After the Storm

American Routes host Nick Spitzer takes you in story and song to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Nick blends music and commentary that describes the place of storms and floods in the history and culture of the city and region. Featured are classic blues about broken levees and broken hearts, celebratory jazz funerals and memories of the city in song. Artists include Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Fats Domino and Randy Newman, among others. Also tales of hurricanes past in Cajun music and a visit with the leader of a Cajun rescue flotilla, Lafayette, LA public radio station manager Dave Spizale.

HOUR ONE

Open Bed: Minor Tipitina Allen Toussaint
American Routes recording

Louisiana 1927 Randy Newman
Randy Newman Songbook, Vol. 1, Nonesuch

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen Mahalia Jackson
Essential Mahalia Jackson, Sony

Down by the Riverside Snooks Eaglin
Country Boy in New Orleans, Arhoolie

When the Levee Breaks Memphis Minnie
Memphis Minnie: Queen of the Blues, Columbia

It's Raining Irma Thomas
Sweet Soul Queen of New Orleans: The Irma Thomas Collection, Razor & Tie

Rainin' in My Heart Slim Harpo
Raining in My Heart, Excello

Instrumental: Mes Enfants/My Children Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
Happytown, Rounder

INTERVIEW: Dave Spizale

River's Gonna Go Gator Beat
River's Gonna Go, Globe

Higher Ground Stevie Wonder
Innervisions, Motown

To the River Smiley Lewis
Shame, Shame, Shame, Bear Family

Rivers of Babylon Melodians
The Harder They Come, Island

Dear Old Southland Dr. John
N'Awlinz Dis Dat or D'udda, Blue Note

The Lost Souls (Of Southern Louisiana) Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Open Up: Whatcha Gonna Do For the Rest of Your Life, Columbia

End Bed: Minor Tipitina Allen Toussaint
American Routes recording

HOUR TWO

Blue Horizon Sidney Bechet
Blue Horizon: The Sidney Bechet Story, Proper

Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? Louis Armstrong & His Dixieland Seven

Back Water Blues Bessie Smith
The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3, Columbia/Legacy

Stormy Weather Phil Phillips
Eddie's House of Hits: The Story of Goldband Records, Ace

Louisiana Percy Mayfield
Creole Kings of New Orleans, Specialty

Instrumental: L 'Ouragon Beausoleil
La Danse de la Vie, Rhino

L 'annee de Cinquante Sept Alex Broussard
The Best of La Louisiane Records, La Louisiane

Grand Chenier Bluerunners
Le Grand Bleu, Louisiana Red Hot

Hurricane Bobby and the Rockers
Can't Stop Rockin', Bobby and the Rockers

The Lakes of the Ponchartrain Jim Smoak & the Louisiana Honeydrippers
Bayou Bluegrass, Arhoolie

Box of Rain Grateful Dead
American Beauty, Warner Brothers

Instrumental: Blues in My Sleep James Cotton
Deep in the Blues, Verve

Hurricanes Carla and Esther Lightnin' Hopkins
Po' Lightnin', Arhoolie

Born on the Bayou Creedence Clearwater Revival
Bayou Country, Fantasy

Death Letter Cassandra Wilson
New Moon Daughter, Blue Note

When the Saints Go Marching In Helen Humes
2005 Southern Music CD, Oxford American

Walking to New Orleans Fats Domino
The Best of Fats Domino, EMI

Louisiana 1927 Randy Newman
Good Old Boys, Warner Bros.

End Bed: Down by the Riverside Sam Morgan's Jazz Band
Recorded in New Orleans, 1925-1928, Jazz Oracle

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