Hank Williams (Sr.)

[TC Chris]

I'm listening to the American Routes Halloween show. Nick just played Hank Williams' "Howlin' at the Moon." And the pedal steel guy took off on a solo and it took my breath away, as usual. I'm not sure why those pedal steel parts on his recordings have such an effect on me. It's a momentary trip to heaven.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

The steel guitar makes country music the unique medium it is. Lots of different ways to tune and play one, makes each artist's sound unique.

[TC Chris]

I said pedal steel; wrong; just a steel quitar. Don Helms was the guy and he played on Patsy Cline's "Walking After Midnight" also. I heard "Howlin'" on American Routes, 2 hours of great music every Sunday at 6 on a local public radio station, then got a couple more Hank tunes on the 3-hour blues show that follows it, The Juke Joint. The latter show just included a live performance of Elizabeth Cotten singing "Freight Train," which always has me wiping my eyes.

What I love about the radio is hearing things that are so welcome. There's so much variety in my regular programs on public radio. I might not have thought to play Elizabeth Cotten tonight but her voice was so welcome.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

American Routes is not available on any Phoenix radio station. Yuma and Flagstaff are the only two AZ cities with stations that carry that program.

[TC Chris]

I'll bet it's available by streaming. For my part, I like the process of tuning in a program on a real radio, at its appointed time. There's something magical about pulling in a signal from the air. It's even more magical if it involves a lighted yellow dial, like the '30s Philcos had. One of these days I'll build a little AM transmitter so I can send FM and disc signals to the AM radios.

Chris Campbell