Last night on Bakersfield and Beyond (BB) we hosted Robert Price, Executive Editor of the Bakersfield Californian newspaper and author of The Bakersfield Sound: How a Generation of Displaced Okies Revolutionized American Music. The book is not just your average “run of the mill” information on the usual suspects (Buck and Merle) but digs deeply into the tangled web that is the Bakersfield Sound. The many characters, locations and aspects that make up that west coast California sound that is hard to not love.
Robert brought with him two newly released CDs from Bear Family Records, too! The Other Side of Bakersfield, Volumes 1 & 2 have some amazing tracks, over 60 for your listening pleasure. They are on order and we will be spinning them very soon.
You can pre-order your book from Robert Price directly, just email him at rprice@bakersfield.com. We got a sneak preview of the document, minus photos and formatting and are anxiously awaiting the final product. Robert is also tossing around the concept of a Bakersfield Sound Music Festival in Bakersfield….how cool would that be? Very cool.
We were fortunate enough to run into David Allen Haggard of The Haggards (a local band made up of the illegitimate sons of Merle himself). They were practicing for their gig at the Western next door to KWMR and popped over to play a few tunes and meet Robert Price. Lucky us! They will return on November 6th and help us raise some much needed funds during the “Go Nuts for KWMR, Fall Pledge Drive.” Don’t forget to support local community radio – it’s where all the coolest things happen.
We had a good time discussing the Bakersfield Sound and spinning some tracks, in fact we invaded the next show space so the archive can be accessed in two places on the KWMR web site for the next 14 days. HERE for the first two hours and then a bonus hour HERE. No promises what you might get after the 14 days are up. : )
Here are a few video clips to entice you. As always, thanks for checking out the blog. We welcome comments, requests and information that will enhance the show.
This Billy Mize one is a little racy (sorry kids) but we appreciate these good looking ladies and their undies.
And here is an obscure one, but I urge you to chase the Jazz Butcher Conspiracy down the rabbit hole of the Interwebs and learn more about them.
| Artist | Cut | Album | Label |
| Tim Hus | Bakersfield Music | Bushpilot Buckaroo | Stony Plain Records |
| Dwight Yoakam | Dim Lights Thick Smoke Loud Music | 3 Pears | Warner Bros. |
| Spade Cooley | Shame On You | Shame On You – Single | Supreme Sounds |
| Lefty Frizzell | If You’ve Got The Money, I’ve Got The Time | American Roots Music | Palm |
| Wynn Stewart | Another Day, Another Dollar | Almost Big Hits of 1962, Vol. 1 | Six Week Smile |
| Merle Haggard | (Medley) Swinging Doors, I’m a Lonesome Fugitive, Sing Me Back Home, Sing me Back Home, Branded Man | Okie from Muskogee | Capitol |
| Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys | Rose of San Antone | Fiddlin’ Man: The Life & Times of Bob Wills | Arkadia Digital |
| The Maddox Brothers & Rose | Philadelphia Lawyer | America’s Most Colorful Hillbilly Band – Vol. 1 | Arhoolie Records |
| Ferlin Husky & Jean Shepard | Dear John Letter | Swing West Volume 1 – Bakersfield | Razor & Tie |
| Tommy Collins | You Better Not Do That | Swing West – Vol 1 Bakersfield | Razor & Tie |
| Buck Owens | Under Your Spell Again | Buck Em! The Music of Buck Owens (1955-1967) | Omnivore |
| Red Simpson | The Highway Patrol | Swing West Vol. 1 Bakersfield | Razor & Tie |
| Tom Russell | Bakersfield | Hotwalker | Red Music |
| The Jazz Butcher | Bakersfield | The Jazz Butcher’s Free Lunch | Rev-Ola |
| Social Distortion | Bakersfield | Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes | Epitaph |
| Merle Haggard | A Bar In Bakersfield | Merle Haggard: Best of the 90’s, Vol. Two | Curb |
| Fuzzy Owen | Arkie’s Got Her Shoes On | The Other Side of Bakersfield, Vol. 1 – 1950S & 60S Boppers and Rockers from ‘Nashville West’ | Bear Family Records GmbH |
| Billy Mize | Planet Named Desire | The Other Side of Bakersfield: 1950’s &60’s Boppers and Rockers from ‘Nashville West’ Vol. 2 | Bear Family Records GmbH |
| The Mavericks | All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down | The Mavericks: The Definitive Collection | MCA Nashville |
| Buck Owens | Act Naturally | Buck ‘Em! The Music of Buck Owens (1955-1967) | Omnivore |
| Rusty Dean | Saturday Satan, Sunday Saint | Bakersfield Rebels | Ace |
| Vince Gill & Paul Franklin | I’m On My Way Home Again | Country & West Coast, The Birth of Country Rock | Big Beat |
| Buck Owens | Lady Madonna | The Warner Brothers Recordings | Warner Bros. |
| Vince Gill & Paul Franklin | The Bottle Let Me Down | Bakersfield | MCA Nashville |
| The Everly Brothers | I’m On My Way Home Again | Country & West Coast: The Birth of Country Rock | Ace Records |
| Dave Alvin | Highway 99 | Out In California | Hightone Records |
Bakersfield and Beyond 