Funk

Ken Tucker reviews the new album by "Chic," called "Chic-ism."

Rock historian Ed Ward goes back 20 years, to 1972.

There's been a flood of CD anthologies this year documenting the careers of many great early rock and rollers. Rock historian Ed Ward tells us what ones he likes best, and what ones would make the best Christmas presents.

Maceo Parker was a member of James Brown's horn section. Parker was hired along with his brother, but soon made a name for himself. His new album is a straightforward jazz record, called Roots Revisited.

Milo Miles looks at the career of Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango.

Terry talks with Fresh Air's rock critic, Ken Tucker, about rock in the 80s.

Rock historian Ed Ward examines the other side of Sly Stone. In the 60s and 70s Stone was the flamboyant leader of the group Sly and the Family Stone, but he was also an accomplished record producer.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "The Cinderella Theory," the new album by the master of funk, George Clinton. Clinton began his musical career when he formed The Parliaments. But it's with his densely layered rhythm lines and rap that Clinton has made his mark on music, defining the funk sound and culture. His best-known songs include "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker," "Atomic Dog" and "Think! It ain't illegal yet."

The master of funk, George Clinton. He began his musical career as a teenager when he formed The Parliament. But in the early 70s, Clinton put together a second group, "Funkadelic," that became enormously influential on the pop music scene. Their 1970 album, "Osmium," set the tone for Clinton's wickedly eclectic style; songs ranged from metaphysical gospel to country and acid rock. But their big hit came with the album "Mothership Connection." In songs like "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker," "Get Up on the Downstroke" and "Think!

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews "I'm Real," the new album by JAMES BROWN, the self-proclaimed "Godfather of Soul."

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles The Funkadelic, a black psychedelic band whose big hit was the 1978 song "One Nation Under A Groove." Several members of the band, including leader George Clinton, started out with The Parliaments, a fifties Doo-Wop group.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews "Lovesexy," the new album by Prince.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Dike and the Blazers, a group that played in the mid-60s and put Phoenix on the Soul map.

Rock critic Ken Tucker says that, after a few recent missteps, Prince has released a masterful new double album.

Critic Francis Davis joins us for the weekly program "Interval," in which he looks at new jazz releases. Today Davis reviews "We Want Miles" by jazz legend Miles Davis, and "The Great Pretender" by trumpeter Lester Bowie.