We're happy to announce the release of a special double CD of some of the best moments of Thacker Mountain Radio. Price: $22/each.

Click here to read a review from the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Please contact us to place an order.

Introduction • Words • Music

    Thursday around happy hour on the town square of Oxford Mississippi, two doors down from the old drug store where William Faulkner bought pipe tobacco and mystery novels, a minor miracle occurs.

    A former furniture store turned book shop is transformed into a live radio show featuring readings by famous (and near famous) authors and some of the
world’s most eclectic music.

    Shelves of books are moved aside, rows of chairs are set up and an audience of 200 or so crams into the ancient wood-framed showroom floor to laugh, clap and bear witness.

    Begun in an Oxford tavern as a modest words and music show seven years ago, Thacker Mountain Radio (named for a lookout tower south of town) is now heard worldwide on the internet and statewide each week on Public Radio
in Mississippi.

    Though the program’s format is reminiscent of Prairie Home Companion, the hour-long broadcast often unfolds more like ‘Saturday Night Live’ meets ‘ER.’ There is no rehearsal. The show’s staff all have day jobs and assemble only an hour before air.

    The authors usually blow in from long plane rides. The musicians are often just waking up.

    Somehow the crowd and the setting — the ghostly room, with its skylights aglow — compel happy chaos into art.

    The words and music on this CD capture the essence of the magic. The incredible notes played, words sung and yarns spun here offer a glimpse into the mojo of what transpires in that wooden room on many Thursday evenings at 5:30.

    You need to be there in person to really feel, sense, taste and fully appreciate Thacker Mountain Radio, so consider this your standing (room only) invitation.
Until then we have this CD, another minor miracle.

Words

WILLIAM GAY from The Long Home (13:55) October 28, 1999. A landmark reading, the beloved Tennessee author's first in Oxford. The Long Home (MacMurray & Beck, 1999)

RICHARD FLANAGAN from Gould's Book of Fish (5:12) April 11, 2002 A world-class novelist and our Tasmanian hero reads from his astounding novel about an artist convict in a surreal penal colony.
Flanagan read from Gould's Book of Fish (Grove Press, 2002)

CHRIS OFFUTT "Nine Mile at the Video Store" (6:25) April 18, 2002.
The Kentucky author reads from his memoir on returning home after years of writing and wandering. from No Heroes (Simon & Schuster, 2002)

SHAY YOUNGBLOOD "In the City: A Photograph, Evidence, and a Proverb" (7:24) September 12, 2002.
Residing in Oxford for a year as part of a University of Mississippi teaching position funded by John and Renée Grisham, the playwright-novelist kicked off her term with this spicy selection from an upcoming novel.

PATRICK McGRATH from Martha Peake (17:55) November 16, 2000.
After this eloquent reading, Jim asked the popular Gothic novelist if he would stay late and read selections from the Oxford phone book. Martha Peake (Random House, 2000)

BETH ANN FENNELLY "Snake Charmer" (1:37) October 4, 2001.
Beth Ann, a Chicago native, became one of our favorite poets when she moved to Oxford with the husband-in-question, Tom Franklin. "Snake Charmer" appears in the collection Open House (Zoo, 2002)

WORDS TOTAL TIME - 69:58

Music

PRECIOUS BRYANT "Fool Me Good" (2:44) October 10, 2002. The First Lady of Georgia country blues delivers a foot-patter. www.terminusrecords.com

THE HACKBERRY RAMBLERS
"Proud Mary" (1:24) October 19, 2000
In continuous existence since 1933, The Hackberry Ramblers still feature original co-founders Luderin Darbone and Edwin Duhon. This Grammy-nominated Louisiana band plays a dance-hall blend of Cajun music, western swing, blues, rockabilly, and more.
www.pressnetwork.com

MARTY STUART "Streamline" (3:27) September 19, 2002. Philadelphia, Mississippi’s own mandolin god returns to his home state.

BLUE MOUNTAIN "When You’re Not Mine" (3:29) July 22, 1999. An essential song by an essential Oxford band.
www.bluemountainmusic.com

DUFF AND THE REVELATORS
"I’m Gonna Build Right On That Shore" (2:46) March 22, 2001. Duff used to get off on Tangents as a Mississippi bar guitarist, but on this first radio show appearance he and the boys turn in a soul stirrer.

THE MIGHTY STARS OF HARMONY "In Your Care" (2:40) December 6, 2001. Listen to their gospel radio hour broadcast live from our local hosts, Bullseye 95.5 FM or bullseye955.com on Sunday mornings at 7:30 a.m.

DANNY BARNES AND THEE OLD CODGERS "Funtime" (3:16) December 6, 2001. Formerly of Austin’s Bad Livers, Danny Barnes is the most flexible banjo player around.
www.dannybarnes.com

CAROLINE HERRING "Delta Highway" (3:50) October 11, 2001.
Thacker co-founder returns with her band.
www.carolineherring.com

KUDZU KINGS "Baby Gets Spanked" (3:51) November 15, 2001. Hide your daughters and whiskey from Oxford's infamous sextet. Hear for yourself Bob Chaffe's first and last accordion performance.
www.kudzukings.com

PAUL THORN "Mission Temple Firework Stand" (3:29) March 16, 2000. A Nettleton, Mississippi, native, Paul once weathered seven rounds with Roberto Duran.
www.paulthorn.com

PAUL "WINE" JONES "My Baby Got Drunk" (1:59) April 26, 2001. Paul "Wine" Jones is the only member of the Fat Possum roster who can play a whole set standing up. www.fatpossum.com

SPENCER BOHREN "Night is Falling" (3:35) February 21, 2002.
A great New Orleans player and songwriter makes a stellar debut on the show.
www.spencerbohren.com

CLAIRE HOLLEY with the TAYLOR GROCERY BAND* "In the Bounty of the Lord" (2:30) November 14, 2000.
Rising star from Jackon, Mississippi, charms everyone in the vicinity including the house band.
www.claireholley.com

LUCERO "The Only One" (2:44) March 28, 2002. Further evidence of Memphis’ resurgent music scene, one of the best in the country. www.madjackrecords.com www.lucerofamily.net

PAUL CURRERI "Blame Love" (4:47) October 10, 2002. Listen for when Paul becomes possessed one minute in. His eyes rolled back in his head.
www.citysalvagerecords.com * www.paulcurreri.com from the album From Long Gones to Hawk Moth

RICHARD BUCKNER "Fater" (2:01) September 20, 2001. The humidity kept his guitar out of tune, so he did an a cappella song. Listen for the rickety stage plank.
www.richardbuckner.com

GROOVE COLLECTIVE "Stargazer" (4:10) October 26, 2000. New York all stars bring jazz, dreadlocks, and flutes to Thacker Mountain Radio.
www.groovecollective.com

GELEL KUMBA "Haayoo Leeleh" (3:13) September 12, 2002. An authentic Senegalese fisherman chantey.

CORY BRANAN "Tall Green Grass" (3:16) July 18, 2002. One of Memphis’ best kept secrets plays an unreleased song at a special dusk show in the Ole Miss Grove.
www.madjackrecords.com www.corybranan.com

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS with the TAYLOR GROCERY BAND*
"Pallet" (5:33) October 24, 2002. No soundcheck, no rehearsal, just statewide radio.
www.tonecool.com * www.nmsallstars.com

MUSIC TOTAL TIME - 67:27