junior Mance, and Junior Wells - Rock Me Mama / Buddy and the Juniors
Hot Shot Willie (Blind Willie McTell) - Searching the Desert For the Blues / Statesboro Blues
The Marshall Tucker Band - Everyday I Have the Blues (Live*) / The Marshall Tucker Band (Reissue)
[*Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, September 26, 1973 - Opening for the Allman Brothers]

Thanks for bearing with us! We'll be back 100% ready to rock next week ... I promise. Until then, stay positive.

Shoeless

To Be the Best, You Must Beat the Best ...

... And you just can't beat Album 88, suckas!

We've just received word that WRAS-Atlanta was voted "Best Overall Radio Station" by both the critics and the readers in Creative Loafing's "Best of Atlanta 2008." Pretty sweet!

You can check out that article here.

ALL YOUR RADIO ARE BELONG TO US. (Pop culture reference? Anyone? No? Okay. haha)

Shoeless

Prepare To Be Dazzled

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - "If I Can't Dazzle You With Brilliance, I'll Baffle You With B.S."

I honestly wish we could share with you all the magic we experience while in the studio. It's always a rollicking good time just between the two of us bantering, playing air guitar, and bemoaning the fact that we haven't slept in four days, but the addition of friends, fellow WRAScals, and callers aplenty (some odder than others) all combine for an absolutely, insatiably joyful time to be had by all, especially Johnny and I. The aforementioned quote is from Pappy Mahan, a regular caller and extended member of our 'Roads family. We were so delirious by the time he called that I laughed (hysterically) at his (highly quotable) antics. His call was one among many that we received last night - the phone was ringing off the hook with requests (some of which I have yet to fill amidst all our scrambling, but I will get to) and all sorts of fun, friendliness, and conversation. I said it after our first show and it still holds true: the communal experience here is absolutely unparalleled. The Crossroads and WRAS communities are truly, truly something to behold. That said, thank you again, and I can't wait for next week. I know Johnny feels the same ... I just hope he survives his grueling schedule. It's a tough life when you're Blind John Johnson. The work just never ends. Here's the set:

Intro
The Amboy Dukes - Baby Please Don't Go / The Amboy Dukes
Sonny Boy Williamson II - Lonesome Cabin / Nine Below Zero
Mark Lanegan - On Jesus' Program / I'll Take Care of You
Robert Nighthawk - The Moon Is Rising / Bricks In My Pillow
Whispering Smith - I Don't Need No Woman / Over Easy
R.L. Burnside - Peaches / First Recordings [for our main man Bryce ... we <3 QCS]
Muddy Waters - Iodine In My Coffee / Audio Archives (Collector's Edition) [Cliff's Pick]

First Break

The Black Keys - Countdown / The Big Come Up
Champion Jack Dupree - Bad Whisky and Bad Women / Junker's Blues
Five Horse Johnson - So Low / Fat Black Pussy Cat
Elmore James - Person To Person / Dust My Broom
Tom Waits - Black Market Baby / Mule Variations [for Jeff]
Led Zeppelin - I Can't Quit You Baby / Led Zeppelin I [for that guy who called in and asked who performed this song ... these guys did it fairly well, I'd say ...]
Memphis Slim - Big Bertha / Volume II

Second Break

James Cotton - Coast Blues / Cut You Loose!
Luther Allison - Bad News Is Coming / Bad News Is Coming
JJ Grey and Mofro - She Don't Know / Orange Blossom
Mississippi Joe Callicott - Come Home To Me Baby / Ain't a Gonna Lie To You
The Allman Brothers Band - Stormy Monday / At Fillmore East

Third Break

Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup - Crazy House Blues / Crudup's Mood
The Yardbirds - Smokestack Lightning (Live) / The Very Best Of [for Lincoln]
John Lee Hooker - Bluebird / Free Beer and Chicken
B.B. King - Lucille / Lucille

Again, thanks for tuning in! See you next week. Until then, stay positive.

Shoeless

"Do You Know Where You Is, Boy?"

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - The Most Fun We've Had So Far

Intro
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Mississippi Kid / Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
J.B. Hutto and the Hawks - Too Much Alcohol / Chicago: The Blues Today!
ZZ Top - Mushmouth Shootin' / Rio Grande Mud [for Brian]
Blind Lemon Jefferson - Dry Southern Blues / The Best of Blind Lemon Jefferson
Junior Kimbrough - You're Gonna Find Your Mistake / God Knows I Tried
Jeff Beck Group - Blues De Luxe / Truth [also for Brian]
Lightnin' Slim - The Things I Used To Do / High and Low Down [Cliff's Pick]

First Break

Janis Joplin - Ball and Chain (Live at the Monterey Pop Festival, June 17, 1967) / Cheap Thrills [for Uncle Milo]
Sunnyland Slim - Have a Good Day Now / Be Careful How You Vote
The Black Crowes - Sometimes Salvation / The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
Little Milton - Blue Monday / Walkin' the Back Streets

Second Break

Little Walter - Ah'w Baby / Boss Blues Harmonica
B.B. King - No Money No Luck / Lucille
Elmo Williams and Hezekiah Early - Natchez Fire / Takes One To Know One
Tom Waits - Jesus Gonna Be Here / Bone Machine
Chuck Berry - Deep Feeling / After School Session
The White Stripes - China Pig / The B-Sides Collection
The Rolling Stones - Parachute Woman / Beggar's Banquet
Duane Allman - Goin' Down Slow / An Anthology

Third Break

Memphis Slim, Tampa Red, & Lonnie Johnson - Jelly Whippin' Blues / Bawdy Blues
Eagles of Death Metal - Chase the Devil / Death By Sexy
Wilbert Jenkins - Married Woman Blues / Modern Chicago Blues
Hound Dog Taylor - Things Don't Work Out Right / Release the Hound
Doctor Oakroot - Happy Birthday / Happy Birthday [for DEZ!]

This week was merely another exercise in being awesome, so I hope you enjoyed it. (ha) You guys are incredible and I truly cannot express what a joy it is to spend two hours a week with all of you. Send us your requests! Until next week ... stay positive.

Shoeless

Everyone Gets the Blues

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - The One With a Mini-Ode to T-Bone

So here's the scene: Johnny and I are sitting around at the studio, set long-since prepared, unwinding after a long day of backbreaking labor (read: class), and enjoying the company of Mrs. Scarlett O'Sara of Cowtipper's Delight. The phone in the studio rings, and whose voice do I hear on the other end of the line? None other than my brother T-Bone Roane (also of Tha Bomb fame), who rang the station in order to inform me that he "got the blues." My delight soon sank into dismay as I realized it wasn't the good kind - heartbreak of some kind had befallen him. T-Bone being family, I thought it necessary to try to lift his spirits by dedicating the entire first set to him, so, with the exception of this week's Cliff's Pick "Heartbreaker" (as ironically fitting as that may have been), everything up to the first break is dedicated to the legendary - the one and only - T-Bone. Here's the set:

Intro
Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel / Elvis' Golden Records
Pinetop Perkins - I'd Rather Quit Her Than Hit Her / Sweet Black Angel
Howlin' Wolf - Forty-Four / Moanin' In the Moonlight
Bo Diddley - I'm Bad / Bo Diddley (1957)
Tom Waits - The One That Got Away (Live in Bremen, Germany, April 26, 1977) / Invitation To the Blues
Led Zeppelin - Heartbreaker (Live) / BBC Sessions [Cliff's Pick]

First Break

Honeyboy Edwards - Next Time You See Me / Mississippi Delta Bluesman
Sleepy John Estes - Poor John Blues / I Ain't Gonna Be Worried No More
ZZ Top - Down Brownie / Rio Grande Mud
Muddy Waters - I Got a Rich Man's Woman / Audio Archives (Collector's Edition)
Cream - Crossroads (Live at the Fillmore) / Wheels of Fire [for Elron]
John Lee Hooker - This Is Nineteen and Fifty-Two, Baby / King of the Boogie
Earl Hooker and Junior Wells - You Sure Look Good To Me / Earl Hooker and Junior Wells

Second Break

Jeff Beck Group - I Ain't Superstitious / Truth
Albert King - You Sure Drive a Hard Bargain / King of the Blues Guitar
T-Bone Walker - The Sun Went Down / The Complete Imperial Recordings 1950-1954
Geeshie Wiley - Skinny Legs Blues / Paramount Records #12951 (March 1930)
AC/DC - Show Business / '74 Jailbreak
Hound Dog Taylor - Wild About You, Baby (Live) / Release the Hound
Hound Dog Taylor - The Dog Meets the Wolf (Live) / Release the Hound
Third Break

Koko Taylor - I'm a Little Mixed Up / What It Takes: The Chess Years [for Uncle Milo]
Robert Johnson - Little Queen of Spades / Red Hot Blues
Papa Charlie Jackson - You Put It In, I'll Take It Out / Vocalion 03048-A (Recorded November 26, 1934)
Homesick James and Snooky Pryor - It's All Over Now / Sad and Lonesome
Five Horse Johnson - Odella / The No. 6 Dance

Also, just as we were ready to head home, our computer system went on the fritz. As we scrambled to assemble regular rotation tracks, I left some jams on to play at will. If you stayed with us for that little something extra, here's that set:

Encore:
The White Stripes - Little Room / White Blood Cells
Charley Patton - Moon Going Down / Pony Blues
Chick Willis - Stoop Down Baby
Mississippi Fred McDowell - Goin' Down to the River / Mississippi Blues
Albert King and Freddie King - The Sky Is Crying (Live) / Blue on Blues
Taj Mahal - Keep Your Hands Off Her / Giant Step
Tom Waits - Fumblin' With the Blues (Live) / Invitation to the Blues
Eagles of Death Metal - Poor Doggie / Death By Sexy
Dr. Ross - Mean Old World / The Flying Eagle
Lowell Fulson - Let Me Ride In Your Automobile / I'm a Night Owl, Vol. 2
Bullmoose Jackson - I Want a Bowlegged Woman / Greatest Hits: I Want a Bowlegged Woman

See you guys next week! Until then, stay positive.

Shoeless

No Sleep 'Til Clarksdale

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - Labor of Love

Sorry if we got too silly on you guys last night ... we were absolutely loopy and on the back end of fourteen-hour days. HA, they've got us workin' like dogs! We absolutely enjoyed the set, though, and all the amazing calls. You guys really are awesome. We'll try to drink more Red Bull next week. Here's the set:

Intro
Albert King & Otis Rush - Won't Be Hanging Around No Mo (Live) / Door To Door
Jesse Fuller - Morning Blues / San Francisco Bay Blues [for Uncle Milo]
Bobby "Blue" Bland - Chains of Love / Ask Me 'Bout Nothin' (But the Blues) [for Pappy Mahan]
Muddy Waters - Mean Mistreater / Audio Archives Collector's Edition [also for Pappy, despite not being Grand Funk's version]
John Lee Hooker - Backstabbers / Mr. Lucky [Cliff's Pick]
Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers - Sitting At Home Alone / Natural Boogie

First Break

My Morning Jacket - Honest Man / At Dawn
Booker T. & the MGs - Green Onions / Green Onions
Tom Waits - Low Side of the Road / Mule Variations
The Allman Brothers Band - Statesboro Blues / At Fillmore East [for Elron]
Ry Cooder - Vigilante Man / Into the Purple Valley [for Dookie]

Second Break

Buddy Guy - She Got the Devil In Her / Sweet Tea
Jimi Hendrix - Born Under a Bad Sign / Blues
Robert Cray - I'd Rather Be a Wino / Who's Been Talkin'
Son House - Jinx Blues, Part II / The Complete Library of Congress Sessions 1941-42
Fatso Jetson - Superfrown / Cruel & Delicious

Third Break

Lightnin' Hopkins - Stool Pidgeon Blues / Lightnin' Hopkins [for Chris]
Jimmy Rogers - The World Is In a Tangle / That's All Right
Will Hoge - Woman Be Strong / The Man Who Killed Love
Jimmy McCracklin - Suffer / Everybody Rock, Let's Do It!
Etta James - W-O-M-A-N / Good Rockin' Mama
Lowell Fulson - It Took a Long Time / West Coast Blues
Sublime - Freeway Time In L.A. County Jail / Robbin' the Hood

You guys are simply awesome. E-mail us any requests and we'll see you next week - same time, same place, same sweetness. Until then, stay positive.

Shoeless

Jammin' With the King

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - B.B. King's One Kind Favor Album Release Celebration

This show was probably my favorite so far ... B.B. King is a mutual favorite of Johnny's and mine, so it only made sense to celebrate his first studio release since 2000's Riding With the King (to my knowledge, anyway, and not counting 80, the duets album released in 2005 to commemorate the King's 80th birthday). Once I heard B.B. was releasing a new album, I was chomping at the bit. Then I read that T-Bone Burnett was at the helm of this record ... and there was no question I was getting it. And to top all that off, it was a record that was going to try and capture that raw, undeniable, early 50's B.B. vibe? Come on. You'd have to be a fool not to want it. I stayed up until midnight on Monday night and bought it the second the iTunes store refreshed and it became available. See? We're fans first here at the Crossroads. The show turned out to be such a blast, and everyone seemed to really enjoy having an evening with the King as much as we did ... which makes me smile. Even Ms. Scarlett O'Sara of Cowtipper's Delight (the show on before ours) graciously drew the curtain on her show thirty minutes early so as to allow us extra time, which certainly gave a more "King-size" vibe to the evening. So when you see "Fourth Break," it's not a typo - the evening was truly that special, running from 11:30 (instead of the usual midnight) until 2.

Obviously, all songs from last night's set were by the one and only king of the blues, so I don't need to type the artist next to every song title. Other performers are noted in parentheses. Here's the set:

Intro

[All tracks from the first two sets are the new album, One Kind Favor, almost in its entirety. We didn't get to the last track "Tomorrow Night" or any of the bonus tracks that came with the version I bought on iTunes. Judging by the response to the album, I'm sure we'll be playing them soon, though, so no worries.]

See That My Grave Is Kept Clean
I Get So Weary
Get These Blues Off of Me
How Many More Years
Waiting For Your Call

First Break

My Love Is Down
The World Is Gone Wrong
Blues Before Sunrise
Midnight Blues
Backwater Blues
Sitting On Top of the World

Second Break

Forty Days and Forty Nights (with the Muddy Waters Blues Band) / Live At Ebbets Field (1973) [Cliff's Pick]
My Sweet Little Baby (with the Muddy Waters Blues Band) / Live At Ebbets Field
Driftin' Blues (with Bobby "Blue" Bland) / ... Together For the First Time ... Live! (1974)
I'll Take Care of You (with Bobby "Blue" Bland) / ... Together For the First Time ... Live!
Don't Answer the Door / Back In the Alley (1970)

Third Break

You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now / Live At the Regal (1965)
Worry, Worry / Live At the Regal
3 O'Clock Blues / Singin' the Blues (1957)
Please Love Me / Singin' the Blues
Chains and Things / Indianola Mississippi Seeds (1970)

Fourth Break

Fool / Wails (1960)
Ten Long Years (with Eric Clapton) / Riding With the King (2000)
When I'm Wrong / Now Appearing At Ole Miss (1980)
Blues With B.B. / Spotlight on Lucille (ca. 1960)

It was a pleasure. Send us your requests for next week! Until then ... stay positive.

Shoeless

FREEEEEBIIIIIIIIIRRRD!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - Back-To-School / Play Some Skynyrd!

Intro
Fleetwood Mac - Cold Black Night / Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac
Blind Willie McTell - Three Women Blues [for Uncle Milo ... missed you this week!]
Left Lane Cruiser - Big Momma / Bring Yo' Ass To the Table
Magic Sam - You Don't Have To Work / All Your Love
The Allman Brothers Band - It's Not My Cross To Bear / The Allman Brothers Band [for Pappy Mahan]
The Allman Brothers Band - Whipping Post / The Allman Brothers Band [Cliff's Pick]

First Break

Clutch - Electric Worry / From Beale Street To Oblivion [for Chandler ... haha]
Otis Rush - I Can't Quit You, Baby / So Many Roads: Live In Concert
Eric Clapton - Walkin' Blues / Unplugged
Bo Carter - My Pencil Won't Write No More / Banana In Your Fruit Basket
Led Zeppelin - The Lemon Song / Led Zeppelin II

Second Break

Ida Cox - How Can I Miss You When I've Got Dead Aim? / Complete Recorded Works Vol. 3
Ethel Waters - My Handy Man
Jeff Beck Group - I Ain't Superstitious / Truth
Magic Slim - Make My Dreams Come True / Grand Slam
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Four Walls of Raiford (undubbed demo) / Lynyrd Skynyrd (Box Set)
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Things Goin' On / Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Whiskey Rock-a-Roller (Live) / One More From the Road

Third Break

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Ain't No Good Life / Street Survivors
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Cheatin' Woman / Nuthin' Fancy
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Mr. Banker / Legend
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Bad Boys Blues / Skynyrd Collectybles

"Encore":
Etta James - All I Could Do Was Cry / At Last!

Pardon Our Progress

Our apologies for any strangeness in the layout ... we've been experimenting with different stuff, and if it looks silly at any point, it's because we're drawing from samples as we completely redesign our blog manually. It's going to be pretty sweet when it's all said and done. Stay tuned for updates.

Thanks,

The Management

Greatest Hits, Volume I

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - B-Sides and Fan Favorites

Intro
Lynyrd Skynyrd - T For Texas (Live) / One More From the Road
Howlin' Wolf - Highway 49 / The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions
T-Bone Walker - How Long Blues / T-Bone Blues [Atlantic]
Son House - Preachin' Blues / The Original Delta Blues

First Break

Etta James - Don't Cry Baby / The Definitive Etta James Collection
Bo Diddley - Pretty Thing / Bo Diddley [1959]
Cream - Rollin' and Tumblin' / Fresh Cream
Hound Dog Taylor - Blue Guitar / Genuine Houserocking Music
John Lee Hooker - Trick Bag (Shoppin' For My Tombstone) / Boom Boom [for Tim]
Bobby Bland - This Time I'm Gone For Good / Ask Me 'Bout Nothing (But the Blues)
Moose Jackson with Tiny Bradshaw's Orchestra - Big Ten-Inch Record

Second Break

Will Hoge - July Moon / The Man Who Killed Love
Led Zeppelin - Since I've Been Loving You / Led Zeppelin III
The White Stripes - Ball and Biscuit / Elephant
The White Stripes - Stop Breaking Down / The White Stripes
Love Sculpture - 3 O'Clock Blues / Blues Helping

Third Break

B.B. King - Baby Get Lost / Blues Is King
Floyd Dixon - Baby Let's Go Down To the Woods
Johnny Shines - Little Wolf
Buddy Guy - Did Somebody Make a Fool Out of You / Heavy Love
AC/DC - The Jack / High Voltage

Second Shift

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - Music For the Undead

[Disclaimer: THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BLUES.]

As you may know, the shift after ours is what we call the "graveyard shift": four hours (2-6 AM) of regular rotation music manned by one of the newbies at the stations (who we have very cleverly dubbed "graveyarders"). Long story short, the graveyarder after us was going out of town and no one could cover for him, so I offered to stay, the reason being this: any veteran (i.e. non-graveyarder) DJ who covers a graveyard shift can use it as an opportunity to "free-form;" that is, play whatever he or she wants, more or less. So, armed to the teeth with vinyl and my iPod, I did just that. For those of you who stayed with me midnight to six, I truly appreciate it. Driving home as the sun came up was quite an experience. Here's the set:

2-3 AM:
Queens of the Stone Age - God Is In the Radio / Songs For the Deaf
The Mars Volta - Cygnus ... Vismund Cygnus / Frances the Mute
Magnetic Fields - Old Fools / Distortion [for Uncle Milo]
Augustus Pablo - Braces Tower Dub / King Tubbys Meets the Rockers Uptown
Isis - Backlit / Panopticon
Minus the Bear - White Mystery / Planet of Ice
mewithoutYou - Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt / [A->B] Life
Dungen - Familj / Tio Bitar
Be Your Own Pet - Super Soaked / Get Awkward
Leaf Hound - Freelance Fiend / Growers of Mushroom
Pentagram - When the Screams Come / First Daze Here Too

3-4 AM:
Torche - Tarpit Carnivore / In Return
Black Sabbath - Jack the Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots / Paranoid
The Swans - Failure / White Light In the Mouth of Infinity [for Uncle Milo]
Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs / Bridge of Sighs
Poison the Well - Letter Thing / Versions
OutKast - Slum Beautiful / Stankonia
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion / Show Your Bones
Coheed and Cambria - The Willing Well: IV - The Final Cut / Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
He Is Legend - The Widow of Magnolia / Suck Out the Poison [cc <3]
Jay Reatard - Fluorescent Grey / Jay Reatard/Deerhunter Split 7" [by request]
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges / Evil Urges
Corrosion of Conformity - Dirty Hands Empty Pockets/Already Gone / In the Arms of God
Say Anything - The Writhing South / ... Is a Real Boy

4-5 AM:
Lamb of God - Ashes of the Wake / Ashes of the Wake
The Ocean - The City In the Sea / Aeolian
Every Time I Die - Off Broadway / Hot Damn!
Protest the Hero - Bone Marrow / Fortress
Norma Jean - Death of the Anti-Mother / The Anti-Mother
Between the Buried and Me - Ants of the Sky / Colors
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Destro's Secret / Calculating Infinity [by request]
The Showdown - From the Mouth of Gath Comes Terror / A Chorus of Obliteration
A Life Once Lost - A Rush and Siege / Hunter
The Handshake Murders - New Enemy / Usurper

5-6 AM:
Mastodon - Circle of Cysquatch / Blood Mountain
Every Time I Die - Rendez-Voodoo / The Big Dirty
Black Label Society - Suffering Overdue / The Blessed Hellride
Down - Bury Me In Smoke / NOLA
Queens of the Stone Age - Walkin' On the Sidewalks / Queens of the Stone Age
The Black Crowes - Sometimes Salvation / The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
Masters of Reality - Rabbit One / Sunrise on the Sufferbus
Mark Lanegan - Creeping Coastline of Lights / I'll Take Care of You
The Allman Brothers Band - Stormy Monday / At Fillmore East
Frank Sinatra - That's Life / That's Life
Patsy Cline - Does Your Heart Beat For Me / The Patsy Cline Collection
Portishead - Glory Box / Dummy

If you dug what I was playing, then you should check out some of the other great shows on WRAS:

Under a Rock (all things riffy) - Saturdays, 3-5 PM [website]
We're Not Gonna Take It (METAL) - Mondays, 10 PM - 12 midnight [website]

Good times, good tunes, good people ... one love.

Shoeless

Fully Staffed ... FINALLY!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - Back In Action

Intro
The Allman Brothers Band - One Way Out (Live) / Eat a Peach
R.L. Burnside - Goin' Down South / First Recordings [for Uncle Milo]
ZZ Top - Jesus Just Left Chicago / Tres Hombres [Cliff's Pick]
B.B. King - Worry, Worry, Worry / Live In Cook County Jail

First Break

Blind Blake - Police Dog Blues [for Brittany and Nick]
Muddy Waters - I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man / Electric Mud [for Drew]
Left Lane Cruiser - Amy's In the Kitchen / Bring Yo' Ass To the Table
Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers - Phillips' Theme (Live) / Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers (Deluxe Edition)
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Crossroads (Live at the Fox) / One More From the Road

Second Break

StoneRider - Ramble Down / Three Legs of Trouble
Freddie King - Big Legged Woman / King of the Blues
Little Richard - Send Me Some Lovin' / Long Tall Sally
Elmore James - Something Inside Me
Buddy Guy - Leave My Girl Alone / Stone Crazy
T-Model Ford - The Old Number / You Better Keep Still
John Lee Hooker - Queen Bee / Original Folk Blues

Third Break

Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Chile Blues / Blues [for Pappy Mahan]
Jimmy Rogers - She Loves Another Man
Otis Rush - She's a Good 'Un
Albert Collins - Baby What You Want Me To Do / Alive and Cool
J.B. Hutto - Angel Face / Pet Cream Man

Last Train Home

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - Return of the Blind Guy (read: PARTY)

Intro
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Double Trouble / Gimme Back My Bullets [ode to the Crossroads hosts]
Honeyboy Edwards - Sweet Home Chicago / Last of the Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen [for Uncle Milo]
B.B. King - How Blue Can You Get / Live In Cook County Jail
ZZ Top - Thunderbird / Fandango! [for Drew]
Son House - John the Revelator [Cliff's Pick]
Howlin' Wolf - Sittin' On Top of the World / London Sessions
Buster Benton - Born With the Blues / Spider In My Stew [for Brian]

First Break

Blind Boy Fuller - Mama Let Me Lay It On You [from Blind to Laine <3]
Champion Jack Dupree - Cabbage Greens / Junker's Blues
Chuck Berry - No Money Down
Bukka White - Where Can I Change My Clothes
Johnny Winter - Forty-Four / The Progressive Blues Experiment [for Dave]
Magic Sam - Everything Gonna Be Alright
The Doors - Cars Hiss By My Window / L.A. Woman
Eagles of Death Metal - Bag O' Miracles / Death By Sexy

Second Break

Kim Wilson - Lookin' For Trouble, Pt. II / Lookin' For Trouble [for Tracy]
Marva Wright - Bluesiana Mama / Bluesiana Mama: Queen of the Blues [for Milo, because we love him]
Louis Jordan - I'm Gonna Move To the Outskirts of Town / Caldonia
Taj Mahal - Fishin' Blues / Giant Step
Muddy Waters - Soon Forgotten
Jeff Beck Group - Blues De Luxe / Truth

Third Break

The White Stripes - Little Bird / De Stijl
Tom Waits - Filipino Box Spring Hog / Mule Variations
Eddie Boyd - Got Me Seein' Double
Jimi Hendrix - Bleeding Heart / Bleeding Heart

Everyone's Buddy

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - Buddy Guy New Album Release Celebration

Intro
Buddy Guy - Out In the Woods (feat. Robert Randolph) / Skin Deep
Buddy Guy - Every Time I Sing the Blues (feat. Eric Clapton) / Skin Deep
Buddy Guy - Show Me the Money / Skin Deep
Buddy Guy - Lyin' Like a Dog / Skin Deep

First Break

Buddy Guy - Somebody's Sleeping In My Bed / Bring 'Em In
Buddy Guy - Five Long Years / Damn Right, I've Got the Blues
Buddy Guy - First Time I Met the Blues / Stone Crazy
Buddy Guy - Tramp / Sweet Tea
Buddy Guy - I Suffer With the Blues / Stone Crazy

Second Break

Rainbow - Blues / On Stage [for Uncle Milo]
Leadbelly - Black Betty / Storyteller Blues
The Raconteurs - Top Yourself / Consolers of the Lonely
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup - Did You Get That Letter I Throwed In Your Backyard / Crudup's Mood
Fleetwood Mac - Sugar Mama / Fleetwood Mac In Chicago
Lightnin' Hopkins - Early Mornin' Blues / Lightnin' Hopkins (Everest Records FS-241)
Pinetop Perkins - Down In Mississippi (feat. B.B. King) / Pinetop Perkins & Friends

Third Break

T-Bone Walker - Blues For Marili / T-Bone Blues (Atlantic)
Mississippi John Hurt - My Creole Belle / The Best of Mississippi John Hurt
The Black Keys - Heavy Soul / The Big Come Up [for Brooke]
Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson - Somebody Done Stole My Cherry Red / Cherry Red Blues
Bobby "Blue" Bland - Fever / Ask Me 'Bout Nothing (But the Blues)
The Allman Brothers Band - Trouble No More / The Allman Brothers Band
Long John Baldry - I'm Ready / It Ain't Easy