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Singer/Songwriter Elvis Costello.

Singer/Songwriter Elvis Costello. In the late 1970s he burst out of Britain's pop-music scene with a sound and attitude never seen before. He was the angry young-man with a fresh sound. He's known for making connections between different musical communities. He's collaborated with Paul McCartney, Ruben Blades, Aimee Mann of "'til Tuesday," David Was of "Was (Not Was)," and T. Bone Burnett. The last time Costello was on the show, he had been working with the Brodsky Quartet (known for its interpretations of music by Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven and Bartok) on the release, "The Juliet Letters," (Warner Bros.) Now Costello is back with his original band, "The Attractions," and with producer Nick Lowe. Their latest release is "Brutal Youth," (Warner Bros).

22:16
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Other segments from the episode on January 27, 1994

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, January 27, 1994: Interview with Elvis Costello; Interview with Robert Olen Butler; Review of John Stubblefield's album "Morning Song."
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15:20

The Nature of Physical Intimacy with Robert Olen Butler.

Robert Olen Butler is the 1993 Pulitzer Prize winner in fiction for "A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain," (Henry Holt & Co.) a collection of 15 first-person stories by Vietnamese immigrants living in Louisiana. Butler has written seven novels in all, several of them dealing with the Vietnamese experience, in Vietnam and in America. Butler's latest book is "They Whisper," (Henry Holt), about intimacy between a man and a woman.

Interview
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04:38

A Hard-Blowing Record.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Morning Song," (Enja) the new release by tenor and soprano saxophonist John Stubblefield.

Review

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46:47

A Pub Rocker and Pop Songwriter on Their New Collaboration

Musicians Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello join us to talk about their new collaborative album, "Painted From Memory." (Mercury) The two have been working together for nearly two years, beginning with the Grammy-nominated single "God Give Me Strength" (from the film "Grace of my Heart"), included on this album. Singer-songwriter Elvis Costello has recorded over 17 albums in his 25 year career. Composer Burt Bachrach is said to have revolutionized the sound of the sixties, with dozens of top ten hits, several Grammys and Academy Awards.

Interview
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35:44

Elvis Costello Brings His Guitar to the Fresh Air Studio.

Singer/songwriter Elvis Costello. Previously with the band The Attractions, he later went solo. Since then he has performed and recorded with The Brodsky Quartet and jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. He's written about 300 songs. His new release is "All This Useless Beauty" (Warner Bros) which he recorded with The Attractions.

Interview

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