PRISON SONGS
American Routes explores the music associated with outlaws and life behind bars, from “Ball and Chain” to “Jailhouse Rock,” from Johnny Cash’s San Quentin show to Leadbelly’s “Midnight Special.” Metaphorical chains of love are also rattled in story and song. Our guests include famous former inmates whose music reflects their own life struggles and triumphs, Plus a visit to the “Wildest Show in the South”—the Angola Louisiana Prison Rodeo.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: "Po Lazarus James Carter & The Prisoners
O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack, Lost Highway/Mercury
Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash
Live at Folsom Prison, Sony
Riot In Cell Block #9 Wanda Jackson
Vintage Collections, Capitol
He's in the Jailhouse Now Memphis Sheiks
From Where I Stand, Warner
Prison Bound Robert Nighthawk
The Aristocrat of The Blues, Chess/MCA
INTERVIEW: Merle Haggard
Instrumental: If I Could Only Fly Merle Haggard
If I Could Only Fly, Anti
INTERVIEW: Merle Haggard
Cole Younger Edward L. Crain
Harry Smith Collection
Outlaw Blues Bob Dylan
Bringing It All Back Home, Columbia
21 days in Jail Magic Sam
Magic Sam 1957-1966, West Side Guitar, Cobra
Instrumental: Aurora En Pekin Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos
Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos, Atlantic
El Mojado Los Hermanos Barrón y Conjunto
The Chicano Experience, Folklyric Records
The Tijuana Jail Johnny Bond
The Best of Johnny Bond, Varese Vintage
Jailhouse Blues Dinah Washington
Sings Bessie Smith, Verve
Jailhouse Rock Albert King
King Does The King's Things, Stax
The Things I Used To Do James Brown
James Brown: Messing with the Blues, Polydor
Have Mercy Judge Chuck Berry
The Chess Box, Chess/MCA
HOUR TWO
Angola Bound Aaron Neville
The Very Best of Aaron Neville, A&M
Parchman Farm Johnny Rivers
Anthology 1964-1977, Rhino
SEGMENT: Angola Prison Farm Rodeo
Stewball Ed Lewis and Prisoners
Southern Journey Vol. 3: 61 Highway Mississippi, Folkways
Chain Gang Sam Cooke
Greatest Hits, RCA
Back On The Chain Gang Pretenders
The Singles, Sire
Instrumental: Work Song Grant Green
2 by 5 Guitar Jazz, 32 Jazz
INTERVIEW: Aaron Neville
How Blue Can You Get BB King
Live In Cook County Jail, MCA
Instrumental: Midnight Special Tiny Grimes
Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1947-1974, Atlantic
Midnight Special Leadbelly
From Where I Stand: The Black Experience In Country Music, Warner Bros
Midnight Special Creedence Clearwater Revival
Hot Stuff, Fantasy
I Shall Be Released Heptones
Sea of Love, Rounder
I'm Goin Home Ervin Webb with Prisoners
Ervin Webb with Prisoners, Folkways