Blues

Singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt. Her newest release is her first live album, "Road Tested," (Capitol). It's been nominated for a Grammy. But today, Raitt is on Fresh Air to talk about the musicians and performers that inspired her. She'll play recordings by such blues artists as B.B. King, Mississippi Fred McDowell, and Sippie Wallace. Raitt recorded one of McDowell's songs on her new album.

Milo Miles reviews Sister Rosetta Tharpe's Complete Recorded Works 1938-1944 by Document Records. also Mahalia Jackson's Apollo recordings.

Commentator Milo Miles reviews the five-CD box set featuring Chicago and country blues performers from the early 60s. It's called "American Folk Blues Festival '62 to '65." (Evidence label).

Critic Milo Miles reviews "Blues, Rags, and Hollers," a reissue of a 1963 debut album of Koerner, Ray, and Glover (Red House Records Elektra).

Music Commentator Milo Miles reviews Right on Time by Little Buster and the Soul Brothers. It is put out by Bullseye Blue.

Critic Milo Miles reviews the album "Vietnam Blues: The Complete L+R Records" by J. B. Lenoir.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks at Chicago's contribution to music. Artists discussed include Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Fontella Bass, The Dels, The Chi-Lites, and Earth, Wind, and Fire.

Rock historian Ed Ward begins a special series on the contribution of various cities to rock and roll. He begins with Los Angeles. Artists discussed Roy Milton, Johnny Otis, Esther Phillips, Richie Valens, Eddie Cochran, Beach Boys, Phil Spector, The Ronettes, and The Byrds.

Critic Milo Miles reviews the newest book by Walter Mosely. It's not an Easy Rawlins book. It's R.L.'S Dream, (Norton) a book about the blues told in the voice of down and out, country-blues musician Soupspoon.

Rock Historian Ed Ward highlights the music of singer Mable John. She hit the black radio top ten chart in the 1960s with her song "Your Good Thing." Her music never caught on and not surprisingly most of her material never was released by Stax Records. But in 1993, Fantasy Records, assembled her music and released what turns out to be her first album.

World Music Critic Milo Miles offers a tribute to the persistence and range of soul singer Solomon Burke. Miles reviews Burke's new CD "Live at the House of Blues."

World music critic Milo Miles reviews Bukka White's new record "1963 Isn't 1962. ."

World music critic Milo Miles reviews the previously unreleased concert recording by Delta bluesman Skip James. It's called "She Lying."

Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker looks back at the music of Doc Pomus, who died in 1991. There's a new tribute album to him out, called "Till the Night Is Gone."

Music critic Milo Miles reviews two CD anthologies of Bobby "Blue" Bland: "Turn on Your Love Light" and "I Pity the Fool." Bland, with his big band blues sound, had a number of hits on the "Black Charts" in his peak years from 1957 to 1964. He still makes records and performs today.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Blues Nexus," the new recording by James Spaulding, who plays flute in addition to alto saxophone.

Rock Historian Ed Ward looks back at Ike Turner's career before Tina, when he secured his place in American Pop music history.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new solo album by slide guitarist Sonny Landreth, "South of I-10."

An interview from our archives with singer, songwriter and guitarist Ted Hawkins, who died Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 58. For almost 30 years, Hawkins was a street musician in L.A famous for his trademark milk crate. He became a star in England where he lived for four years, though he was still virtually unknown in the U.S. Last year, Hawkins released a new recording titled "The Next Hundred Years." (Rebroadcast)

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Eric Clapton's new release, "From the Cradle." It's Clapton's first since his best-selling "Unplugged."