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AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM
I SWUNG THE ELECTION: MUSIC & POLITICS
All eyes are on the 2004 election. With this American Routes Music & Politics special we ask you to lend your ears to the democratic process as we bring you songs by and about politicians — including John Kerry’s high school rock band — protest music, campaign songs and more. Guests include Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia on fiddling to get elected; Cook County Commissioner and soul singer Jerry Butler discusses the difference between performance and politics; former Sec. of the Interior Stewart Udall recalls music in the Kennedy White House; and the King of Bluegrass, Jimmy Martin, wonders if we’ll have a guitar-picking president. Plus topical music from Howlin’ Wolf, Ella Fitzgerald, and The Grateful Dead. Democracy is the best sound around.
HOUR ONE
- Open Bed: Happy Days are Here Again Casa Loma Orchestra
Songs of the Depression, Bear Family - I Swung the Election Jack Teagarden
Jack Teagarden and His Orchestra, 1934-1939, Classics - Vote for Mr. Rhythm Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald, Cocktail Hour - Jordan for President Louis Jordan
Let the Good Times Roll, Bear Family - I Don't Want to Be President Percy Mayfield
His Tangerine and Atlantic Sides, Rhino - Tell Me Why You Like Roosevelt, Part 2 Otis Jackson
Roosevelt's Blues: African-American Blues and Gospel Songs on FDR, Agram Blues - CLIP: Roosevelt "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"
20th Century Time Capsule, Buddha - Franklin Roosevelt's Back Again Cox Brothers
Old Time Southern Dance Music, Old Timey - Instrumental: Stars and Stripes Forever / Sweethearts on Parade The Kalima Brothers
Legends of the Ukulele, Rhino - Every Man a King Randy Newman
Good Old Boys, Warner - CLIP: Randy Newman
- Kingfish Randy Newman
Good Old Boys, Warner - CLIP: Earl K. Long speech
- Ballad of Earl K. Long Jay Chevalier
45rpm, - Instrumental: Liberty Will Keys
A Banjo Original, County - Sales Tax Mississippi Sheiks
Roosevelt's Blues: African-American Blues and Gospel Songs on FDR, Agram Blues - Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Us All Ry Cooder
Into the Purple Valley, Warner - INTERVIEW: Senator Robert Byrd
Listen - Take the Star Out of the Window John Prine
Diamonds in the Rough, Atlantic - Sam Stone Laura Cantrell
Future Soundtrack for America, Barsuk - The Day After Tomorrow Tom Waits
Real Gone, Anti - The ‘Saint-Gaudens' in Boston Common (Excerpt #2) Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell: Have a Little Faith, Nonesuch
HOUR two
- Open Bed: "Greenfields" "You Can't Sit Down" "Yellow Jacket" The Electras
The Electras - '60s Garage Rock Band Reissue, The Electras R&R Band - INTERVIEW: Jimmy Martin
Listen - Guitar Pickin' President Jimmy Martin
Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, Bear Family - God Guide Our Leader's Hand Jimmy Martin
Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, Bear Family - Christ for President Billy Bragg and Wilco
Mermaid Avenue, Elektra - Dead Presidents Little Walter
The Essential, MCA - I Could Never Be President Johnnie Taylor
Lifetime, Stax - Instrumental: Wolverine Blues Al Hirt
Greatest Hits, Intersound - SEGMENT: Music of the Kennedy White House with Stewart Udall
Listen - I Want to Know Why James & Fannie Brewer
Can't Keep From Crying, Testament - Bobby Kennedy Corrido Lalo Guerrero
Recorded live for Folk Masters Series, - Watergate Blues Howlin' Wolf
The Back Door Wolf, MCA - CLIP: Richard Nixon Resignation Address
Great Speeches of the 20th Century, Rhino - Backlash Blues Nina Simone
Livin' in the House of Blues: Defiance Blues, House of Blues - Instrumental: The Watergate Blues Modern Jazz Quartet
Warner Jazz Les Incontournables, Warner Music France - INTERVIEW: Cook County Commissioner Jerry Butler
Listen - Long Walk to DC Staple Singers
Soul Folk in Action, Stax - Be Careful How You Vote Sunnyland Slim
Be Careful How You Vote, Earwig - U.S. Blues Grateful Dead
Mars Hotel, Grateful Dead - End Bed: Stars and Stripes Forever Eubie Blake
The Eighty-Six Years of Eubie Blake, Columbia
