J.B. Lenoir, one of the featured performers on this episode of Blues Unlimited.

Blues Unlimited #121 - Blues and the Political Spirit

From: Steve Franz
Series: Blues Unlimited
Length: 01:58:59

In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we take a look at Blues and politics, examining such topics as war, the Great Depression, politicians, economic downturns, and more. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Promos

Playing: Blues Unlimited #121 - Blues and the Political Spirit
From: Steve Franz

J_b_lenoir_small Although it could probably be argued that Blues musicians are best known for singing about the trials and tribulations of unrequited love and tales of woe regarding the opposite sex, it's also true that many artists were also keen observers of the events of the day, capturing the 'zeitgeist' of the times in some of their recordings. In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we take an illuminating look at Blues and Politics, as we hear from artists like Charley Patton, Big Bill Broonzy, Leadbelly, Son House, John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, Doctor Clayton, Floyd Jones, J.B. Lenoir, and Lightnin' Hopkins as they comment on the people, places, and events going on in their lives, and the world around them. (with our apologies to Paul Garon, author of the classic book "Blues and the Poetic Spirit," for the play on words).

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Piece Description

Although it could probably be argued that Blues musicians are best known for singing about the trials and tribulations of unrequited love and tales of woe regarding the opposite sex, it's also true that many artists were also keen observers of the events of the day, capturing the 'zeitgeist' of the times in some of their recordings. In this episode of Blues Unlimited, we take an illuminating look at Blues and Politics, as we hear from artists like Charley Patton, Big Bill Broonzy, Leadbelly, Son House, John Lee "Sonny Boy" Williamson, Doctor Clayton, Floyd Jones, J.B. Lenoir, and Lightnin' Hopkins as they comment on the people, places, and events going on in their lives, and the world around them. (with our apologies to Paul Garon, author of the classic book "Blues and the Poetic Spirit," for the play on words).

Broadcast History

First local broadcast on KXCI, FM 91.3, on June 22, 2011

Timing and Cues

Hour 1: 00:00 - 1:00:41
In Cue: "Welcome to Blues Unlimited..."
Out Cue (at 59:41): "...coming up right after this break."

Break (60 second music bed): 59:41 - 1:00:41

Hour 2: 1:00:41 - 1:58:59
In Cue: "Welcome back to the show..."
Out Cue (at 1:56:14): "...next time, right here on Blues Unlimited."

Note: from 1:56:14 to 1:58:59, an instrumental by Jerry Perkins, "P-38 Stomp," closes the show.

Additional Notes:
This episode of Blues Unlimited is compliant with SOUNDEXCHANGE reporting requirements.

Each episode of Blues Unlimited is designed to be a self-contained "evergreen" show, to be run at any time you choose.

Musical Works

Title	Artist	Album	Label	Year	Length
Mr. Crump Don't Like It	Beale Street Sheiks	Paramount Blues - Hometown Skiffle.	Black Swan	1927	02:43
Ninety-Nine Year Blues	Julius Daniels	When The Sun Goes Down Vol 1 - Walk Right In.	RCA/Bluebird	1927	03:06
Tom Rushen Blues	Charley Patton	Screamin' & Hollerin' The Blues: The Worlds Of Charley Patton.	Revenant	1929	03:08
It's Hard Times	Joe Stone aka J.D. Short	When the Sun Goes Down Vol 6: Poor Man's Heaven.	RCA/Bluebird	1933	03:12
CWA Blues	Joe Pullum	Complete Recorded Works Vol 1.	Document	1934	03:13
Sales Tax	Mississippi Sheiks	When The Sun Goes Down Vol 2 - The First Time I Met The Blues.	RCA/Bluebird	1934	03:06
President Roosevelt Is Everybody's Friend	Rev. J.M. Gates	Complete Recorded Works Vol 8.	Document	1934	03:08
California Desert Blues	Lane Hardin	Backwoods Blues.	Document	1935	03:17
W.P.A. Blues	Casey Bill Weldon	The Story of the Blues.	Columbia	1936	03:17
'29 Blues	Alfred Fields	News and the Blues: Telling It Like It Is.	Columbia/Legacy	1939	02:50
Joe Louis and John Henry Blues	Sonny Boy Williamson	Complete Recorded Works Vol. 3.	Document	1939	02:57
Welfare Store Blues	Sonny Boy Williamson	When the Sun Goes Down Vol 6: Poor Man's Heaven.	RCA/Bluebird	1940	02:52
Stamp Blues	Tony Hollins	Chicago Blues Vol 1 1939-1950.	Document	1941	02:36
'41 Blues	Doctor Clayton	Angels In Harlem.	P-Vine	1941	02:57
In The Army Now	Big Bill Broonzy	Vol 3: The War and Post War Years.	JSP	1941	02:45
Pearl Harbor Blues	Doctor Clayton	Angels In Harlem.	P-Vine	1942	03:07
American Defense	Son House	The Complete Library of Congress Sessions 1941-1942.	Travelin' Man	1942	02:56
Bourgeois Blues	Leadbelly	Bourgeois Blues: Leadbelly Legacy Vol 2.	Smithsonian/Folkways	1944	02:20
His Spirit Lives On	Big Joe Williams	Complete Recorded Works Vol 2.	Document	1945	02:47
Atomic Bomb Blues	Homer Harris	News and the Blues: Telling It Like It Is.	Columbia	1946	02:33
Bilbo Is Dead	Andrew Tibbs	The Aristocrat of the Blues.	MCA/Chess	1947	02:56
Income Tax Blues	Ralph Willis	Blues Complete.	Westside	1951	02:37
Stockyard Blues	Floyd Jones	Chicago Down Home Blues Vol. 1.	Audio Book & Music	1948	02:49
The World's In A Tangle	Jimmy Rogers	The Complete Chess Recordings.	MCA/Chess	1951	02:58
Sad News From Korea	Lightnin' Hopkins	Mercury Blues & Rhythm Story.	Mercury	1951	03:09
Back To Korea Blues	Sunnyland Slim	Down Home Blues Classics Vol 3 - Chicago.	Boulevard Vintage	1950	03:06
Korea Blues	J.B. Lenoir	Natural Man.	MCA/Chess	1950	02:51
Get Back (Black, Brown and White)	Big Bill Broonzy	Vol 3: The War and Post War Years.	JSP	1951	03:04
Living In The White House	Johnny Shines	Sunnyland Slim 1952-1955.	Classics	1953	02:29
Democrat Blues	Bobo Jenkins	Blues For Big Town.	Chess	1954	03:13
Ain't Times Hard	Floyd Jones	Down Home Blues Classics Vol 3 - Chicago.	Boulevard Vintage	1954	03:09
Tough Times	John Brim	Whose Muddy Shoes.	MCA/Chess	1954	03:02
Things Are So Slow	J.B. Hutto	Chicago Blues - The Chance Era.	Charly	1954	03:08
Everybody Wants To Know	J.B. Lenoir	Natural Man.	MCA/Chess	1955	02:20
P-38 Stomp (excerpt)	Jerry Perkins	Down Home Blues Classics Vol 4 - California & The West Coast 1948-1954.	Boulevard Vintage	1946	02:45

Related Website

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