The AnswerBank Articles

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

Let's get ready to rumble

Q. What is the enduring appeal of the musical West Side Story A. There are a number of elements that combine to make West Side Story one of the most enduring stage musicals ever written, and the00:00 Mon 28th Jan 2002

Ant Rap becomes Ant trap

Q What's going on with Adam Ant A. Adam Ant - Stuart Goddard to his family - was arrested outside a London pub a few days ago. He was charged with firearms offences, and assault, and has been00:00 Mon 28th Jan 2002

Shakespeare in New York

Q. What is the enduring appeal of the musical West Side Story A. There are a number of elements that combine to make West Side Story one of the most enduring stage musicals ever written, and the00:00 Mon 28th Jan 2002

Five minutes Ms. Engstrom

Q. Who was Norma Deloris Engstrom A. The baby with the Scandinavian roots went on to fortune and fame as Peggy Lee, world-renowned singer who died last week at the age of 81. Q. Didn't Peggy00:00 Mon 28th Jan 2002

Paging Ms. Engstrom!

Q Who was Norma Deloris Engstrom A. The baby with the Scandinavian roots went on to fortune and fame as Peggy Lee, world-renowned singer who died last week at the age of 81. Didn't Peggy Lee have00:00 Mon 28th Jan 2002

Bela Lugosi's dead - just don't tell the Goths

Q. What exactly is Goth A. If it's true that Rhythm And Blues had a baby and they called it Rock And Roll, then the argument expands to allow Punk Rock to have a baby, and call it Goth. It's one00:00 Mon 21st Jan 2002

Melody Maker's album of the 1970s

Q. Which is the best David Bowie album A. One of Bowie's own favourites, in common with the majority of his fans, is The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars. Q. Sounds00:00 Mon 21st Jan 2002

Is the West End going west

Q. Why the big fuss of the closure of the musical Cats A. In its run of twenty years, Cats has earned the distinction of being the longest running musical in British theatre history - at one time00:00 Mon 21st Jan 2002

Frank, Dean, Sammy, And The Birth Of Cool

Q. Who or what was The Rat Pack A. The Rat Pack was a loose collection of show business drinking friends who saw an opportunity to make an entertainment out of their storytelling and the party00:00 Sun 14th Jan 2001

Live fast, die young... inspire punk rock

Q. Is punk rock a British phenomenon A. The origins of punk rock lie fairly and squarely in the USA, although it was British music-lovers and the UK music press who used its essential00:00 Mon 14th Jan 2002

It's All A Matter Of Opinion

Q. Who are the fifty greatest bands of all time A. A recipe for an argument where one or more music fans are gathered together! The RamonesActually, a list of ‘The 50 Greatest Bands Of All00:00 Mon 14th Jan 2002

New York Underground - we've been here before

Q. There's a lot of talk about the new New York Underground Scene, is it all as revolutionary as everyone says A. Not really, but pop music has always been cyclical, and it always will be. Q. 00:00 Tue 08th Jan 2002