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AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM
MODERN TRADITION: BEN HARPER AND CARL LEBLANC
The singer-songwriter Ben Harper has been on the scene since the early ’90s, but now he’s digging deeper into the blues with the legendary harpman Charlie Musselwhite. We’ll talk with Ben about the musical journey from his family’s music store to his recent recording that he calls his “graduation” album. Then an in-studio conversation with a guitarist who has played with Sun Ra and now plays banjo with Preservation Hall, New Orleans’ own Carl LeBlanc.
HOUR ONE
- Open Bed: Homeless Childe Ben Harper
The Will to Live, Virgin - Mean Ol' Lonesome Train Lightnin' Slim
The Excello Story Volume 2, 1955-1957, Hip-O - Fool for a Lonesome Train Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
Lifeline, Virgin - Sitting on Top of the World Mississippi Sheiks
The Roots of Robert Johnson, Yazoo - Sitting on Top of the World The Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead, Warner Bros. - Looking the World Over Whispering Smith
Swamp Blues, Ace/ Excello - Blueberry Hill Fats Domino
Out of New Orleans, Bear Family - Instrumental: We Can't End Up This Way Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite
Get Up!, Stax - Be My Guest Ben Harper and Skatalites
Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino, Vanguard - Happy Together Dr. Michael White
Adventures in New Orleans Jazz Part 2, Basin Street - The Blues is All Wrong Chuck Leavell featuring Candi Staton
Back to the Woods, Evergreen Arts - I Ain't Superstitious Howlin' Wolf
His Best, MCA - Superstition Stevie Wonder
Talking Book, Motown - Instrumental: 39th and Indiana Charlie Musselwhite
Stand Back! Here Comes Charlie Musselwhite's South Side Band, Vanguard - Fishing Blues Taj Mahal
They All Played for Us: Arhoolie Records 50th Anniversary Celebration, Arhoolie - Strange Land Charlie Musselwhite
Stand Back! Here Comes Charley Musselwhite's Southside Band, Vanguard - SEGMENT: Ben Harper
Listen - Instrumental: Faded Ben Harper
Will To Live, Virgin
HOUR two
- Open Bed: His Last Parade (March) Carl LeBlanc
Those Who Have Ears, Carl LeBlanc - On the Sunny Side of the Street James Booker
Junko Partner, Hannibal - Mess Around Dr. John
Dr. John's Gumbo, ATCO - Sneakin' Sally through the Alley Lee Dorsey
Soul Mine, Charly - Mississippi Mud Shemekia Copeland with J.J. Gray
33 1/3, Telarc - Gonna Stick to You Baby Lonesome Sundown
The Excello Story Volume 3, 1957-1961, Hip-O - Instrumental: Under My Thumb Pickin' on the Rolling Stones
Pickin' on the Rolling Stones, CMH - Rolling Stone Robert Pete Williams
Free Again, Bluesville - Prodigal Son Rolling Stones
Beggars' Banquet, London - 12 Gates to the City Marie Knight
Let Us Get Together, MC Records - Night Train to Memphis Jerry Lee Lewis
Sun Gospel, Bear Family - Shake It J.P. Harris and the Tough Choices
I'll Keep Calling, Cow Island Music - Shake Your Hips Slim Harpo
The Best of Slim Harpo, Excello - Sown Yonder We Go Ballin' Smiley Lewis
Shame, Shame, Shame, Bear Family - Instrumental: Plarine Days Carl LeBlanc
Justin Time: A Tribute to Justin Adams, Carl LeBlanc - SEGMENT: Carl LeBlanc
Listen - Didn't He Ramble Kermit Ruffins
Livin' A Treme Life, Basin Street - End Bed: Basin Street Blues Henry Butler
American Routes original recording,