Swingin' the Election: Music & Politics 2012
Every four years American Routes checks out songs and soundbites about politics and electioneering from both sides of the aisle. Hear the late WV Senator Robert Byrd on his fiddle playing as an instrument of political persuasion, and the same approach of Cajun office seeker Roland Cheramie from Louisiana bayou country—he goes door-to-door fiddling for votes. Hungarian ambassador to the US, Andras Simonyi, talks about the role of rock in lifting the Iron Curtain. The buttoned-down Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia was once a disco DJ, while Indiana’s Andy Ruff uses honky-tonk to support his anti-highway building campaign.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Stars and Stripes Forever Eubie Blake
The Eighty-Six Years of Eubie Blake, Columbia
The Times They Are A-Changin' Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changin', Columbia
Political World Carolina Chocolate Drops
Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan, Amnesty International
Long Walk to DC Staple Singers
Soul Folk In Action, Stax
The Wall Street Part of Town Ry Cooder
Election Special, Nonesuch
(Jesus Hits Like the) Atom Bomb Blind Boys of Alabama
Atom Bomb, Real World
Political Science Randy Newman
Sail Away, Reprise
Instrumental: Stars and Stripes Forever - Sweethearts Kalima Brothers
Legends of the Ukulele, Rhino
Take the Star Out of the Window John Prine
Diamonds in the Rough, Atlantic
Mama Bake a Pie Drive By Truckers
The Fine Print, New West
SEGMENT: Senator Robert Byrd
Guitar Pickin' President Jimmy Martin
Jimmy Martin: 1954-1974, Bear Family
Franklin Roosevelt's Back Again Cox Brothers
Old Time Southern Dance Music, Old Timey
SEGMENT: Roland Cheramie
Instrumental: Washington Post March Bill Frisell
Have a Little Faith, Nonesuch/ Elektra
SEGMENT: Andras Simonyi
Rockin' Behind the Iron Curtain Bobby Marchan
Clown Jewels – The Ace Masters 1956-75, Westside
Back in the USSR The Beatles
The Beatles, Apple
US Blues Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel, GDM
End Bed: The Stars and Stripes Forever Tom McDermott
Louisianthology, STD Digital
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: Happy Days Are Here Again Casa Loma Orchestra
Songs of the Depression, Bear Family
Jump for Joy Duke Ellington
Centennial Edition, RCA
Roosevelt in Trinidad The Atilla
Roosevelt in Trinidad, Rounder
"The only thing we have to fear..." Franklin Delano Roosevelt
20th Century Time Capsule, Buddha
No Depression Carter Family
In the Shadow of Clinch Mountain, Bear Family
Hard Times Come Again No More Johnny Cash
Unearthed, American
SEGMENT: Andy Ruff
Instrumental: Stars and Stripes Forever Star Spangled Band
Red, White & Bluegrass, CMH
I Pity the Poor Immigrant Marion Williams
The New Message, Atlantic
Across the Borderline Flaco Jimenez featuring John Hiatt
Partners, Reprise
Soy Mexico Americano Los Cenzontles
Raza de Oro, Cenzontles
Only in America Jay and the Americans
God Bless the USA, MCA
One Time One Night Los Lobos
Just Another Band from East L.A.: A Collection, Warner
Instrumental: The Beautiful American Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong
The Great Summit/ The Masters Takes, Blue Note
SEGMENT: Mayor Michael Nutter
Yes We Can Lee Dorsey
The Masters, Eagle
My Country Randy Newman
Bad Love, Dreamworks
America the Beautiful Ray Charles
Ray Charles Sings for America, Rhino
End Bed: The House I Live In Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins 1956, Giants of Jazz