Rock

Iain Softley is the writer and director of the film "Backbeat." The film focuses on the early days of The Beatles when Stu Sutcliffe was the bass player.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Mellow Gold," by Beck.

Singer/songwriter Alejandro Escovedo. Escovedo has just released his second solo album. It is called "Thirteen Years" (Watermelon Records). He was a founding member of San Francisco's '70's punk band the Nuns, the cowpunk band Rank & File and rock band True Believers. The title of the new album refers to a point during his marriage when all he had to offer his wife was song. After Escovedo and his former wife separated, she committed suicide.

Singer/songwriter Sam Phillips is a former Christian singer who became disillusioned with the form, left it, changed her name (from Leslie), and started writing songs which explored her own singular spirituality. Since 1989 she's been making pop music that's been admired by the critics. One critic wrote of her 1991 album; "On the surface, Phillips seems just another wispy-voiced, ethereal singer-songwriter, writing moody songs chronicling the dangers of corruption and obsessive love.

World music commentator Milo Miles reviews the newly released boxed CD set "Tougher Than Tough: The Story of Jamaican Music" (available on the Mango label).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new release by singer/songwriter Sam Phillips, "Martinis & Bikinis." (Virgin Records).

Ken Tucker reviews ZZ Top's new record "Antenna" (RCA).

Singer, actress, dancer, Ann-Margret (no last name necessary) has written her autobiography, "Ann-Margret: My Story," (with Todd Gold, Putnam). In the book she writes about her relationship with Elvis Presley, her battle with alcohol abuse, and the stage accident that almost ended her career. Ann-Margret has appeared in the movies, "Bye Bye Birdie," "Carnal Knowledge," "Tommy," and others.

An in-studio concert and interview with singer/songwriter, guitarist Richard Thompson. He first became known for his work with "Fairport Convention." He's since gone solo and is known for his dark songs which blend elements of British folk ballads and the blues. His latest album is "Mirror Blue," (Capitol). There's also a retrospective collection of his work released last year, "Watching the Dark: The History of Richard Thompson," (on Rykodisc.)

Drummer and drum historian Max Weinberg. For over a decade, Weinberg was the drummer for Bruce Springstein's E Street Band. Now he leads the 7-piece band on Late Night With Conan O'Brien on NBC. Weinberg co-authored The Big Beat: Conversations with Rock's Great Drummers (Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1984). Now, he has produced and annotated a three-volume compilation of music performed by his favorite rock 'n roll drummers of the 50's, 60's and 70's. (Max Weinberg Presents: Let There Be Drums, Vols. 1-3. on the Rhino label.

Singer/Songwriter Elvis Costello. In the late 1970s he burst out of Britain's pop-music scene with a sound and attitude never seen before. He was the angry young-man with a fresh sound. He's known for making connections between different musical communities. He's collaborated with Paul McCartney, Ruben Blades, Aimee Mann of "'til Tuesday," David Was of "Was (Not Was)," and T. Bone Burnett.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the second album by the Boston Trio "Morphine." It's called "Cure for Pain" (Rykodisc).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews two new albums: Jane Siberry's "When I Was a Boy," and Sheryl Crow's debut album "Tuesday Night Music Club." (Reprise).

Musician, Singer, Record Producer and a Fresh Air favorite Ben Vaughn. He has a new release, "Mono USA: 8-track Home Recordings 1988-1992" (Bar/None).

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new Bob Dylan album, "World Gone Wrong." (Columbia)

Rock critic Ken Tucker gives his list of bests (and a worst) for 1993.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Vs" (Versus) the new album by the Seattle rock band Pearl Jam. (Epic).

Ken Tucker on the new George Clinton record, "Hey Man, Smell My Finger".

We pay tribute to Frank Zappa who died over the weekend with an excerpt of Terry's 1989 interview with him. (Rebroadcast of 1/17/1989)

Critic David Bianculli reviews an unusual departure PBS' Great Performances: a production of "PsychoDerelict", the new multi-media composition by the rock and roller, Pete Townsend.