BROWSE BY DATE

SUPPORT GREAT STORYTELLING

We rely on your support to remain on air and online. Your contribution helps us bring you interviews with great American artists and the carefully curated music mix that you’ve enjoyed over the years.

Donate

 

AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM

SHADES OF THE BLUES

We explore the sonic hues of the blues in jazz, R & B, country, Cajun and pop. We’ll hear blues inflections in the music of Gene Vincent and George Jones, Nina Simone and Joni Mitchell. Then we crash a blues house party at the National Folk Festival for music and conversation with British rocker Albert Lee, Piedmont harmonica master Phil Wiggins, St. Louis guitarist Marquise Knox, and Cajun accordionist Steve Riley. We’re looking toward blue skies and blue horizons on American Routes!

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: I Got the Blues T-Bone Walker
    The Complete Imperial Sessions, EMI
  • Blues Stay Away from Me Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps
    Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps, Capitol
  • CLIP: Nina Simone
  • Sugar in My Bowl Nina Simone
    The Very Best of Nina Simone: Sugar in My Bowl 1967-1972, RCA
  • Crazy Arms Jerry Lee Lewis
    Sun Classics, Charly
  • Blue Monday Fats Domino
    Out of New Orleans, Bear Family
  • Color of Blues George Jones
    The Classic Mercury Years, Mercury
  • George Jones Talkin' Cell Phone Blues Drive-By Truckers
    The Fine Print: A Collection of Oddities and Rarities (2003-2008), New West
  • Instrumental: Blues Back McCoy Tyner Trio
    Reaching Forth, Impulse
  • Blue Blue Day Tracy Nelson
    Mother Earth Presents Tracy Nelson Country , Reprise
  • Long Gone Lonesome Blues Hank Williams
    The Complete Hank Williams - 10 CD Deluxe Edition, Mercury
  • First Time I Met the Blues Buddy Guy
    Buddy's Blues, Chess/MCA
  • Blues Won't Give Me No Rest (Live) Henry Gray
    American Routes recording at the 2016 Baton Rouge Blues Festival,
  • Instrumental: Como Mississippi Fred McDowell
    Mississippi Fred McDowell, Rounder
  • Ramblin' On My Mind Robert Johnson
    Robert Johnson: The Complete Recordings, Columbia
  • Turbulent Indigo Joni Mitchell
    Turbulent Indigo, Reprise
  • Blue Skies Cassandra Wilson
    Blue Skies, JMT
  • That Lucky Old Sun Big Mama Thornton
    Stronger Than Dirt, Mercury
  • Blues for the Melody Inn The Mighty Four
    Dancing at the Melody Inn, American Music
  • Rainy Day Women 12 x 35 Bob Dylan
    Blonde on Blonde, Columbia
  • Closing Bed: Blue Horizon Sidney Bechet
    Blue Horizon: The Sidney Bechet Story, Proper Records

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Blues House Party Rag Phil Wiggins Blues House Party
    American Routes recording at the 2018 National Folk Festival,
  • Two Step Too Albert Lee
    American Routes recording at the 2018 National Folk Festival,
  • SEGMENT: Albert Lee
  • SEGMENT: Marquise Knox
  • Flip, Flop, and Fly Marquise Knox
    American Routes recording at the 2018 National Folk Festival,
  • Instrumental: Alley Strut Henry Townsend
    Mule, Nighthawk
  • SEGMENT: Marquise Knox Pt. 2
  • SEGMENT: Phil Wiggins
  • Instrumental Jam Phil Wiggins
    American Routes recording at the 2018 National Folk Festival,
  • SEGMENT: Steve Riley
  • Drunkard's Blues Steve Riley
    American Routes recording at the 2018 National Folk Festival,
  • Instrumental: Eunice Two-Step Lawtell Playboys
    La-La: Louisiana Black French Music, Maison de Soul
  • SEGMENT: Steve Riley Pt. 2
  • Blue Runner Steve Riley
    American Routes recording at the 2018 National Folk Festival,
  • Fool's Night Out Phil Wiggins, Marquise Knox, Albert Lee, Steve Riley and Band
    American Routes recording at the 2018 National Folk Festival,
  • Closing Bed: Guitar and Harmonica Rag Joh Cephas and Phil Wiggins
    Going Down the Road Feeling Bad, Evidence Music

THE LATEST STREAMS