Phil Harrell

Phil Harrell appears in the following:

Letting Neneh Cherry Mature Past Her 1989 Pop Zeitgeist Moment

Tuesday, March 03, 2020

For "One-Hit Wonders/Second-Best Songs," Jayna Brown, Black culture researcher at the Pratt Institute, recommends "Kong" by Neneh Cherry. Cherry is best known for her 1989 hit "Buffalo Stance."

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'Art Shouldn't Be Painful': How Wajatta Combines Improvisation And Production

Friday, February 28, 2020

The electronic duo, composed of improvisational musician and comedian Reggie Watts and LA dance music powerhouse John Tejada, talk about their second album, Don't Let Get You Down.

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Revisiting Talk Talk, A Band Worried About Being A 'Laughing Stock'

Thursday, February 27, 2020

As part of NPR's series One-Hit Wonders/Second-Best Songs, Guy Raz recommends "Ascension Day" by Talk Talk. The group is mostly known for its 1984 hit, "It's My Life."

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Synonymous With Soul, Percy Sledge Transcended The Muscle Shoals Sound

Thursday, February 20, 2020

For our series One-Hit Wonders/Second-Best Songs, NPR Music Senior Director Lauren Onkey recommends "Out of Left Field" by Percy Sledge. He's known mostly for his 1966 hit, "When a Man Loves a Woman."

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Scritti Politti And The Punk/Pop Inflection Point

Thursday, February 13, 2020

For "One-Hit Wonders/Second-Best Songs," veteran music writer Maura Johnston recommends "The Sweetest Girl" by the band Scritti Politti. They're known mostly for their 1985 hit "Perfect Way."

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Beyond Santana: Malo And The Forgotten Wave Of '70s Latin Rock Bands

Monday, February 10, 2020

For "One-Hit Wonders/Second-Best Songs," Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras recommends "Momotombo" by Malo. The band is known for hit "Suavecito," and often overshadowed by rock peer Santana.

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The Overlooked Activist Power Of Marlena Shaw

Wednesday, February 05, 2020

As part of NPR's "One-Hit Wonders/Second-Best Songs," Vanderbilt professor Emily Lordi recommends "Woman of the Ghetto" by Marlena Shaw. She's known mostly for her 1969 hit, "California Soul."

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The Forgotten Wordplay And Songcraft Of Harvey Danger

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

For NPR's "One-Hit Wonders/Second-Best Songs," NPR Music's Stephen Thompson recommends "Happiness Writes White" by the band Harvey Danger. The band is known mostly for their 1997 hit "Flagpole Sitta."

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The Georgia Satellites: A Southern Rock Band Lost To The MTV Era

Thursday, January 23, 2020

For NPR's One-Hit Wonders / Second-Best Songs series, Rolling Stone's Anthony DeCurtis recommends "Battleship Chains" by The Georgia Satellites, known for "Keep Your Hands to Yourself."

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Janis Ian Was More Than Just A Teenager

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

As part of NPR's series "One-Hit Wonders / Second-Best Songs," NPR Music's Ann Powers nominates "Jesse" by Janis Ian. She's known mostly for her 1975 hit "At Seventeen."

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Zane Lowe On The Power Of Spandau Ballet

Monday, January 06, 2020

As part of NPR's series "One-Hit Wonders / Second-Best Songs," BBC Radio legend Zane Lowe nominates "Gold" by Spandau Ballet. The group is mostly known for its 1983 Top 10 hit "True."

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Forget Eileen: Ted Leo On The Unsung Greatness Of Dexys Midnight Runners

Thursday, January 02, 2020

As part of NPR's series One-Hit Wonders / Second-Best Songs, musician Ted Leo says the British band known for "Come On Eileen" has more to offer — and points to one song as a perfect example.

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Ana Gasteyer's 'Sugar & Booze' Is Holiday Music With 'A Modern Wink'

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer's new Christmas album, Sugar & Booze, is partly a send-up of the holiday and partly an earnest embrace of its warmth.

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Celebrating 50 Years Of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'

Friday, October 04, 2019

Spam was at the center of a classic Monty Python sketch, and their association with the forcemeat had an even longer shelf life than the product itself.

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'Rootless And Ruthless': Nadia Tehran Invokes Life In The Diaspora

Friday, July 05, 2019

Born in Sweden to Iranian parents, musician Nadia Tehran uses her debut album, Dozakh: All Lovers Hell, to chronicle her heritage.

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'Fight The Power': A Tale Of 2 Anthems (With The Same Name)

Friday, December 07, 2018

NPR's American Anthem series brings together two songwriters — Ernie Isley of The Isley Brothers and Chuck D of Public Enemy — whose respective versions of "Fight the Power" eyed the same struggle.

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Don't Get It Twisted: 'We're Not Gonna Take It' Can Be Anyone's Protest Song

Monday, August 27, 2018

Talk about ironic: Twisted Sister's 1984 anthem to bucking authority has since been adopted by religious entities, teachers and even politicians, each bending it to their own definition.

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Jake Shears Strikes Out On His Own

Friday, August 10, 2018

Scissors Sisters won the hearts of Elton John, David Bowie and Bono before going on hiatus in 2012. Lead singer Jake Shears is back with a debut solo album, full of familiar quirks and dizzying fun.

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Turning The Tables 2018 Shows The 'Change Within Tradition'

Monday, July 30, 2018

Ann Powers talks about curating NPR Music's new list of the 200 greatest songs of the 21st century by women and non-binary artists.

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'I Still Feel Him:' Clyde Guevara's Debut Memorializes His Brother's Death

Monday, July 23, 2018

The rapper released his debut album July 20, the second anniversary of his brother's death. FreeJAH is an ode to his brother Jahiem, who was murdered after serving five years in prison.

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