American singer-songwriter Don McLean discusses his career and events in the 1960s and 1970s that have influenced his music.

Discussing the music of the Mothers of Invention and interviewing Frank Zappa. Songs include "Who are the Brain Police," "Brown Shoes Don't Make It," "Concentration Moon," "Mom and Dad," "Bow Tie Daddy," "Harry, You're a Beast," "What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?" "Trouble Every Day," "Very Distraughtening," "White Ugliness" and "There Will Come a Time."

Interviewing musicians Jim Post and Randy Sabien who collaborated with others in the 1981 release of Shipshape, a sound recording of popular music.

Journalist Bob Greene joins Studs Terkel to talk about his book “Billion Dollar Baby” and about his experience on tour with rock and roll band Alice Cooper. Greene talks about the band’s inception and their grotesque performance style, and comments on society’s (particularly the youth’s) acceptance and adoration of this band despite their violent message, and the irony of that adoration. Studs connects the band’s success to the society’s acceptance to the Vietnam War.

Studs Terkel and Lincoln Mayorga discuss the evolution of American popular piano music with Mayorga playing examples.

E.Y. (Yip) Harburg talks about the challenges in writing songs for characters, specifically Og in "Finian's Rainbow". He also discusses the craftsmanship of lyric writing and reads from his book "Rhymes for the Irreverent". Music is heard throughout: "When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love" performed by David Wayne and "The Eagle and Me", performed by Dooley Wilson. Part 1 Music has been removed from this recording for copyright reasons.

Eric Burdon discusses life, music, and musical influences.

This program presents the musical group the Flying Burrito Brothers and their album 'The Gilded Palace of Sin'. Studs Terkel interviews two of the band members, Chris Ethridge and Gram Parsons. The following topics discussed are: the artists' backgrounds; their musical perspective; their songwriting; Los Angeles; earthquakes; their early life; their lyrics; life in the south (America); and instrumentation. The following musical excerpts are presented: "Wheels"; "Sin City"; "My Uncle"; "Do You Know How It Feels"; and "Hippie Boy".

Cole Porter biographer Robert Kimball talks with Studs about his book "Cole" and his subject's life and work as they listen to classic performances of some of his most beloved songs. They marvel at how Porter perfectly captured the zeitgeist of the times in his lyrics, his lyrical influences, his unique method of outside-in composing lyrics and music simultaneously, Bobby Short's masterful interpretations, controversies over some of his works, and how well his material holds up.

Don McLean discusses his career and his music. Don McLean discusses his influences, life experiences, and his songwriting.

Part 1. Alec Wilder and Harry Bouras discuss Wilder's book "American popular songs", published in 1972.

Part 2. Alec Wilder and Harry Bouras discuss Wilder's book "American popular songs", published in 1972.

Interviewing songwriter and pianist Margie Adam, known for her women's music.

Maxene Andrews reminisces over Andrews Sisters songs with Studs Terkel. She acknowledges the heavy influence the Boswell Sisters played in the creation of their image. She relays musical stories surrounding songs in Abbott and Costello such as "Bugle Boy" from their movie "Buck Privates". How they found the song "Mir Bist Du Schon" and Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin helped with the lyrics. How song pluggers brought The Andrews Sisters "Tip-Pi-Tin". How "Apple Blossom Time" helped an injured soldier at Oak Knoll Hospital upon his return to the states.