HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 13-16 – THE LEGACY OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG, part 16

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Today’s show covers Louis in the early 1950s, a time when progressive had turned its back on him. Rather than turning himself inside out trying to conform to the bebopper’s ideas, he decided to stay true to himself. His lip had already endured nearly forty years of abuse, so it was time for Louis to relax. From this point forward, Louis is simultaneously a pop artist and a living legend.

Songs covered today include:

1) That Lucky Old Sun

2) I Surrender Dear

3) La Vie En Rose

4) My Sweet Hunk o’ Trash (with Billie Holiday)

5) (I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead) You Rascal You (with Louis Jordan)

6) Dream a Little Dream of Me (with Ella Fitzgerald)

7) Gone Fishin’ (with Bing Crosby)

8) A Kiss to Build a Dream On

9) Your Cheatin’ Heart

10) When It’s Sleepy Time Down South

A Few More Album Tracks from February 1970

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The 1970’s were the ‘decade of the album’, for sure. The ‘50s and ‘60s revolved mostly around the single, and the ‘80s and ‘90s kicked off the transition to digital music, the 1970s squarely belonged to the 12” vinyl platter. Because of this, we usually need extra shows to cover album tracks from this era, thus our second show dedicated to albums from Early 1970.

Today’s show includes;

1) Come and Get It – Badfinger (“Magic Christian Music”)

2) Crimson Ship - “

3) That’s the Way Love Is – Marvin Gaye (“That’s the Way Love Is”)

4) Questions 67 and 68 – Chicago Transit Authority

5) Funky Miracle – The Meters (“Look-Ka Py Py”)

6) Look-Ka Py Py - “

7) Yeah, You’re Right – “

8) Lick My Decals Off, Baby – Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band

9) The Smithsonian Institute Blues - “

10) Here I Go – Syd Barrett (“The Madcap Laughs”)

11) Love You - “

12) If It’s In You - “

13) Dark Globe -

HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 13-15 – THE LEGACY OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG, part 15

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The post-war years were when Louis Armstrong reached his highest level of acceptance with the general populace. Unfortunately, the price of mass acceptance had a cost, and Louis’ entrance into the mainstream meant that he was no longer in the vanguard. The ‘Young Turks’ were now playing a form of music called ‘be-bop’, and Louis’ brand of swing/jazz was deemed ‘old-fashioned’ by the younger breed of players. At this point, Louis was in his late forties, so the transition was only natural. He had been a de facto leader of musical development for over twenty years, but now he was preparing to settle into the role of elder statesman, while continuing to make some truly wonderful music. Songs from today’s show include;

1) Marie (with the Mills Brothers)

2) Ain’t It the Truth

3) You Won’t Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)

4) Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans

5) Where the Blues Were Born in New Orleans

6) Rockin’ Chair

7) Snafu

8) Fifty-Fifty Blues

9) Before Long

10) Blueberry Hill

HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 13-14 – THE LEGACY OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG

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Today’s show covers Louis Armstrong’s career during the War Years, so by necessity, recorded evidence –from a recording studio – is slim. The war itself provided plenty of distractions, but the era coincided with a strike by the AF of M, which promptly put about 8,000 musicians out of work. As usual, it had its share of personal turbulence as well, seeing Louis divorce his third wife, while settling in with his fourth (and final) wife, Lucille. At this point in time, manager Joe Glaser decided to present Louis as a novelty act more than as an innovator. A lesser artist would have crumpled, but Louis had personality to spare, and he brought life to even the most mundane material.

Songs from today’s show include;

1) W.P.A. (with the Mills Brothers)

2) You Run Your Mouth, I’ll Run My Business

3) Cut Off My Legs and Call Me Shorty

4) Down n Honky Tonk Town

5) Ev’rything’s Been Done Before

6) I’ll Get Mine Bye and Bye

7) When It’s Sleepy Time Down South

8) Jack – Armstrong Blues

9) I Wonder

HOW MUSIC CHANGED, PART 13-13 – THE LEGACY OF LOUIS ARMSTRONG

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Part 13 in our Louis Armstrong series covers the pre-war era of 1938-1941. If you have any doubt at all that Louis was able to maintain his artistry this far into his career, we hope to dispel it entirely with the songs covered in today’s show, including;

1) Jubilee

2) I Double Dare You

3) When the Saints Go Marching In

4) Shadrack

5) I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

6) Elder Eatmore’s Sermon on Generosity

7) Elder Eatmore’s Sermon on Generosity (Bert Williams)

8) What Is This Thing Called Swing?

9) You’ve Got Me Voodoo’d

10) Harlem Stomp

11) Wolverine Blues

A FEW SINGLES FROM EARLY 1970

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This is OUR first show of the new decade dedicated to music from exactly 40 years ago, one of our favorite musical eras, the ‘60s. No, I’m not going insane. The way we see it at American Hit Radio, the ‘60s – as we have come to know them – began in January 1964 with the arrival of the Beatles, and lingered until some time in 1972, when a cultural shift ultimately moved away from the ideals of the ‘60s. I think the music will prove out this theory adequately enough, so here are the songs featured in today’s show;

1) Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – Sly & the Family Stone

2) Everybody Is a Star- Sly & the Family Stone

3) Rainy Night in Georgia – Brook Benton

4) The Thrill Is Gone – B.B.King

5) Bridge Over Troubled Water- Simon & Garfunkel

6) Travelin’ Band – CCR

7) Who’ll Stop the Rain – CCR

8) He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother - The Hollies

9) Call Me – Aretha Franklin

10) Leaving On a Jet Plane – Peter, Paul & Mary

11) Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head – B.J. Thomas