Aretha Franklin Audio

The poet and philosopher George Santayana once said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." To ensure that future generations don't forget the triumphs and tragedies of pop music's past, we host another Soundcheck Smackdown over the musical legacies of baby boomers and Generation X. Joining us in studio are Jeff Gordinier , editor at large at Details magazine and author of "X Saves the World," and music critic Anthony DeCurtis , contributing editor at Rolling Stone and author of "In Other Words: Artists Talk About Life and Work." Tell us : Who has the better musical legacy -- baby boomers or generation X? Why?

Join Leonard for his annual Easter gospel music special. Here’s the playlist: ”Take the Lord Along With You,” Alex Bradford (music played under billboard) “One Day,” Angelic Gospel Singers and the Dixie Hummingbirds “The Hammer Rings,” Mmr. Edna Gallmon Cooke “Salvation is Free,” Mahalia Jackson "One Day," RH Harris and the Soul Stirrers "Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?" Sam Cooke and Paul Foster with the Soul Stirrers “Out on a Hill,” Johnny Taylor with the Soul Stirrers “What About Me?” Swanee Quintet “At the Cross,” Clara Ward “Can’t No Grave Hold My Body Down,” Marion Williams "What Manner of Man is This?" Jackie Verdell with the Davis Sisters “Can’t No Grave Hold My Body Down,” Sister Rosetta Tharpe “The Sun Didn’t Shine,” Alphabetical Four

Broadway musical star Idina Menzel ("Rent," "Wicked") has now released her own solo album. It's called "I Stand." Event : Idina Menzel signs copies of her album to benefit LIFEBeat Thursday, February 14 at 12:30 pm Borders Columbus Circle If you can't see the video click here var so = new SWFObject("http://www.youtube.com/v/VFVHi8kieRk", "mymovie", "390", "321", "7", "#FFFFFF");so.addParam("wmode", "transparent");connect(window, 'onload', function() {so.write("ytcontent");});

Hillary Clinton may have earned an endorsement from Barbra Streisand but she whips up supporters at rallies with Tom Petty's "American Girl." Barack Obama prefers feel-good Motown hits. And John McCain recently used an ABBA tune. We look at how campaign trail music is chosen, with Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi , Democratic media consultant Julian Mulvey , and Bill Greener , a Republican political consultant.

It’s not exactly the Grammys, but as the presidential field winnows down, so does the list of campaign theme songs that might – come November – be crowned the Winning Presidential Anthem of 200....

Celebrate Martin Luther King Day with an hour of activist gospel music. Here’s the playlist: Untitled Instrumental, Sister Wynona Carr ( Dragnet for Jesus ) "I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me," J. Earle Hines with St. Paul’s Baptist Church Choir "Everybody’s Gonna Have a Wonderful Time," Rosetta Tharpe with Dependable Boys "This Old World," Goldia Hayes ( The Great Gospel Women ) "I’ve Got Religion," Mme. Edna Gallmon Cooke with Radio Four ( Radio Four ) "By and By," Roberta Martin with Martin Singers ( All God’s Sons and Daughter s) "The Old Ship of Zion," Norsalus McKissick & Martin Singers ( When Gospel Was Gospel ) "There’s a Man," Eugene Smith with Martin Singers ( All God’s Sons and Daughters ) "Walk Around," RH Harris with the Soul Stirrers, 1939 ( Fathers and Sons ) "Touch the Hem of His Garment," Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers ( The Original Soul Stirrers ) "Lord Hold My Hand," Jess Whitaker with Pilgrim Travelers ( Kings of Gospel Highway ) "Jesus Be My Keeper," Cecil Shaw with the Union Spiritual Singers "Move On Up a Little Higher," Mahalia Jackson ( Legend: Best of… ) "Move Upstairs," Bessie Griffin with Alex Bradford and the Bradford Singers, 1958 ( Even Me ) "I Feel the Holy Spirit," Clara Ward "The Moan that Keeps Homes Together," Marion Williams "Father I Stretch My Hand to Thee," Rev. C.L. Franklin ( Movement Soul, Vol. II – ESP DISK) "Denomination Blues, Part 1," Washington Phillips "Amazing Grace," J. Robert Bradley ( When Gospel Was Gospel )

In her new book I Got Thunder scholar LaShonda Katrice Barnett examines the careers of the world's prominent black women singers and songwriters, from Dianne Reeves to Nina Simone to Tokunbo Akinro of the European band Tok Tok Tok. As we find out, there's more than just the media stereotype of soul singers and "Divas." Also joining us is Brenda Russell , a singer-songwriter and co-writer of music and lyrics for “The Color Purple” on Broadway, among other productions.

To kick off the shopping season, Soundcheck enlists the help of local music critics to help you decide which CDs to buy friends and loved ones -- and even your enemy. (Yes, we even buy gifts for our enemies.) Coming to our holiday rescue: music writers Fred Plotkin, Jody Rosen, and Carolina Gonzales. Fred Plotkin's Picks: Fred Plotkin is author of several books on music including Classical Music 101 and Opera 101 Luciano Pavarotti, "Pavarotti in Concert" (Decca) Various Artists, "Tango Around The World" (Putamayo) Aretha Franklin , "Jewels in the Crown" (Arista) Jean-Yves Thibaudet, "Aria: Opera without Words" (Decca) Cecilia Bartoli, "Maria" (Decca) Jody Rosen's Picks: Jody Rosen is the music critic of Slate.com Bonde do Rolê, "Solta o frango" Brad Praisley, "50th Gear" The Pierces, "Thirteen tales of love and revenge" Various Artists, "The Complete Hit of the Week Recordings, Volume 3" (Archeophone) Carolina Gonzales's Picks: Carolina Gonzales is a contributor to Viva NY, the Latino section of the New York Daily News Jose Gonzalez, "In Our Nature" Kiran Alhuwalia, "Wanderlust" Tinariwen, "Aman Iman (Water is Life)" Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, "100 Days and 100 Nights"

Record-producer-turned-neuroscientist Daniel Levitin went from working with Stevie Wonder and Blue Oyster Cult to researching human behavior and music. He joins Soundcheck to discuss whether music is an evolutionary accident -- or fundamental to our species.

Before they scrub in, many doctors in an operating room have something to consider beyond medical matters: What music will they play? Susan Schwartz , a reporter for the Montreal Gazette, and Dr. Alan I. Benvenisty, M.D. , who practices general surgery and vascular surgery at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center join us to explain. Weigh in: Do you care if your doctor plays music in the O.R.? Have you ever selected music to be played at the doctor's office?