Music

Rock historian Ed Ward on the 4-CD collection: "Elvis Presley Platinum, A Life in Music" (RCA) which includes some never released material.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Higher Standards" by pianist Jessica Williams on the Candid label.

Sun Studios founder Sam Phillips. He is revered as one of the leading catalysts in post WW II American music. As a record producer in the 1950s and 60s his recordings launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis and that’s just to name a few. Next Month, Phillips will be a celebrity host on the public radio program Beale Street Caravan. Phillips is now in his mid 70s.

In New York City, the 92nd Street YMCA, is better known as The 92nd Street Y a cultural arts center. Maurice Levine the director of the 92nd Street Y's "Lyrics & Lyricist" series for 26 years died on Monday at the age of 79. The program spotlighted American lyricists and composers like Alan Jay Lerner, Stephen Sondheim, and Dorothy Fields. The series had consistently been a sell-out. (Originally aired 12/11/96)

Derek Taylor, a former press agent for the Beatles, died Sunday at the age of 65. He is the author of It was 20 Years Ago Today He served two stints with the Beatles. Once in 1964 during their world tour and again in 1968. (Originally aired 6/4/87)

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album by Oasis.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews two new releases of Cuban music. The first is a four-cd set called I Am Time. (Blue Jackel) This is a retrospective of cuban music broken down in four categories. Cuban folk music, Singers, Dance, and Jazz. The second cd is called Buena Vista Social Club (World Circuit/Nonesuch) by a band of the same name. This CD was produced by Ry Cooder.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the 1996 German release by pioneering American soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy. "Five Facings" is released on the German label FMP. In this series of recordings LACY is paired with such diverse piano players as Marilyn Crispell, Misha Mengelberg, Ulrich Gumpert, Fred Van Hove, and Vladimir Miller.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews Rhino Records new 6 cd set called Beg, Scream & Shout!: The Big Ol’ Box of 60s Soul

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "OK Computer" by the British quartet Radiohead (EMI Records)

Music Commentator Milo Miles looks back on the life of Pakistani musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan who died this month at the age of 48. He was one of the world's most famous religious singers. He was a Sufi muslim who performed Qawwali (ku-walee)...a type of devotional song intended to induce ecstasy.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the home video "The Art of Singing: Golden Voices of the Century.

Music critic Milo Miles reviews Ocho's album "The Best of Ocho."

Rock historian Ed Ward reviews an MCA release of Muddy Waters' songs folklorist Alan Lomaz recorded in the field.

Music critic Ed Ward reviews the new Jimi Hendrix album (yes, you read that right), "First Rays of the New Rising Sun" (Experience Hendrix/MCA) the album he left incomplete at the time of his death.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Where's Your Cup" (Columbia) the latest release by musician and composer Henry Threadgill

Nigerian singer Fela was considered one of the most popular and innovative musicians in Africa. He died last Saturday of complications from AIDS at the age of 58. Fela was a songwriter and bandleader who played the sax and keyboards. Music critic Milo Miles remembers the life and work of a performer who made every album and every show a celebration of ordinary people and an attack on authority

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Mahler's Seventh Symphony by Pierre Boulez and the Cleveland Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new recording by Ron Sexsmith "Other Songs" (Interscope). He made his debut two years ago.