WUNC's Songs We Love Podcast

This year we've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. We produced 48 episodes, and on this final episode of 2019 we go back and revisit the top ten of those according to downloads. The series ranged from fiddle tunes to funk to metal to indie rock to country - it's all a part of what makes this state a great place for music. Thanks for a great 2019!

This time of year families come back together and share stories. For Will Blythe, a writer who grew up in Chapel Hill there was one piece of family history that had him convinced he, and the town of Chapel Hill, was connected to this seasonal classic by Joni Mitchell. The Blythe family is old Chapel Hill and in the 70s, frequently socialized with James Taylor’s family. James left Chapel Hill as a teenager, but came back home for the holidays. One year, James was home and he’d brought a girlfriend. Will Blythe says his parents remembered going caroling with the Taylor family that year. “They went and apparently had a grand time,” said Will Blythe in an interview from his home in New York City. “I remember asking who was the girl, this would have been the 1970s, and they said she really did have a beautiful voice but ah I don’t know maybe Joni something. I remember saying Joni Mitchell?” When the Oxford American invited Will to write an article about James Taylor for their December music

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. This week, we look at the one song that most everyone identifies with our home state. Writer Will Blythe joins Eric Hodge to talk about James Taylor's 'Carolina In My Mind.' He says it's a song that affects people both young and old. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXmgkvIgc0w

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. This time, former Cat's Cradle owner and Crook's Corner chef Bill Smith talks about The Red Clay Ramblers. Smith saw The Red Clay Ramblers perform all the time in the early days of Cat's Cradle. For this episode, he focuses on their version of the song 'Aragon Mill.' Cat's Cradle is celebrating their 50th anniversary with a series of shows this month and in January. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXUaH63G_x4

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. On this episode, HC McEntire joins Eric Hodge to talk about Nina Simone's 'I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free.' Like Nina Simone, McEntire grew up in Tryon, NC. She says the music Simone made often illuminates the challenges people in the South face, even to this day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sEP0-8VAow

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. On this episode, Jacob Sharp of Mipso talks about 'Black Flower Blooming' by The Dead Tongues . He says it's a song that both speaks to living in North Carolina, and also needing to spead your wings and fly from home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7w2Df9c_cI

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. This week, Grammy winner and American Songster Podcast host Dom Flemons talks with us about the legacy of 'Shady Grove.' He says it's a song that is synonymous with North Carolina. The version of 'Shady Grove' that Dom chose to focus on is by Taj Mahal, who he says has been his guiding spirit in his journey through North Carolina music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oShuuDsXHQE

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. On this episode, we chat with Durham rapper Lord Fess about Sylvan Esso 's 'Die Young.' It's a song he says speaks to him personally, and is also one with incredible production. Sylvan Esso performs at DPAC on November 22nd and 23rd as part of their WITH tour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-_NNIX8cDA

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. This week we've got MC Taylor of Hiss Golden Messenger telling us about why he loves 'Traveling Alone' by Tift Merritt - the title track from her 2012 record. Here's a video of MC Taylor performing 'Traveling Alone' at the North Carolina Art Museum in 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkB36KnwCsQ

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. On our 40th episode, Executive Director of the North Carolina Arts Council Wayne Martin talks about a recording of the song "Pretty Fair Miss In A Garden" he made with fiddler Doug Wallin. He also talks about how the traditional music of North Carolina has resonated not only in our home state, but worldwide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HQfoIESYEo

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. This time, writer Allison Hussey tells us about a rare recording of the gospel standard 'Fifty Miles of Elbow Room' recorded by Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin of Mandolin Orange with Josh Moore. It's a song that is often associated with The Carter Family, and Hussey says this version exemplifies a blend of the modern folk sound with North Carolina's traditional roots. This song can be found on a compilation called 'Hymns From The Gathering Church,' which is available on Bandcamp . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPQ3fCaGDkk

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. On this episode, musician Kamara Thomas talks about the Jonathan Wilson song 'Can We Really Party Today?' She says it's a song with dual meanings. Jonathan Wilson plays The Arts Center in Carrboro on Friday, October 25th. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMSTe3pzHL8

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. This time, Dom Flemons talks about a recording of the song 'Cindy' that Pete Seeger made with North Carolinians Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. Stick around after the episode to hear Dom Flemon's 'Sonoran Church Two-Step.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vhTWMOebv8

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. This week, Merge Records recording artist H.C. McEntire talks about the Sonic Youth song 'Chapel Hill.' It's a song that paints a picture of what the indie rock scene was like in the early '90s and was a lot of people's first impression of the town. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFmd-8Z-UJk

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. On this episode, folk musician Alice Gerrard talks about Elizabeth Cotten's 'Freight Train.' On Saturday night at Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, an all-star group of musicians pays tribute to the music Alice Gerrard made with Hazel Dickens. Most of the seats are free. Then on Sunday in Elizabeth Cotten's hometown of Carrboro, there will be free music all over town at the Carrboro Music Festival . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUK8emiWabU

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. This time, Pinecone Director William Lewis tell us why he loves Chatham County Line's 'Living In Raleigh Now.' The International Bluegrass Music Association Festival takes place next weekend in...Raleigh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCfKz5AbD3I

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. This time, musician Joe Newberry tells us why he is inspired by the Switzerland born and NC based bluegrass trio Kruger Brothers . "Carolina In The Fall" tells the story of their journey here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU91GEMxk8Y

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. On this episode, Loamlands founder and Pinhook owner Kym Register talks Des Ark and their song 'Carolina Girls.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXPmtUMi8EE

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. This time, Hopscotch Music Festival director Nathan Price joins Eric Hodge to talk about Petey Pablo's classic 'Raise Up' and what it meant to him growing up in North Carolina. This year marks 10 years of the Hopscotch Music Festival, which takes place September 5-7 in Raleigh. WUNC Music will be live streaming from the event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHnA94-hTC8

We've teamed up with Come Hear NC on a podcast series that explores North Carolina music one song at a time. This week, Jacob Sharp of Mipso tells us why he loves Doc Watson & David Grisman's version of the Gershwin classic 'Summertime.' Mipso plays a homecoming show at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh on Saturday, August 31st. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a8nGdHDXcU