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AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM
SWINGIN' THE ELECTION: MUSIC & POLITICS 2012
Every four years American Routes checks out songs and soundbites about politics and electioneering from both sides of the aisle. Hear the late WV Senator Robert Byrd on his fiddle playing as an instrument of political persuasion, and the same approach of Cajun office seeker Roland Cheramie from Louisiana bayou country—he goes door-to-door fiddling for votes. Hungarian ambassador to the US, Andras Simonyi, talks about the role of rock in lifting the Iron Curtain. The buttoned-down Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia was once a disco DJ, while Indiana’s Andy Ruff uses honky-tonk to support his anti-highway building campaign.
HOUR ONE
- Open Bed: Stars and Stripes Forever Eubie Blake
The Eighty-Six Years of Eubie Blake, Columbia - The Times They Are A-Changin' Bob Dylan
The Times They Are A-Changin', Columbia - Political World Carolina Chocolate Drops
Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan, Amnesty International - Long Walk to DC Staple Singers
Soul Folk In Action, Stax - The Wall Street Part of Town Ry Cooder
Election Special, Nonesuch - (Jesus Hits Like the) Atom Bomb Blind Boys of Alabama
Atom Bomb, Real World - Political Science Randy Newman
Sail Away, Reprise - Instrumental: Stars and Stripes Forever - Sweethearts Kalima Brothers
Legends of the Ukulele, Rhino - Take the Star Out of the Window John Prine
Diamonds in the Rough, Atlantic - Mama Bake a Pie Drive By Truckers
The Fine Print, New West - SEGMENT: Senator Robert Byrd
Listen - Guitar Pickin' President Jimmy Martin
Jimmy Martin: 1954-1974, Bear Family - Franklin Roosevelt's Back Again Cox Brothers
Old Time Southern Dance Music, Old Timey - SEGMENT: Roland Cheramie
Listen - Instrumental: Washington Post March Bill Frisell
Have a Little Faith, Nonesuch/ Elektra - SEGMENT: Andras Simonyi
Listen - Rockin' Behind the Iron Curtain Bobby Marchan
Clown Jewels – The Ace Masters 1956-75, Westside - Back in the USSR The Beatles
The Beatles, Apple - US Blues Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel, GDM - End Bed: The Stars and Stripes Forever Tom McDermott
Louisianthology, STD Digital
HOUR two
- Open Bed: Happy Days Are Here Again Casa Loma Orchestra
Songs of the Depression, Bear Family - Jump for Joy Duke Ellington
Centennial Edition, RCA - Roosevelt in Trinidad The Atilla
Roosevelt in Trinidad, Rounder - "The only thing we have to fear..." Franklin Delano Roosevelt
20th Century Time Capsule, Buddha - No Depression Carter Family
In the Shadow of Clinch Mountain, Bear Family - Hard Times Come Again No More Johnny Cash
Unearthed, American - SEGMENT: Andy Ruff
Listen - Instrumental: Stars and Stripes Forever Star Spangled Band
Red, White & Bluegrass, CMH - I Pity the Poor Immigrant Marion Williams
The New Message, Atlantic - Across the Borderline Flaco Jimenez featuring John Hiatt
Partners, Reprise - Soy Mexico Americano Los Cenzontles
Raza de Oro, Cenzontles - Only in America Jay and the Americans
God Bless the USA, MCA - One Time One Night Los Lobos
Just Another Band from East L.A.: A Collection, Warner - Instrumental: The Beautiful American Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong
The Great Summit/ The Masters Takes, Blue Note - SEGMENT: Mayor Michael Nutter
Listen - Yes We Can Lee Dorsey
The Masters, Eagle - My Country Randy Newman
Bad Love, Dreamworks - America the Beautiful Ray Charles
Ray Charles Sings for America, Rhino - End Bed: The House I Live In Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins 1956, Giants of Jazz