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The British Invasion, Examined
A country at war. Economic dire straits. An oil crisis. Sound familiar? Find out how today’s headlines parallel the conditions that helped create British pop music in the 1950s and ‘60s. Ethnomusicologist Gordon Thompson of Skidmore College joins us to talk about his book “Please Please Me: Sixties British Pop, Inside and Out.” Also: Elizabeth Pitcairn joins us to perform on her Red Violin, the Stradivarius famed for its dazzling sound and mysterious history and the inspiration for Francois Girard's film The Red Violin.
Sixties British Pop: A Look Back
In “Please Please Me: Sixties British Pop, Inside and Out," Gordon Thompson journeys to the center of the British pop-making establishment in the 1960's through conversations with the major players themselves. He joins us to share his insider's view of the distinctly British songwriting and production techniques that developed during the period, the "bulge" generation's influence on Brit culture, and the stars themselves, from the Beatles to The Who to King Crimson.
Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on the birth of Britpop
“Please Please Me: Sixties British Pop, Inside and Out" on Amazon.com
CD Picks of the Week
Three new releases picked by the Soundcheck staff. Read the full reviews of our picks here.
Brighton Port Authority, "I Think We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat" (Southern Fried Records)
--picked by John Schaefer [Amazon]
Joshua Redman, "Compass" (Nonesuch)
--picked by Brian Wise [Amazon]
Animal Collective, "Merriweather Post Pavilion" (Domino)
--picked by Joel Meyer [Amazon]
The Red Violin
Violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn is the owner of the Red Violin, crafted by Stadivarius in 1720 and one of the finest instruments in the world. It is also one of the most mysterious, having vanished for more than 200 years until its re-appearance in the hands of an heir of Felix Mendelssohn, and is the subject of Francois Girard’s award-winning film The Red Violin. Pitcairn joins us to perform on her enigmatic instrument live in our studio and to discuss her thriving career as a concert soloist.
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See Tori Amos Live!
Join us Tuesday, Dec. 9 at The Greene Space
Singer and pianist Tori Amos joins us to talk about reworking and reinventing seasonal carols on her new holiday album. And, she performs for a live audience in The Greene Space! Click the link for ticket info.
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