Big Voices
American Routes belts it out in celebration of big voices. We’ll sample three from across the musical board: the eerie smoothness of Little Jimmie Scott, an 89-year-old jazz singer who’s recently been rediscovered; the crooning of country star Ray Price; and the gritty shout of Chicago blueswoman Koko Taylor.
HOUR ONE
Sing, Sing, Sing Anita O'Day
Finest Hour, Verve
Ain't Got No Home Clarence ‘Frogman' Henry
Chess New Orleans, MCA
Fascinatin' Rhythm Cliff ‘Ukelele Ike' Edwards
Ukelele Ike, Sony
San Antonio Rose Bob Wills
The Tiffany Transcriptions Vol.2, Rhino
Instrumental: Osage Stomp Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
The King of Western Swing, ASV
INTERVIEW: Ray Price
Ramblin' Man Hank Williams
The Complete, Mercury
I Lost Everything Sam Cooke
Night Beat, abkco
(I'm Going To) Wait Until My Change Comes Mahalia Jackson
How I Got Over/Apollo Sessions 1946-1954, West Side
Backwater Blues Bessie Smith
The Essential, Sony
Instrumental: You Name It Memphis Slim
The Folkways Years 1959-1973, Folkways
INTERVIEW: Koko Taylor
Black Rat Swing Memphis Minnie
The Essential, Classic Blues
Madeleine Balfa Brothers
Play Traditional Cajun Music Vol. 1 and 2, Swallow
In the Pines Bill Monroe
Blue Grass 1950-1958, Bear Family
Where Did You Sleep Last Night Lead Belly
Goodnight Irene, Tradition
Where Did You Sleep Last Night Nirvana
Unplugged, Geffen
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: I Wish I Could Sing George ‘Bongo Joe' Coleman
Bongo Joe, Arhoolie
How Many More Years Howlin' Wolf
His Best, MCA
Richards Club Beau Jocque & The Zydeco Hi-Rollers
The Best Of, Rounder
Cao Cao Mani Picao Celia Cruz
Mambo Cubano: Golden Age, Proper
She's a Carioca Astrud Gilberto
Talkin' Verve: Astrud Gilberto, Verve
You Brought a New Kind of Love Frank Sinatra
Songs For Swingin' Lovers!, Capitol
Instrumental: Organ Grinder's Swing Jimmie Lunceford
The Swinging Mr. Lunceford, Empress
SEGMENT: Little Jimmy Scott
I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues #2 Billie Holiday
The Complete Commodore Recordings, GRP
Lady Sings the Blues Billie Holiday
Ken Burns Jazz: Billie Holiday, Verve
Instrumental: Midnight Special Jimmy Smith
Midnight Special, Blue Note
Little Girl Blue Janis Joplin
Love, Janis, Sony
Blue Shadows Jimmie Dale Gilmore
One Endless Night, Rounder
Blue Moon Elvis Presley
The Complete 50s masters, RCA
Don't Let The Devil Ride Sonny Treadway
Sacred Steel, Arhoolie
Red House Jimi Hendrix
Experience Hendrix, MCA
End Bed: At The Cross Sonny Treadway
Sacred Steel, Arhoolie