WRFG’s Route 66 celebrates a time when blues, jazz, and R&B were on the same
page and, often, in the same song. Our primary focus is on the music of the
Jump Blues Era of the 1940s which blended into the early Rock & Roll & R&B Era
of the 1950s, and follow on how those styles and artists have evolved over
the years. We also bring you jazz from the era along with the occasional page
from the Great American Songbook.
Listen to Route 66 Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. Eastern (U.S.) on
Atlanta’s WRFG 89.3FM. Your independent community radio station is
streaming worldwide over our free mobile app and WRFG.ORG.
Become a WRFG Route 66 Supporter
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Subscribe to our weekly podcast @ MixCloud.Com
It’s different from our live show.
You’ll find the one for this week at the bottom of this post.
This week, we countdown the Top 10 R&B songs on the jukeboxes along
Central Avenue in Los Angeles for this week in 1951. Central Avenue was place
to go for jazz and blues in LA from the 1930s to the early 1950s.
CENTRAL AVENUE RESOURCES
Club Alabam Was The Center Of LA’s Jazz Scene In The 1930s & ’40s
Mapping the jazz clubs that made Central Avenue swing
It’s Cool, It’s Hot, It Swings, It Slides … It’s Jazz (and it’s in L.A.)
LA’s historic jazz clubs served as an ‘oasis from racism’
WRFG ROUTE 66 PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 3, 2025
Song
Artist
Original Album or Label & Date
Annie Laurie Tiny Grimes Quintet Atlantic Records 1948
I Feel That Old Age Coming On Wynonie Harris King Records 1948
Aged & Mellow Little Esther Phillips Federal Records 1952
Switchin’ in the Kitchen Roomful Of Blues Under One Roof 1997
South Shore Drive Paul Williams Vee-Jay Records 1956
I Ain’t Gonna Let You In Annie Laurie & Paul Gayten Regal Records 1949
Rocket 88 Jackie Brenston Chess Records 1951
Two Years Of Torture Ray Charles The Genius 1959
Violets for Your Furs Kandace Springs Lady in Satin 2025
COUNTDOWN: TOP 10 R&B SONGS IN THE JAZZ & BLUES CLUBS
ON LA’S CENTRAL AVENUE FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 4, 1951
As reported to Cash Box Magazine
10-Castle Rock
Johnny Hodges
Mercury Records 2952
9-T-Town Twist
Roy Milton w/ Johnny G. Rogers (guitar)
Specialty Records 1951
8-All Night Long
Mel Walker w/ The Johnny Otis Orchestra
Savoy Records 1951
7-Sleep
Earl Bostic
King Records 1951
6-“T-99” Blues
Jimmy “T-99” Nelson & The Peter Rabbit Trio
RPM Records 1951
5-Don’t You Know I Love You
The Clovers
Atlantic Records 1951
4-Shouldn’t I Know
The Cardinals
Atlantic Records 1951
3-Tend To Your Business
James Wayne
Sittin’ In With Records 1951
2-Chains of Love
Big Joe Turner
Atlantic Records 1951
1-I’m Waiting Just For You
Annisteen Allen & John Carrol & Lucky Millinder
King Records 1951
That’s Better For Me T-Bone Walker Black & White Records 1948
I Cross My Fingers Dinah Washington Mercury Records 1950
I Won’t Cry Any More Charles Brown Just A Lucky So And So 1994
Red Bank Boogie Count Basie Columbia Records 1945
The Passenger Jazzified The Iggy Pop Band 2025
5-10-15 Hours Ruth Brown Atlantic Records 1952
Take Me Where You Go Lynwood Slim & Junior Watson Lost In America 1997
Hold Me Baby Amos Milburn Aladdin Records 1949
Run Joe Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five Decca Records 1947
Junker’s Blues Los Angeles Side Hustle Los Angeles Side Hustle 2025
Mad Lad Chuck Berry Rockin’ at the Hops 1960
What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong ABC Records 1967
(sign off)
Tag (You’re It) Little Charlie & The Nightcats Nine Lives 2005
HERE’S THE PLAYLIST FOR THE PODCAST
Annie Laurie – Tiny Grimes Quintet
I Feel That Old Age Coming On – Wynonie Harris All Stars
Aged & Mellow – Little Esther Phillips
Switchin’ in the Kitchen – Roomful Of Blues
Castle Rock – Johnny Hodges
T-Town Twist – Roy Milton w/ Johnny G. Rogers on guitar
All Night Long – Mel Walker w/ The Johnny Otis Orchestra
Sleep – Earl Bostic
“T-99” Blues – Jimmy “T-99” Nelson & The Peter Rabbit Trio
Don’t You Know I Love You – The Clovers
Shouldn’t I Know – The Cardinals
Tend To Your Business – James Wayne
Chains of Love – Big Joe Turner
I’m Waiting Just For You – Annisteen Allen & John Carrol & Lucky Millinder
Run Joe – Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
Junker’s Blues – Los Angeles Side Hustle
Mad Lad – Chuck Berry
What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Tag (You’re It) – Little Charlie & The Nightcats
WRFG Route 66 