December 1999

Violin Sing the Blues for Me: African-American Fiddlers 1926-1949 -- Nick Spitzer reviews the recently released CD Violin Sing the Blues for Me: African-American Fiddlers 1926-1949. This collection focuses on various early styles of black fiddling that relate to modern blues, country and jazz. Inherent in these selections are also the roots of rock 'n' roll. (4:15)

The music played here is from the CD entitled Violin, Sing the Blues For Me. The track title is Ted's Stomp, performed by Louie Bluie & Ted Bogan.

Vox Bop -- Robert talks with Vox Bop, a New York based a-cappella quartet which has released a new CD with unique arrangements of Christmas standards, many of them merged with other familiar tunes. The disc is called, The Vox Bop Christmas Variety Hour and is available on Margo Records (1-877-VOXBOP-3 or www.voxbop.com) (12:30)

Y2K Songs -- The Y2K problem has been a source of inspiration for songwriters. All Things Considered presents its top FOUR choices for the best millennium bug songs: Number 4 -- Year 2K, Oy Vey, by the Spinal Crackers; Number 3 -- WHY Y2K by the Digitones of California; Number 2 -- The Millenium Bug by Terry Breen; and Number 1 -- Y2Kymca.com by Samsonite & Delight-ya. (3:45)

Richard Farina -- Atlanta writer Jeff Calder has an appreciation of the music of 1960's folk artists Mimi and Richard Farina. The Farina's music has been reissued on the CD, Pack Up Your Sorrows. (7:30)

Enchanted Night -- On the night after the Winter Solstice, Book Reviewer Alan Cheuse offers this idea for a heart warming read: "Enchanted Night," by Pulitzer Prize winner Steven Millhauser. (1:45)

Concerning Breakfast -- Concerning Breakfast is the story of eating and not eating. When Annie Cheney was 15, she was anorectic. She starved herself and ended up in the hospital in a room with other anorectics. Annie eventually recovered and, working with producer Jay Allison, she produced this story about her experiences with the disease. We meet a woman Annie met in the hospital who never did recover. The woman ended up having many of her teeth removed because of malnutrition. We meet Annie's family who could not understand what had caused their daughter and sister to stop eating. They felt angry, disappointed and scared that they knew so little about Annie. It was only years later, when Annie started working on this story, that the family ever talked about what happened. (22:00)

Half a Humbug -- Music Critic Tom Manoff learned everything he knows about Christmas from Christmas music. He says his vision of the holiday is filled with holly, ivy and chipmunks. (5:30)

Comfort and Joy -- Jim Grisley has written a novel appropriate for the joyous and sometimes difficult season of homecoming. It's called, "Comfort and Joy." Alan Cheuse has a review. (2:00)

Washington Mysteries -- Linda talks with the authors of three new mystery books that are set in Washington, DC. James Patterson, author of "Pop Goes the Weasel;" David Corn, author of "Deep Background;" and David Baldacci, author of "Saving Faith" all talk about why they set their novels in the nation's capital. "Pop Goes the Weasel," by James Patterson is published by Little Brown and Company. "Deep Background," by David Corn is published by Saint Martins. "Saving Faith," by David Baldacci is published by Warner Books. (8:00)

Noel Coward -- For Noel Coward's 100th birthday a new CD has been released featuring his music, covered by current British pop stars. Charles Ledesma tells us about Twentieth Century Blues, The Songs of Noel Coward. (4:30)

Holiday Book Ideas -- Book reviewer Alan Cheuse has selected 13 different books, compact discs and audio cassettes as gift ideas for the Holiday seasons. There is a book of poetry, a 10 CD set of music by John Adams, uncollected short stories from Kurt Vonnegut, a new illustrated version of the King James Bible, a translation of Stendhal, a novel by Isabel Allende and many more. (12:30)

The Great Gatsby Opera -- NPR's Susan Stamberg reports on the new opera by composer John Harbison. It's The Great Gatsby, telling in libretto and music F. Scott Fitzgerald's renowned story of Jay Gatsby and his attempt to recover his lost love, Daisy Buchanan. For the opera, Harbison has included music reminiscent of the 20s and the Jazz Age in which the novel is set. It will premiere next week at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. (12:30)

So Vast the Prison -- Algerian born writer and filmmaker Assia Djebar won the prestigious Neustadt Prize for literature in 1996. Her work has only recently been translated into English. Alan Cheuse reviews Djebar's novel,So Vast the Prison, translated by Betsy Wing. (1:30)

So Vast the Prison is published by Seven Stories Press.

Andy Kaufman -- Noah Bill Zehme is author of Lost in the Fun House: The Life and Mind of Andy Kaufman. The book, about comedian Andy Kaufman, has been made into a movie. Sound from Kaufman's various performances will be used. Lost in the Fun House by Bill Zehme is published by Delacorte. (8:00)

Grateful Dead -- Will Hermes reviews a new five CD box set of previously unreleased concert recordings by the Grateful Dead, entitled "So Many Roads, 1965-1995." While far from complete, Hermes says the set reflects the band's 30-year progression from 1960's drug-influenced blues revivalists to more recent concerts with moonlighting pop piano player Bruce Hornsby, and jazz musician Branford Marsalis. The CD set is "Grateful Dead: So Many Roads, 1965 - 1995. It's distributed by Arista. More information at www.arista.com (7:30)

Charlie Byrd Obituary -- NPR's Tom Cole offers an appreciation of jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd, who died last night at the age of 74. Byrd introduced Bosa Nova to the United States, with his 1962 recording of the Antonio Carlos Joabim tune Desafinado. Charlie Byrd died of complications of lung cancer at his home in Annapolis, Maryland. (5:00)

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