Rockin' Behind the Iron Curtain: To Russia With Love
During the Cold War, the U.S. State Department sent jazz musicians overseas with the tactical aim of using their hot licks to thaw relations with Eastern Bloc countries. Jazz great Dave Brubeck recalls how Louis Armstrong, a.k.a. “Ambassador Satch,” won international hearts and minds with his trumpet. Band member Arvell Shaw saw Armstrong literally disarm Russian guards in East Berlin. Meanwhile, fear of nuclear war with the Soviets infiltrated American popular consciousness resulting in gospel, bluegrass, and pop odes and protests against atomic weapons. In the Sixties, the airwaves were dominated by rock’n‘roll, which pirate radio stations and the Armed Forces Network piped across the Iron Curtain. AFN soldier/deejay Rik De Lisle tells about spinning tunes that helped destabilize the Berlin Wall, and Hungarian diplomat/rock guitarist Andras Simonyi and Russian musician Stas Namin talk about life in the Soviet sphere, and the cultural revolution sparked by the Beatles, Traffic and Jimi Hendrix.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Midnight in Moscow Kenny Ball and the Jazzmen
Midnight in Moscow, Kapp Records
CONELRAD Radio Alert: 'Listen to Your Radio'
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
Rockin' Behind the Iron Curtain Bobby Marchan singing with Huey "Piano" Smith & the Clowns
The Best of Ace Records- The R&B Hits, Rock-N-Roll
Kruschev Bo Diddley
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
Civil Defense Spot: 'Don't Use the Phone' Art Linkletter
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
I'm Gonna Dig a Hole Arthur Big Boy Crudup
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
Sputniks and Mutniks Ray Anderson & The Home Folks
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
SEGMENT: Andras Simonyi
Instrumental: Mack the Knife Louis Armstrong and Lotte Lenya
Lotte Lenya: American Theater Songs, Columbia Masterworks Heritage
SEGMENT: Arvell Shaw and Dave Brubeck on Louis Armstrong
Frankfort Special Elvis Presley
G.I. Blues, RCA Victor
Magic Carpet Ride Steppenwolf
The Second, ABC Dunhill
Monk Time The Monks
Black Monk Time, Polydor
Instrumental: Time is Tight Booker T. & the MGs
Booker T. & The MGs on Stax 1968-1971, Stax
SEGMENT: Rik De Lisle
West of the Wall Toni Fisher
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
Fraulein Townes Van Zandt
The Late Great Townes Van Zandt, Tomato
Closing Bed: O'er the Waves Willie Nelson
Red Headed Stranger, Columbia
HOUR TWO
James Bond Theme Monty Norman Orchestra
The Best of James Bond, Capitol
Secret Agent Man Johnny Rivers
...And I Know You Wanna Dance, Imperial
Civil Defense Spot: 'CONELRAD, Sounds Pretty Complicated'
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
Relax and Take It Easy Tommy Duncan
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
Jesus Hits Like An Atom Bomb The Pilgrim Travellers
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
Civil Defense Spot: 'Family Fall Out Shelter' Fred McMurray
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
Guided Missiles The Cuff Links
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
You Hit Me Baby Like an Atomic Bomb Fay Simmons
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
Political Science Randy Newman
Sail Away, Reprise
Instrumental: From Russia with Love Count Basie
The Crime Scene, Capitol Records
SEGMENT: Gorky Park, Moscow 1989
Civil Defense Spot: 'Listen and Learn' Johnny Cash
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
Tennessee Carl Perkins
Atomic Platters, Bear Family
Atomic Power Uncle Tupelo
MARCH 16-20, 1992, Rockville
Eve of Destruction Barry McGuire
Eve of Destruction, Dunhill Records
Gimme Shelter Rolling Stones
Let It Bleed, London Records
Instrumental: Who Is Guilty Voskreseniye
Russian Rock Legends Vol. 2, Moroz Records
SEGMENT: Stas Namin
Where Have All the Flowers Gone Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers Rocks the Folk, Imperial
Blowin' In the Wind Staple Singers
This Land, Riverside
Closing Bed: Infinite Search Miroslav Vitous
Infinite Search, Atlantic