Ben Greenman

Sly Stone has published his memoir, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). We discuss his life and his book with daughter, Phunne Stone, and co-author, Ben Greenman. 

Is the ukulele a charming, portable composer's dream... or a twee novelty whose time has passed? Vulture writer Jesse David Fox, and Ben Greenman, contributing editor to The New Yorke...

Every third Saturday in April since 2008, faithful fans of vinyl have lined up at the doors of their local independent record shops to buy limited edition releases in honor of Record ...

It's a simple fact: recording contracts sometimes go sour. And when artists are held to those contracts against their will -- sometimes you end up with some... interesting... results....

A good choir can send chills up your spine. And in recent years, choirs have really broken out of their traditionally religious mold -- like the Scala & Kolacny Brother’s choir from Belgium, which has become world renowned for their covers of pop and rock songs like Radiohead’s “Creep” and Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody.”

But what about when rock and pop artists are the ones leading the choir? We asked New Yorker editor Ben Greenman and author and music writer Sean Manning to join us for a Soundcheck Smackdown.

So, What do you think. Are choirs in rock songs heavenly… or hellish?

From Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Beatles to Gorillaz and Studio Killers, animated bands have come a long way since the '60s. Joining us to discuss the evolution of cartoon rock is Ben Greenman of the New Yorker. And to give us a taste of what it's like to be the voice behind an animated musician, we'll be joined by Britta Phillips, the voice of Jem from Jem and the Holograms, and Brendon Small, the creator of and musician behind Dethklok from the Adult Swim program Metalocalypse.

As extreme temperatures invade New York City, everyone's talking about the heat - so why not sing about it, too? New Yorker editor Ben Greenman shares his heatwave-inspired playlist, plus we want to know: what are your favorite hot weather songs?

Whistled melodies have inspired great music from Otis Redding, Paul Simon and others. But whistling has also inspired murderous looks on the subway. We debate the sometimes-awesome, sometimes-annoying art of whistling. Guests include New Yorker editor and writer Ben Greenman and singer, teacher – and competitive-whistling champion – Emily Eagen.

The literary mashup sensation has so far paired Jane Austen with zombies and Abraham Lincoln with vampires. Now, the literary great who gave us The Cherry Orchard and The Seagull is rubbing elbows with Lindsay Lohan, Eminem and others in New Yorker editor and music writer Ben Greenman's new collection, Celebrity Chekhov. Greenman joins us in The Greene Space to talk about the book -- and to test our live audience's music knowledge with a celebrity quiz.

Ben Greenman's book, Please Step Back, now out in paperback, appears to be a biography of the 1970s soul and funk legend Rock Foxx. But Foxx is totally imaginary. So Greenman teamed up with a real-life funk legend, Swamp Dogg, to release one ...

The Search for Soul: Beatlemania was rekindled briefly this year with a set of Fab Four remasters. But in recent years, obscure soul-music reissues have sparked a different obsession. Today: we look at the quest for “outsider soul” at labels like Numero Group, Wax Poetics and Soul Jazz. Guests include ...

Sometimes imaginary rock stars are better than the real thing. Today: a look at fictional musicians in pop culture, from "Spinal Tap" to the Dylan-esque characters in novels by Don DeLillo and Nick Hornby. We’re joined by Ben Greenman, New Yorker editor and author of the rock novel Please Step ...

The world's four biggest music companies are set to face off with Apple in a war of competing "digital album" formats. But Radiohead's Thom Yorke, leader of one of the most influential bands in rock, says making albums can be "creative hoo-ha." Today: Maura Johnston of music blog Idolator and ...

Ben Greenman's new book Please Step Back looks like a biography of a 1970s soul and funk legend named Rock Foxx. Except Foxx is imaginary. Greenman wanted to release one of his fictional hero's songs, so he teamed up with a real-life legend ...