Archive - "The Cool Stuff" with Paul Tatara

Listen Up: Squeeze and the Women of "East Side Story"

Surprising maturity, given that little Elvis Costello was involved.

Jul 28 •

Why Louis Armstrong and Charlie Chaplin Will Always Matter

They're spokesmen for the human spirit, that's why.

Jul 21 •

Listen Up: The Legend of Ronnie Lane

Raise a pint to a musician whose record sales never approached the size of his footloose spirit. Ronnie Lane was quite a person.

Jul 14 •

The Uncool Stuff

I've had something to say, and I'm going to say it.

Jul 8 •

The Baseball Player Who Didn't Play Baseball

Meet Herb Washington, the speedy train who couldn't.

Jul 7 •

June 2025

Cool Groove #7: "Ain't It Funky Now"

"Ain't It Funky Now" by James Brown. Album: Love Power Peace (Live at the Olympia, Paris) (1971)

Jun 30 •

Watch It: "Straight Time"

dir: Ulu Grosbard (1978)

Jun 23 •

R. Crumb and His Race Records

It's complicated.

Jun 16 •

Little Paulie Gets Into Movies

And he never gets out.

Jun 9 •

Watch It: The Fatal Glass of Beer

dir: Clyde Bruckman (with W.C. Fields)

Jun 2 •

May 2025

The Wreck of the Ol' Nine-Aught

The wheels once fell off my school bus. And not metaphorically speaking.

May 26 •

That Time Martin Scorsese Sent Me a Letter

Well, he signed it anyway.

May 19 •

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