Rough Sundays

Rough Sundays — Vol. LII (Texas Edition)

Live-ish from the Lone Star State and our biggest show to date, it’s the Texas (sized) edition of Rough Sundays, taking you back to turn of the century blues, live performances from Woodstock, a car conversation with Professor Robert Darden — founder of the Black Gospel Music Restoration Project and previous guest on the show — about his favorite gospel track of all time, and a story that had both he and host Aric S. Queen in tears. Speaking of Aric, we’ll also revisit his cringe-worthy teens as a radio deejay, plus a tale of seeing Willie & Merle eating peaches. All of that, plus a whole lot more. Hit play. Say “howdy!” Be happy!

Rough Sundays — Vol. LI (Christmas ‘21 Edition)

We* didn't know what to get you so went a bit overboard in this year's extra-special Christmas Edition. From kicking things off with Mahalia Jackson doing a classic to a live favorite from a 1948 bebop holiday show, three New Orleans tracks, a bit of British Jazz from war times, plus Johnny, Etta and Otis... plus the two holiday films you've never seen + a completely illegal recording of a recent show that host Aric S. Queen attended with his parents and much more. It's nearly an hour of TOTAL MIRTH, so pour you something cheerful, sit back, and let us* handle the festivities for an hour. Merry Christmas!!! (*It's just one person, sorry. Old habits.)

Rough Sundays — Vol. L (Missouri Edition)

Is there a more passed-over state than the flyover one of Missouri? So easy to think of New Orleans, Chicago and New York when it comes to music, but this tiny midwestern spot boasts two cities that greatly contributed to the evolution of music—St. Louis and Kansas City. And it's the latter where we join you from today, with performances from a famous preacher lady from the 1930s, jazz's most-famed performer (who you might have forgotten was from MO), the most powerful American woman ever born (and who you might have forgotten released only one album) and then onto the first African American female to ever appear in the movies, PLUS a live segment taped underneath the statue of a man they call "Bird" and finishing it off with host Aric S Queen's Uncle Don reciting his most famous piece of Cowboy Poetry... plus a whole lot more. It's our 50th show and boy-oh-boy are you in for a treat. Nearly an hour this week and perfect for the week before Christmas, it's Rough Sundays, hooray!

Rough Sundays — Vol. XLIX

Back with another easy-peasy lazy-dazy wake-me-up episode—just over 30 minutes and probably our best musical lineup to date. Old school Aretha doing gospel, Milt Jackon's finest, a newer track from Kevin Morby and a most-wonderful pairing of Haitian funk with New Orleans jazz. Not to mention a live performance from Mr. Pitiful himself, Otis Redding—as well as another reminder that host Aric S Queen stalked his family... twice. So do the coffee thing, sit back and let us wake you up nicely, would'ya? It's Rough Sundays!

Rough Sundays — Vol. XLVIII

Back after a 3-week break and the first show from the United States in over a decade, it's your weekly breakfast cocktail of gospel, blues, funk, soul and tolerable jazz. We kick it off with the track that sparked the idea for this show, and then head into French Pop, New Orleans royalty, Bob Dylan's hero, Los Angeles religion and even some Lee Dorsey... plus a lot more. So make your coffee. Get your coffee. Sip your coffee. And let us handle the waking-you-up part—in less than 25 minutes. It's Rough Sundays!

Rough Sundays — Vol. XLVII

The final show from Istanbul - for a while, at least - and it is a DOOZY. New Orleans gospel and South African acapella and a bit of New Orleans funk and then the Godmother of Rock n' Roll and then the Queen of Rock n' Roll and sooooo much more. Hit play to ensure a most-wonderful Sunday!

Rough Sundays — Vol. XLVI

Another slow, sunny Sunday here in Istanbul and an absolutely phenomenal (we ran tests) show to get you up and into it. From Patsy Cline to 70s Turkish funk, mamas + papas + triplets, New Orleans "fluttering" and a gorgeous track from the Malian guitarist Ali Farka Touré—it's Rough Sundays, hooray!

Rough Sundays — Vol. XLV

Blue skies in Istanbul—peppered with the occasional police helicopter—means a fun and upbeat Rough Sundays this week. From Oscar Peterson to mustachioed French crooners, a song made famous by a famous American television show and an Italian track so insane, it'll make your jogging soundtrack. It's 32 minutes of pure Sunday bliss, so get listening! 

Rough Sundays — Vol. XLIV

Back from a three-week hiatus, but bearing musical gifts to make up for it. From the raw power of Son House to the Ethiopian Elvis, some proper James Cleveland revival sounds and not one, but two Queens — one Cuban, the other New Orleans. It's half-an-hour of wake-me-up-slowly Sunday goodness. Hit play! 

Rough Sundays — Vol. XLIII

A bittersweet final show from South Africa — a country that provided more sites, sounds, color, culture and confusion than any other place we've done the show from — and it's a celebration of the best tracks we've uncovered these past three months. From the controversial Brenda Fassie to the sounds of Soweto provided by my tour guide Lerato, a few more upbeat + anti-apartheid tracks and we end it all with an appearance from GoPhari, who explains the importance of the final song - one that was forbidden to be sung in the 1970s. It's Rough Sundays - The Best of South Africa Show!