Picture This: Film Music on the Radio 07/26/2026 Wayne Cresser WRIU-FM, 90.3 Kingston, RI Sundays 6-8 pm On the web at: www.wriu.org
A Word about Tonight’s Show: The common thread between the two scores I featured on last night’s Picture This was social commentary. Budd Schulberg and Tom Glazer’s music for the Schulberg written and Elia Kazan directed social satire called A Face in the Crowd, lampooned the rise of would-be country music singer Larry Rhodes into a social influencer. Rhodes, played by Andy Griffith, goes from jailbird to charismatic media star until he’s caught out for the hypocrite he is.
Taj Mahal’s music for Martin Ritt’s Depression era family drama called Sounder is equally compelling. The Morgan family struggles with poverty, next to no room for social mobility and racism in their attempt to maintain their home and their status as sharecropping tenants. Taj Mahal approached the score like a field music recording using simple instrumentation: banjo, flute, and guitar, augmented by finger snapping, humming and handclaps. Rolling Stone Magazine’s Griel Marcus called it Mahal’s “most eloquent music.”
Intro Music: Coming Attractions from Matinee, composed by Jerry Goldsmith
The Song: Hopscotch Willie from Emotional Trash, composed by Steve Malkmus, performed by Steve Malkmus and the Jicks
The Show
The Score from A Face in the Crowd: All songs composed by Budd Schulberg and Tom Glazer unless otherwise indicated
Main Title from the film
Free Man in the Mornin’, performed by Andy Griffith
Fruit Salad Ferryboat, composed by Tom Glazer
An Old-Fashioned Marriage
Just Plain Folks, performed by the Barefoot Baritones
Piano medley: Free Man in the Morning and Just Plain Folks
Mama Guitar, performed by Andy Griffith
Rock-a-Billy Rock, composed by Tom Glazer
A Closer Walk With Thee, traditional, arranged and performed by Andy Griffith
March Montage, arranged by Tom Glazer
Vitajex jingle, composed by Tom Glazer, performed by Vocal Girls’ Trio
Rain Fever and Elevator, composed by Tom Glazer
A Face in the Crowd, performed by Andy Griffith
Intermission from The Golden Age of Light Music, composed by Ronald Hammer
The Score from Sounder, all songs composed and performed by Taj Mahal, unless otherwise indicated
Needed Time, composed and performed by Lightnin’ Hopkins
Sounder Hunt a Coon, Taj Mahal then humming and picking
Needed Time, arranged and performed by Taj Mahal
Mornin’ Work and Meat’s On the Table
I’m Runnin’ and I’m Happy
Speedball
Goin’ to the Country/Critters in the Woods
Motherless Children
Jailhouse Blues
Just Workin’
Harriett’s Dance
Two Spirits United
David Runs Again
Curiosity Blues
Someday Be a Change
Horseshoes
Cheraw
David’s Dream
Needed Time (Guitar)
Needed Time (Banjo and Handclaps)
Easy Rider from Leadbelly Volume 2, 1940-1943, composed by Lena Arent and Ma Rainey, performed by Leadbelly
Our Town Suite from Our Town, composed by Aaron Copeland, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.
