Hard Road To Travel: Shelby Lynne and Michael Hurley

Conversation with the eclectic song stylist Shelby Lynne — formerly of rural Alabama, now of Palm Springs — to hear about the vicissitudes of her musical and emotional journey from country to pop, including a recent embrace of Dusty Springfield. Elusive singer-songwriter Michael Hurley talks about a family devoted to opera and his sometimes dark, often humorous disaffected songs about the mysteries of modernity and werewolves. Plus a visit to an Alabama cemetery for revered coondogs. We surround it all with Southern soul, hard country, deep blues, traditional jazz and respect for what is still significantly unknowable and magical in American culture.

HOUR ONE

Open Bed: Willie and Laura Mae Jones Shelby Lynne
Just a Little Lovin', Lost Highway

Memphis, Tennessee Chuck Berry
The Anthology, MCA/Chess

Well Well Well Lucinda Williams
Little Honey, Lost Highway

Operator Grateful Dead
American Beauty, Warner Bros

That's How I Got to Memphis Solomon Burke
Nashville, Shout Factory

Instrumental: Memphis Lonnie Mack
Rock Instrumental Classics, Vol. 2: The '60s, Rhino

A Hard Road to Travel Shakey Jake
Chicago Blues Masters, Vol. 3, Capitol

Lonesome On'ry and Mean Steve Young
Lonesome, On'ry and Mean, Raven

SEGMENT: Shelby Lynne

Instrumental: Son of a Preacher Man Gene Ammons
The Boss is Back, Fantasy

Son of a Preacher Man Dusty Springfield
Dusty in Memphis, Atlantic

Willie and Laura Mae Jones Tony Joe White
The Best of Tony Joe White, Warner Archives

Storms Never Last Allison Moorer
Lonesome, On'ry and Mean: A Tribute to Waylon Jennings, Dualtone

My Sweet Annette Drive By Truckers
Decoration day, New West

Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again Bob Dylan
Blonde On Blonde, Columbia

End Bed: Blues Before Dawn Pee Wee Crayton
Pee Wee's Blues: The Complete Aladdin and Imperial Recordings, Capitol

HOUR TWO

Open Bed: Werewolf Michael Hurley
Armchair Boogie, Warner Bros

Black Rat Swing Cephas and Wiggins
Richmond Blues, Smithsonian Folkways

There's a Rat Loose in My House Sterling Harrison
South of the Snooty Fox, HackTone

SEGMENT: Michael Hurley

She-Wolf Jessie Mae Hemphill
She-Wolf, HMG/Hightone

I'm The Wolf Howlin' Wolf
His Best, Vol. 2, Chess

Instrumental: Monkey on the Interstate Michael Hurley
Long Journey, Rounder

SEGMENT: Coon Dog Cemetery

Old King Neil Young
Harvest Moon, Reprise

Bird Dog The Everly Brothers
All-Time Original Hits, Rhino

Let Me Play with Your Poodle Tampa Red
Mamphis Slim / Tampa Red / Lonnie Johnson: Bawdy Blues, Prestige/Bluesville

I'm Gonna Take Care of Your Dog Rosie Ledet
Zesty Zydeco, Maison de Soul

Instrumental: Let Me Play with Your Poodle CeDell Davis
Keep It To Yourself: Arkansas Blues Vol.1 - Solo Performers, Stackhouse

Hit the Road Again Sunnyland Slim and Trio
The Mercury Blues 'N' Rhythm Story: Midwest Blues, Mercury

I Think It's Going to Rain Today Irma Thomas with Randy Newman
Simply Grand, Rounder

Opus de Soul Albert King, Steve Cropper, Pops Staples
Jammed Together, Stax

End Bed: Behave Yourself Booker T & the MGs
The Complete Stax-Volt Singles Vol.2: 1959-1968, Atlantic