88.1 KDHX Saint Louis

Originally recorded for RCA in 1958. Sending this one out to James, who requested this one in honor of the Stanley Cup Champions, the St. Louis Blues.

The caller requested "Mr. Shorty" but I couldn't find it. Hope this is a decent substitute. From Columbia Records, also from 1958.

Uncle Frank wanted to hear something off of this 1969 live recording from Panther Hall in Ft. Worth, TX. Recorded a year after Conway Twitty's version, which went to #5. Thanks to Fred Gumaer for bringing it in today.

Sending this one out to Bill and Annabelle in Farmington, from 70 years ago on Columbia Records in 1949.

From the freshly-released cd by local purveyors of old time music, who are hosting a CD Release and Listening Party at the Tick Tock Tavern next Wednesday, June 26th, 6PM.

Frank's intro to the song reveals the inner workings of the mind of Frank Wakefield. He is a major influence on David Grisman, among other mandolin players. My friend and musician, Mike Harper is the source for this wonderful two-disc release. Hard to believe it's been 20 years.

Recorded in 1948 for RCA. Country music historian Ronnie Pugh notes that Little Roy Wiggins' distinctive "ting-a-ling" sound was as integral to Arnold's sound as Billy Byrd's was to E.T. He was inducted into the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1985.

Willie and Sons cover the old Mac Davis song on Willie's latest album. Sending this one out to John Dunphy at Second Reading bookshop in Alton, who at times sends out FB posts affirming the song's message. Willie is at the Outlaw Music Festival next Saturday at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, getting underway at 2:30PM.

Alison covered this Willie Nelson song on this terrific album, which first appeared on Willie's 1998 release "Teatro" release. Alison is also part of the Outlaw Music Festival bill.

From the Bluebird label in 1935. Shortly after these recordings with Happy Fats, Nathan went on hiatus from the music business and took a job at the Basile, LA city dump. He later recorded again, notably with the Balfa Brothers and with his signature postwar song, "Pine Grove Blues."

Recorded 50 years ago in 1969 on the Arhoolie label. He won a Grammy in 1983 for his "I'm Here" album and he duly impressed music critic Ralph Gleason, who was surprised to hear accordion-driven blues.

One of four Butch Hancock songs found on Joe's 1977 debut album. Lloyd Maines plays steel on this one and has gone on to be probably the most in-demand record producer in the state of Texas. When I get a new release produced by "The Professor", as Wayne Hancock calls him, I know it will soon be in rotation.

From her fine tribute album to Merle Haggard. Suzy makes an appearance next Saturday night at the Lincoln Theater in Belleville. Salmon Creek opens.

Margo comes back to town on Saturday, July 20th for a show at the Atomic Cowboy Pavillion. Cara Louise opens. Suzy Bogguss and Margo Price both consider Aledo, IL their hometown.

Terrific original composition by these two former teachers, now showing us how to produce, sing and play good music.

Jimmy Queen passed away a week ago. He was a fine guitarist, drummer, singer and band leader and the son of St. Louis country music legend Roy Queen. Other band members include Virgil Watts, Jimmy's wife, Starla Watts Queen, Mark Abbott, Bo Chaloupek, Dino Strunk, Russ Wever and Roy Rosetta. This was recorded during the 44th and last year of the International Steel Guitar Convention.

Matt in Columbia wanted to hear this 1957 recording on Columbia Records, co-written by Bob Wills and a fine example of the classic country shuffle.

From RCA in 1948. Rosalie was a first-class yodeler and a major promoter of country music in its early days in New York City. She and her Prairie Stars had a show on WOV and the Rosalie Allen Hillbilly Music Center was the first record store in the U.S. to specialize in country music.

A set of music from the great Kenny Baker, one of my favorite fiddlers. As jazz violinist Claude Williams noted, "This fella, my friend Kenny, he put the big copyright on tone."

One of two albums Kenny made with Josh Graves in the early '70s, both of which feature Kenny's four-finger guitar style he learned from a black musician in Jenkins named Ernest Johnson. He started out playing fiddle but his dad, also a fiddler, was critical of Kenny's talent so Kenny switched to guitar for awhile.

Originally recorded in 1983, Kenny said he never recorded this Monroe tune with Bill. Byron Berline played on Bill's recording. The other great musicians on this cut include Jess McReynolds, Charlie Collins, Joe Stuart, Allen Shelton and Roy Huskey, Jr.

A very interesting composition of Kenny Baker's, here performed by an all-star band whose existence was cut short by the untimely death of bass player, Forrest Rose. Bob Black plays banjo on this one just as he did on the same track on Kenny Baker's "Frost on the Pumpkin" LP that came out in 1976.

Closing out today's Back Country with a couple of sets of songs written or co-written by Kris, who is celebrating his 83rd birthday today. He's been an oil rig roughneck, helicopter pilot, Rhodes scholar, Golden Gloves boxer, author, film actor and writer of some of the great songs in country music history. Sammi Smith's 1970 version was #1 on the country chart, #8 on the pop one.

Recorded for Smash Records in 1969, Roger's version came out before Kris's. Janis Joplin recorded her crossover hit just days before she died in 1970.

Waylon recorded this one for RCA in 1970. Kris co-wrote this one with Shel Silverstein.

Johnny Cash first recorded this Kristofferson classic for his television show in 1969. The network told him to change the lyric "wishing Lord that I was stoned." Johnny being Johnny, he sang it as it was written.

This album was originally released on Atlantic 20 years ago in 1999, and features guest stars: Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Jackson Browne, Mark Knopfler, Steve Earle etc. Kris lends a humorous opening to the song.

Ray's version was released in 1970 on Columbia and was his first #1 in eleven years. It was also high on the pop chart at #11.

A fine version from Rosanne on a pretty fine tribute album. A tribute concert for Kris was held in 2016 at the Bridgestone Theater in Nashville, featuring many stars including Rosanne, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and more.

John Steineck wrote "The Grapes of Wrath" in 1939 and John Ford directed the 1940 film, which depicts a scene in a roadhouse diner which inspired Kris to write this song.