Music

Rock historian Ed Ward has a retrospective on the Five Keys, a black harmony group that turned out a number of pop and R&B hits in the early 1950's. Their hits included "The Glory of Love," "Ling Ting Tong," and "Close Your Eyes."

Actor Michael Moriarty. He's best-known for his roles in the films "Bang the Drum Slowly" and "Who'll Stop the Rain," and in the TV miniseries, "Holocaust." Moriarty is the star of a new TV series called "Law and Order," and he's also just produced an album of original jazz songs, called "Reaching Out."

Rock critic Ken Tucker gives an update on the hard-rock scene and plays some music by three talented new groups: the Southern band "The Black Crowes," the Irish folk-influenced "Raindogs," and the "Rave-Ups," who aren't really new, but have just released their first album on a major label.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a reissued series of performances by German conductor Otto Klemperer. Klemperer was a disciple of Gustave Mahler, and Lloyd says his performances of classical German pieces are one of this century's greatest musical legacies. The series has been digitally remastered by Angel Records.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Let's Eat Home," the new album by singer/songwriter Dave Frishberg. It's on the Concord Jazz label.

Singer and actress Annie Ross. Ross is best-known as a member of the jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. She also wrote "Twisted," which was recorded by both Joni Mitchell and Bette Midler. She made her acting debut in the 1974 play "Kennedy's Children," and has appeared in such films as The Homecoming, Yanks, and Superman III. Her latest role is in the film "Basket Case 2."

The recent suicide of rocker Del Shannon triggered rock historian Ed Ward's reflections on his early fame and later obscurity. Shannon's fame came with his 1960 hit, "Runaway."

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album by J.J. Cale. It's Cale's first album in six years.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new compact disc of opera recordings by Spanish mezzo-soprano Conchita Supervia (pronounced super-VEE-a). It's been released as part of the Club 99 series.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album by German jazz organist Barbara Dennerlein (DEN-er-line). The album, "Straight Ahead!" is her first to be released in the U.S. and Kevin says part of the reason for its success is that Dennerlein doesn't sound like other jazz organists.

World music commentator Milo Miles gives an overview of the Japanese pop scene, focusing on Ryuichi Sakamoto (ree-OO-chee sa-kuh-MO-to), who starred with David Bowie in the film, "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence," and composed the soundtrack. Milo says Sakamoto manages to combine many musical styles into a harmonious whole.

We debrief our rock historian Ed Ward about the music he heard during recent trips to Europe. He sat in on a recording session with an underground East Berlin band which is now making its first album, and he also brought back some Polish punk and dance music from Belgium.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new albums from The Residents and Kris Kristofferson. The Residents are a bizarre California-based art band, who make spooky, dreary, multi-layered music. Recently, the Residents have been releasing a series of albums paying homage to great American composers and performers. After having covered artists such as John Phillip Sousa and Hank Wiliams, the group has just issued "The King and I," their homage to Elvis Presley (it's on Enigma). Kristofferson's new album is called "Third World Warrior," (on Mercury).

Record producer and folklorist Chris Strachwitz (rhymes with "crock-witz"). In 1960, Strachwitz started Arhoolie records as a leading outlet for many types of music that were disappearing our outside the mainstream. Today, the label has hundreds of titles, featuring blues, cajun, country and bluegrass, Tex-Mex, and many other styles.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews some newly reissued recordings of Haydn symphonies by the English conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. He says Beecham is one of the few conductors who understands how Haydn should be played. (the recording's on EMI records).

Rock historian Ed Ward traces the history of 2 Tone, a musical movement that started in industrial England in the late 70's. It was started by groups like The Specials, the Selecter, the Beat, and Madness, playing ska, a form of pre-reggae Jamaican music.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the new album from tenor and soprano saxophonist Bill Pierce. It's called "Equilateral," and it's on Sunnyside Records.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "11," the latest album by the Smithereens. Although the album's been out for a few months, Ken says it's getting little notice, and it deserves a listen.

Robert Kaplow and the Punsters' Basil Starling visits the show to play Valentine's Day songs.

On the 25th anniversary of the death of Nat King Cole, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead has an appreciation of the well-known singer, and he takes a look at Cole's often overlooked skills as a jazz pianist. (By the way, Nat King Cole actually died on February 15th, but we're running the piece today, a couple of days early).