A Five Part Series from TTBOOK!

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Wisconsin Public Radio

STURM UND TWANG: COUNTRY MUSIC

Program 08-06-08-A

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Imagine losing your lover, mother, stepfather and sister in less than eight months. That's what happened to country music singer/songwriter Carlene Carter. Her mother is June Carter Cash and her stepfather is Johnny Cash. Carlene Carter drew on all of this loss and tragedy to create a new album called "Stronger." In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll meet Carlene Carter. Also, the epic life of American music icon, Willie Nelson.

SEGMENT 1:

Carlene Carter belongs to the third generation of Country music's ruling dynasty, the Carter Family. "Stronger" is her new album. We hear excerpts, and she talks about her music with TTBOOK producer Doug Gordon.

SEGMENT 2:

Dana Jennings grew up in New Hampshire during the golden age of country music from the 1950s through the 1970s. His family listened to country and their values were shaped by it. Jennings has written a book caled "Sing Me Back Home: Love, Death and Country Music." He talks about it with Anne Strainchamps, and we hear excerpts from the tunes that shaped him. Also, John Huss is the co-editor, with David Werther, of "Johnny Cash and Philosophy: The Burning Ring of Truth." In the book, 21 philosophers muse about the music of Johnny Cash. John Huss tells Jim Fleming that his own essay concerns Johnny Cash and the concept of Justice, as illustrated by the song "Jacob Green." And we hear that song.

SEGMENT 3:

Joe Nick Patoski has been writing about his friend Willie Nelson for thirty five years. His latest efforts include the liner notes for the new box set - "One Hell of A Ride" and a comprehensive biography called "Willie Nelson: An Epic Life." Patoski tells Steve Paulson that Willie Nelson's first claim to fame in Nashville was as a songwriter.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 08-06-08-A.

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Books:

Joe Nick Patoski, Willie Nelson: An Epic Life (Little, Brown and Company)
John Huss & David Werther, eds, Johnny Cash and Philosophy (Popular Culture and Philosophy) (Open Court)
Dana Jennings, Sing Me Back Home: Love, Death, and Country Music (Faber and Faber, Inc.)

Websites:

• -- Carlene Carter
  http://carlenecarterfanclub.com/home.html
  http://www.yeproc.com/artist_info.php?artistId=12055
  -- Dana Jennings/"Sing Me Back Home: Love, Death, and Country Music"
  http://us.macmillan.com/singmebackhome
  -- John Huss/"Johnny Cash and Philosophy"
  http://www.opencourtbooks.com/books_n/johnny.htm
  -- The John Huss Moderate Combo
  http://www.myspace.com/thejohnhussmoderatecombo
  -- Joe Nick Patoski
  http://www.joenickp.com/
  http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/books_9780316017787.htm
  

Music:

• -- Music used in Carlene Carter mix:
  - "Stronger"/Carlene Carter
  - "Bring Love"/Carlene Carter
  - "The Bitter End"/Carlene Carter
  - "To Change Your Heart"/Carlene Carter
  - "Why Be Blue"/Carlene Carter
  all songs from the Carlene Carter CD, "Stronger" (Yep Roc)
  http://www.yeproc.com/artist_info.php?artistId=12055 http://carlenecarterfanclub.com/home.html
  
• -- "First Kiss"/Carlene Carter
  Instrumental from the CD, "Little Love Letters" (Giant)
  -- Music used in Dana Jennings mix:
  
• - "She's Got You"/Patsy Cline
  from the CD box set, "The Patsy Cline Collection" (MCA)
  
• - "There Stands the Glass"/Webb Pierce
  from the CD, "Webb Pierce -- King of the Honky-Tonk (from the
  Original Decca Masters, 1952-1959" (Country Music Foundation/MCA)
  
• -- "Knoxville Girl"/The Louvin Brothers
  from the CD, "When I Stop Dreaming: The Best of The Louvin Brothers"
  (Razor & Tie)
  Music used in John Huss mix:
  
• -- "Jacob Green"/Johnny Cash
  from the Johnny Cash CD, "Murder" (Sony)
  ---
  
• -- "Tex"/NRBQ
  from the CD, "Tapdancin' Bats: The Anniversary Edition" (Rounder)
  http://www.nrbq.com/
  http://www.rounder.com/index.php?id=album.php&musicalGroupId=921&catalog_id=4542
  ---
  Music used in Joe Nick Patoski/Willie Nelson mix:
  
• -- "Crazy"/Willie Nelson
  from the CD box set, "One Hell of A Ride" (Columbia/Legacy)
  http://www.willienelson.com
  http://www.legacyrecordings.com/
  
• -- "Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain"/Willie Nelson
  from the CD box set, "One Hell of A Ride" (Columbia/Legacy)
  http://www.willienelson.com
  http://www.legacyrecordings.com/
  
• -- "Bloody Mary Morning"/Willie Nelson
  from the CD, "Live from Austin, Texas" (New West Records)
  
• -- "Good Hearted Woman"/Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings
  from the CD box set, "One Hell of A Ride" (Columbia/Legacy)
  http://www.willienelson.com
  http://www.legacyrecordings.com/
  
• -- "Stardust"/Willie Nelson
  from the CD box set, "One Hell of A Ride" (Columbia/Legacy)
  http://www.willienelson.com
  http://www.legacyrecordings.com/
  
• -- "Nite Life"/Willie Nelson
  from the CD box set, "One Hell of A Ride" (Columbia/Legacy)
  http://www.willienelson.com
  http://www.legacyrecordings.com/
  ---
  
• -- "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow"/Norman Blake
  from the CD, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Soundtrack" (Mercury Records)
  http://main.losthighwayrecords.com/obrotherwhereartthou

Distribution dates: week of 04/26/2009 - hour 2 week of 06/08/2008 - hour 1 click HERE for timings and cues

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