The AnswerBank Articles

Top ranking ...

Q. I fancy getting into reggae. Where should I begin A. Not for nothing is Bob Marley the biggest star reggae music has ever produced. His mix of reggae history and culture, married to a00:00 Mon 18th Mar 2002

You can't do that ...

Q. Is the pop single dead A. Dead no, but decidedly unhealthy these days. Q. Why A. Because record companies are scaling down the release of singles in the belief that customers will buy00:00 Mon 18th Mar 2002

I hope you're feelin' better

Q. I've been listening to Supernatural by Santana, and I'm told they are not the new band I thought they were, is that true 00:00 Mon 11th Mar 2002

It goes to show you never can tell

Q. How important is Chuck Berry in the evolution of rock and roll A. Without Chuck Berry, rock and roll would not exist. Sure Elvis brought the whole thing to a mass audience, defined its visual00:00 Mon 11th Mar 2002

The public wants what the public gets

Q. Are shows like Pop Idol good for pop music A. That's not really a simple question, but if you are looking at pop in its purist terms - as music, then the answer is no. If you want to look at pop00:00 Mon 11th Mar 2002

Girl I'm just a vampire for your love

Q. Which was the first Glam Rock album A. Those who analyse such historical aspects would probably point to Electric Warrior by T Rex, an album which as easily stood the test of time,00:00 Mon 04th Mar 2002

Put on your high-heeled sneakers

Q. What exactly is a 'Mod' A. The Mod - it's short for 'Modernist' - is a member of one of the first youth cults that have characterised teenage rebellion over the last forty years. Q. So what00:00 Mon 04th Mar 2002

You ain't seen nuthin' yet!

Q. Why did a musical about Al Jolson appear in London a few years ago A. Al Jolson was a massively popular American showman, possibly the original 'superstar' entertainer. The idea of recreating00:00 Mon 04th Mar 2002

Ow-wow-wow unbelievable!

Q. When did Kate Bush begin recording A. The debut album by Kate Bush, The Kick Inside, is approaching its quarter-century; it was released in February 1978. Q. So Kate wasn't very old when00:00 Mon 25th Feb 2002

Country boy

Q. Why is country star Waylon Jennings known as 'the outlaw' A. Country legend Waylon Jennings, who died last week from complications caused by diabetes, was one of the first country artists to00:00 Mon 25th Feb 2002

From the Beatles to Jedi music

Q. Are the famous Abbey Road Studios going to be sold A. It's a possibility. Record company EMI, which owns the studios and the building in which they are housed, are suffering from severe00:00 Mon 25th Feb 2002

One for the money, two for the show

Q. What do rock stars do when they're too old to rock A. It appears from an increasing trend, that they turn to the stage, and compose musicals. Q. Musicals as in Annie Get Your Gun, that kind00:00 Tue 19th Feb 2002

It's been a long time

Q. How has Cliff Richard remained a major star for so long A. It's a question of knowing the market, picking the right material, staying out of trouble, and staying alive - all items Cliff00:00 Tue 19th Feb 2002

Take a walk on the wild side

Q. Which album would make a good introduction to Lou Reed A. Lou Reed has released a steady stream of solo albums since his days with The Velvet Underground, and all have maintained his00:00 Tue 19th Feb 2002

The Devil in disguise ...

Q. Who was the first musician to attract fame, fortune and bad habits A. That would be violinist Niccolo Paganini, who led an unusual life, including all of the above. Q. What was unusual00:00 Mon 11th Feb 2002

If you see me walkin' down the street ...

Q. My dad says Burt Bacharach is the greatest pop composer, is he right A. He’s got a good case, Bacharach has enjoyed a career spanning over forty years, and he has co-written some of the00:00 Mon 11th Feb 2002

You should be dancing ...

Q. What's the best selling soundtrack album ever A. It's Titanic, and that beat The Bodyguard, but for a long time the Saturday Night Fever album held the honour. Q. Yes, the Bee Gees album.00:00 Mon 11th Feb 2002

No synthesisers

Q. What's the best Queen album for new fans to listen to A. Probably the third album, Sheer Heart Attack, which saw a swerve in musical direction that was to become a trademark of the band. They00:00 Mon 04th Feb 2002

I'll name that tune in one

Q. Who writes the best film music A. On the basis of popularity, that would be John Williams. Q. The classical guitarist A. No, the 'other' John Williams - the American composer whose work00:00 Mon 04th Feb 2002

There may be trouble ahead

Q. Is it true The Archies are making a comeback A. Yes and no. The fact is, The Archies have never actually been away, it's their musical incarnation that is set to be revived. Q. I'm00:00 Mon 04th Feb 2002