Love, hate, acceptance, rejection, and curiosity: 76 most influential songwriters
Vincent Stephenssongwriters, most influential songwriters, Great American Songbook, best songwriters, popular song, Brazilian pop music, rock 'n' roll, R&B, country music, folk music, reggae
The girl becomes a legend: The early recordings of Tanya Tucker
Esther Phillips: Heart of the Blues
America’s Blues: A review of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Directed by George C. Wolfe, 2020)
Raves & Faves: The Best of 2020, a most unusual year
Vincent StephensBest of 2020, The Chicks, Rumaan Alam, Koritha Mitchell, Big Mouth, Radha Blank, Gregory Porter, Diane Schuur, Leslie Odom Jr., Curtis Stigers, Julia Garner, Delroy Lindo, Rachel Bloom, P. Carl, Diana Krall, Megan Thee Stallion, Beyonce, Ella Fitzgerald
Sheltering in place: Music, podcasts, friendship, & 2020
Podcast Singular: What was the "best" record of 1995?
Freddy Cole (1931-2020): Quietly legendary
Am I a music “collector”? and other reflections on buying music
Lorez, Gloria, and Dakota: On being black, female, and ‘underrated’ in jazz singing
Whose Songbook? Questioning the “Great” and “American” in popular music
On the Road with Rocking the Closet: Going public, answering burning questions, giving advice, and finding inspiration
Synthesis, growth, and eclecticism: Favorite albums of 2010-2019
Music on TV Part 2: Engineering musical “quality”: A review of The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Music on TV Part 1: Mining country music for riches: A review of Ken Burns’ Country
A life in song: Carmen Gillespie’s playlist
Is Beyoncé an “artist” and other questions: Musical significance in a post-rock critic era
Rocketman soars to new creative heights for musical biopics
To listen or not? Responding to “Baby, its Cold Outside,” Michael Jackson and R. Kelly in an age of sexual enlightenment
Occasional Tapas: Episode 00: Pre-OSCARS discussion featuring guest Riccardo Dragani