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Soundcheck / November 22, 2006

Soundcheck

Wednesday, November 22, 2006
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  • CDs

    CD's for Shopping Season

    As the holiday shopping season officially begins on Friday, we offer you some tips on music purchases: A trio of critics review hot new recordings – from the big rock box sets to classical, jazz and world music releases. Also on the show: Pianist George Winston.

CD Picks for the Holidays

As the holiday shopping season officially begins on Friday, we offer you some tips on music purchases. A trio of critics review hot new recordings: from the big rock box sets to classical, jazz and world music releases.

Some Favorite CD’s for your shopping consideration:

Jim DeRogatis
Chicago Sun-Times pop music critic; co-host of Sound Opinions on Chicago Public Radio



Rockin' Bones: '50s Punk & Rockabilly
Rhino

A Life Less Lived: The Gothic Box
Rhino

The Clash: Singles Box Set
Sony Music

Anastasia Tsioulcas
Classical music columnist for Billboard magazine


"Neruda Songs" by Peter Lieberson; featuring mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson
Nonesuch

Rahim Alhaj "When the Soul Is Settled: Music of Iraq"
Smithsonian Folkways

"Electric Gypsyland 2" (various artists)
Crammed disc label

Nate Chinen
Freelance jazz critic, contributor to the New York Times


Andrew Hill, "Time Lines"
Blue Note
Ghostface Killah "Fish Scale"

Nate Chinen’s Bonus Picks:
In the Country, "Losing Stones, Collecting Bones" (Rune Grammofon)
Ben Riley's Monk Legacy Septet, "Memories of T" (Concord)

Rockin' Bones: '50s Punk & Rockabilly
A Life Less Lived: The Gothic Box
The Clash: Singles Box Set

George Winston

George Winston's albums, like "Autumn," and "December," helped define meditative New Age music in the 1980s. He’ll talk about his latest album, a benefit for Katrina victims. And he'll perform live in the studio.

George Winston's website

cab

Noteworthy New York

Soundcheck

We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.

Quincy Jones

The Journey of Quincy Jones

Soundcheck

During his 50-year career, Quincy Jones has worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Puff Daddy, founded Vibe magazine, collected countless awards, and earned a reputation as a jazz giant. (Somewhere in there, he found time to make possible an album called "Thriller.") Jones joins us on the occasion of his new book, "The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions."

Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on Quincy Jones, Henry Rollins and the term "Renaissance man"

death

Pop's Love Affair With Death

Soundcheck

Death may be an unpleasant topic for conversation, but it ranks up there with sex and love as a basic ingredient in song lyrics. Today, we look at how pop music copes (and even thrives) with death. We're joined by Graeme Thomson, author of the self-explanatory book, "I Shot a Man in Reno: A History of Death By Murder, Suicide, Fire, Flood, Drugs, Disease and General Misadventure, as Related in Popular Song."

Soundcheck blog: What's your favorite song about death?

John Lennon

Behind the public face of John Lennon

Soundcheck

Writing a book about the Beatles is to enter a crowded market. But Philip Norman’s new 851-page biography, “John Lennon: The Life” is getting much buzz this fall for the unprecedented access provided by Lennon’s friends and relatives, including Yoko Ono. We talk with Norman about why Lennon remains such a fascinating and troubled figure.

Dusty Springfield book jacket

The Soul of British Soul

Soundcheck

British soul divas like Amy Winehouse and Duffy owe a big debt to a '60s icon with a breathy voice and a beehive wig. Today: the story of singer Dusty Springfield. Later: folk-rock artist Ani DiFranco performs songs from her new album "Red Letter Year" live in our studio.