Music News Art-Rock Band Wire's First Incarnation Fresh Air September 27, 2006 Rock historian Ed Ward tells us the story of Wire, a British art-rock band from the late 1970s. Wire has broken up and reformed several times, but Ward focuses on the original. Three albums have been reissued and are available in stores: Pink Flag, Chairs Missing and 154. Art-Rock Band Wire's First Incarnation Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6152782/6152783" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Review Arts & Life America's Beatles? Meet the Aerovons Fresh Air July 27, 2006 Ever since Chuck Berry, St. Louis has been producing rock music that defies the prevailing norm. But is it possible that in 1969 it also produced America's Beatles, a band no one ever heard? Rock historian Ed Ward investigates the curious case of the Aerovons. America's Beatles? Meet the Aerovons Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5586678/5586679" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Music Interviews Aretha's Little-Known Siblings Fresh Air July 14, 2006 Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the early years of the Franklin sisters. Aretha Franklin is a renowned soul legend, but her two sisters, Carolyn and Erma, were also singers. Aretha's Little-Known Siblings Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5557581/5557582" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Obituaries Reggae Pioneer Desmond Dekker Fresh Air May 30, 2006 Rock historian Ed Ward remembers Jamaican singer Desmond Dekker, who died last week at the age of 64. His 1969 hit "Israelites" was for many Americans the first reggae they'd ever heard. Reggae Pioneer Desmond Dekker Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5439308/5439309" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Music Doug Sahm's '60s Quintet Fresh Air May 25, 2006 Few musicians are as identified with Texas as the late Doug Sahm. But Sahm also spent five years in exile in California, where rock historian Ed Ward got to know him. Ed takes a look at this period, in which he says Sahm and his band, the Sir Douglas Quintet, did some of their most lasting work. Doug Sahm's '60s Quintet Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5430463/5430464" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Music A Crescent City Rock Label's Tale Fresh Air May 10, 2006 There have been several waves of pop music in New Orleans since World War II, with each one subsiding as its celebrated musicians realize they can't make a living in the city they grew up in. In 1960, another of those waves crested, and with it came a pioneering effort for racial equality. Ed Ward has the story of AFO Records: All For One. A Crescent City Rock Label's Tale Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5396121/5396122" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Review Arts & Life A 'Brick' of Talking Heads Fresh Air April 5, 2006 Rock historian Ed Ward reviews Talking Heads Brick, a box set of music and DVDs featuring the David Byrne-fronted band. A 'Brick' of Talking Heads Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5325072/5325073" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Review Reparata and the Delrons Fresh Air March 17, 2006 The girl group Reparata and the Delrons worked its forward-looking magic on songs like "Captain Of Your Ship," "Boys and Girls," "Shoes," and "Whenever a Teenager Cries." The band became far more popular overseas than in America, however. Reparata and the Delrons Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5286328/5286329" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Music Interviews The Legend of Professor Longhair Fresh Air February 28, 2006 Rock historian Ed Ward profiles New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair. (This profile originally aired on March 21, 1989.) The Legend of Professor Longhair Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5237296/5237297" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Review Music Hearing The Joy of Cooking, Again Fresh Air February 10, 2006 The Joy of Cooking, a band led by two women out of Berkeley, Calif., in the late 1960s, is enjoying something of a revival. The group's brand of folk-rock included elements of jazz, blues and Latin music. Hearing The Joy of Cooking, Again Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5200318/5200319" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Review Arts & Life Vintage Sounds of Miami Reborn: 'Eccentric Soul' Fresh Air February 8, 2006 The legendary soul scene in Miami that had its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s is the subject of a new retrospective. Eccentric Soul: The Deep City Label the imprint that discovered Betty Wright, Paul Kelly, and Clarence "Blowfly" Reid. Vintage Sounds of Miami Reborn: 'Eccentric Soul' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5196295/5196296" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Nico, the Voice of Disaffected Youth December 8, 2005 The singer Nico recorded inimitable songs on solo records and with the Velvet Underground in the 1960s, beginning with 1967's Chelsea Girl. Nico, the Voice of Disaffected Youth Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5044641/5044642" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Review Music Sandy Denny: A Giant in British Folk Music Fresh Air November 14, 2005 British singer and songwriter Sandy Denny played a seminal role of the folk-revolution in the 1960s. From her solo work to songs like "Who Knows Where the Time Goes," recorded with Fairport Convention, Denny was loved for her wistful, honest singing style. Sandy Denny: A Giant in British Folk Music Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5011735/5011736" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Arts & Life 'One Kiss': The Girl Groups of Yesteryear Fresh Air October 12, 2005 Ed Ward reviews One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds, Lost and Found. 'One Kiss': The Girl Groups of Yesteryear Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4955769/4955770" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Review Music Interviews Mott The Hoople Fresh Air August 22, 2005 Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the short-lived but influential '70s English rock 'n' roll band Mott The Hoople. Mott The Hoople Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4810002/4810003" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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