Watermelon Slim Full Interview with Music

Here, finally, is the full Watermelon Slim interview. This version includes 21 minutes of interview that you haven't yet heard, as well as thirteen songs to help tell the story, focusing on Slim's very personal early recordings "Big Shoes to Fill" and "Up Close and Personal," as well as his latest CD with Super Chikan, "Okiesippi Blues." No commentary this time, just Slim telling his story through the interview and through his music.

You can listen to the interview here or on my podcast.  Thanks to everyone who made this happen, especially K-State UPC who helped me set up the interview and Slim for sharing his story and his music!

Here is the list of songs played and topics discussed:

*denotes all-new material +denotes a section that includes some new material

1. They Call Me Watermelon Slim--5:19--from Big Shoes to Fill
Interview: Chinese microphones*/Slim's Politics*--4:52
2. Cynical Old Bastard--2:34--from Up Close and Personal
Interview: The Chikan record*/The importance of good teeth*/Teaching in a French prison--4:55
3. Trucking Blues (with Super Chikan)--4:52--from Okiesippi Blues
Interview: Conducting funerals--1:10
4. Got My Will Made Out--6:05--from Up Close and Personal
Interview: Moving to Clarksdale/Home Prices in Northwest Mississippi*/Ben in Mississippi/Slim's touring--5:58
5. Shed My Blood in Mississippi--7:13--from Big Shoes to Fill
6. Northwest Regional Medical Center Blues (with Super Chikan)--5:27--from Okiesippi Blues
Interview: International touring+/Selling out to China*--2:53
7. I Got a Problem--7:01--from Big Shoes to Fill
Interview: African thumb piano+/National Steel Guitar+/Whiskey slides/Triangle peg game/Bowling--10:55
8. Max the Baseball Clown--2:38--from No Paid Holidays
9. Within You Without You/Dinde--6:27--from Okiesippi Blues
Interview: Slim's career/Cell phones and Star Trek/How Slim "broke out"*/Looks!*/Getting beat up/Why Slim sings the blues--7:53
10. And When I Die--4:37--from No Paid Holidays
Interview: Slim's generosity*/Future records/Recording industry woes/Ethics and capitalism*--8:00
11. Skinny Women and Fat Cigars--1:58--from Escape from the Chicken Coop
Interview: Slim's country records/Commercialization/Modern recording studios+/Marching in place*/Watermelon Slim's signoff--7:42
12. Truck Drivin' Songs--3:50--from Escape from the Chicken Coop
13. Newspaper Reporter--5:56--from The Wheel Man

There were actually a couple of quick things that were off the record, but that's pretty much it for the whole Watermelon Slim interview. Hope you liked it!