Discussion about the Beach Boys' Smile project. 

Talking on Downtown about the last three stories in the book: "Rimer's Boots," "Laying Sheets," "The Taste of Smoke."

About the author's love of the Three Investigators novels, a piece which is also in You're Up, You're Down, You're Up: Essays on Art in Life and Life in Art. 

Piece in Best Classic Bands on "If I Fell," a night in Vancouver, and "the laughing Beatles."

On Downtown to discuss the role that childhood played in the Beatles' art, the now-underrated Sgt. Pepper LP, the ineffectual writing of Mark Lewisohn, the book The Love You Make, why "She Loves You" is the best song the Beatles ever wrote, and the single biggest reason why they were as successful as they were. 

Talking about the Hall of Fame credentials of Stanley Morgan and Dom DiMaggio, the ever-disappointing Chris Sale, the best goalies of the 1980s, Pedro Martinez's change-up, and who would win a series between the 1975 and 1986 Boston Red Sox. 

A piece on the composer/pianist's first sessions for Blue Note in 1947. 

Back on Downtown to discuss a new story, "My Nickel," the life of Tony Dow, the people near the stairs at Government Center, the Band at the Hollywood Bowl in 1970. 

Talking about a new piece on "I'm Down," Beatles in Vancouver in 1964 and "If I Fell," and an Atlanta show from 1965. 

Interview about various episodes of the radio series, Gunsmoke.

On Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers' "Jesus Gave Me Water." 

Talking with Rich Kimball about the stories "One-Way Zebra," "Jaw Bones," "The Ghosts of the Alley, the Ghosts on the Wall."

Athletes better than most people think, and athletes not quite as good as most people think. 

Examining Paul McCartney's "I'm Down" for Best Classic Bands. 

Off-the-beaten-path forms of and perspectives on Sherlock Holmes. 

Talking about the book with author and professor Bruce Pratt. 

Why there is no better time to read Joyce's Ulysses, and why you shouldn't be intimidated to do so. 

Why Buster Keaton was so good. 

Journeying with Judy Garland for her 100th birthday. 

On Judy Garland's place in the history of American artists. 

Interview about F. Scott Fitzgerald. 

Digging deep into some stories in the book. 

Talking about poems by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Herman Melville, Wallace Stevens, and Walt Whitma. 

Discussion of favorite John Lennon vocals and the newly completed Beatles book, Just Like Them: A Piece by Piece Guide to Becoming the Ultimate Thinking Person's Beatles Fan. 

JazzTimes cover story, the Boston Bruins in the playoffs, thoughts on which hockey player in history has been tasked with carrying the most of his team's load, 1982 Boston Red Sox, and a Captain Waverly Underhill episode of The Cape Cod Radio Mystery Theater.