This week on Jay Bruder’s Hometown Special

Sunday April 18

This week The Home Town Special kicks off with female rockabilly from Sam C. Phillips’ Sun Records of Memphis featuring The Miller Sisters and Jean Chappell. We hear from women who knew the club life including Kitty Wells‘ “I Heard The Jukebox Playing,” Marie Adam’s “I’m Gonna Play The Honky Tonks,” and Patsy Cline’s “A Church, A Courtroom, Then Goodbye.” Ruth Brown’s “Dear Little Boy of Mine” leads us to some fine gospel harmony from The Golden Crown Quartet and private label titles from The Gibson Family and the Delmar Williams Singers. In the second hour we spend good time around New Orleans with Professor Longhair, before visiting Buddy Johnson and his sister, Ella. Then it’s on to the Perryman brothers for “Right String Baby, But the Wrong YoYo.” Some old-time rock ‘n roll and teenage titles take us up to the close where Lula Redd and Charmaine Neville get the last word on domestic relations. Hope you hear something you enjoy.

Later in the week you can stream the show from the Archive Player. Launch the Sunday 6 pm segment and click ahead one hour.

Sunday April 11

This week on The Home Town Special we’ll start with Frankie Marshall’s “Just Say The Word,” a song that likely had its origin gospel music which we trace. Then it’s down New Orleans to catch drummer Earl Palmer’s back beat on the well know “Sick and Tired” and the not so well known “Some Day, Some Way.” Some hot rockabilly leads us to artists who recorded for tiny custom and independent record labels including the journeyman musician Delbert Barker with his cover version of “Heartbreak Hotel” on Cincinnati’s Gateway Records and Tad Dustin’s fast-talking blues from Washington, D.C. at mid-century on the aptly named Diplomat label. Moon Mullican reminds us of the often overlooked history of the piano in country with blues, and boogies and honkytonk classics. And that’s enough to start off a Texas kick with Jimmie Rodgers, The Carter Family, Bob Wills, and Li’ Son Jackson. We finish with a second look at the rejuvenation of “The White Cliffs of Dover” in 1953 and then on back to New Orleans for a fine finish with Earl King, Guitar Slim, and Mac Rebennack -better known as Dr. John, The Night Tripper. Hope you hear something you enjoy.