Backtracks

Over a career spanning more than half a century, Gladys Knight has established herself as an iconic American voice. While she is sometimes referred to as the "Empress of Soul", her repertoire reaches into many genres. In this episode we will explore her career from her debut at seven years old to her current position as the director of the Be One Choir. Through personal turmoil her voice remained rock solid: at once soothing, powerful and dynamic.

Video:

Kennedy Center Honors Gladys Knight:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g-yrYPfaMg&t=38s

The Be One Choir:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNIU-R38lmA

The Persuasions began as a doo wop a cappella quintet singing on the street corners of Brooklyn, New York. From that simple beginning their career careened in surprising and innovative directions. "Discovered" over the phone by rock musician, satirist and composer Frank Zappa, the group created huge discography from the sacred to the profane; all with impeccable arrangements and harmony.

Spike Lee's film "Do it A Capella"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UZZpkRwnNQ&t=4334s

Interview with front man Jerry Lawson on Frank Zappa and the Persuasions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuT710R9tjk

Two of the harder to find songs:

Good Old A Capella

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vInVtExVw0Y&list=RDvInVtExVw0Y&start_radio=1

The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing (Frank Zappa tribute album):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c9EfRZXglg&list=RDvInVtExVw0Y&index=2

From their beginnings in Knoxville Tennessee playing on street corners in the late 1920's through their resurgence on the festival circuit in the 70's and 80's, Martin, Bogan, and Armsrtong carried the torch of the old-time Black string band tradition . Their vast repertoire included swing, blues, show tunes, tin pan alley favorites, and any genre that would get their audience tapping their feet. With relentless energy, these consummate entertainers helped keep alive a string band tradition reaching back to the beginnings of African American musical history.

R. Crumb's Sweet Shellac podcast on black string bands of the 20's and 30's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JB-Nf-x1zM&t=1043s

Allison Williams and Elizabeth Scott - Old time banjo and Music History.

This page has great resources on old-time black string bands

https://folklife.uark.edu/apprenticeships/williamsscott26/

The African-American String Music Tradition - Afro pop interview with Howard Armstrong:

https://www.afropop.org/audio-programs/the-african-american-string-music-tradition-2?curator=MusicREDEF

Howard Armstrong PBS POV documentary "Sweet Old Song" available for purchase on film maker Leah Mahan's website:

https://www.leahmahan.com/films/sweet-old-song/

Most people remember Charlie Rich for his 1973 country/pop hits and his controversial pyrotechnical antics at the 1975 Country Music Awards. But before his star rose in Nashville, he had early rock and roll hits on Sun Records. Later in his career, after his fame faded, he teamed up with music historian and producer Peter Guralnick to make the album he dreamed of; a soulful mix of jazz, blues, and R&B.

Songs:

Lonely Weekends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1YD_Ejb450

Most Beautiful Girl in the World:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLbGeZSUrhg

Life's Little Ups and Downs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kO7p2bpya0

Pictures and Paintings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDNmFzY5Wxw

Bobby Blue Bland's versions of Who Will the Next Fool Be?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjzY5i3jDbc

Videos:

Charlie Rich on the Jimmy Dean Show

Songs:

River Stay Away from my Door

Big Boss Man (Not Lonely Weekends as I said in the podcast)

1975 CMA Awards:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf3t3unp-Gg

From the heart of French-speaking Louisiana, Clifton Chenier transformed the rural Zydeco of his father's generation into an international embodiment of high-energy good-time music. He was the first to broaden the genre by incorporating other forms such as blues, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues. Despite the addition of electric instruments and new forms, his accordion-driven music never strayed far from it's origins of creating a place for working people to leave their troubles behind and let the good times roll.

Interview with Chris Strachwitz:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGUqnOYUi1A

Songs:

J’Ai Conet, C’Est Pas Me Femme (I Know She’s Not My Woman)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwioXT2UDW4

Someone Told Me it was Over:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIhc4CQFah8&list=RDcIhc4CQFah8&start_radio=1

Release Me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-Q2kKsNNS8

A Tribute to the King of Zydeco. "Release Me", featuring Lucinda Williams, Tommy McLain, and Keith Frank is available through a variety of services: https://orcd.co/releaseme1

"A Tribute to the King of Zydeco" available for pre-sale now: https://linktr.ee/valcourrecords

Reserve your limited-run vinyl copy of "A Tribute to the King of Zydeco" now: https://www.valcourrecords.com/vinyl/... 100% of profits benefit the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship Fund, created by Valcour Records with the Center for Louisiana Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Learn more about the fund here: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/...

Grand Mamou (Big Mamou):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh9NhkWWVsw

I'm Coming Home (to See my Mother):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_06Ig59jo8

Largely unknown on the folk scene in the US, Willie Dunn is an important figure in framing the stories of native Canadians in songs, films, and art. With a rich voice, strong melodies and subtle arrangements, his music brings to light an overlooked chapter in the history of North America.

For this episode we're joined by musician and author Kelly Mulhollan of the duo Still on the Hill.

https://www.stillonthehill.com/

Links:

Film:

The Ballad of Crowfoot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qsZsfn6PC4

Songs:

Pity the Country

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qsZsfn6PC4

Son of the Sun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4ZG-6SxEBk

Charlie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWEl9naKPZo

Pontiac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svwrIF7atVI

Digging Roots Band website:

https://www.diggingrootsmusic.com/

Little is known about the life of Henry Thomas, but his legacy of 23 recorded songs influenced generations of folk, rock, and blues musicians. He often accompanied himself on the "quills" a pan flute-like instrument probably fixed in a brace around his neck. Often using the name "Ragtime Texas" Thomas was born in east Texas and was known to travel by train as a hobo, Otherwise his life is a mystery.

Songs:

Fishing Blues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OilNFHa1AOc

Bull Dog Blues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcLgJ-K49a8

Arkansas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdtoZzctg1c

Video: Otha Turner cane fife player in the Mississippi fife and drum tradition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MgK8RtFWQY&list=WL&index=11

Sid Hemphill - Devil's Dream

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP3GKaX_Kz8

Video of African Quill playing

Ritual dance nsambo and panflutes Nyanga (Mozambqie)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLLX_xqoK_0&list=WL&index=11

Possible video of Henry Thomas playing guitar and quills:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75v6uwO5tVA

Don Flemmons, contemporary songster, demonstrates the quills and "hooting" technique:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqIdB9cNt5Q

From her modest beginnings in the Mendoza family band playing for migrant farm workers, Lydia Mendoza became the undisputed queen of Tejano music, receiving awards from presidents and appearing on a US postage stamp. In her 70 years of performing, she never strayed from her Tejana roots, singing cinematic tales of love, treachery and courage. Whether singing alone accompanying herself on bajo sexto or performing with a conjunto band, Mendoza’s voice rings out strong and pure.

Thanks to Scott Newby for suggesting Lydia Mendoza for this episode, and also to Cathy Whitney and Oscar Calzada for helping with translation.

Songs:

Mexico in la Laguna

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvm6BeoAvj8

Celosa (Live)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X-L39r1oTI&list=RD9X-L39r1oTI&start_radio=1

Mal Hombre

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwTSPb3YVbI

Corrido de Juaquin Murrieta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymR2oV9W9VQ

Noche de Estrellas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ4yaiW1h4g

La Boda Negra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1sInnfrxjc

Information about the artwork of Jose Guadelupe Posada can be found at the Posada Art Foundation.

https://www.posada-art-foundation.com/

One book on his work is entitled Posada's Broadsheets – Mexican Popular Imagery 1890-1910;

Patrick Frank; University of New Mexico Press; 1998

Most often cited as the inventor of the power chord, Link Wray's loud gritty sound had a big influence on rock, heavy metal and punk music. Later in his career he embraced his Native American roots and produced a strong body of work that ranged from acoustic blues to southern rock.

Documentary: Rumble | The Indians that Rocked the World

https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/rumble/

Youtube interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql_4wAinGig

In the 1950’s, the 16-year-old lead singer for the Chantels, Arlene Smith wrote hits and sang with a confidence and power. While the content and production of the songs are simplistic by todays standards, her full-throttled singing would influence vocalist from Janis Joplin to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers sings the Arlene Smith song "Maybe" at Slane Castle, Ireland:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dd-X-lkc70

From his beginnings as a session guitar player at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound studio to writing hits and his “larynx-shredding” vocals, Eddie Hinton was the “young genius who could do it all.” But as popular tastes shifted away from rhythm and blues, Hinton refused to crossover to pop music and his career faded. He continued to perform and record but his rough and tumble life style took its toll and died at 51 in his mother’s home.

Audio of Eddie Hinton singing She Caught the Katy at the Poretta (Italy) Soul Festival 1991. Video footage at his mother's house in Alabama circa 1994.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdXqmCJvPEg

While Brenda Patterson had several strong solo albums, movie soundtracks and sung backup for Dylan and Ry Cooder, she somehow missed broad mainstream success. We look back at the span of her career in multiple genres - all with a soulful Memphis-infused sound.

The quintessential outsider artist, Washington Phillips composed unique ethereal gospel and morality songs that have influenced artists including Sister Rosetta Tharp, Ry Cooder. and Ralph Stanley.

Phillips, an eccentric "jack-leg preacher" made his living selling wares from his mule cart in central Texas. He eventually recorded his music in the late 1920's but remained in obscurity until other artists discovered his songs.

Special thanks to the major sources for this episode:

Dust to Digital Records

https://dust-digital.com/

Michael Corcoran

https://www.michaelcorcoran.net/juneteenth-wash-phillips-son-of-slaves-makes-music-for-the-ages/