Music

Rock critic Ken Tucker looks at the new pop compilations reminiscent of those sold by K-Tel records on T-V in the seventies. This series is “Now That’s What I call Music,” and Ken looks at #5, with hits from Destiny’s Child, Janet Jackson, Everclear and Mystikal.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Handel’s opera, “Alcina.” (“al-CHEE-na”)It’s a live performance by the Paris Opera (Erato).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the debut C-D from singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, called “Whoa, Nelly.”

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews “Stankonia,” the new C-D from the band Outkast.

Singer Jerry Butler, aka The Iceman. His 1969 hit, “Only the Strong Survive,” is a rhythm and blues classic, and also the title of his new autobiography: “Only the Strong Survive: Memoirs of a Soul Survivor” (Indiana University Press) Butler founded the vocal group The Impressions as well as having a successful solo career. His awareness of civil rights led him to politics, and he is serving his fourth term on the Cook County Board of Commissioners in Chicago. The book was written with Earl Smith, Butler’s brother-in-law and a journalist.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews Senegalese Youssou N’Dour’s new CD, “Joko.” (Nonesuch Records)

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews original cast albums of Broadway musicals that have just been reissued. They include “Finian’s Rainbow,” “The Pajama Game,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” and “Kismit” (all on Sony) and “Guys and Dolls” (on Decca).

Church leader and gospel singer Reverend Al Green. He’s just published a new biography called “Down by the River” (Harper Entertainment) detailing the trip from R&B stardom to Reverend. Presiding over his own Pentecostal church in Memphis for the last 20 years, Green recently returned to the recording studio to record a set of gospel songs. A popular culture icon, he’s had cameo roles in movies and TV shows. He lives in Memphis, Tenn.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews a collection of early Muddy Waters material for Chess Records: “Rollin’ Stone: A Golden Anniversary Collection” (MCA)

Hip Hop Artists De La Soul. Formed in 1985, De La Soul released their latest record “Art Official Intelligence” (Tommy Boy) this August. Dubbed “the hippies of hip hop”, De La Soul continue to pen songs without gangsta rap influence, focusing instead on the use of samples, jazz vamps, and wordplay. Consisting of Posdnuos, Trugouy the Dove, and Pasemaster Mace, the male trio began recording at the same time as Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and A Tribe Called Quest. De La Soul hails from Long Island, New York.