Five from the Vaults

New Sounds, hosted by John Schaefer, has been a nightly fixture on WNYC airwaves since September 3, 1982. The program's history reads like a virtual who's who of contemporary, electronic, and world music over the last two decades. In this Online exclusive, we've dug through the WNYC archives and revived five choice episodes from the 1980s and early 90s.

Five From the Vaults: Part Two

Five From the Vaults: Part Three

Five From the Vaults: Part Four

Five From the Vaults: Part Five

Five From the Vaults: Part Six

Program No. 98

Years before Eastern European composers like Henryk Gorecki and Arvo Pärt ascended the Billboard charts with their sublime, "mystical minimalist" compositions, John Schaefer was unearthing examples of this spiritual style. From an August 27, 1988 edition of New Sounds, we hear sacred songs by Tavener, Pärt, Gorecki, Ni Riain, de la Rue, Hykes, and others. View the Playlist.

Program No. 381

From October 30, 1989, the famed "cooking show." Composer Robert Moran joins John in his kitchen to consider the affinities between music and food. We learn that Moran, who was a founder of the San Francisco New Music Ensemble, is also a fan of Indian cuisine. We hear an "acoustic" version of Cage's 0:00 - for amplification of chopping vegetables and blender. And don't miss the teary conversation as onions are chopped. View the Playlist or check out the recipes.

Program No. 852

On September 17, 1992, renowned electric guitarist Robert Fripp was featured along with a bevy of his closest musical friends including vocalist Patricia Leavitt, The Annex, Firepower, and the California Guitar Trio. Fripp packs in a whirlwind of styles during this lively hour: classical, rock, blues, jazz, as well as the progressive rock aesthetic he first pioneered with King Crimson in the 1970s. View the Playlist.

Program No. 862

On October 10, 1992, ambient pioneer, glam-rocker, legendary record producer, and multimedia artist Brian Eno joined John to play cuts from his landmark CDs Nerve Net and Shutov Assembly, as well as from his own private tapes. Don't miss the rare "Cross Crisis In Lust Storm." View the Playlist.

Program No. 997

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the Pakistani singer who introduced many Westerners to Sufi devotional songs was the focus of a memorable New Sounds on November 12, 1993. As we hear, Ali Khan could be nothing less than mesmerizing in long, spectacular stretches of nonverbal vocalizing. Ali Khan died just four years after this program first aired. View the Playlist.

Dapper John: The host in the early days of New Sounds.

John Schaefer has hand-picked these "vault" shows. We ask you to do the same. Can't remember the exact program? Just describe it and mention a few of the artists or pieces. Better yet, create your own top five list. Perhaps we'll feature it in a future installment of Five from the Vaults!