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Soundcheck

Tuesday, November 15, 2005
  • Rednecks and Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music by Chris Willman
    Rednecks and Bluenecks: The Politics of Country Music by Chris Willman (The New Press)

    Country Comes to Town

    New York's been overrun by country music for the past week. Today, we speak with Entertainment Weekly’s senior writer Chris Willman for a round-up of the week’s events. We'll get his take on so-called Red state music here in Blue state territory. And, Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison. Cash's life is being celebrated in a new film coming out at the end of this week. We’ll take an in-depth look at the story of the Folsom prison recording. And we speak with New Yorker writer Sasha Frere-Jones about hip hop…from Houston.

Rednecks & Bluenecks

As New York's first-ever Country Music Association Awards get underway, we take look at the politics of country music with author Chris Willman.
» Country Music Association Web site
» More on Chris Willman's Rednecks and BluenecksWeb site

Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison

The story behind the classic recording with author Michael Streissguth.
» Review of Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison.

Hip hop in Houston

How Houston is hopping to a hip hop beat with Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker magazine.

When I Missed the Boat

Soundcheck

How prejudice and second-guessing can cause you to miss some great music. Also, Juilliard-trained pianist Andy Russo joins us to share "Mix Tape," a collection of 14 classical arrangements of nuggets by Billy Joel, James Blunt, the B-52's, and others.

Johnny Flynn

Soundcheck

Johnny Flynn, a London-based singer-songwriter, performs songs from his new album, "A Larum."

Ahmad Jamal

Soundcheck

Pianist and composer Ahmad Jamal was a major influence on Miles Davis in the 50s. Today rappers sample his music. He joins us to discuss his latest album.