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The Tradition of the Black Pop Ballad.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews three albums by older black male vocalists who are trying their hand at new genres, or trying to extend the traditions they first performed in. The albums are "Forever and Ever," the second solo album by Howard Hewett, a former singer with the black rhythm and blues group Shalamar, "On the Strength," by the rap group Grandmaster Flash, and "I Need Money Bad," by John Whitehead.

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Other segments from the episode on April 14, 1988

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, April 14, 1988: Interview with Tom Wolfe; Review of albums by Howard Hewett, Grandmaster Flash, and John Whitehead; Interview with Eugene Levy; Review of the film "Beetle…
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27:33

Tom Wolfe on His First Novel.

Writer Tom Wolfe, known for his "New Journalism" style of reporting in the 60s and 70s. His books from that period include The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test, Radical Chic and Mau Mauing the Flak Catchers and The Right Stuff. His new book, his first novel, is titled The Bonfire of the Vanities. It is the number two book on the New York Times Bestseller list; it has been on the list for 23 weeks. (Rebroadcast. Original broadcast Thursday, October 29, 1987.)

Interview
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10:02

The Enigma of Eugene Levy.

Comic actor Eugene Levy. Levy is best known for his many roles - Sid Dithers, the Schmenge Brothers, Bobby Bittman - on the popular SCTV comedy series, which grew out of the Second City comedy troupe in Toronto. Bobby Bittman, is the subject of an upcoming comedy special on Cinemax.

Interview
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03:24

Beetle Juice Manages to Be Imaginative and Boring.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Beetle Juice," the supernatural comedy about a couple that moves into a Victorian home hoping to remodel it only to find it's inhabited by ghosts who abhor their chic urban tastes. It stars Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara and Alec Baldwin.

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Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

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