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ROOTS MUSIC TODAY
To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio
What do Hip-Hop and traditional Delta Blues have in
common? Down in the bijous and hollers of Mississippi - a lot more
than you think. Next time on To the Best of Our Knowledge,
the new revolution in Roots Music. Also, the debate over what's
authentic country music. And, we'll talk to Nora Guthrie about the
legacy of her father, Woody Guthrie.
SEGMENT 1:
Our four part music series gets underway with a
look at the controversy surrounding "authenticity" in
contemporary music. First, Cape Breton fiddler Natalie McMaster
tells Anne Strainchamps that she's been step dancing and playing
the fiddle since she was a child. She talks about her musical
grandmother and fiddler uncle, explains the different types of
tunes she plays, and performs a few examples of Cape Breton music
live in our studio.
SEGMENT 2:
Bill Malone is the country's foremost historian
of country music. His new book is called "Don't Get above
Your Raisin'." He talks with Steve Paulson about why he loves
old-time country music, and brings several examples of contemporary
performers of roots music. He says the music crosses ethnic and
racial lines and celebrates both the longing for home and the
lure of the road.
SEGMENT 3:
Nora Guthrie is folk singer Woody Guthrie's
daughter and runs the Woody Guthrie Archives. Elizabeth Partridge
is the author of "This Land Was Made for You and Me,"
Guthrie's biography. They tell Steve Paulson that Guthrie wrote
thousands of songs that were never published; that he always helped
younger artists; and that he might go out for cigarettes and be
gone for several weeks. Also, Matthew Johnson founded Far
Possum Records to preserve the Delta and Hill Country blues he
loves. Now he producs recordings which feature hip-hop and techno
style remixes of his classic recordings. Johnson tells Jim Fleming
that his goal is to make the Blues meaningful for a new generation
of listeners. Blues purists hate the whole idea, but Johnson says
classic blues doesn't speak to today's young, urban audience.
Cassette copies are available
at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 02-11-24-A.
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Books:
- Bill C. Malone, Don't Get Above Your Raisin':
Country Music and the Souther Working Class (Illinois)
- Elizabeth Partridge, This Land Was Made
for You and Me: The Life and Songs of Woody Guthrie (Viking)
Music:
- Organized Noize's remix of Johnny
Farmer's "Death Letter" off of the
"New Beats From the Delta" CD on Fat Possum Records.
- Johnny Farmer's "Death Letter" off of
his "Wrong Doers Respect
Me" CD on Fat Possum Records.
- Go Gittas Camp's remix of Junior Kimbrough's "All
Night Long" off of the "New Beats From the Delta"
CD on Fat Possum Records.
- RL Burnside's "It's Bad You Know" off
of his "Come On In" CD on Fat Possum Records.
- RL Burnside's "Shuck Dub" off of his
"Come On In" CD on Fat Possum Records.
- T-Model Ford's "Look What All You Got"
off of his "You Better Keep Still" CD on Fat Possum
Records.
- Big Oomp's remix of T-Model Ford's "Look What
All You Got" off of the "New Beats From the Delta"
CD on Fat Possum Records.
- Hank Williams' "Hey Good Lookin'" off
of his "20 of Hank Williams' Greatest Hits" CD on Mercury
Records.
- Buddy McMaster's "Duncan Johnstone Set"
off of his "The Judique Flyer" CD on Steven MacDonald
Productions.
- Norman Blake's "Man of Constant Sorrow"
off of the "O' Brother Where Art Thou? Soundtrack" CD
on Mercury Records.
- Hank Williams' "Your Cheatin' Heart"
off of his "20 of Hank Williams' Greatest Hits" CD on
Mercury Records.
- Billy Bragg and Wilco's "California Stars"
on their "Mermaid Avenue" CD on Electra Records.
- Woody Guthrie's "Hard Travelin'" off
of his "The Greatest Songs ofWoody Guthrie" CD on Vanguard
Records.
- Woody Guthrie's "Struggle Blues off if his
"Struggle" CD on Smithsonian Folkways.
- In the Bill Malone interview:
- *Iris DeMent w/ "Mama's Opry"
- *The Carter Family w/ "God Gave Noah the Rainbow
Sign" on The Carter Family: My Clinch Mountain Home: Their
Complete Victor Recordings 1928-1929 Rounder Records
- *Jimmie Rodgers w/ "In the Jailhouse Now"
on Jimmie Rodgers: 1927-1928 First Sessions Rounder Records
- *Tim and Molly O'Brien w/ "Ain't No Grave
Gonna Hold this Body Down"
- *Hank Williams w/ "Honky Tonkin'" on
20 of Hank Williams' Greatest Hits Mercury Records
- *Dale Watson w/ "Play a Real Country Song"
- *Doc Watson w/ "Sitting on Top of the World"
- Woody Guthrie songs in the Nora Guthrie and Elizabeth
Partridge
interview:
- *"Pretty Boy Floyd" on Woody Guthrie:
Struggle Smithsonian Folkways
- *"Tom Joad" on Dust Bowl Ballads Rounder
Records
- *"So Long, It's Been Good to Know You"
on Folk Song America: A 20th Century Revival Smithsonian Collection
of Recordings
- *"This Land is Your Land" on American
Roots Music Palm Pictures
Distribution dates:
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Questions and comments can
be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org
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