Episode 136: Blues #3 – Standin’ At The Crossroads

Highway 61 (US 61) is a major highway which extends 1,400 miles (2,300 km) between New Orleans, Louisiana and the city of Wyoming, Minnesota. The highway is often called the Blues Highway because of its long history with the Blues genre. A notable song named for the highway was the 1981 song, "61 Highway", by bluesman James "Son" Thomas. Highway 61 later gave its name to Minnesota native Bob Dylan's album Highway 61 Revisited and to the song of the same name. The junction of US 61 and U.S. 49 in Clarksdale (see our picture) is designated as the famous crossroads where, according to legend, Robert Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for mastery of the blues. It was on this stretch of highway that blues singer Bessie Smith died as a result of a car accident on September 26, 1937.

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**** You’ll hear:

1)     The Party's Still Going On by Marcia Ball

2)     Down The Road Apiece by The Rolling Stones

3)     Born In Chicago by Paul Butterfield Blues Band

4)     Change It by Stevie Ray Vaughan

5)     Nothing Takes The Place Of You by Marva Wright

6)     Rockin' Pneumonia by Professor Longhair

7)     Going Home (Where The Women Got Meat On Their Bones) by Son Seals

8)     New York City Blues by The Yardbirds (with Jeff Beck)

9)     Strawdogs (Before The Fall) by Terrell

10) Lonely Avenue by Ray Charles

11) Backup Plan by Tommy Castro

12) Too Many Myths by Van Morrison

13) Voodoo Music by Los Lobos

14) Speak No Evil by Tinsley Ellis

15) Hoochie Coochie Man by Muddy Waters

16) I'm The Fixer by Willie Mabon

17) Blues Lover by Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin