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The Checkered Tradition of Cover Songs

Rock critic Ken Tucker says there has been a long-running tradition of artists performing the hits of past performers, some of whom radically reinterpret the original song. But the success of these efforts is mixed. Tucker considers some recent examples by performers like Kylie Minogue, Cowboy Junkies, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

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Other segments from the episode on February 23, 1989

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, February 23, 1989: Interview with Chris Walas; Commentary on cover songs; Interview with Loren Schoenberg; Review of the film "True Believer."
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27:41

Special Effects Man Chris Walas' Directorial Review

Walas created the often bloody special effects for movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Scanners, and Gremlins. He recently directed The Fly 2 -- fulfilling his lifelong goal to make his own film. He joins Fresh Air to talk about some of his most memorable, macabre work.

Interview
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09:41

Jazz Musician Loren Schoenberg

The thirty-year-old saxophonist leads a new big band that performs pieces from the classic swing era. He formed a professional and personal relationship with Benny Goodman, and now stewards the archive of the jazz legends' recordings.

Interview

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10:24

'Sgt. Pepper' at 40: An Homage of Homages

Critic David Bianculli is a big Beatles fan, and to pay homage to the 40th anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, he turns to other homages: On today's Fresh Air, Bianculli reaches into his record collection and pulls out favorite cover versions of the songs from the album.

Commentary
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07:40

Patti Smith, All Covered Up

Since she began her recording career in the '70s, Patti Smith has never been shy about recording covers of her favorite songs, such as Van Morrison's "Gloria." Now she's released an album consisting entirely of other people's songs — a dozen covers, originally recorded by acts as diverse as the Doors, Nirvana and the Rolling Stones, under the simple title Twelve.

Review

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34:52

'Disclosure Day' star Josh O'Connor received a 'genius' late-night text from Spielberg

Actor JOSH O'CONNOR. He's one of the stars of Disclosure Day, the new Steven Spielberg film about what happens when the world learns that aliens live among us. O'Connor broke through in the British film God's Own Country and won an Emmy as Prince Charles in The Crown. (INTERVIEW BY TONYA MOSLEY) (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW).

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'Marty: Life is Short' and 'Lorne' offer differing takes on the celebrity documentary

TV critic DAVID BIANCULLI reviews two new documentaries: Lorne, which looks at Lorne Michaels, creator of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” directed by Morgan Neville. And Marty: Life is Short, streaming on Netflix, is a biography of comedian Martin Short, directed by Lawrence Kasdan.

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35:31

Are we ready for the World Cup, the NBA Finals and Trump's UFC match, all in one week?

Journalist LAURA WILLIAMSON, editor in chief of The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site of the New York Times. She'll talk about the FIFAWorld Cup which opens this week, with soccer matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With 48 teams in 104 matches, this will be the biggest World Cup ever. FIFA’s ticketing practices and pricing have outraged many fans and prompted investigations by two state attorneys general. U.S.

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