Looking for America: Elvis Costello and Carla Bley
We’re seeking out the “American” in American music with two eclectic artists: Elvis Costello and Carla Bley. For British songman Elvis Costello, American music has shaped much of his musical creativity. We’ll hear about his love of American country and blues, his musical upbringing in Liverpool, and his current fascination with P .T. Barnum. For the inventive and eccentric jazz composer Carla Bley, the National Anthem proves an unlikely source of inspiration. Bley brings wry humor to a conversation about the challenges of writing for her very big bands, her early days as a cigarette girl in NYC jazz clubs, and why America might be famous for baked beans.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Brilliant Mistake Elvis Costello
King of America, Rhino
Hidden Shame Elvis Costello
Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, Hear Music
American Music The Blasters
American Music, Hightone
Promised Land Chuck Berry
His Best, Volume 2, MCA/Chess
I've Been Everywhere Johnny Cash
Unchained, American
I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande) Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks
Striking It Rich, MCA
Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Cow Fingers and Mosquito Pie, Sony
Sulphur to Sugarcane Elvis Costello
Secret, Profane & Sugarcane, Hear Music
Instrumental: Weeper's Dream Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Trust, Rykodisc
INTERVIEW: Elvis Costello
Nowhere To Go Allen Toussaint
The Complete 'Tousan' Sessions, Bear Family
Dixie Flyer Randy Newman
American Routes original recording
Instrumental: Latch On Fats Waller and His Rhythm
Fractious Fingering / The Early Years Part 3, 1936, BMG
Don't Stop the Music George Jones
The Classic Mercury Years, Mercury
Blues à Catin Catin Bonsoir
Blues à Catin, Bridgetown
Matchbox (I'm Gonna Forget About You) Ike Turner
King Cobra / The Chicago Sessions, Fuel 2000
Cryin' Blues Charles Mingus
Blues & Roots, Atlantic
End Bed: Tipitina Allen Toussaint
American Routes original recording
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: Ida Lupino Paul Bley Trio
Closer, ESP-Disk
I'm Nuts About Screwy Music Jimmie Lunceford & His Orchestra
The Swinging Mr. Lunceford, Empress
Jump for Joy Herb Jeffries with Duke Ellington
A Brief History of Herb Jeffries, Warner Bros.
INTERVIEW: Carla Bley
Instrumental: H.C.Q. Strut Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli
The Ultimate Collection, Prism Leisure
You Gotta Pay the Band Abbey Lincoln & Stan Getz
You Gotta Pay the Band, Gitanes Jazz
Falling Rain Blues Lonnie Johnson
Lonnie Johnson: Complete Folkways Recordings, Smithsonian Folkways
I Love the Life I Live Mose Allison
Retrospective, Columbia
If It Ain't Got that Swing The Modern Jazz Quartet
The Modern Jazz Quartet, Warner Music France
Little Bells Paul Burch
Still Your Man, Ramseur
Instrumental: California Cotillion Mike Seeger
True Vine, Smithsonian Folkways
Fifty Miles of Elbow Room F.W. McGee
The Anthology of American Music, Smithsonian Folkways
The Brakeman's Blues Jimmie Rodgers
First Sessions, 1927-1928, Rounder
Freight Train Elizabeth Cotten
Freight Train and Other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes, Smithsonian Folkways
No Depression in Heaven The New Lost City Ramblers
50 Years: Where Do You Come From? Where Do You Go?, Smithsonian Folkways
Roll On Son Volt
American Central Dust, Rounder
End Bed: Fuller Blues Sam McGee
Grand Dad of the Country Guitar Pickers, Arhoolie