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American Song

By: Joe Hines
  • Summary

  • American Song is a podcast that traces the origins and development of American - and ultimately world-wide - forms of modern musical entertainment. Over time, we will trace every major genre from its origins through the current day.American Song looks at the development of our music through the lens of social, political, and economic changes that were occurring in each case, and we'll feature the most important musicians in each genre.Every episode is chock-full of the music we love and where possible, we include archival interviews so you can hear about, in the actual words and voices of these great musicians and singers, the motives and passions that drove their creativity.
    © 2024 American Song
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Episodes
  • Southern Rock: Coming to Terms with a Complicated Past (Part Two)
    Dec 12 2023

    This is the second half of a two-part episode

    In the late 1960's and early 1970's, Southern rock, a rebellious fusion of blues, rock and roll, and country music, emerged as the defiant cry from the heart of the South. Lynyrd Skynyrd's guitars wailed like banshees, their lyrics echoing the region's resistance to outside finger-pointing and strengthened a determination to preserve their own cultural identity.  Never mind the warts and blemishes.  The Allman Brothers Band played with improvisations like soaring eagles.  Their music captured the untamed spirit, passion and raw energy of the South.

    The intensity of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Outlaws was a force of nature, their music was a raw and unfiltered expression of southern pride. Their guitars roared like thunder, their drums pounded like a heartbeat, and their lyrics spoke of rebellion, and the indomitable spirit of the South. 

    John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival's showed that Southern music extended past Southern borders.  Their music, infused with idealism and earthiness, captured the hopes and dreams of ordinary people. Their melodies were catchy and memorable, their lyrics were simple yet profound, and their art spoke directly to the hearts of their listeners.  CCR offered a sense of hope and possibility in a world often filled with uncertainty.

    Robbie Robertson and the Band's music was a tapestry of Americana, woven from the threads of blues, country, rock and roll, and folk. With songs written by a member of America’s first people, who crafted melodies that were both familiar and fresh, The Band captured the essence of the American experience.  All its triumphs and tragedies, from the pinnacle of joy to the depths of sorrow, Robertson helped reveal a nation in search of an identity.

    All of this and more await you in this latest episode!  Hope you enjoy it!

    Featured Artists
    Alabama
    The Allman Bros.
    The Band
    Black Oak Arkansas
    Carl Perkins
    The Charlie Daniels Band
    Creedence Clearwater Revival
    Graham Parker
    Hank Williams
    John Lee Hooker
    Lonnie Mack
    Lynyrd Skynyrd
    Molly Hatchett
    Muddy Waters
    Neil Young
    The Outlaws
    Rossington Collins Band
    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

    Links to Supporting Episodes

    Season One Episode Four
    Season One Episode Seven
    Season One Episode Eight
    Season Two Episode Eight

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    1 hr
  • Southern Rock: Coming to Terms with a Complicated Past (Part One)
    Dec 12 2023

    In the late 1960's and early 1970's, Southern rock, a rebellious fusion of blues, rock and roll, and country music, emerged as the defiant cry from the heart of the South. Lynyrd Skynyrd's guitars wailed like banshees, their lyrics echoing the region's resistance to outside fingerpointing and strengthened a determination to preserve their own cultural identity.  Never mind the warts and blemishes.  The Allman Brothers Band played with improvisations like soaring eagles.  Their music captured the untamed spirit, passion and raw energy of the South.

    The intensity of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Outlaws was a force of nature, their music was a raw and unfiltered expression of southern pride. Their guitars roared like thunder, their drums pounded like a heartbeat, and their lyrics spoke of rebellion, and the indomitable spirit of the South. 

    John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival's showed that Southern music extended past Southern borders.  Their music, infused with idealism and earthiness, captured the hopes and dreams of ordinary people. Their melodies were catchy and memorable, their lyrics were simple yet profound, and their art spoke directly to the hearts of their listeners.  CCR offered a sense of hope and possibility in a world often filled with uncertainty.

    Robbie Robertson and the Band's music was a tapestry of Americana, woven from the threads of blues, country, rock and roll, and folk. With songs written by a member of America’s first people, who crafted melodies that were both familiar and fresh, The Band captured the essence of the American experience.  All its triumphs and tragedies, from the pinnacle of joy to the depths of sorrow, Robertson helped reveal a nation in search of an identity.

    All of this and more await you in this latest episode!  Hope you enjoy it!

    Featured Artists
    Alabama
    The Allman Bros.
    The Band
    Black Oak Arkansas
    Carl Perkins
    The Charlie Daniels Band
    Creedence Clearwater Revival
    Graham Parker
    Hank Williams
    John Lee Hooker
    Lonnie Mack
    Lynyrd Skynyrd
    Molly Hatchett
    Muddy Waters
    Neil Young
    The Outlaws
    Rossington Collins Band
    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

    Links to Supporting Episodes

    Season One Episode Four
    Season One Episode Seven
    Season One Episode Eight
    Season Two Episode Eight


















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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Reggae Music: How Jamaica Conquered the World! (Part Two)
    Aug 3 2023

    This is part two of a two-part focus on Reggae music.

    The heart of Reggae music has always been politics and spirituality.

    In this two part episode, you'll learn about some of the musical and political forces in Jamaica's colorful past that all contributed to the music that we celebrate as reggae today.   From Marcus Garvey, the modern-day prophet who  had a vision for the black people living in the new world, and Ethiopia's Emperor Hailie Salassie, whose formal title included "Lord of Lord, King of Kings, and Conquering Lion of Judah", and claimed to be a direct descendant of King Solomon and the Queen of Shebah, to great early reggae musicians like Derrick Morgan, and Desmond Dekker, to the firey Peter Tosh, and the brilliant reggae, who brought reggae to the rest of the world, Bob Marley - they're all here and you'll learn their stories, hear their music, and understand the major forces that fused to create a brand new genre.

    In this latest episode, learn the inside story of how Bob Marley came from crippling poverty in one of Jamaica's poorest neighborhoods to became reggae's greatest musical luminary, and how he then faced off against the brutality of systemic Jamaican racism to permanently change his country and the rest of the world. 

    In This Episode

    Bob Marley and the Wailers
    1.  Trench Town Rock
    2.  Simmer Down
    3.  400 Years
    4.  I Shot the Sheriff
    5.  Rebel Music (3 0'Clock Road Block)
    6.  War
    7.  Exodus
    8.  Is This Love
    9.  Survival
    10.  Could You Be Loved

    Also in this episode:

    Interview with Bunny Wailer, formerly with the Wailers
    Interview with Marlon James, Jamaican author of A Brief History of Seven Killings

    Continue the experience on line.
    Visit American Song Podcast Facebook page.

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    35 mins

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