Hark the What? Ironies of a Beloved Carol

REV. MARK D. ROBERTS knows 'If you don’t want to tick people off, then don’t change the words of the hymns and carols.' As he explains, 'HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING' is a perfect example of this maxim.
by David McGee
 

 
 

America’s Shame, Japan’s Gain: An Animatronic Ray Charles

Well, it's happened. Japan has beaten America to the technology punch again, this time with an animatronic Ray Charles singing away outside Osaka Castle Park. But who's that man the box over in the corner?
by David McGee
 

 

 

Video Moment of the Week

TRAVIS TRITT and his impressive 15-year-old daughter TYLER REESE are terrific on a remake of the 1992 rock smash 'Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough'
by David McGee
 

 
 

Herb, Herby, Herbert. Daddy.

LIterate, witty, loving, insightful: a daughter remembers her unique father on the occasion of the centennial of his birth.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Video Moment for the Ages

Capitalizing on the global acclaim for tTHE COMEBACK ALBUM, ERIC BRACE and PETER COOPER have released 'The Greatest Music Video Ever Made.' Sez they.
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘Perhaps the Richest Body of Stories by Any North American Writer of His Generation’

THE LIBRARY OF AMERICA is publishing a two-volume set of John Updike's Collected Stories. CHRISTOPHER CARDUFF, the estate-appointed editor of Updike's posthumous publications, discusses the project.
by David McGee
 

 

 

Pt. I: ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ & The Lost Punctuation Mark

What Americans hear when they listen to 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' is not anything like what the English peasants meant when they first sang this song more than 500 years ago. So claims best selling author ACE COLLINS.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles–and Allen Klein

MICHAEL SIGMAN reflects on ALLEN KLEIN, in light of FRED GOODMAN's acclaimed new biography of the man who 'bailed out the Beatles, made the Rolling Stones and transformed rock and roll.'
by David McGee
 

 

 

Video Moment for the Ages

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, back home in NJ, August 20, 1978. 'Badlands." Rock 'n' roll at its apex. No further explanation necessary.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Pogues Reuniting for Philip Chevron’s Funeral

From our Irish music editor, word that THE POGUES are reuniting for PHILIP CHEVRON's funeral tomorrow.
by David McGee