Motor City Music of Detroit

American Routes cruises the musical map of Detroit, catching the sights and sounds of the Motor City. From Hamtramck to Dearborn, we’ll meet the proud people who made the cars and played the bars. Jazz modernist Yusef Lateef tells of his time on the assembly line. Smokey Robinson talks about growing up with Motown’s future stars. We’ll learn how to construct a hit record from Motown studio insiders, then visit a raccoon hunters club, known for bluegrass jams. Plus rockabilly stars, dream cars and polka bands… all from Detroit.

HOUR ONE

Open Bed: The Huckle-Buck Paul Williams and his Hucklebuckers
The R&B Box: 30 Years of Rhythm & Blues, Rhino

Motoring Martha Reeves & the Vandellas
The Best of Martha Reeves & the Vandellas: Motown Milestones, Motown

Andre Williams is Moving Andre Williams
Mr. Rhythm, Regency

SEGMENT: The Woodward Dream Cruise

Rocket 69 Todd Rhodes and Orchestra
Risque Rhythm: Nasty '50s R&B, Rhino

Henry Ford Invents Detroit Stan Freberg
Tip of the Freberg: The Stan Freberg Collection 1951-1998, Rhino

I'm Wild About Horns on Automobiles Fred Hall and His Sugar Babies
Fred Hall and His Sugar Babies, The Old Masters

SEGMENT: The Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum

Instrumental: Ahunk Ahunk Thad Jones & Mel Lewis
Blue Big Bands: A Swingin' Affair, Blue Note

SEGMENT: Smokey Robinson

My Guy Mary Wells
Motown Legends: You Beat Me To the Punch/My Guy, ESX

SEGMENT: Tony Newton and McKinley Jackson

Instrumental: Radio Gang Serenade Radio Gang
Radio Gang and Friends, Cady Did

Detroit City (I Want to Go Home) John Doe and the Sadies
Country Club, Yep Roc

Greene County, Arkansas The Old South
Greene County Arkansas, Old Homestead

SEGMENT: The Wayne County Raccoon Hunters Club

One Piece at a Time Johnny Cash
The Essential Johnny Cash, Columbia/Legacy

End Bed: Turn It On Sonny Stitt
Legends of Acid Jazz, Prestige

HOUR TWO

Open Bed: Detroit Blues Willie Williams
Pepper's Jukeboc, Numero

SEGMENT: Hamtramck Festival and Big Daddy Lackowski

SEGMENT: Johnny Powers

Little Latin Lupe Lu Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
Rev Up: The Best of Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Rhino

96 Tears (En Español) Question Mark and the Mysterians
More Action, Cavestomp!

Instrumental: D.B. Blues Kenny Burrell
Introduction Kenny Burrell, Blue Note

I Love the Way You Look Johnnie Bassett
The Gentleman is Back, Sly Dog

Bags' Groove Milt Jackson
The Blue Note Years, Blue Note

SEGMENT: Yusef Lateef

Instrumental: Down to the River James Carter
In Carterian Fashion, Atlantic

Boogie Chillen John Lee Hooker
Hooker, Shout! Factory

Motor City is Burning MC5
Thunder Express, Jungle

SEGMENT: Red's Jazz Shoe Shine Parlor

How I Got Over Aretha Franklin
Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings, Rhino

Remarks by Reverend C.L. Franklin
Amazing Grace: The Complete Recordings, Rhino

Spirit in the Dark Aretha Franklin
Spirit in the Dark, Rhino

End Bed: Jewell Praise Calvin Cooke
Heaven, Dare