In January I started a series of posts called State Songs with six tracks about Alabama. I am taking a hugely enjoyable trip through all 50 states in alphabetical order trying to add at least one more each week.
I'll be updating this page with links to every state I 'visit' on my musical tour with a list of the artists featured. You'll have to read the posts to hear which particular tracks I've chosen.
Feel free to suggest songs I've omitted or ones that I shouldn't miss out in future posts. We'll be in Wyoming by Christmas!
Maine
The Mountain Goats, Doris Day, REM, Okkervil River, Blue Oyster Cult
Louisiana
Lucinda Williams, Guy Clark, The Be Good Tanyas, Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart, Emmylou Harris, Lightnin' Hopkins, Waylon Jennings
Kentucky
Freakwater, The Stanley Brothers, The Steeldrivers, Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, John Prine
Kansas
The Jayhawks, Donna Fargo, The Wedding Present, Glen Campbell
Iowa
Eleni Mandell, The Jayhawks, Tom T Hall, Joni Mitchell,
Indiana
The Jackson 5, Phil Ochs, The Bottle Rockets, Lyle Lovett
Illinois
Frank Zappa, Wilco, Tom Waits, The Handsome Family, Sufjan Stevens, Three Bits of Rhythm
Idaho
The Divine Comedy, Yonder Mountain String Band, B-52s, Rosalie Sorrels
Hawaii
Elvis Presley, Andy Iona, Bob Brozman, Roy Rogers, John Prine, The Beach Boys, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Ventures, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, R Crumb, Henry Hall
Georgia
Ray Charles, Julie London, Justin Townes Earle, Webb Pierce, Uncle Tupelo, Sam Bush, Blind Willie McTell
Florida
Vic Chesnutt, Muddy Waters, Elvis Presley
District of Columbia
Magnetic Fields, The Staple Singers, Leadbelly, George Clinton & Parliament
Delaware
Perry Como, Dolly Parton, The Duhks
Connecticut
Bing Crosby & Judy Garland, Carly Simon, Ben Folds, Jim Douglas
Colorado
John Denver, Johnny Paycheck, Willie Nelson, Jim & Jesse, Neil Young, Bob Dylan
California
Tom Waits, The Arlenes, Billy Bragg & Wilco, Marlena Shaw, Virgil Shaw, Jolie Holland, Guy Clark
Arkansas
The New Lost City Ramblers, Hayes Carll, Marilyn Monroe & Jane Russell, REM, Bruce Springsteen
Arizona
Wilco, Glen Campbell, The DeZurik Sisters, Dimitri Tiomkin and Public Enemy
Alaska
Michelle Shocked, Johnny Cash, Port O'Brien, Dan Bern, The Velvet Underground
Alabama
Cat Power, Billie Holiday, Jim White, Joan Baez, Shelby Lynne and, of course, Lynryd Skynyrd
Related Links - I'm not the only person to think of this...
50 Songs for 50 States - Laura Barton's musical road trip in the Guardian
Star Maker Machine - excellent, theme based, communal MP3 blog
Ceci N'est Pas un Blog - eccentric selection of state songs
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