Music

Fresh Air broadcasts the second part of its interview with singer-songwriter Paul Anka. He's new album is called Rock Swings. It's a collection of covers from the 1980s and '90s, re-set to a swing beat.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews silver anniversary albums by two '80s punk bands: The Fleshtones and The Adolescents.

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, the three-woman band Sleater-Kinney is known for its is loud, fast, aggressive grrrl rock. Lead singer and guitarist Corin Tucker and guitarist Carrie Brownstein talk about their music and the band's latest release The Woods

Music critic Milo Miles tells us about Joe Strummer's pre-Clash band, The 101'ers. Strummer went on to fame as the lead singer of the seminal punk band The Clash. Elgin Avenue Breakdown Revisited is the reissued 101'ers album in stores now.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Simulated Progress, from the co-operative trio Fieldwork. The CD features Vijay Iyer on piano, Steve Lehman on alto and sopranino saxophones and Elliot Humberto Kavee on drums and percussion.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews Triplicity, from tenor saxophone player Bob Feldman

Rock historian Ed Ward tells us about Philadelphia's Cameo and Parkway record labels. From the late 1950s to the late-'60s, their hits included "The Twist," "South Street" and "Bristol Stomp." ABKCO Records has just released a Cameo-Parkway four-CD retrospective.

Rock critic Ken Tucker gives the band Dr. Dog a listen. The five-piece rock band from the suburbs of Philadelphia has cut three albums in a home studio. The latest is Easy Beat.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Magic Hollow, a new four-CD retrospective of the band The Beau Brummels, a '60s British Invasion-era pop group from California. Their biggest -- and only top 10 -- hit was "Laugh, Laugh."

Rock historian Ed Ward talks about the early days of the legendary Motown record label and salutes some of its first artists who never quite made it.