The Naked American Songbook

Series produced by WQXR

Series image

The series that asks the question: what makes the Great American Songbook so darned great?

Through intimate, candid conversations with performers, artists, musicians and public figures, host Julian Fleisher addresses (and undresses) the near-mythic power of this enduring American art form.


19 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Episode 19: Ira Glass
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Caption: Ira Glass, Credit: Jesse Michener
Public radio superstar host Ira Glass switches seats and becomes guest on The Naked American Songbook.

Bought by Troy Public Radio, KICI Iowa City, and KUER


  • Added: Aug 07, 2017
  • Length: 01:00:00
  • Purchases: 3
Episode 18: Rachel Bloom
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Caption: Rachel Bloom, Credit: Imprint PR
Rachel Bloom, star and co-creator of the CW show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, is also a Disney Princess impersonator, a student of musical comedy, and a fa...

Bought by Troy Public Radio and KICI Iowa City


  • Added: Aug 04, 2017
  • Length: 59:59
  • Purchases: 2
Episode 17: Stephin Merritt
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Caption: Stephin Merritt, Credit: Marcelo Krasilcic
The Naked American Songbook went LIVE with singer-songwriter-producer-genius Stephin Merritt, the force behind at least one indie-cult classic grou...

Bought by KICI Iowa City


  • Added: Aug 01, 2017
  • Length: 59:58
  • Purchases: 1
Episode 16: Sheldon Harnick
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Piece image
Julian asks "How do you thank someone who has taken you from crayons to perfume?" As usual, the solution here is music.

Bought by KICI Iowa City


  • Added: Jan 20, 2017
  • Length: 01:00:00
  • Purchases: 1
Episode 15: Darren Criss
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Piece image
Darren Criss: The Song is The Song Julian sits down with his youngest guest yet, to talk Chet Baker, Cole Porter, and the perpetual importance of t...

Bought by KICI Iowa City


  • Added: Jan 20, 2017
  • Length: 01:00:30
  • Purchases: 1
Episode 14: Ana Gasteyer
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Piece image
Old friends reunite in The Jonathan Channel studios to rehash their strong feelings for the Great American Songbook.

Bought by KICI Iowa City


  • Added: Dec 16, 2016
  • Length: 01:00:30
  • Purchases: 1
Episode 13: Neil Degrasse Tyson
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Piece image
Join Neil deGrasse Tyson as he goes where no scientist has boldly gone before - on an intergalactic exploration of the Great American Songbook!

Bought by Troy Public Radio, Troy Public Radio, and KICI Iowa City


  • Added: Dec 16, 2016
  • Length: 01:00:29
  • Purchases: 3
Episode 12: Lea DeLaria
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Piece image
Lea DeLaria shows Julian that she knows a thing or two about the Songbook.

Bought by KICI Iowa City


  • Added: Dec 08, 2016
  • Length: 01:00:30
  • Purchases: 1
Episode 11: Alan Cumming
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Piece image
Julian Fleisher explores The Great American Songbook with one of its proudest immigrants.

Bought by KICI Iowa City


  • Added: Nov 18, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 1
Episode 10: Tonya Pinkins
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Piece image
Tony Award-winning actress Tonya Pinkins is no stranger to the Great American Songbook. This week on TNAS she's talking Streisand, Sondheim, Hamilt...

Bought by KSFR, KICI Iowa City, and WNMU-FM


  • Added: Nov 15, 2016
  • Length: 59:30
  • Purchases: 3
Episode 9: Ari Shapiro
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Piece image
You know his show, his name, and his voice. Still there's so much more to learn about this NPR Golden Boy. Listen as Julian gets the scoop on All T...

Bought by Troy Public Radio, KICI Iowa City, and KUER


  • Added: Nov 15, 2016
  • Length: 01:00:30
  • Purchases: 3
Episode 8: Molly Ringwald
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Piece image
Actor, author, and songstress Molly Ringwald is more than an 80s icon. Join her as she show's Julian her jazzier side and the music she loves from ...

Bought by KICI Iowa City


  • Added: Nov 15, 2016
  • Length: 01:00:00
  • Purchases: 1
Episode 7: Zachary Quinto
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Piece image
Zachary Quinto goes where no man has gone before - beaming into the first episode of The Naked American Songbook Season 2!

  • Added: Nov 15, 2016
  • Length: 01:00:30
Episode 6: Edie Falco
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Caption: Edie Falco, Credit: Joe Kohen/Stinger / Getty
Nurse Jackie’s Edie Falco ditches her scrubs and joins Julian Fleisher to explore the music of her past on the Naked American Songbook.

Bought by KICI Iowa City and KCMJ Community Radio


  • Added: Feb 02, 2016
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 2
Episode 5: Isaac Mizrahi
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Caption: Isaac Mizrahi, Credit: Getty/Mark Sullivan
Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi hits the Naked American runway to show his love and knowledge of the songbook.

Bought by KICI Iowa City and KCMJ Community Radio


  • Added: Feb 02, 2016
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 2
Episode 4: Rachel Dratch
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Caption: Rachel Dratch, Credit: Getty/Brad Barket
Comedian Rachel Dratch revisits her youth, sharing memories of theater camp, Cole Porter, and patriotic Passover Seders on this week’s episode of T...

Bought by KICI Iowa City and KCMJ Community Radio


  • Added: Feb 02, 2016
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 2
Episode 3: Mo Rocca
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Caption: Mo Rocca, Credit: The Cooking Channel
Humorist, journalist, actor Mo Rocca reflects on the role the Great American Songbook played in his life from Judy Garland, trust falls, and Triple...

Bought by Troy Public Radio, KICI Iowa City, KUER, and KCMJ Community Radio


  • Added: Feb 02, 2016
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 4
Episode 2: Martha Plimpton
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Caption: Julian Fleisher and Martha Plimpton circa 2004, Credit: Doug Budin
Martha Plimpton shares her devotion to Aretha, what it's like singing for Sondheim, and who she thinks should really get credit for the American So...

Bought by KICI Iowa City, KCMJ Community Radio, and WFAE


  • Added: Feb 01, 2016
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 3
Episode 1: Chris Noth
From: WQXR
Series: The Naked American Songbook
Caption: Chris Noth, Credit: Getty/Dimitrios Kambouris
Television star, Chris Noth kicks his shoes off with host Julian Fleisher as they undresses his love for music and the legend that is Sinatra.

Bought by KICI Iowa City and KCMJ Community Radio


  • Added: Feb 01, 2016
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 2