Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Chuck Cleaver Gets Wonderfully Expressive On His First Solo Album

2:05pm September 03, 2019

by Ken Tucker

Cleaver, one of the leaders of Wussy, sings about joy, pain, sorrow and regret on Send Aid. The resulting album stands with the best of anything Cleaver has ever done.

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Music & Culture

Elvis' Guitarist James Burton: 'I Went Professional When I Was 14'

2:05pm September 03, 2019

by Terry Gross

Burton played in Ricky Nelson's band, and has been on hundreds of recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash. You can hear him on the new box set, Elvis: Live 1969.

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An "Is it Ella or is it Memorex?" ad from 1973.

Music & Culture

The Voice That Shattered Glass

1:07pm September 03, 2019

by Michelle Mercer

In the 1970s, Fitzgerald became the face (and glass-shattering voice) of Memorex tapes. It fueled a career revival that extended her relevance and positioned her to pass the torch to a new generation.

Clockwise from upper left: Jenny Hval, Sudan Archives, Anna Meredith, Mellotron Variations (Robby Grant, Jonathan Kirkscey, John Medeski, Pat Sansone)

Music & Culture

New Mix: Pinegrove, Sudan Archives, Anna Meredith And 4 Mellotrons

1:00pm September 03, 2019

by Bob Boilen

This edition of All Songs Considered has songs of gratitude from Pinegrove, a take on intimacy from Norway's Jenny Hval, a song of quietude from Anna Meredith and the magic of the Mellotron.

A-WA plays a Tiny Desk Concert (Bob Boilen/NPR).

Music & Culture

A-WA: Tiny Desk Concert

10:54am September 03, 2019

by Bob Boilen

The three Israeli sisters in A-WA mix Yemenite and Arabic traditions with splashes of reggae and hip-hop.

Music & Culture

The World Of Ella Fitzgerald: A Turning The Tables Playlist

10:16am September 03, 2019

by Gwen Thompkins

Listen to a selection of marvelous music from the First Lady of Song, plus music by artists who have felt her influence.

Common's latest album, Let Love, tackles love, forgiveness and coping with past trauma.

Music & Culture

Common Takes Time To Heal On 'Let Love'

4:18pm September 02, 2019

Common, the Chicago-hailing rapper, actor and activist, talks with NPR's Ailsa Chang about his latest album, Let Love, and appreciating stillness in order to make it.

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A general view at the grand opening of The Space, the new home of Mondays Dark on Jan, 5, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

'Mondays Dark': A Las Vegas Show For And About The Local Community

11:03am September 01, 2019

by Leila Fadel

More than 2 million people call greater Las Vegas home, locals say visitors miss its hidden gems. Such as this night of entertainment — not your typical Vegas show. Proceeds go to area charities.

Music & Culture

My Signature Song: 'Amor Prohibido'

8:38am September 01, 2019

Raul Rojas of Highland Park, Calif., shares his signature song, "Amor Prohibido" by Selena. He says the theme of "forbidden love" resonated with his younger self.

Music & Culture

Construction Noise: The Remix

8:38am September 01, 2019

Frida Backelin works nights, so it was pretty annoying when pile drivers blasted away outside her Swedish apartment. She posted the noise on Reddit, and others turned it into music.