Music

Fulks has one foot in the singer/songwriter scene and one in country music. He spent three years writing songs in Nashville, but no one opted to record his songs. So he's recently come out with a new CD of his own music, "Let's Kill Saturday Night" (Geffen Records). Fulks began his career as a regular at the same fabled Greenwich Village hole in the wall where Bob Dylan made a name for himself. He joins Fresh Air to talk about his career and sing some of his songs.

Pop critic Ken Tucker reviews "Is This Desire" the latest release by the English singer, songwriter and guitarist Polly Jean Harvey.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "A Recital of Intimate Works" (Dorian label) by pianist Andrew Rangell.

The once post-war heartthrob won new fans with his MTV Unplugged concert. His new CD is "The Playground." He has a new autobiography called The Good Life. A grocer's son, Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born in Astoria Queens in 1926. After working as a singing waiter in his teens and then following service in the U.S. Army, he auditioned for Columbia Records and launched a career that started off with his first big hit "Boulevard of Broken Dreams."

Rock historian Ed Ward looks back on the career of songwriter Bert Berns.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "War Orphans" the new release by Swedish pianist Bobo Stenson, on the ECM label.

Bette Midler made a name for herself in the early 1970s at New York's Continental Baths, a club for gay men. Since then she's been nominated for two Academy Awards, and earned Emmy and Grammy awards. She has a new CD, "Bathhouse Betty" (Warner Bros. Records).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Alanis Morrissette's new release "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie" (Maverick/Reprise)

A special in-studio concert and interview with Kate and Anna McGarrigle; Loudon, Rufus, and Martha Wainwright, and other. They all sing and play on the new album, "The McGarrigle Hour" (Hannibal).

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new collection of recordings made by the late pianist William Kapell who died in 1953 at the age of 31.

Writer and critic Nelson George. He's one of this country's most prominent chroniclers of black music and culture. His new book "Hip Hop America" (Viking) is a history of Hip Hop, and a memoir of his own life, growing up to the musical strains of Hip Hop.

Critic Milo Miles has a retrospective of British blues guitarist Peter Green who founded the group Fleetwood Mac, then dropped out and stopped performing. Now Green has a new album, "Robert Johnson Songbook" (Artisan label). Two earlier Green albums are: "Then Play On" (Reprise) and "Green and Guitar" (Music Club label).

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Zero" (Blue Note), the new release by jazz saxophonist Greg Osby.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a re-issue of Judy Garland's songs titled "Judy" on the label 32 Records. It is a four cd-set with a video and 100 page book of photos and interviews. Also Rhino records has re-issued "Judy Garland in Hollywood."

Film critic John Powers reviews "Velvet Goldmine" the new film written and directed by Todd Haynes. The film looks at the early 70's "glam rock" scene. Haynes earlier film was "Safe" about a suburban house-wife who becomes allergic to nearly everything.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Sheryl Crow's newest CD "The Globe Sessions" on A&M Records.

The singer and pianist has a new CD titled "Sing It" on Rounder Records. It features her with Tracey Nelson and Irma Thomas. She has been compared with Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Dr. John, Leon Russell, and, Jerry Lee Lewis. She's been called the bayou queen of the piano. Her latest solo album came out last year on Rounder. "Let Me Play With Your Poodle." The concert was recorded in September in Austin, Texas as a benefit for the public radio station KUT.

Rock historian Ed Ward continues his series on how country music was influenced by black and white music traditions.

Rock historian Ed Ward begins his two part series on Black and White country music.

Nelson is best known for her work leading the Mother Earth band from the 1960s and 70s. Her hits included "Down So Low" and "Mother Earth." A collection of her hits "The Best of Tracy Nelson/Mother Earth" (Reprise) came out in 1996. She has a number of albums on Rounder: "Homemade Songs/Come See About Me," "In the Here and Now," "I Feel So Good" and "Move On." She's also got a new recording in which she teams up with Marcia Ball and Irma Thomas, "Sing it!" (Rounder).