It's that time of year when houses are decorated with jack 'o lanterns, scarecrows, and other mainstays of the Halloween season. Kids dressed in a wide variety of costumes get ready to go from house to house collecting candy from their neighbors. It's time to hear some classic songs and tunes for this spooky season from Ale Moller, Steeleye Span, Claudia Schmidt, Robin and Linda Williams and lots more. Turn down the lights and enjoy … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Ale Moller / “Heaven and Earth” / The Horse and the Crane / Northside

John Roberts & Tony Barrand / “The Dreadful Ghost” / Dark Ships in the Forest / Folk Legacy

3hattrio / “Mojave” / Solitaire / Okehdokee

Steeleye Span / “Long Lankin” / Commoners Crown / BGO

Mike Craver / “The Ghost in the Theater”/ Bosh & Moonshine / Sapsucker

Heidi Muller & Bob Webb / “Ghost Stories” / Seeing Things / Self Produced

Bruce Cockburn / “Deja Vu” / Night Vision / True North

Ale Moller / “Rose Halling” / The Horse and the Crane / Northside

Claudia Schmidt / “Vampire” / Midwestern Heart / Flying Fish

Robin & Linda Williams / “Murders on the Cumberland Plateau” / In The Jailhouse Now / CMH

Sacred Harp Singers at Liberty Church / “Idumea” / Cold Mountain Soundtrack / DMZ-Columbia

Tony Joe White / “The Gift” / Hoodoo / Swamp Records

Dirk Powell / “Ride with the Devil” / Hand Me Down / Rounder

Lutz Kirchoff / “Francois Dufaut-Suite in A minor-Courante” / Lute Music for Witches and Alchemists / Sony

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

This week we conclude our two-part feature “It Don't Mean a Thing...” with a focus on Western swing. Western swing was developed in the dance halls of Texas and in sharp contrast to old-time string bands, Western swing bands employed many more members, including horn sections and multiple fiddlers. These were needed to fill these massive halls with music for dancing. We'll hear classics from The Light Crust Doughboys, Milton Brown and his Musical Brownies and Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. We'll also hear new classics from Deborah Silver, Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel. “Take Me Back to Tulsa” … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

David Grisman Quintet / “Minor Swing” / The David Grisman Quintet / Kaleidoscope

Deborah Silver / “That Old Black Magic” / Glitter & Grits / NTL

The Light Crust Doughboys / “Knocky, Knocky” / Okeh Western Swing / CBS

Milton Brown and his Musical Brownies / “Sweet Jennie Lee” / Western Swing Kings / Pazzazz

Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys / “Right or Wrong” / Collection 1935-50 / Acrobat

Merle Travis / “The Sheik of Araby” / The Merle Travis Guitar / Raven

Lefty Frizzell / “If You Got the Money, I've Got the Time” / Columbia Country Classics Vol 2 / Columbia

Texas Troubadours / “Steel Guitar Rag” / Almost to Tulsa / Bear Family

Willie Nelson / “Cherokee Maiden” / You Don't Know Me / Lost Highway

David Grisman Quintet / “Minor Swing” / The David Grisman Quintet / Kaleidoscope

Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers / “Goin' Steady” / Shades of the Past / Sugar Hill

Al Goll / “Farewell Blues” / New Reso Gathering / Pinecastle

Susie Bogguss / “Straighten Up and Fly Right” / Swing / Compadre

Vi Wickham & Paul Anastasio / “Weiser Stomp” / Swinging at the Savoy / Zero Carbon Footprint

Asleep at the Wheel / “Take Me Back to Tulsa” / Comin' Right At Ya / United Artists

Asleep at the Wheel / “Choo Choo Ch'Boogie” / Swing Time / Sony

Merle Travis / “Cannonball Stomp” / The Merle Travis Guitar / Raven

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

America has exported many products to the world, and one of our finest gifts is music. We may think of rock and roll or rhythm and blues, but one of the earliest and most popular musical exports is jazz and swing. This week we'll hear classics from Django Reinhardt, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks, Russ Barenberg, and next week we'll continue with Part 2. “It Don't Mean a Thing” … this week on The Sing Out Radio Magazine. 

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli / “Minor Swing” / Djangologie Vol.6 / EMI Pathe

Joshua Rifkin / “Elite Syncopations” / Scott Joplin Piano Rags / Nonesuch

Benny Goodman / “Air Mail Special” / Best of the Big Bands / Columbia

Count Basie / “One O'clock Jump” / This is Jazz 11 / Columbia

Duke Ellington & Ella Fitzgerald / “It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)” / At the Cote D' Azur / Verve

Lambert, Hendricks & Ross / “Twisted” / The Hottest New Group in Jazz / Columbia

Dan Hicks & his Hot Licks / “Canned Music” / Original Recordings / Epic

Bill Knopf / “Take the “A” Train” / Pacific Swing / First Inversion

Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli / “Swinging with Django” / Djangologie Vol.6 / EMI Pathe

Allen Tousaint / “Rocks in My Bed” / American Tunes / Nonesuch

Guy Van Duser & Billy Novick / “Exactly Like You” / Exactly Like Us / Rounder

Russ Barenberg / “Halloween Rehearsal” / Halloween Rehearsal / Rounder

The Phil Salazar Band / “Swing to Bop” / The Phil Salazar Band / Flying Fish

Merle Travis / “Walkin' the Strings” / The Merle Travis Guitar / Raven

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

October holds Indigenous People's Day, and November has been designated Native American Heritage Month. We celebrate both with wide selection of music from various North American musicians. Included are great songs from Bill Miller, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Joanne Shenandoah and Walela. There's a wonderful story from Murray Porter and a fiddle tune from Jimmy Larocque. Sample the rich tapestry of music from the First Nations … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine. 

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

R. Carlos Nakai & William Eaton / “Hunter's Twilight” / Carry the Gift / Canyon

Buffy Sainte-Marie / “Now That the Buffalo's Gone” / I'm Gonna Be A Country Girl Again / Vanguard

Walela with Rita Coolidge / “The Apache Honoring Song” / Tribal Voices / Earthbeat

Bill Miller / “Reservation Road” / Reservation Road-Live / Rosebud

Murray Porter / “Dog Lover” / Legends I Am an Eagle / Curb

Bruce Cockburn / “Hoop Dancer” / The Trouble With Normal / Columbia

R. Carlos Nakai & William Eaton / “Hunter's Twilight” / Carry the Gift / Canyon

Joanne Shenandoah / “Circle of Friendship” / Life Blood / Silver Wave

Jerry Alfred & The Medicine Beat / “Nendaa-Go Back” / Native America / Putumayo

Jimmie LaRocque / “Road to Batoche” / Wood that Sings / Smithsonian Folkways

Johnny Cash / “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” / Bitter Tears / Columbia

Primeaux & Mike / “Amazing Grace (in Sioux)” / Walk in Beauty / Canyon

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Autumn is my favorite time of the year. In the Northeast the trees become a fire on the mountain, but it fades all too quickly. This week on the podcast I'll share some of my favorite Autumn music including selections from John McCutcheon, Sally Rogers, Tim O'Brien, and of course, Tom Rush and Fairport Convention. Listen for a surprise or two as we celebrate Autumn … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

The Bucking Mules / “Fire on the Mountain” / Smoke Behind the Clouds / Free Dirt

John McCutcheon / “Colors” / Autumnsongs / Rounder

Mrs. Frances Perry / “Cranberry Song” / Folk Music from Wisconsin / Rounder

Jody Kruskal / “When the Frost is on the Punkin” / Concertina Valentine / Self-produced

Ari & Mia / “Marble Moon” / Land on Shore / Self-produced

Sally Rogers / “Old Father Fall” / In the Circle of the Sun / Flying Fish

Putnam String County Band / “Come to the Mountain” / Putnam String County Band / Rounder

Tim O'Brien / “The Apple Press/The Apple Cart” / Two Journeys / Howdy Skies

Rich Bala / “Apple Picker's Reel” / Hudson Valley Traditions / North River

The Bucking Mules / “Wild Geese at Flight” / Smoke Behind the Clouds / Free Dirt

Frank Sinatra / “September Song” / September of My Years / Concord

Fairport Convention / “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” / Unhalfbricking / Carthage

Tom Rush / “Urge for Going” / The Circle Game / Elektra

Pete Sutherland / “The Apple Picker's Waltz-The Beautiful Lights of Burlington” / Poor Man's Dream / Epact

Emerald Rae / “Mountain Chant” / If Only I Could Fly / Green Jewel

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

On this week's program we'll conclude our two-part feature focusing on performers and songwriters who operate under the radar of fame. Still, they are artists you should know about. Listen to 100 Mile House, Putnam Smith, Kim June Johnson, Tom Jutz, Erik Balkey, and more. A few more almost famous musicians … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine. 

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Lena Johnson & Brittany Haas / “Saltoluokta” / L&B / Playing With Music

Joe Jencks / “Flame in the Darkness” / The Candle and the Flame / Turtle Bear

Sarah Jarosz / “Run Away” / Follow Me Down / Sugar Hill

100 Mile House / “Love and Leave You” / Love and Leave You / Fallen Tree

Putnam Smith / “Succotash” / Kitchen, Love... / Itchy Sabot

The Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers / “Borrowed Time” / Don't Think About Tomorrow Tonight / Self- produced

Kim June Johnson / “Fred & Winnie Converse on their First Date” / A Thousand Things / Self- produced

Lena Johnson & Brittany Haas / “Breakneck Hill” / L&B / Playing With Music

Thom Jutz / “Hartford's Bend” / To Live in Two Worlds / Mountain Home

Amythyst Kiah & Allison Russell / “Polly Ann's Hammer” / Songs of Our Native Daughters / Smithsonian Folkways

Dana and Susan Robinson / “When This Old Hat Was New” / American Hornpipe / Threshold

Molly Tuttle / “The High Road” / When You're Ready / Compass

Erik Balkey / “My America” / Everything is Great / Hudson Harding

Carolann Solebello / “Brooklyn in the Rain” / Steel and Salt / Elizabeth

David Francey / “Lonely Road” / The Broken Heart of Everything / Laker

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

So many musicians toil for years in relative obscurity until their opportunities arrive – not many are truly overnight sensations. This week we begin a two-part feature focusing on some songwriters and instrumentalists that many people don't know much about yet. A few have had some luck and are moving along in their careers. We'll hear from Michael McDermott, Christopher Elliot, VickiChristinaBarcelona, and Vivian Leva among others. Not yet household names … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine. 

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Nate Lee / “Quick Select” / Wings of a Jetliner / Adverb

Michael McDermott / “Positively Central Park” / What in the World... / Pauper Sky

Martha Spencer / “Blue Ridge Mountain Lullaby” / Martha Spencer / Self-produced

Jeffrey Foucault / “Everybody's Famous” / Horse Latitudes / Signature Sounds

Christopher Elliot / “Hercules and Einstein” / Sorry State / Self-produced

VickiKristinaBarcelona / “Jersey Girl” / Pawn Shop Radio / Storysound

Mike Farris / “Real Fine Day” / Shine For All The People / Compass

Nate Lee / “Wonderbat” / Wings of a Jetliner / Adverb

Matt Watroba / “The Jukebox Taught Me Everything I Know” / Jukebox Folk / Ledgewood

Matraca Berg / “Your Husband's Cheating on Us” / The Dreaming Fields / Dualtone

Cahalen Morrison & Country Hammer / “I've Won Every Battle But I've Lost Every War” / The Flower of Muscle Shoals / Free Dirt

Vivian Leva / “Why Don't You Introduce Me as Your Darlin'” / Time is Everything / Free Dirt

The Mighty Pines / “Nantucket” / Late Last Night / United Interests 

Shovels & Rope / “Mississippi Nuthin” / By Blood / Dualtone

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Live and in concert continues as we conclude this program feature. Music from Guy Clark, Bonnie Raitt, Arlo Guthrie, Mississippi John Hurt, Steeleye Span rounds out the presentation. Live music makes you smarter … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Tom, Betty & Nathan Druckenmiller / “Arkansas Traveler/Soldier's Joy” / Back Home / Little Cat

Guy Clark / “Introduction” / Songs and Stories / Dualtone 

Guy Clark / “LA Freeway” / Songs and Stories / Dualtone

Dry Branch Fire Squad / “Mel Bay” / Live at Newburyport Firehouse / Rounder

Dry Branch Fire Squad / “Lonesome Fugitive” / Live at Newburyport Firehouse / Rounder

Bonnie Raitt / “Kokomo Blues” / Philadelphia Folk Festival 40th Anniversary / Sliced Bread

Richard Thompson / “Beeswing” / Philadelphia Folk Festival 40th Anniversary / Sliced Bread

Arlo Guthrie / “Ring Around the Rosie Rag” / Philadelphia Folk Festival 40th Anniversary / Sliced Bread

Tom, Betty & Nathan Druckenmiller / “Sourwood Mountain - Jimmie Johnson” / Back Home / Little Cat

Paul Rishell & Annie Raines / “Custard Pie” / A Night in Woodstock / Mojo Rodeo

Mississippi John Hurt / “Candyman” / Blues at Newport / Vanguard

Lightin' Hopkins / “Shake That Thing” / Great Bluesmen-Newport / Vanguard

The Pentangle / “I've Got a Feeling” / Sweet Child / Castle

Steeleye Span / “Blackleg Miner” / Back in Line / Shanachie

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

For the podcasts this week and next, we'll revisit some great live music we presented in previous shows, music recorded live in concerts across the years. There are selections recorded in Greenwich Village, some great Cajun and Zydeco, and banjo music from the Newport Folk Festival. Live and in concert … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Mike Marshall & Chris Thile / “Byron's” / Live Duets / Sugar Hill

Pete Seeger / “Demonstrations of Banjo Styles” / Live at Newport / Vanguard

Earl Scruggs / “Earl's Breakdown” / Newport Folk Festival 1959 / Not Now

Bob Dylan / “Don't Think Twice It's Alright” / Live at the Gaslight 1962 / Columbia

Richard Shindell / “The Courier” / Fast Folk / Smithsonian Folkways

Tim Buckley / “For Janie” / Live at the Folklore Center / Tompkins Square

Dave Van Ronk / “Trouble in Mind” / Down in Washington Square / Smithsonian Folkways

Mike Marshall & Chris Thile / “'Til Dawn” / Live Duets / Sugar Hill

The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band / “Young People from the Country / Arhoolie

Balfa Toujours / “La Chandelle est Allumee'” / Live at Whiskey River Landing / Rounder

Clifton Chenier / “Zydeco Cha Cha” / Zydeco Dynamite / Rhino

Christine Lavin / “Passwords” / Live at McCabes / Self-produced

Loudon Wainwright / “Meet the Wainwrights” / Years in the Making / Storysong

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

In honor of Labor Day I've collected some rare and some better-known songs about the labor struggle. Today many of us take for granted the great strides made by the labor movement to give us so many of the benefits we take for granted. We'll hear music from Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Utah Philips, Maria Dunn and many more. We'll celebrate the true meaning of the end of summer holiday … this week on The Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways

Jody Kruskal & Luke Richardson / “Waiting for the Boatsman” / Waiting for the Boatsman / JKM

Merle Travis / “Sixteen Tons” / Folksongs of the Hills / Capitol

Jim Kweskin & Geoff Muldaur / “Down on Penny's Farm” / Penny's Farm / Kingswood

Dan Schatz / “Gone Gonna Rise Again” / The Promise of Sowing / Folk Legacy

Pete Sutherland / “Coleman's March-Shacks and Chalets” / Poor Man's Dream / Epact

Pete Seeger and the Hooteneers / “All I Want is Union” / Sing Out! Hootenanny / Smithsonian- Folkways

Utah Phillips et al / “Power to the Union” / IWW Rebel Voices / Flying Fish

Seattle Labor Chorus / “Hail-A-Union” / Songs of Working People / Self-produced

Jody Kruskal & Luke Richardson / “Cluck Old Hen” / Waiting for the Boatsman / JKM

Woody Guthrie / “!913 Massacre” / Protest! / Viper

Craig Johnson / “Piney Mountains” / Away Down the Road / 5-String

Cincinnati's University Singers / “The Future America” / The Hand that Holds the Bread / New World

Uncle George Jones / “This What the Union Done” / Songs and Ballads of the Bituminous Miners / Rounder

John McCutcheon / “The Young Ones Don't Remember” / Gonna Rise Again / Rounder

Maria Dunn / “Blue Lung” / Piece by Piece / Self-produced

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways