Music

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews Toni Braxton's second album "Secrets." from La Face Records. Her debut album in 1993 yielded five hit singles.

Earle's new CD is "I Feel Alright" from E-squared/Warner Brothers. He also recently had a song in the movie "Dead Man Walking" called "Ellis Unit One." His new album is called "I Feel Alright." Earle had a past as a drug user and prisoner, but has since turned his life around.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews two books on punk rock: "Please Kill Me: The Uncensored History of Punk," by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain, and the novel "Go Now" by Richard Hell.

Collins has managed the band Aerosmith since 1984. A former addict and in his early days with the group, he often procured drugs for the band. He later helped the members get sober and revitalize their careers. Collins believes band managers and record executives need to work with musicians to overcome the systemic use and abuse of drugs. He works in Cambridge, MA as the founder and president of Collins Management.

Jazz Critic Keving Whitehead reviews a new re-issue of jazz saxophonist Lester Young. It's called "The Complete Aladdin Recordings of Lester Young" from Blue Note. Whitehead says these recordings from the 1940s prove that, contrary to popular belief, Young's playing remained intact after his military service.

Moody's new CD, "Young At Heart" is a collection of Frank Sinatra tunes. Just after World War II, Moody joined the bebop big band of Dizzy Gillespie and played with Milt Jackson. His most famous recording is of an improvisatory piece he performed in 1949, now known as "Moody's Mood For Love." In the new CD, Moody performs as vocalist, tenor/alto/soprano saxist and flutist. He talks about his career and how his hearing problems have affected his career.

Kevin Whitehead review the new box set of the late alto sax player, flautist, and bass clarinetists, called "The Complete Prestige Recordings."

That's the title of an episode of Steve Rowland's documentary series "The Music Makers" featuring funk innovator George Clinton. We play this excerpt.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews funk legend George Clinton's new CD "T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M."

Critic Milo Miles recently attended the Further Festival near Boston, a reunion of Grateful Dead band members, their colleagues and their fans. He has these thoughts.

Singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor Willie Nelson recently released two new albums. With "Spirit," Nelson is the first country musician to record with Island Records. He recorded "How Great Thou Art" with his sister, Bobbie Nelson. That CD is a collection of gospel standards, like "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee."

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Waiting Around for the Crash," the new album by the Philadelphia group, Go to Blazes. It's their sixth album.

Rock historian Ed Ward tells us about the music genre known as techno -- a style with roots in black American music, but that took off in Europe.

Toussaint has been making hit records for nearly 40 years. He has a new record label, NYNO, on which he released "Connected" his first full-length national release in two decades.

Fifty-eight year old Johnson's new CD is "Whoever's Thrilling You." It's his first full-length album and marks his return to the music scene after a 20-year absence. He gave up his music career for steadier work as a longshoreman in 1972 in order to take care of his wife and five children. Friends convinced him to return to performing around the New Orleans area in 1993 and this year he appeared at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

World music critic Milo Miles reviews new releases of New Orleans Rhythm and Blues: "Crescent City Soul: The Sound of New Orleans 1947-1974," a 4-CD set on the EMI label.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Metallica's new CD, "Load," which was five years in the making.

A concert and interview with vocalist Susannah McCorkle, accompanied by pianist Cliff Korman. Last week, McCorkle finished a cabaret of Cole Porter tunes in New York City. "The Passionate Cole Porter" was an attempt to prove that Porter was not an unfeeling observer of romance. She also has a CD featuring Cole Porter tunes, "Easy To Love" (Concord Jazz). McCorkle is the youngest singer ever to be included in the Smithsonian Institution's "Popular Music Record Series."

Biographer David Hajdu has just written "Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn" (Farrar, Straus and Girous). The book explores the life of Strayhorn, a Duke Ellington collaborator who composed "Take the 'A' Train," "Lush Life" and "Something to Live For." Strayhorn was black and gay, but maintained a low profile while working with Ellington's band.

Singer and actress Cher. She's just released "It's a Man's World" (Warner Brothers), her first CD in five years. She talks Terry about her early life and career.