Maureen Clements

For November's edition of Playback we turn once again to "First File", the series where we talk with NPR hosts, reporters and producers about what it was like to file their first piece. This month we feature public radio stalwart and NPR national correspondent, Noah Adams. Before coming to NPR in 1975, Noah worked for member station WBKY in Kentucky. His first piece came in the form of an interview with the McLain Family Band, which he sent off to All Things Considered hoping they would play it. ATC played the piece all right, and the rest, as they say, is history. So pop on those headphones and take a listen to Noah as he reveals juicy tidbits about himself, his first piece, and what it was like working for NPR in the 70s.

Here's Noah's first piece, which aired on All Things Considered on June 17, 1975

By Maureen Clements

October, it's the time to rake leaves, bob for apples, take a hayride and listen to the latest episode of Playback, the monthly podcast that revisits the best NPR had to offer from 25 years ago. This month's episode conjures up some frightening stories including the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the epic battle between Geraldine Ferraro and Barbara Bush, the mind games of Leon Redbone, and the twisted wreckage of John Waters' hilarious visit to the demolition derby. No matter if you like trick or treat, this month's Playback has a little something for everyone.

By Maureen Clements

Kerry Thompson mined the depths of the NPR archive for September's episode of Playback, the podcast that revisits NPR's finest from 25 years ago this month. Not only did she unearth a classic piece on chair calisthenics, she also dug up a story about a brand new technology called the CD. In addition, there's some great interviews with comedian George Carlin, Shoe creator Jeff MacNelly, and an "oh so very young" Ellen DeGeneres. This month's episode also features another installment of "First File", the occasional series where we interview NPR's best and brightest about the very first piece they ever filed. Up this month is Art Silverman, a producer for All Things Considered, with his first piece entitled "Rat Olympics". It's destined to be a classic in the annals of NPRness.

By Maureen Clements

Things tend to slow down around these parts during the month of August, but you'd never know it after listening to this month's episode of Playback, the podcast that revisits the best of NPR from 25 years ago. August 1984 brought a variety of interesting guests to our studio, including Tony Randall, Randy Newman, and future Tonight Show host, Jay Leno. So cool off and chill out to the funky retro sounds of Playback.

By Maureen Clements & Jo Ella Straley

For this month's Playback, we're experimenting with something new. Instead of bringing you the headlines from 25 years ago, we're asking the people who created those stories about NPR in the early days. Have you ever wondered what you sounded like 20 or 30 years ago, or what you've learned since then? These are the types of questions we'll be putting to NPR staffers in an occasional series we're calling "First File," beginning with one of NPR's true greats, Susan Stamberg, the mother of public radio.

It takes guts to interview the queen of all interviewers, but our very own Jo Ella Straley was up to the task. Along with Kerry Thompson and Mike Katzif, they've created a GEM of a podcast that's a must listen for any longtime NPR fan.

By Maureen Clements

If you're among the millions of Boss fans who waited in line all those years ago to purchase Born In The USA, then you'll love this month's episode of Playback, NPR's monthly podcast that highlights all the news that's fit to hear from 25 years ago this month. June's episode features All Things Considered's review of Bruce Springsteen's iconic LP, a wonderfully weird interview with the man behind the voice of Donald Duck, and a riveting 40th anniversary retrospective of D-Day. So sit back and take a listen because I can't think of a better Friday time-waster!

By Maureen Clements

Michael Jackson and Ronald Reagan, May 1984 (AP Photo/Scott Stewart)

What do Mother's Day, Pink Floyd and eclipse gazing have in common? They all appear on May's episode of Playback, the monthly podcast that lets you relive NPR's most interesting stories from 25 years ago. Up this month, Michael Jackson's visit to the White House, Richard Nixon's presidential predictions and Ron Howard's version of Gary, Indiana. So, let's hop in the time machine and get listening shall we?

By Maureen Clements

Liberace wearing what appears to be the world's heaviest costume. Associated Press

It's time again to feature NPR's monthly historical podcast, Playback. For this month's episode, NPR producer Kerry Thompson scoured the library's April 1984 archives to bring you the most relevant and interesting news from 25 years ago. It was a bittersweet month, as we go from learning about the AIDS epidemic to learning about Liberace's tax-deductible, show-stopping regalia. So, sit back and enjoy a tasty dose of history, NPR-style. Want more Playback? Subscribe here!

By Maureen Clements

Kerry digs through the stacks Maureen Clements

 

Kerry works her magic Maureen Clements

Today we'd like to introduce you to Kerry Thompson. She's the producer of NPR's podcast Playback, which we'll now be featuring on our blog every month to augment your aural experience. For those who are unfamiliar, Playback has been around for a while. It's a monthly podcast that highlights the best NPR pieces from 25 years ago. We're posting it on our blog because it showcases the very best NPR audio from our collection.

We see Kerry a lot, she's heavily addicted to mining the library's vast sound archive to find the gems that comprise the podcast. When Kerry finds the stories she wants using our online database, she hits the stacks down here in the broadcast library and pulls the vintage audio. After gathering the CDs, she loads the audio onto her computer, exercises her special blend of NPR radio-editing magic, et voila! awesome historical podcast of NPR's most interesting stories from that same month, just 25 years earlier.

We're really excited to have Playback now featured on our blog. This month's podcast includes a wacky interview with Bozo the Clown and a story about trademarking the phrase "Where's the Beef?" Sometimes a walk down memory lane can be truly entertaining. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

By Maureen Clements

Kerry digs through the stacks Maureen Clements

 

Kerry works her magic Maureen Clements

Today we'd like to introduce you to Kerry Thompson. She's the producer of NPR's podcast Playback, which we'll now be featuring on our blog every month to augment your aural experience. For those who are unfamiliar, Playback has been around for a while. It's a monthly podcast that highlights the best NPR pieces from 25 years ago. We're posting it on our blog because it showcases the very best NPR audio from our collection.

We see Kerry a lot, she's heavily addicted to mining the library's vast sound archive to find the gems that comprise the podcast. When Kerry finds the stories she wants using our online database, she hits the stacks down here in the broadcast library and pulls the vintage audio. After gathering the CDs, she loads the audio onto her computer, exercises her special blend of NPR radio-editing magic, et voila! awesome historical podcast of NPR's most interesting stories from that same month, just 25 years earlier.

We're really excited to have Playback now featured on our blog. This month's podcast includes a wacky interview with Bozo the Clown and a story about trademarking the phrase "Where's the Beef?" Sometimes a walk down memory lane can be truly entertaining. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.