music to my ears

yesterday afternoon, while fiddlin' on the computer, i stumbled upon what i consider to be a musical goldmine: a U.S. public radio program called American Routes, the archives of which can be streamed on the internet here. here's how the website describes it:

American Routes is a weekly two-hour public radio program produced in New Orleans,presenting a broad range of American music — blues and jazz, gospel and soul,old-time country and rockabilly, Cajun and zydeco, Tejano and Latin, roots rock and pop, avant-garde and classical. Now celebrating in our 10th year on the air,American Routes explores the shared musical and cultural threads in these American styles and genres of music — and how they are distinguished.
The program also presents documentary features and artist interviews. Our conversations include Willie Nelson, Tom Waits, B.B. King, Dr. John, Dave Brubeck, Abbey Lincoln, Elvis Costello, Ray Charles, Randy Newman, McCoy Tyner,Lucinda Williams, Rufus Thomas, Jerry Lee Lewis and many others. Join us as we ride legendary trains, or visit street parades, instrument-makers, roadside attractions, and juke joints, and meet tap dancers, fishermen, fortunetellers and more..

i have only just begun sifting through the vast treasure trove of their archives, but here are a few of my favourite playlists so far:

Records, Jukeboxes & Radio

Route 66

Emmy Lou Harris & Yo La Tengo

American Routes at the Movies, Starring John Waters and Les Blank

if you love old american music as i do, you owe it to yourself to check this out!