The Power of The 45

Did you ever have a record player?  Not a stereo.  A record player that played records.  The kind with the built in speaker, hinged top with clasps to secure it when you picked it up by the handle to move it.  The kind you could put a stack of records on that would automatically drop after one side was finished and the tone arm lifted and move away for the next record to drop.  The kind that had a funky shaped 45 adapter that fit over the center pin.  Me too.  Tonight’s show was dedicated to the record player.

This week, I was listening to Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys tune “The Power of The 45 (Pt. 1).”  In the song, Big Sandy sings about all the singers who got significant turntable time on record players of the 50s and 60s.  I went in search of the artists mentioned in the song and put together a 40 minute set featuring these artists.  Listed in the playlist below, they follow “The Power of The 45 (Pt. 1)” and end with Little Willie John’s “I’m Shakin’.”  I had a great time putting tonight’s show together.  If you listened, thank you.

Artist Cut Album Label
Tim Hus Bakersfield Music Bushpilot Buckaroo Stony Plain Records
Buck Owens Tequila Sunrise Buck Sings The Eagles Omnivore Records
Dwight Yoakam Suspicious MInds The Very Best of Dwight Yoakam Reprise
Neko Case Whip the Blankets Furnace Room Lullaby Anti/Epitaph
Tom Russell The Rose of the San Joaquin The Rose of the San Joaquin Hightone Records
Dave Alvin & the Guilty Men Highway 99 Out In California Hightone Records
The Derailers Knee Deep In The Blues Full Western Dress Rhino/London-Sire
77 El Deora Twisted Blue Line Western Independent Recordings
Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys Power Of The 45 (Pt. 1) Turntable Matinee Yep Roc Records
Don Julian & The Meadowlarks Boogie Woogie Teenage High School Reunion Rolled Gold Classics
Janis Martin Blues Keep Calling The Female Elvis – Complete Recordings 1956-60 Bear Family Records GmbH
Glen Glenn Dim Lights, Thick Smoke and Loud Loud Music Dim Lights, Thick Smoke and Loud Loud Music AMB
Joe Pain Sugar Creek Bottom The Spar Records Story – Nashville’s Great Unsung Indie Label Yellow Label
Richard Berry Louie Louie The Roots of Van Morrison Snapper Music
Lazy Lester Alligator Shuffle Harp and Soul Alligator Records
Chuck Berry Brown Eyed Handsome Man Chuck Berry: The Anthology MCA Records
Junior Parker Mystery Train Next Time You See Me Universe
Vernon Taylor Your Lovin’ Man Essential Rockabilly – The Sun Story One Day Music
Janis Martin Drugstore Rock ‘N’ Roll The Female Elvis – Complete Recordings 1956-60 Bear Family Records GmbH
Little Willie John I’m Shakin’ Fever: The Best Of Little Willie John Rhino
Eleven Hundred Springs Every Time I Get Close to You Country Jam Palo Duro
The Flying Burrito Brothers Christine’s Tune The Gilded Palace of Sin and Burrito Deluxe A&M
Gary Stewart Back Sliders Wine The Essential Gary Stewart RCA
Buck Owens I Always Get a Souvenir Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins Sundazed Music
X Burning House Of Love Beyond & Back: The X Anthology Elektra
Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings Loves Gonna Live Here Outlaw Reunion, Volume 1 Craze Productions
Whiskeytown What May Seem Like Love Faithless Street Outpost Recordings
Bill Kirchen Truck Stop At The End Of The World Seeds and Stems Proper Records
Clarence White I’m Tied Down to You Tuff & Stringy/Sessions 1966-68 ace
Red Meat That’s What I’m Here For Alameda County Line Ranchero Records
Johnny Paycheck A-11 All Time Greatest Hits Goldenlane Records
Tommy Collins What’cha Gonna Do Now Swing West Volume, Vol 1 Razor & Tie
Rosie Flores Girl Haggard Once More With Feeling Rounder Records
Billy Mize Solid Sender That’ll Flat Git It, Vol. 9 (DECCA) Bear Family Records GmbH
Ruby Dee & The Snakehandlers Make It Last North of Bakersfield Dionysus Records

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Titan of The Telecaster

Fun show tonight and we had a chance to chat with Bill Kirchen, the TItan of The Telecaster, as he was landing in Oakland in preparation for a couple of Bay Area shows.  The first one on Friday April 26 will be held at the Sebastapol Community Center.  The second local show will be on Saturday April 27 at 142 Throckmorton in Mill Valley.  Bill’s shows are always very high energy and driven by great music.  He will take you around the block and then some with his fantastic guitar playing.  For everyone who thought a telecaster was a simple tool of the twang, you need to catch Bill Kirchen bringing his to life.  Thanks for talking with us, Bill.  It was a real treat.

We also got a copy of the new CD from 77 El Deora.  77 El Deora’s Maurice Tani drove a copy out to us recently.  The whold CD is really good listening music.  They do a great cover of the Chuck Berry tune “Nadine” in a very unexpected style.  However, with the “twang noir” of 77 El Deora, they do nail it.  Make sure to tune in to KWMR on Monday April 29, 6:30 – 8:30.  Amanda will be interviewing Maurice on her show “Release Me.”  Maurice Tani and 77 El Deora will also be performing on May 4 at Studio 55 in Marin.

Tonight’s playlist

Artist Cut Album Label
Tim Hus Bakersfield Music Bushpilot Buckaroo Stony Plain Records
77 El Deora When I’m Drinking I Ain’t Thinking Blue Line Western Independent Recordings
Son Volt Bakersfield Honky Tonk Rounder
Gary Paxton Bakersfield Bakersfield Rebels Ace Records
Chris Hillman Bakersfield Bound Bakersfield Bound Sugarhill
Bill Kirchen Down to Seeds and Stems Again Seeds and Stems Proper Records
Dwight Yoakam Streets Of Bakersfield Live From Austin Texas New West
The Jazz Butcher Bakersfield The Jazz Butcher’s Free Lunch Rev-Ola
Red Meat Midwest Blues Alameda County Line Ranchero Records
Deke Dickerson & The Ecco-Fonics Beat Out My Love Rhythm Rhyme And Truth Shout!
Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys Hey Lowdown! Night Tide Shout! Factory
Dave Alvin Ashgrove Ashgrove Yep Roc
Dave Alvin Sinful Daughter Ashgrove Yep Roc
Cowboy Junkies Ooh Las Vegas Return of the Greivous Angel, a tribute to Gram Parsons Almo
Neko Case Thrice All American Furnace Room Lullaby Anti/Epitaph
Neko Case The Tigers Have Spoken The Tigers Have Spoken Anti/Epitaph
Billy Mize Solid Sender That’ll Flat Git It, Vol. 9 (DECCA) Bear Family Records GmbH
Wynn Stewart It’s Such a Pretty World Today It’s Such a Pretty World Today Capitol
Joe & Rose Lee Maphis Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music) Swing West Vol. 1 – Bakersfield Razor & Tie
Bill Kirchen Truck Stop At The End Of The World Seeds and Stems Proper Records
Red Simpson Hello I’m A Truck Hello I’m a Truck Gusto Records
Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen Mama Hated Diesels Hot Licks and Cold Steel MCA
Red Meat Truck Drivin’ Man Live At The World’s Smallest Honky Tonk Ranchero Records
Joe Maphis Invitation to the Blues The Amazing Joe Maphis Starday
Dwight Yoakam Dim Lights Thick Smoke Loud Music 3 Pears Warner Bros.
Ruby Dee & The Snakehandlers Make It Last North of Bakersfield Dionysus Records

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