Rock

Fresh Air's rock historian Ed Ward discusses the roots of his own musical tastes.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Roky Erickson and the Thirteenth Floor Elevators, a sixties group that put Texas on par with the psychedelic bands from California.

Duane Eddy, who is known for his famous twangy guitar sound. His hits from the fifties and sixties include "Rebel Rouser" and "(Dance with the) Guitar Man." On his new album, the first in a decade, he plays with guitarist Ry Cooder.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album from the dB's, entitled "The Sound of Music." This is their fourth album, but the first to attract attention in the U.S.

Rock historian Ed Ward plays songs by several top soul stars who got their start imitating Little Richard.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Letters from Mississippi", a new album from Eddie Hinton that blends rock, soul and rhythm and blues.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the group Television, a band that helped launch the New York punk scene in the late-70s.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the soundtrack for the movie "Less Than Zero." Though the movie was something of a flop, the soundtrack continues to produce hits.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the album "Nine Below Zero," by the trio of pianist Wayne Horvitz, cornettist Butch Morris and drummer Bobby Previte. Kevin says the album is one of the more successful attempts to humanize the new electronic instruments like synthesizers, drum machines and rhythm boxes.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, best known for their sexually suggestive songs in the 50s about "Annie," a woman of dubious reputation.

Rock singer, songwriter and record producer T-Bone Burnett. He's produced the work of musicians like Marshall Crenshaw, Los Lobos, Roy Orbison and Elvis Costello. In 1975, Burnett travelled and performed with Bob Dylan's "Rolling Thunder Review." Burnett's new solo album, which he produced and wrote the songs for, is titled "The Talking Animals."

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles The Buzzcocks, a British punk group that had more influence on the British punk scene than better-known bands like The Sex Pistols. The band was based in Manchester and had an even grittier veneer than that of the notorious London punk bands.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the No Speak record series, all-instrumental albums brought out by the producer Miles Copeland. The artists are Pete Haycock, formerly of the Climax Blues Band, William Orbit, Stewart Copeland, guitarist for the Police and the group Wishbone Ash.

Fresh Air's film critic Stephen Schiff. Schiff is the Critic-at-Large for Vanity Fair magazine where he writes feature articles and the monthly film review column, "Short Schiff." From 1978 to 1983, Schiff was the film critic for the weekly Boston Phoenix. He has served three terms as chairman of the National Society of Film Critics.

Bob Geldof, the star of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats and organizer of the Band Aid and Live Aid benefit concerts to aid starvation victims in Africa. His autobiography is titled Is That It?

Rock Critic Ken Tucker. It's another in the continuing series of interviews with Fresh Air's contributors. Ken tells us how a frustrated college poet found himself in crowded clubs listening to punk bands and being paid for it.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks at the music of Mardi Gras as performed by Professor Longhair, the Neville family and The Hawkettes.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "The Talking Animals," the new album by singer, songwriter and record producer T-Bone Burnett. Burnett has produced the work of musicians like Marshall Crenshaw, Los Lobos, Roy Orbison and Elvis Costello. In 1975, Burnett travelled and performed with Bob Dylan's "Rolling Thunder Review."

Lyricist and songwriter Robert Hunter. He's best known for his 28-year collaboration with Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, writing the lyrics to the classics "Uncle John's Band" and "Truckin," and the recent hit "Touch of Grey." He has a new solo album titled "Liberty."

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the career of versatile Texas rock n' roller Doug Sahm, including the night in 1952 when he performed while sitting on the lap of Hank Williams, and his escapades as the leader of The Sir Douglas Quintet, a group of southerners who tried to convince the public they were British.