Music

In 1955, Ford had a hit with his version of Merle Travis' "Sixteen Tons." Later, he was known for his gospel music and daytime and evening television shows. A new collection of his hits, "16 Tons of Boogie" is out on Rhino records.

Rock historian Ed Ward remembers some country music-singing brother duos that preceded more famous siblings like the Everly Brothers.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says Brown is one of the best musicians who played with Art Blakey in the 1980s. Both the composition and improvising on his new album are excellent.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new release of Thompson's musical character studies of friends, artists, and musicians, called Portraits and Self-Portraits.

Rock critic Ken Tucker agrees with the other reviews of Under the Red Sky he's read: Bob Dylan's smugness and surface-level lyrics come across as little more than a joke.

Cropper is a white musician who fell in love with black music. As a guitar player, he preferred working in the studio rather than on the road, and later became part of the house rhythm section for Stax Records. He's best known for his playing with Booker T & the MGs and Otis Redding.

World music commentator Milo Miles turns to one of the newest countries in the world, Mozambique and discovers a local band called Eyuphuro. Their new CD, Mama Mosambiki is polished, with a skillful blend of acoustic and electric instruments, and a strong feminist message.

Kevin Whitehead reviews the pianist's new trio album. Pullen uses his unconventional technique in traditional jazz setting, which may appeal to listeners turned off by the avant-garde. But he can still play in a more conventional, classical style.

Jim Morrison's out-of-control, self-destructive behavior nearly drove Densmore out of the band. Morrison died at 27; it took Densmore ten years to come to terms with his death. His new memoir is called Riders on the Storm.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks back on the career of the New Orleans-based musician. Bartholomew -- who's still playing today -- arranged songs for several other artists, and made many excellent novelty records of his own.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a compact disc re-release of Pablo Casals' performance of Schubert's "String Quintet in C," which was recorded while the cellist was living in self-exile in Prades.

Cherry played with Ornette Coleman's free jazz ensemble. After striking out on his own, he immersed himself in world music. Those influences have informed Cherry's new album, Multikulti.

Overlooked albums by Chick Corea and Pat Metheny are now on CD. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says both reveal the musicians' more experimental sides.

Greg Ford and Hal Willner produced of a new album of live, orchestral performances of the composer's music, which helped defined the the classic Warner Bros. cartoons.

Rock historian Ed Ward is one of the privileged few who can vote for this year's inductees. He thinks the artists who really shaped rock and roll are underrepresented. Miles runs through the ballot, weighing each musician's merits, before choosing his top five.

Film critic Stephen Schiff has no taste for the high school movies that proliferated in the 1980s. But he likes films that celebrate youthful energy and rebellion against authority, like Pump Up the Volume. The movie, about a teenage radio DJ, features an excellent performance by star Christian Slater.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews new albums by Was (Not Was) and Too Much Joy, both of which incorporate humor and rap influences into their rock sound.

Music journalist Charles Shaar Murray is the author of Crosstown Traffic, about how fans and critics have defined the groundbreaking African American guitarist in relation to white culture. The tension between black musicians and white audiences continues today, particularly with the rise of rap music.

The Sony Classical label has begun issuing 50 CDs of the works of composer and conductor Pierre Boulez. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews three offerings, with Boulez conducting works by Varese, Ravel, and Schonberg.

Tucker wrote Brown's memoir, The Godfather of Soul, which was recently reprinted. He joins Fresh Air to talk about Brown's rise as a soul singer, the evolution of his stage persona, and his recent conviction and imprisonment, a punishment which Tucker believes is too severe based on the charges.