Music of Healing & Elixirs: Little Freddie King, Anders Osborne, Dr. Michael White & Music Maker Relief Foundation

From healing songs and expressions of pain to hoodoo cure-alls and feel-good elixirs, we explore the musical world of sickness and health. We talk with Mississippi-born guitarist Little Freddie King about how the blues saved many of his nine lives. New Orleans songwriter and rocker Anders Osborne tells of a journey that led to self-medicating with pain relievers that do more harm than good, and his eventual recovery. Tim Duffy of the Music Maker Relief Foundation in North Carolina explains the curative properties of music on society and his work with Taj Mahal to help deep-roots musicians in need. And clarinetist Dr. Michael White talks of jazz and its role in his and New Orleans’ recovery after Katrina. Plus, medicine show troubadours hawk their tonics, Dr. John prescribes Mama Roux’s healing potions, and Huey “Piano” Smith gives us a serious case of “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu.”

HOUR ONE

Open Bed: One Dime Blues Etta Baker and Taj Mahal
Etta Baker with Taj Mahal, Music Makers Relief Foundation

W.S. Wolcott Medicine Show The Band
Stage Fright, Capitol Records

The Great Medical Menagerist Harmonica Frank
The Great Medical Menagerist, Adelphi Records

Mother Marie Radio Announcement from Kevin Nutt

Mama Roux Dr. John
Gris-Gris, Atco

High Blood Pressure Huey "Piano" Smith
The Best of Ace Records: The R&B Hits, Rock 'n' Roll/Scott Brothers

Rockin' Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clown
The Best of Ace Records: The R&B Hits, Rock 'n' Roll/Scott Brothers

Instrumental: Old Yellow Boy Little Freddie King
Messin' Around the Living Room, MadeWright

SEGMENT: Little Freddie King

Bowleg Rooster, Duckleg Hen/Sweet Georgia Brown Papa Lemon Nash
New Orleans Ukulele Maestro & Tent Show Troubadour, Arhoolie

Jug Band Music The Lovin' Spoonful
Daydream, Kama Sutra

Trenchtown Rock Bob Marley
Trenchtown Rock: Anthology 1968-'78, Trojan

Instrumental: Clickin' Whistlin' Britches
We Are the Music Makers, Music Maker Relief Foundation

Instrumental: Freight Train Boogie Captain Luke
We Are the Music Makers, Music Maker Relief Foundation

SEGMENT: Tim Duffy

End Bed: Peace Behind the Bridge Carolina Chocolate Drops
Genuine Negro Jig, Nonesuch

HOUR TWO

Open Bed: Strong Anders Osborne
Flower Box, Independent

SEGMENT: Anders Osborne

Healing Hands of Time Willie Nelson
Willie and the Boys: Stash Vol. 2, Sony

Age Don't Mean a Thing Robert Finley
Age Don't Mean a Thing, Big Legal Mess

Dr. Feelgood (Love is Serious Business) Aretha Franklin
I Never Love a Man the Way I Love You, Atlantic

Instrumental: Backporch Soul The Swampers
Muscle Shoals Has Got the Swampers, Muscle Shoals Sound Records

Pain Pills Angaleena Presley
American Middle Class, Slate Creek Records

Sick Feelin' Blues Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' and the Blues, Herald

I'm a Fool for a Cigarette/Feelin' Good Ry Cooder
Paradise and Lunch, Warner Brothers

Too Much Alcohol JB Hutto and His Hawks
Chicago/The Blues/Today!, Vol. 1, Vanguard

Goodbye Booze Old Crow Medicine Show
Eutaw, Blood Donor Records

Instrumental: House of the Rising Sun Dr. Michael White
Adventures in New Orleans Jazz Volume 1, Basin Street

Streets of Laredo Johnny Cash
American IV: The Man Comes Around, American

House of the Rising Sun Doc and Richard Watson
Third Generation Blues, Sugar Hill

SEGMENT: Dr. Michael White

End Bed: Will the Circle Be Unbroken Dr. Michael White
Blue Crescent, Basin Street

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How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away?: Dan Hicks and Commander Cody