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Wednesday, June 15, 2005
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  • In Other Words: Artists Talk About Life and Work by Anthony DeCurtis
    In Other Words: Artists Talk About Life and Work (Anthony DeCurtis)

    The Dish from DeCurtis

    Rolling Stone contributing editor Anthony DeCurtis is the Larry King of music journalism, landing big interviews and important scoops. His new book, In Other Words: Artists Talk about Life and Work is out in bookstores later this month, and contains in-depth conversations with everyone from Johnn Cash to Woody Allen to Bono. Today, he talks about getting music's greatest legends to open up and tell their stories. Also on the show: saxophonist and bandleader Fred Anderson. At 76, he's one of the most venerated figures of the Chicago avant-garde, although he has remained out of the limelight for much of his career. Today, he joins us to share his remarkable career path and boundary-bursting music.

Additional Resources:
» Excerpts from "In Other Words" by Anthony DeCurtis
» A Fred Anderson biography
audience

Soundcheck Smackdown: When Contemporary Met Classical

Soundcheck

Like vegetables stuck into a delicious meal, contemporary classical music is forced on concert audiences before they are allowed to enjoy their Brahms. So says humorist, critic and author Joe Queenan. Today, Queenan and John Berry, Artistic Director with English National Opera, join us for a Soundcheck Smackdown debate on the merits of contemporary music.

musical clouds

You Are What You Hear

Soundcheck

Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi takes us through some of the most famously botched song lyrics in rock history. We’ll explore why the words we make up are usually more interesting than the real version. Then, listeners confess their favorite and most embarrassing reinvented lyrics.

Leave a comment: Give us your favorite set of misheard lyrics! Were you disappointed when you learned the actual words?

Rosanne Cash and Mark O'Connor

Soundcheck

For her, he was a father. For him, he was a boyhood hero. For the nation, he was an icon. Singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash and composer and violinist Mark O'Connor join us to talk about how Johnny Cash has inspired their musical collaboration. And they will play live.

Katy

Soundcheck's Summer Song Poll

Soundcheck

Every year, popular and critical opinion somehow converge to settle on a "summer song." In 2007, it was Rihanna's "Umbrella." The year before, it was "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. The practice stretches back to the very dawn of pop radio. Yet defining the essence of a "summer song" is a bit elusive. We enlist the help of Blender editor at large Lizzy Goodman -- and of our Soundcheck listeners, in an online poll.

Cast your vote: Soundcheck's Summer Song Poll 2008

Can't decide? Check out audio and video clips of the contestants here.

Our blog: John Schaefer asks what makes a good summer song,

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