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AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM
SAME TRAIN A DIFFERENT TIME: JIMMIE RODGERS AND THE WHITE MAN'S BLUES
The guitarist-singer Jimmie Rodgers has been called “The Father of Country Music,” “America’s Blue Yodeler,” and “The Singing Brakeman.” Born in Meridian, MS, in 1897, Rodgers recorded briefly between 1927 and 1933, but defined country music as “the white man’s blues” with a related legacy of crooning, jazz, Hawaiian guitar and eclectic vaudeville-style entertainment. On the 70th anniversary of his death, American Routes looks at the life and legacy of Jimmie Rodgers. We’ll speak with biographer Nolan Porterfield, and hear comments from country singer Merle Haggard and bluesman John Jackson, among others. Also, music about Rodgers’ favorite subject—trains—in many styles… blues, country, soul, roots, rock and more.
HOUR ONE
- Open Bed: T for Texas (Blue Yodel #1) Jimmie Rodgers
The Singing Brakeman, Bear Family - My Blue Eyed Jane Jimmie Rodgers
The Singing Brakeman, Bear Family - Waiting For A Train Jerry Lee Lewis
Classic - Jerry Lee Lewis, Classic - Waiting For A Train Dr. John
The Brightest Smile in Town, Classic - My Good Gal's Gone Jimmie Rodgers
The Singing Brakeman, Bear Family - Everybody Does it In Hawaii King Oliver & His Orchestra
1929-30, JSP - Instrumental: Take The ‘A' Train Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson Plays The Duke Ellington Song Book, Verve - INTERVIEW: Nolan Porterfield on Jimmie Rodgers
Listen - Blue Yodel #9 Jimmie Rodgers
The Singing Brakeman, Bear Family - My Blue Eyed Jane Jimmie Rodgers
The Singing Brakeman, Bear Family - T.B. Blues Jimmie Rodgers
The Singing Brakeman, Bear Family - CLIP: Merle Haggard
- Jimmie Rodgers' Last Blue Yodel (Women Make a Fool Out of Me) Merle Haggard
Same Train, A Different Time, Capitol - Hobo Bill's Last Ride Iris Dement
The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute, Columbia - Instrumental: Train 45 1/2 Mike Auldridge
Takoma Eclectic Sampler vol-2, Takoma - Mule Skinner Blues John Jackson
Don't Let Your Deal Go Down, Arhoolie - In The Jailhouse Now Steve Earle
The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute, Columbia - SEGMENT: Yodeling
- Yodle Song-Coo Coo Eddie Heywood & The Blues Singers with Charles Anderson
Complete Recorded Works 1923-1926, Document - Yodling Blues Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings Vol.1, Columbia - Yodel Birmingham Jubilee Singers
Complete Recorded Works Vol.1 1926-1927, Document - Spaced Cowboy Sly & The Family Stone
There's a Riot Goin On, Epic - Big Boy Now Super Chicken
What You See, Fat Possum - Youyou Aleli Veka Wendo Kolosoy
Indigo Tropical Collection, Indigo - Chemirocha The Young Maidens of the Kipsigi People
- The Life of Jimmie Rodgers Gene Autry
Memories of Jimmie Rodgers, Bear Family - Jimmie the Kid Jimmie Rodgers
The Singing Brakeman, Bear Family
HOUR two
- Open Bed: Night Train Bill Doggett
Night Train Vol.3: Classic Railroad Songs, Rounder - Hobo, You Can't Ride This Train Louis Armstrong
Complete RCA Victor Recordings, BMG - Chattanooga Choo Choo Ray Charles
The Genius Hits The Road, Rhino - Waiting For The Train To Come In Peggy Lee
The Best of Miss Peggy Lee, Capitol - Rockin' In Rhythm Duke Ellington
The Centennial Edition: Complete RCA Victor Recordings 1927-1973, RCA - Take the A-Train Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys
Mystery Train: Classic Railroad Songs Vol. 2, Rounder - Night Train to Memphis Roy Acuff
The King Of Country Music, Bear Family - Instrumental: Chattanooga Choo Choo Regina Carter
Motor City Moments, Verve - Wabash Cannonball Blind Willie McTell
Last Session, Bluesville - Freight Train Boogie Whitstein Brothers
Mystery Train: Classic Railroad Songs Vol. 2, Rounder - Train of Love Johnny Cash
Complete Sun Singles Vol.2, Bear Family - Down Home Special Bo Diddley
Chess Box, MCA - Instrumental: Freight Train Boogie Johnny Otis
The Johnny Otis Rhythm & Blues Caravan-The Complete Savoy Recordings, Atlantic - Back Up Train Al Green
Master Hits, Arista - Stop That Train Bob Marley & The Wailers
Talkin' Blues, Island - Still a Fool Muddy Waters
His Best 1947 to 1955, MCA - Midnight Special Johnny Rivers
Anthology 1964-1977, Rhino - Straight On The Rails Utah Phillips
Good Though, Rounder - Life's Railway to Heaven Patsy Cline
Mystery Train: Classic Railroad Songs Vol. 2, Rounder - End Bed: This Train The Staple Singers
Freedom Highway, Columbia
