Why It Matters

Deep Cuts: Television Songs

Commercial television broadcasts began in the 1930s, but in real terms the boom didn’t begin until the ’50s.
The Time Traveler, Part 4

Wherein Brown stumbles upon reality television and reality stumbles upon Brown.
From the Stacks: Chuck Berry, ‘The Chess Box’

When Chess Records released The Chess Box in 1988, Chuck Berry was enjoying one last major revival in a career that began with a reform school quartet in the mid-1940s and will continue beyond his death at age 90 on March 18, 2017.
Deep Cuts: Coffee Songs

The photo accompanying this “Deep Cuts” gives you some idea of how seriously we used to take both our coffee and our sexism.
The Time Traveler, Part 3

Wherein Brown tries to order coffee.
From The Stacks: Barooga Bandit, ‘Come Softly’

If you’re going to be a footnote in music history, go out swinging with a cheesecake album cover.
Deep Cuts: Songs About Jeans

Here’s a pro tip for time travelers: bring blue jeans.
The Time Traveler, Part 2

Wherein Brown sells his stickpin and buys a new wardrobe.
From The Stacks: Holst, ‘The Planets’ (With A Super Cruddy Sci-Fi Sleeve)

Gustav Holst, you magnificent bastard.
Deep Cuts: Future Songs

I wish I could remember what my childhood vision of 2017 is, but I know it wasn’t this.