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Soundcheck

Friday, November 21, 2008
  • Dust Springfield book jacket
    "Dusty: Queen of the Postmods"

    The Soul of British Soul

    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.

    Psssst: Want to be a guinea pig in a Soundcheck experiment? Click here.

The Ballad of Dusty Springfield

Way before Amy Winehouse, singer Dusty Springfield was the first British soloist to break into the US top ten charts with her 1964 hit, "I Only Want To Be With You." Annie Randall, musicologist and author of "Dusty!: Queen of the Postmods," talks about how the former convent school girl became the "White Queen of Soul.”

Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on Dusty Springfield, "blue-eyed soul," and race

"Dusty: Queen of the Postmods" on Amazon.com

Anni

Ani DiFranco

Singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco’s music has been like a diary for the past 18 years, covering everything from love to politics to philosophy.

She joins us to play live songs from her new album, "Red Letter Year," which tackles hot-button issues like nuclear power but also features personal confessions.Ani DiFranco performs tonight and tomorrow night at Town Hall on West 43rd St. Doors open both nights at 8.

Soundcheck Blog: Watch video of Ani DiFranco performing in the Soundcheck studio

Ani DiFranco on MySpace

The Swell Season in The Greene Space

Soundcheck

Joshua Bell in The Greene Space

Soundcheck