Show 69: Jewish Legacy in Blues
This show traces a Jewish thread through folk, blues revival, urban songwriting, and singer-songwriter tradition. It argues less for bloodline than for fellowship: how certain Jewish artists heard the blues as a language of exile, wit, sorrow, and stubborn endurance, then answered it in their own voices.
I'm your host. For today's auspicious 69th episode of the CC Blues Show, we will be transitioning from last week's theme of Christian blues to blues by Jews. Up first is the renaissance man if there ever was one. It's Shel Silverstein's autobiographical track "Folk Singer's Blues," followed by some other notorious Brooklyn cowboys, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and Arlo Guthrie, and Steve Goodman. Now here's Mr. Silverstein.
This show traces a Jewish thread through folk, blues revival, urban songwriting, and singer-songwriter tradition. It argues less for bloodline than for fellowship: how certain Jewish artists heard the blues as a language of exile, wit, sorrow, and stubborn endurance, then answered it in their own voices.
| Order | Track | Artist | Segment | Bridge | Story |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Folk Singer's Blues | Shel Silverstein | 1 | - | |
| 2 | Black Snake Moan | Ramblin' Jack Elliott | 1 | - | |
| 3 | Stealin' | Arlo Guthrie | 1 | - | |
| 4 | Lovesick Blues | Arlo Guthrie | 1 | - | |
| 5 | Chicken Cordon Bleus | Steve Goodman | 1 | - | |
| 6 | Come On In My Kitchen | David Bromberg | 1 | - | |
| 7 | Statesboro Blues/Church Bell Blues | David Bromberg | 1 | - | |
| 8 | Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues | Peter Yarrow | 1 | Yes | - |
| 9 | Hoodoo Voodoo Lady | Shel Silverstein | 2 | Yes | - |
| 10 | Junker's Blues | Mike Bloomfield | 2 | - | |
| 11 | 500 Miles | Peter, Paul and Mary | 2 | - | |
| 12 | Freight Train | Peter, Paul and Mary | 2 | - | |
| 13 | Talking Vietnam Blues | Phil Ochs | 2 | - | |
| 15 | A Simple Desultory Philippic | Simon & Garfunkel | 2 | - | |
| 16 | I'm On The Road Again | Country Joe McDonald | 2 | - | |
| 17 | When I Got Troubles | Bob Dylan | 2 | - | |
| 18 | I Was Young When I Left Home | Bob Dylan | 2 | Yes | - |
| 19 | It's a Jungle out There (V2) | Randy Newman | 3 | Yes | - |
| 21 | Tupelo | Bob Dylan;The Band | 3 | - | |
| 22 | I'm in the Mood | Bob Dylan;The Band | 3 | - | |
| 23 | Flying High | Country Joe & The Fish | 3 | - | |
| 24 | Soul Sister Annie | Melanie | 3 | - | |
| 25 | Wedding Bells Blues | Laura Nyro | 3 | - | |
| 26 | Stoned Soul Picnic | Laura Nyro | 3 | - | |
| 27 | Big Boss Man | Barry Goldberg | 3 | Yes | - |
| 28 | I Ain't Heard You Play No Blues | Steve Goodman | 4 | Yes | - |
| 29 | It Hurts Me Too | Barry Goldberg | 4 | - | |
| 30 | Going Down Slow | The Electric Flag | 4 | - | |
| 31 | Memphis Radio Blues | Mike Bloomfield | 4 | - | |
| 32 | Almost Like the Blues | Leonard Cohen | 4 | - | |
| 33 | Mystery Train | The Band | 4 | - | |
| Blues Run the Game - Studio Outtake - 1965 | Simon & Garfunkel | - | |||
| Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong | Al Kooper;Mike Bloomfield | - | |||
| Quit Your Low Down Ways - Witmark Demo - 1962 | Bob Dylan | - | |||
| St. James Infirmary (Gambler's Blues) | Louis Armstrong | - |