Listening In

“LISTENING IN WITH STEVE GRABLE, TRUCKER: WHAT MAKES A GOOD ROAD SONG?” to air Saturday, July 29, 2006 on Weekend America.

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LOCATION: TA Truckstop, Breezewood, PA – intersection of Interstates 76 and 70 on the old Lincoln Highway, near the Maryland border — In this piece, we’re in the cab with Steve Grable and we get a chance to hear what makes a good road song for him. Grable’s speaks with us over the strains of “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (Poison), “Is This Love?” (Whitesnake) and “Caught Up In You” (.38 Special).

About trucks, he says “They’re loud, they’re obnoxious. Nobody wants em, they’re hard on the road system. They do more damage to our highways than anything. But the bottom line is this – nobody wants to drive six hundred miles for a roll of toilet paper. And until you do want to drive 600 miles for a roll of toilet paper, this truck’s gonna have to go down the road.”

About four-wheelers (that is, the rest of us who use the road), he has this to say – Watch out! Don’t cut off a truck just cuz you can. A fully loaded truck and trailer weights 80,000 pounds, 40 times more than the average car! I promised him I would help put out the word. Every trucker I talked to said the same thing.

About road songs, he says “A lot of guys, what they would consider road songs are different. For me, the songs that I like going down the road are songs that… memories – that bring back little pieces of my life. Music like this… when I don’t have time to stop to enjoy the view, to get out of the truck for a few minutes, because I’m pressed on having to be there. I’ll put the music in and listen to different tunes that make me feel good inside because there’s a little part of that song that’s special to me, because it either meant something to me personally.
So, what’s a good road song for you? Let me know – I’m putting together the ultimate playlist for the road and I’m looking for suggestions. Tell me title, artist and why it’s a good song for the road (gideon at listeningin dot org).

 

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At his Nashville studio, John Prine and I listen to the recordings that first gave him the idea that he might be able write songs of his own: Dylan’s “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carol,” Roger Miller’s “Dang Me” and Hank Williams’ live radio broadcast, “The Health and Happiness Show.” The piece ends with Prine’s reminiscences his father’s birthplace of Paradise, Kentucky and the song he spun from it.

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“Music and Mardi Gras” begins in New York with Tom Piazza, author of “Why New Orleans Matters,” playing recordings that show us why New Orleans matters to him.  Next, we are transported to New Orleans, listening to the same songs with Gregg Stafford on his porch.  Stafford is a staunch proponent of New Orleans’ traditional music and occasional bandleader at Preservation Hall.   Mardi Gras “Indian” songs elicit their feelings about having a Mardi Gras in the wake of Katrina. The piece features music by the Silver Leaf Brass Band, Danny Barker and the Wild Tchoupitoulas.

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On commercial music radio, it seems Wolfman Jack has been replaced by just… Jack. Features Bruce “Cousin Brucie” Morrow, who went to Sirius after WCBS’s controversial flip to the Jack format. Gideon D’Arcangelo reports.
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Software companies that enable users to share files illegally can now be held liable. This has created an opportunity for legal peer to peer networks — “legal” meaning that copyright holders get paid. Gideon D’Arcangelo reports.
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