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AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM

BAD LUCK / GOOD LUCK

Baton Rouge bluesman Henry Gray, composer of “I’m a Lucky, Lucky Man,” plays piano and tells tales of life’s downs and ups from humble beginnings to reknown as a musician. Guitarist and singer John Hammond Jr. was born into an urbane East Coast family with music business connections, but chose the country blues as a way of life. He speaks about his travels and fortunes as a musician, and his recent collaboration with Tom Waits. Plus we visit with the fortune teller, light a candle, and ask you to listen for the luckiest music mix in the world.

HOUR ONE

  • Wheel of Fortune Little Jimmy Scott
    Everybody's Somebody's Fool, Decca
  • Never Get Out of this World Alive Delta Rhythm Boys
    The Jive is Jumpin': RCA & Bluebird Vocal Groups, 1939-52, West Side
  • Never Get Out of this World Alive Hank Williams
    The Compete Hank Williams, Mercury
  • Gambler's Yodel Doc Watson
    Ballads from Deep Gap, Vanguard
  • I'm a Bad Luck Woman Memphis Minnie
    Hoodoo Lady 1933-1937, Sony
  • Instrumental: Sahara Mac ‘Dr. John' Rebennack
    Dr. John: Medical School, MCI
  • SEGMENT: Sandra Blenden and Felix Figueroa of F&F Botanica and Candle shop

    Listen
  • Fortune Teller Benny Spellman
    Minit Records Story, EMI
  • Four Leaf Clover ReBirth Brass Band
    Do Whatcha Wanna, Mardi Gras
  • Invocando a Chango Ernesto Lecuona and the Lecuona Cuban Boys
    Mambo Cubano: The Golden Age of Cuban Music 1940-1960, Proper/Retro
  • Fallaste Corazón Cuco Sanchez
    Mexicanisimo: 24 Exitos, CBS International
  • Instrumental: Klezmer Dances: Introduction Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
    L.A.G.Q., Sony Classical
  • Dear Someone Gillian Welch
    Time (The Revelator), Acony
  • Stones In My Passway John Hammond
    The Best of, Vanguard
  • INTERVIEW: John Hammond Jr

    Listen
  • Happy Go Lucky Local Duke Ellington
    Blues Masters Vol.13: New York City Blues, Rhino

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Mr. Lucky Si Zentner
    Ultra Lounge Vol. 13: TV Town, Capitol
  • Stormy Monday Them
    Them Featuring Van Morrison, London
  • Stormy Monday Lou Rawls
    Anthology, Capitol
  • I'm Just a Lucky So and So Ella Fitzgerald
    The Very Best of Ella, Decca
  • I'm Just a Lucky So and So Eddie Lockjaw Davis
    Giants of the Blues & Funk Tenor Sax, Fantasy
  • Mean Old World Little Walter
    The Essential, MCA/Chess
  • Mean Old World Sam Cooke
    Night Beat, Abkco
  • Instrumental: Slim's Shout Sunnyland Slim
    Slim's Shout, Fantasy
  • INTERVIEW: Henry Gray

    Listen
  • I Ain't Superstitious Howlin' Wolf
    His Best: Chess 50th Anniversary Collection, MCA
  • I Had My Chance Morphine
    Yes, Rykodisc
  • Instrumental: Feelin' Bad Blues Ry Cooder
    music by Ry Cooder, Warner Bros
  • Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen The Staple Singers
    Great Day, Milestone
  • Rolling Stone Bob Marley & The Wailers
    Wailing Wailers at Studio One, Vol.2, Heartbeat
  • Ol' 55 Tom Waits
    Closing Time, Asylum
  • That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around) Jerry Lee Lewis
    Classics Box, Bear Family
  • Close bed: I'm Just a Lucky So and So Yusef LaTeef
    The Riverside Records Story, Riverside

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