Fresh Air with Terry Gross, May 1, 2009: Review of two new albums “Potato Hole,” and “The Bright Mississippi; ” Interview with Booker T. Jones; Commentary on Language.

Since its national debut in 1987, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has been a highly acclaimed and much adored weekday magazine among public radio listeners. Each week, nearly 4.8 million people turn to Peabody Award-winning host Terry Gross for insightful conversations with the leading voices in contemporary arts and issues. The renowned program reaches a global audience, with over 620 public radio stations broadcasting Fresh Air, and 3 million podcast downloads each week. Fresh Air has broken the mold of 'talk show' by weaving together superior journalism and intimate storytelling from modern-day intellectuals, politicians and artists alike. Through probing questions and careful research, Gross's interviews are lauded for revealing a fresh perspective on cultural icons and trends. Her thorough conversations are often complemented by commentary from well-known contributors. Fresh Air is produced at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and broadcast nationally by NPR.
(1.) Music critic MILO MILES reviews two new albums: one by Booker T. Jones, 'Potato Hole,' and the other by Allen Toussaint, 'The Bright Mississippi.' (2.) Rhythm and blues songwriter, producer and musician BOOKER T. JONES. He has a new album, 'Potato Hole' which features the Drive-By Truckers as his backup band. Neil Young plays guitar on two tracks. In the 1960s his band, Booker T and the MGs, created the classic instrumental 'Green Onions,' which was originally intended as a B-side on a 45. They were also the studio band for Stax Records, making music with great soul artists like Otis Redding, Ray Charles and Wilson Pickett. BOOKER T. has also played with Barbara Streisand, Bob Dylan and Boz Scaggs. He's produced albums for Bill Withers and Willie Nelson, and he co-wrote the song Born Under a Bad Sign. He received the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Grammy. And he is a Rock and Roll Hall-of-famer. (REBROADCAST from 3/26/07) (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW). (3.) Linguist GEOFF NUNBERG on the usefulness of the passive voice, despite the advice of grammarians.