Playlist for Black Diamond Show tribute to Miss Rusty J 9/6/10 WNHU 88.7

Today's playlist for the BDS tribute to Miss Rusty J, with some notes about why the songs were selected:

1. Don Stover, Black Diamond. The show's theme. Don, like Miss Rusty J, was originally from West Virginia.
2. Al Dexter & his Troopers, Pistol-Packin' Mama. Rusty and I had a nice phone conversation after I played this track last fall. She told me how much she like Al Dexter, Bob Wills, and all that Western Swing that would be on the radio when she was young.
3. Sonny Treadway, At the Cross. So much of the music that Rusty would play on her shows came out of the southern R&B tradition--which in turn came out of the southern, African-American, Gospel tradition. This track and the next one are taken from "Sacred Steel," an old Arhoolie compilation of African-American pedal steel guitar music recorded at a variety of small churches in rural Florida. Rusty also told me that she thought it was important to play a Gospel number--even on her "music for growed folks" shows.
4. Sonny Treadway, Amazing Grace. This song originated in England, lyrics by the slave-trader turned preacher John Newton. The version we know is set to the tune "New Britain" by South Carolinian William Walker, and has become a classic in little churches all across the Southeast US--and beyond! It is a standard in the African-American Gospel canon.
5. The Stanley Brothers, Angel Band. Even though the Stanley Brothers are from Virginia, this is a great rendition of a traditional country Gospel number.
6. Hazel Dickens, West Virginia, My Home. A classic tribute to the state that Rusty called home.
7. Rose Maddox w/ Vern Williams Band, Rusty Old Halo. I have two versions of this Gospel number: a stately and beautiful one by Mahalia Jackson, and an uptempo country version by Rose Maddox. I chose to go with the uptempo Rose Maddox version--first, it's spunk reminds me of Rusty's energy; second, Rose Maddox was a veteran of the 1940's Western Swing era, when she sang with her brothers as "The Maddox Brothers and Rose." Well, anyway, here's hoping that Miss Rusty J received a shiny new halo, a full and fluffy cloud, and a brand-new set of wings. Amen.
8. Ruth Brown, Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean. This 1953 recording might very well have been something Miss Rusty would have played on one of her shows.

We'll be back next week (M 9/13) with a regular edition of the Black Diamond Show, noon-2pm, on WNHU, 88.7 FM in West Haven, CT, and online at www.wnhu.net.