Review Arts & Life Looking Back at 'Sister Love': Lorraine Ellison on CD Fresh Air July 24, 2007 Fresh Air's resident rock historian remembers soul singer Lorraine Ellison, who recorded a handful of albums and dozens of singles in the '60s and '70s; though she charted a few R&B hits, she never quite broke through to stardom. Her biggest success was with the string-saturated ballad "Stay With Me," which topped out at No. 11 on the R&B charts and has since been covered by everyone from Bette Midler to teenybopper idol Rex Smith. Looking Back at 'Sister Love': Lorraine Ellison on CD Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/12197658/12197661" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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DVD Reviews Dylan, the Red Dog and the Real Summer of Love July 13, 2007 Rock historian Ed Ward reviews three recent DVDs: the deluxe edition of D.A. Pennebaker's Bob Dylan documentary Don't Look Back, a Dylan press conference released as Dylan Speaks, and Rockin' at the Red Dog, a documentary on an all-but-forgotten bar in Nevada. Dylan, the Red Dog and the Real Summer of Love Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/11949736/11951504" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Music Doc Pomus, the Bluesman Who Paved 'Lonely Avenue' July 2, 2007 Rock historian Ed Ward profiles songwriter Doc Pomus, the Brooklyn-born blues singer and songwriter who died in 1991. Born Jerome Solon Felder, he survived a childhood case of polio and went on to write hits for Ray Charles and Elvis Presley, among others. His songs include "Lonely Avenue," "Viva Las Vegas" and "Save the Last Dance for Me." Doc Pomus, the Bluesman Who Paved 'Lonely Avenue' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/11653790/11653791" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Review Music Reviews Four Years of James Brown Singles Fresh Air February 8, 2007 A review of a new collection of James Brown's first four years of singles: James Brown: The Singles: The Federal Years 1956-1960 (Hip-O Select). Four Years of James Brown Singles Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/7269652/7269655" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Music News Motown Records' Magical Year Fresh Air January 15, 2007 Rock historian Ed Ward says that 1964 was a "magical year" for Motown Records. Motown Records' Magical Year Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6842332/6842333" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Review Music Reviews Revisiting the Music of the Pogues Fresh Air January 8, 2007 Not many countries saw their traditional music gain popularity and vitality in the late 20th century, but Ireland did. Starting in the late 1960s with the Chieftains, and continuing with more rock-oriented groups like Planxty and Horslips, Irish music had a renaissance. Then came punk rock, and with it the Pogues, whose first five albums have just been reissued by Rhino. Revisiting the Music of the Pogues Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6741334/6741335" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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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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