What’s in a Name?

Songs are often about or dedicated to someone. We dig into some of the great name songs in American music from “Lil’ Liza Jane” to “John Henry” and “Walt Whitman’s Niece.” Also some styles like zydeco nouveau and gunfighter ballads are for calling out names of Creole kings and outlaw heros.. Forgive our host if he plays a few namesake songs, as long as he plays yours too. “Nick Nick bo-bick….”

HOUR ONE

Open Bed: Name Game Shirley Elliston
A Child's Celebration of Rock 'n' Roll, Music For Little People

What's his name? Keith Frank! Keith Frank
What's His Name, Maison de Soul

Oh John Jimmy Reed
18 Greatest Hits, Motown

John Henry Howard Armstrong
Louie Bluie, Blue Suit

Pretty Boy Floyd Bob Dylan
Folkways a Vision Shared, Columbia

Walt Whitman's Niece Billy Bragg & Wilco
Mermaid Avenue, Elektra

Instrumental: Is There Anybody Here That Love My Jesus Medeski, Martin & Wood
Shack-Man, Gramavision

Angelene PJ Harvey
Is This Desire, Island

Mona Lisa Nat King Cole
The Greatest Hits, Capitol

Donna Lee Charlie Parker
Yardbird Suite, Rhino

Frankie & Johnny Sam Cooke
Greatest Hits, RCA

Instrumental: Indiana (Back Home in Indiana) Chet Atkins
Galloping Guitar - The Early Years, Bear Family

Carrie Brown Steve Earle & the Del McCoury Band
The Mountain, E Squared

Wake up Lil Suzie Everly Brothers
Classic Everly Brothers, Bear Family

Polly Nirvana
Nevermind, DGC

When Do I get to be called a Man Bill Sims
Bill Sims, Warner Bros

You Never Even Called Me By My Name Steve Goodman
Steve Goodman, Buddah

HOUR TWO

Sweet Georgia Brown Elmer Snowden Quartet
Harlem Banjo!, Riverside

Mathilda Cookie and the Cupcakes
Cookie and the Cupcakes, Jin

Lulu's Back in Town Fats Waller
A Portrait, Music Collection

Lil Liza Jane Bob Wills & Tommy Duncan
Hall Of Fame, United Artists

Lil Liza Jane Kermit Ruffins
Big Butter & Egg Man, Justice

Instrumental: Lil Liza Jane Nicholas Payton
Gumbo Nouveau, Verve

Sweet Jane Velvet Undergound
The Best of the Velvet Underground, Verve

Candy Morphine
Cure For Pain, Rykodisc

Naima John Coltrane
Heavyweight Champion, Atlantic

I Loves You Porgy Nina Simone
Saga of the Good Life & Hard Times, RCA

Instrumental: Buena Vista Social Club Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club, World Circuit/Nonesuch

Gregorio Cortez Los Penguinos del Norte
Music of La Raza Vol.1, Arhoolie

Pancho and Lefty Townes Van Zandt
The Late Great Townes Van Zandt, United Artists

Glory To His Name Dorothy Love Coates & the Original Gospel Harmonettes
Get On Board, Specialty

Judge Dread Prince Buster
Roots of Reggae Vol.2: Rock Steady, Rhino

Stagger Lee Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Yazoo

Bluesifyin' Joe Louis Walker
Blues Routes, Smithsonian Folkways

End Bed: Big Nick Coltrane + Ellington
Duke Ellington & John Coltrane, Impulse

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