Music

Rock historian Ed Ward reviews "Meat Puppets: Up On the Sun" (Rykodisc) one of several early albums by the Meat Puppets that's being reissued.

Pop critic Ken Tucker reviews "The Fragile" a new double CD by the hard-rock group Nine Inch Nails.

We remember Tex-Mex rocker Doug Sahm. For many, he was best known for his stint with the Sir Douglas Quintet, a group of Texans and Mexicans who were packaged to look like a British Invasion band. Sahm had played a variety of styles since, including Tex-Mex, blues, rhythm and blues, rock. Sahm died last week. (Rebroadcast from 9/7/89)

1999 also marks the centennial of Duke Ellington's birth. Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews four notable reissued recordings of Ellington's featured sidemen; all on the RCA label: "Cootie Williams in Hi-Fi," "Wild Bill Davis and Johnny Hodges in Atlantic City," "Paul Gonsalves: Ellingtonia Moods and Blues," and "C-Jam All-Stars: Diminuendo, Crescendo and Blues".

Rhythm and blues singer Bobby Womack. His R&B and pop hits include "It'a All Over Now," "Lookin' For A Love," and "That's The Way I Feel About Cha." Recently his recording "Across 110th Street" was used in the Quentin Tarantino film, "Jackie Brown." Womack began his career singing gospel with his brothers. They were discovered by Sam Cooke. On his new release he returns to his gospel origins, "Back To My Roots" (The Right Stuff label/EMI).

To celebrate the centennial of the birth of composer Hoagy Carmichael we feature a tribute to him, as part of our American Popular Song series. Carmichael wrote, "Star Dust," "Heart and Soul," "The Nearness of You," "Skylark" and many more. We feature performances by singer Rebecca Kilgore and pianist Dave Frishberg. We'll also talk with Richard Sudhalter, who has written a forthcoming biography of Carmichael. And we talk with Carmichael's son, Hoagy Bix Carmichael who now manages his father's music catalogue.

A preview of Monday's show, the next installment of our American Popular Song series. This show pays tribute to Hoagy Carmichael and features performers, pianist Dave Frishberg, and singer Rebecca Killgore.

Critic Milo Miles reviews some Cuban records that aren't by the Buena Vista Club: "Casa de la Trova" (Detour Records), "Bossa Cubana" by Los Zafiros (World Circuit/Nonesuch label), and "Estrellas de Areito" (World Circuit/Nonesuch label).

Ravi Shankar is the world's leading sitar player. Now at the age of 79, he's published his autobiography, "Ravi Shankar: Raga Mala" (Welcome Rain Publishers). The book was edited and introduced by his friend George Harrison. Shankar is now performing on tour with his 18 year old daughter, Anoushka. We'll hear from Ravi Shankar and later we'll be joined by his daughter.

Composer and conductor John Adams. There's a new 10-CD box retrospective of his work, that spans the last two decades. It includes his orchestral pieces like Harmonium, and his operas "Nixon in China," and "The Death of Klinghoffer." The boxset is titled "The John Adams Earbox" (Nonesuch).

Donald Mills, the last surviving member of the singing group, The Mills Brothers, died on Saturday. He was 84 years old. The group was knwon for their harmonies, and their hits included "Up the Lazy River," and "Glow Worm." (REBROADCAST from July 1985).

Singer/songwriters Buddy & Julie Miller. Their songs have been recorded by everyone from the Dixie Chicks to Little Jimmy Scott. Each have new albums: "Broken Things" (Hightone Records) by Julie Miller, and "Cruel Moon" (Hightone) by Buddy Miller. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW).

We remember jazz trumpeter Lester Bowie. He died Monday at the age of 58 from liver cancer. Bowie was a founding member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, founded in 1969. Bowie was known for his flamboyant performing, his sense of humor and theatrics, and his off kilter interpretations of R&B classics. (REBROADCAST from 11/3/89) (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES AFTER THE FLOATER).

Critic Milo Miles reviews two reissues -- cult favorites -- by the Holy Modal Rounders: Holy Modal Rounders 1 and 2 (on the Fantasy label) and their new album "Too Much Fun" (Rounder Records)

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Looking Forward" the new album by the reunited Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. It's only their 4th album in three decades.

Another edition of our American Popular Song Series, profiling composer Jerome Kern. He wrote the songs "All the Things You are," "Can't Help Lovin' That Man," "I'm Old-Fashioned," "Ol' Man River," and "The Way You Look Tonight." A number of those songs are from the broadway musical "Showboat" which he wrote. We'll focus on the music he wrote before then, before 1927.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "Britten as Performer" a collection of five CDs on the BBC label featuring composer Benjamin Britten as pianist and conductor.

Soul singer Barry White, the sweet-talking, deep-voiced performer who rhapsodizes about love. His hits include "My First, My Last, My Everything," "Never Never Gonna Give Up," and "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More." Before he became a hit as a solo performer, White put together the female vocal trio, Love Unlimited and founded the Love Unlimited Orchestra, a 40 piece ensemble to accompany himself and the trio. White has a new autobiography, "Barry White: Love Unlimited." (written with Marc Eliot, published by Broadway books).

Pop critic Ken Tucker reviews "Fly" the new CD by the Dixie Chicks.

Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. Born in Russia, she emigrated to Philadelphia with her family when she was eight so that she could attend the Curtis Institute. Later her unorthodox playing, and unconventional attire on stage earned her a reputation as the "bad girl" of classical violin. In 1994 she nearly sliced the tip of her finger off chopping onions, and after surgery and painful practicing, she returned to the stage. Sonnenberg has played with just about every major orchestra and has recorded 15 albums.