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Soundcheck / June 22, 2007

Soundcheck

Friday, June 22, 2007
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  • Coney Island Boardwalk
    (Jorgeq/flickr)

    Coney Island in Song

    Real estate developers plan to clean up Coney Island but its seedy charm lives on in music. Today on Soundcheck, we look at how the Brooklyn beach front has worked its way into Calliope songs, doo-wop, and even a Lou Reed album. Plus NY-based folk-singer Linda Draper performs live.

Ballad of a Brooklyn Beach Front

Real estate developers plan to give it a polished look, but Coney Island’s seedy charm lives on in music. On the eve of the annual Mermaid Parade, we look at Coney Island's musical legacy with Charles Denson, Head of Coney Island History Project and author of “Coney Island: Lost and Found, and Brooklyn-based performer Vic Thrill.

The 25th anniversary of the Mermaid Parade is Saturday, June 23rd. Visit ConeyIsland.com for more details.

Coney Island: Lost and Found
Official Website for Coney Island

Linda Draper

Linda Draper’s delicate voice is the perfect accompaniment to her airy, minimal folk songs. On her fifth album, Keepsake, that voice takes centerstage with her guitar and touches of stand-up bass, piano, and strings. She performs live in our studio.

Linda Draper's Website
More about Linda's field of study, music therapy

Woody Allen Goes to the Opera

Woody Allen, Oscar winner for Annie Hall, and Hannah and Her Sisters, is tackling a new creative arena: Opera. Woody is set to direct Puccini's one comedic opera, Gianni Schicchi at the Los Angeles Opera, opening in the Fall of 2008. John C. Tibbetts, author of Composers in the Movies, joins us to discuss the project and Woody's use of opera in film.

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.