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Playlist: Allyson McCabe's Portfolio

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Voices with the Music: A Brief History of Guitar Effects

From Allyson McCabe | 05:14

Musicians, it seems, have always wanted to alter the sounds of their instruments. Over the course of centuries, strings have been added to guitars for a fuller sound. The composition of those strings has changed from animal gut to steel to plastic, each with their own unique sounds. Drummers have tried different shaped pots and kettles for the bodies of their instruments to get different timbres. This feature on guitar effects was NPR'S "story of the day."

482216355_wide-b8415c9f271c8c93e136d0992f37ae89df7d0867-s800-c85_small Musicians, it seems, have always wanted to alter the sounds of their instruments. Over the course of centuries, strings have been added to guitars for a fuller sound. The composition of those strings has changed from animal gut to steel to plastic, each with their own unique sounds. Drummers have tried different shaped pots and kettles for the bodies of their instruments to get different timbres.

But with the advent of electronics, the possibilities for tweaking the sound of one instrument exploded. And perhaps nobody has done more tweaking than electric guitarists.

The Woman Behind the Curtain, Making Good Songs Sound Great

From Allyson McCabe | 06:25

Mastering Engineer Emily Lazar makes good songs sound great. She has worked on thousands of songs and albums, creating the final production masters for artists from Santana to Foo Fighters to Vampire Weekend. This profile is a behind the scenes look at Lazar’s work and creative approach.

Emilylazar_bw_small Mastering Engineer Emily Lazar makes good songs sound great. She has worked on thousands of songs and albums, creating the final production masters for artists from Santana to Foo Fighters to Vampire Weekend. This profile is a behind the scenes look at Lazar’s work and creative approach.

Genya Ravan, 'Rock And Roll Refugee,' Has Stories To Fill Two Lifetimes

From Allyson McCabe | 06:27

She came to this country as a refugee from post-war Europe; learned English listening to the radio; and before long, heard herself on it. She started her pop music career as Goldie Zelkowitz, and fronted the first all-female rock band to be signed to a major label. She renamed herself Genya Ravan and fronted an acclaimed jazz-fusion band. Then she became the first female independent music producer, helping to launch the punk band, The Dead Boys. She got tangled up with drugs; got clean; wrote a memoir. And now she’s the subject of a new off-Broadway play.

Pb150081-edit_wide-977b715a2c362305556d3b86a8e69e7af25410d9-s800-c85_small She came to this country as a refugee from post-war Europe; learned English listening to the radio; and before long, heard herself on it.  She started her pop music career as Goldie Zelkowitz, and fronted the first all-female rock band to be signed to a major label.  She renamed herself Genya Ravan and fronted an acclaimed jazz-fusion band. Then she became the first female independent music producer, helping to launch the punk band, The Dead Boys.  She got tangled up with drugs; got clean; wrote a memoir. And now she’s the subject of a new off-Broadway play.

It's Thin, It's Plastic, It's Back: Flexi Discs Find New Fans

From Allyson McCabe | 05:59

In the digital era, brick-and-mortar record stores' stock in trade has increasingly become vinyl sales. But within that niche of an increasingly fragmented music industry, there's another music format that's drawing attention from fans old and new: flexi discs.

Db_flexis_wide-444c0369d99267ef483ae873c673aac8e1d3cd46-s800-c85_small In the digital era, brick-and-mortar record stores' stock in trade has increasingly become vinyl sales. But within that niche of an increasingly fragmented music industry, there's another music format that's drawing attention from fans old and new: flexi discs.

FM Mutations with Allyson McCabe: "Radio, Radio: Elvis Costello Edition"

From Allyson McCabe | 02:45:46

Special edition of my radio show, FM Mutations, inspired by Elvis Costello’s new memoir Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink. SET 1: I recreate Costello’s great playlists from his guest DJ stints on KSAN. SET 2: I play tracks from This Year’s Model side-by-side with songs Costello identifies as musical building blocks for that album. SET 3: I spin my favorite songs about the radio and recording industry along with vintage radio jingles and promos from artists including the Who, the Clash, the Specials, and the Jesus and Mary Chain. This show was originally broadcast on 89.5 FM WPKN in Bridgeport, CT on 11/14/15.

Costellowithheadphones_small Special edition of my monthly radio show, FM Mutations, broadcast on WPKN 89.5 FM in Bridgeport, CT, inspired by Elvis Costello’s new memoir Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink. SET 1: I recreate Costello’s great playlists from his guest DJ stints on KSAN. SET 2: I play tracks from This Year’s Model side-by-side with songs Costello identifies as musical building blocks for that album. SET 3: I spin my favorite songs about the radio and recording industry along with vintage radio jingles and promos from artists including the Who, the Clash, the Specials, and the Jesus and Mary Chain. The episode is also archived as a single stream at: http://archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/listen/130359/fm-mutations-with-allyson-mccabe-elvis-costello-edition-

It's cut here into smaller set segments.

NB: Station IDs can be washed and the segments can be recut and remixed to spec. The complete playlist appears below in the transcript.

Inspiration Or Appropriation? Behind Music Copyright Lawsuits

From Allyson McCabe | 09:24

Where do you draw the line between inspiration and appropriation when it comes to musical compositions?

Gettyimages-152461941_wide-dcabe72d2beb8081f319c9d84efe079a1c93421a-s800-c85_small Where do you draw the line between inspiration and appropriation when it comes to musical compositions? That question is at the heart of several high-profile court cases, including the recent "Blurred Lines" trial and a current copyright-infringement lawsuit involving "Stairway to Heaven." But it isn't always easy to prove a song is yours – particularly when you're up against one of the biggest rock and roll bands of all time.

To Sign Or Not To Sign: Artists Big And Small Face The Label Question

From Allyson McCabe | 07:04

Land a deal with a label or put out records on your own: Both carry big risks. For musicians today there's a middle ground, but getting your songs in front of people will still cost you.

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Land a deal with a label or put out records on your own: Both carry big risks. For musicians today there's a middle ground, but getting your songs in front of people will still cost you.

She-incarnating the magic of Led Zeppelin

From Allyson McCabe | 04:45

Chuck Klosterman has lauded Lez Zeppelin in the pages of SPIN as the most powerful female band in rock history. This is a profile of the band's founder and guitarist Steph Paynes.

Steph_paynes_3_2_small Led Zeppelin mania is in full resurgence with the publication of new commemorative books and collector's edition magazines, the CD/DVD release of the iconic band's 2007 reunion concert, and their December 2012 receipt of the Kennedy Center Honors. Nearly 100 tribute bands worldwide devote themselves to recreating Led's magic, but none do it quite like Lez Zeppelin , whose debut album was produced by legendary Led Zeppelin recording engineer Eddie Kramer. Lez Zeppelin's live shows have earned accolades from critics including Chuck Klosterman, who has lauded the band in the pages of SPIN as the most powerful all-female band in rock history. This piece is a sound-rich profile of Lez Zeppelin's founder and guitarist, Steph Paynes.

This story originally aired on WSHU public radio on 11/30/2012: http://www.wshu.org/news/story.php?ID=10557

Will Philadelphia turn the Reading Viaduct into a park like N.Y.'s High Line?

From Allyson McCabe | 03:56

The Reading Viaduct, a hulking century-old masonry and steel railroad trestle, runs for ten blocks north of Center City. Abandoned since 1984, the viaduct has long been overrun by weeds, trash, and graffiti. But now there is growing interest in redeveloping the railway into an elevated park—just like the High Line in New York.

L_viaduct_600x400_small The Reading Viaduct, a hulking century-old masonry and steel railroad trestle, runs for ten blocks north of Center City. Abandoned since 1984, the viaduct has long been overrun by weeds, trash, and graffiti. But now there is growing interest in redeveloping the railway into an elevated park—just like the High Line in New York.