Story Archives of 'music'

The Abbey Road Studios in London is known for producing a number of songs by the Beatles and other bands. The place rich with musical history and remains an iconic site, including the place of the crosswalk where the Beatles walked across for the cover of the Abbey Road album.

As part of his echo location series, producer John Diliberto finds unusual combination of rhythm and song. Today, we hear a collaboration between musicians rooted in very different traditions. One, an African griot or storyteller. The other, a German jazz trumpeter. Together, they make music that transcends borders.

Listen to the piece on Public Radio Exchange

There aren’t many bands that can sing about interstellar voyages, pothead pixies, and Zero the Hero without even an ounce of irony. But the progressive rock band Gong wraps itself in its own myth, namely, that we’re in contact with mystical, acid drenched beings from the planet Gong.

Dust off that old turntable and haul your vinyl out of the attic. There’s news that record players are once again making a comeback.

As music has gone totally digital, vinyl might seem a little anachronistic. Maybe it’s a combination of nostalgia, acoustic fidelity, or that satisfying crackle, hiss, and pop you only get with good old vinyl.

Okay, I get it. Snuggies are funny. We even had a Brookstone catalogue featuring a camel-colored "elegant snuggie" lying around the Word of Mouth cube farm. But does the world really need a Weezer snuggie? Watch this infomercial and help us decide:

The lute brings to mind images of Medieval royalty, slowly promenading across a decadent ballroom floor. For lutenist Ronn McFarlane, this couldn’t be further from reality.

Karda Estra is the recording persona of English composer Richard Wileman. Wileman started out as a rocker but veered into composing classical works for chamber ensembles and electric guitar. His imagery tends toward the gothic and his music to the dramatic.

John Diliberto talked to him about his sound as part of the "Echolocation" series.