Russell Davies - 04/07/2010

As part of Radio 2's America Week, Russell focuses his attention on numerous aspects of the country in song, and in particular one of the USA's most important dates - July 4th. We then digress to address a listener's letter about a previous show's subject - bookstores - before returning to the subject of America and specifically the language. A new release by Flotsam and Jetsam reveals that complaints about the debasing of the English language by the US go back as early as 1931, while another new release (Jeri Southern) reminds us of US teen-talk in the 1950s. The programme is rounded off with a moving instrumental performance - just cornet and pipe organ - of America The Beautiful.