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Rock Music's Saccharine Turn

Rock historian Ed Ward says its time we give bubblegum pop another listen. In contrast to the bombastic concept albums of the 1970s that were released at the same time, these one-off songs were catchy and accessible, and helped expand rock and roll's fanbase.

06:12
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Other segments from the episode on April 11, 1989

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, April 11, 1989: Interview with Yoko Ono; Commentary on bubblegum music; Interview with David Cale; Review of Maxine Hong Kingston's novel "Tripmaster Monkey."
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27:55

Yoko Ono Looks Back on Her Early Life and Work

The avant-garde artist has a retrospective exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York City. Growing up, she divided her time between the United States and Japan, before and during World War II. Her marriage to John Lennon made her a celebrity, but overshadowed her own work.

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03:54

Maxine Hong Kingston's First Novel

Kingston wrote two dreamlike memoirs before publishing a novel, Tripmaster Monkey. The story follows a Chinese American grad student in the 1960s who is as influenced by Chinese literature as he is Beat culture. Book critic John Leonard calls it brilliant.

Review

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