The NPR 100 archive
Watch The Story Of Stevie Wonder's 'Talking Book'
December 30, 2000 – One of the biggest hits from Talking Book was actually intended for someone else.
Listen 'Rapper's Delight'
December 29, 2000 – New Jersey's Sugarhill Gang recorded its influential, disco-inspired 1979 hit in just one take.
Listen 'White Christmas'
December 25, 2000 – Irving Berlin's hit "White Christmas" remains one of the world's most beloved Christmas songs.
Listen 'Symphony of Psalms'
December 24, 2000 – Igor Stravinsky wrote Symphony of Psalms in 1929 for the 50th anniversary of the Boston Symphony.
Listen 'I Walk The Line'
December 23, 2000 – This classic of American music made the country and the pop charts in 1956.
Listen Can Ya Dig It? Still Down With 'Shaft'
December 21, 2000 – Shaft had the moves because his music had the grooves, the music of Isaac Hayes.
Listen 'The Wizard Of Oz'
December 18, 2000 – Author John Fricke tells the stories behind the beloved classic songs of The Wizard of Oz.
Listen 'Gone With the Wind'
December 17, 2000 – Steiner's work is instantly recognizable and emblematic of both musical scoring and cinema itself.
Listen 'Wildwood Flower'
December 14, 2000 – The song was passed down from generation-to-generation, without the benefit of the written word.
Listen 'Stardust'
December 11, 2000 – Carmichael's timeless melody came to him one night while in school at Indiana University.
Listen 'Peggy Sue'
December 8, 2000 – Buddy Holly's legendary song "Peggy Sue" didn't start out as a classic at all.
Listen 'I Wanna Be Sedated'
December 4, 2000 – An appreciation of The Ramones' characteristically short, fast and loud punk-rock classic.
Listen 'All or Nothing at All'
November 28, 2000 – While not an instant hit, over the years this standard became one of Sinatra's signature tunes.
Listen 'Warner Brothers Music'
November 27, 2000 – Carl Stalling's compositions have defined cartoon music for every generation who grew up with them.
Listen The Sock-It-To-Me Truth Of 'Respect'
November 26, 2000 – Aretha Franklin's anthem, written by Otis Redding, had a powerful effect on audiences everywhere.