HOLDING THE NOTE Profiles in Popular Music

This compilation of stories about music legends in their sunset years is narrated effectively by Matt Godfrey, who blends expressive storytelling skills with the restraint of an impartial journalist. The profiles are gathered from Pulitzer Prize-winning NEW YORKER writer David Remnick's works and reflect a consistent theme among aging musicians--the continued need for audience appreciation and an unstoppable work ethic. Consider Aretha Franklin's final years. Unwilling to fly and unable to take long road trips, she performed in local shows, continuing the practice of getting paid in cash. Equally engaging are the heartfelt profiles of Leonard Cohen and Patti Smith. Remnick himself narrates the preface and does such a good job that some listeners may wonder why he didn't narrate the entire work. R.W.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2023]