Stuff from the B-Side

By HowStuffWorks

What's Stuff from the B-Side about?

What is the story behind Stagger Lee? Why would astronauts need a DJ? Join Mark and John as they explore everything from the president's record collection to the future of digital music in Stuff From The B-Side, a podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

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Stuff from the B-Side episodes:

12.10.2009
Before They Were Robots: Early Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is a legendary German electronic music band that has actively influenced the development of modern popular music. In this episode, Mark and John trace the development of Kraftwerk, as well as its effect on other bands and musical genres.
12.08.2009
The Birth of a Folk Song: Stagger Lee
In 1895, Stagger Lee killed William Lyons in an argument. Usually, a crime like this would disappear into the footnotes of history, but this event was different. Learn the true story behind one of America's most popular folk songs in...
12.03.2009
The World's Oldest Music Company
At over 380 years old, the Aedis Zildjian cymbal manufacturer is the world's oldest musical company. Learn more about this company -- and cymbals -- in this episode.
12.01.2009
Who was Harry Partch?
When American composer Harry Partch didn't enjoy the conventional 12-note scale, he created his own scale. He also built his own instruments upon which this scale could be played. Join Mark and John as they explore the musical pursuits of...
11.26.2009
Are heavier records better than others?
A standard vinyl record is between 120 to 140 grams, but audiophiles often think this is too flimsy -- why? Join John and Mark as they explore the eccentricities of vinyl records and determine whether or not the weight of...
11.19.2009
The Great American Songbook
From the 1920s into the 60s, the Great American Songbook covers iconic music of the stage and screen. Yet there's no definitive list of the songs and songwriters involved. Learn more about the history of the Great American Songbook in...
11.05.2009
The History of The Grand Ole Opry
As the oldest continuous radio show in the US, the Grand Ole Opry is a crucial part of country music's history. Listen in as Mark and John explore the history of the Opry -- including some controversial performances -- ...
11.03.2009
Why does NASA have a morning DJ?
For an astronaut in orbit, the sun appears to rise every 90 minutes. This extreme change disrupts the usual cycle of waking and sleeping. Luckily, NASA cooked up a creative -- and surprising -- solution. Tune in to learn more...
10.22.2009
The One-Armed Pianist: Paul Wittgenstein
Many people assume that most musical instruments require two hands. Yet after the famous pianist Paul Wittgenstein lost his right arm in World War I, he resolved to continue his career. Listen in and learn more about Paul Wittgenstein in...
10.20.2009
How Didgeridoos Work
Used for centuries by indigenous Australians, the didgeridoo was originally played as musical accompaniment to ceremonial functions. Join Mark and John as they explore the history of this unique instrument, from prehistoric times to the modern era.
10.15.2009
Why were singers castrated?
During the 16th century, European boys with good singing voices ran the risk of castration. Join Mark and John as they explore the bizarre world of castrated singers -- and the reasons behind the practice -- in this podcast from...
10.13.2009
What makes an instrument's sound unique?
Most people can easily hear the difference between an oboe or a sitar, even when the instruments are playing the same note. Join the hosts of Stuff From The B-Side as they explore the science behind the fascinating concept of...
10.08.2009
Can a building be an instrument?
As David Byrne biked through the urban landscape, he was struck with an enormous idea: Could an entire building become a musical instrument? Learn more about Byrne's idea -- and how he pulled it off -- in this podcast from...
10.06.2009
What are the highest and lowest notes ever played?
Join Mark and John as they look back through the history of opera and world records to find the highest and lowest notes ever reached by human voices. Learn more about the amazing range of the human voice in...
10.01.2009
Are the planets making music?
Planets are quirky things. They can have eccentric orbits, extreme temperatures and -- oddly enough -- make music. Listen in as John and Mark explore the symphonies of space in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
09.29.2009
Who was the "black Mozart?"
Joseph de Bologne, also known as the Chevalier de Saint-George, was born the son of a slave and rose to the heights of French society. Learn how this talented composer (and fencer) became known as the "black Mozart" in this...
09.24.2009
Music Theory 101: Notation and Pitch
In this episode of a continuing series on music theory, Mark and John explore notation and pitch, two fundamental concepts for any budding musician. Listen in and learn more about notation and pitch in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
09.17.2009
How Lester Young Worked
In honor of the legendary jazz musician's birthday, John and Mark take a look back on the technique of Lester Young. Listen in and learn how one of the world's most influential saxophonists changed the face of music in this...
09.15.2009
Music Theory 101: Time Signature
Building on last week's exploration of tempo, Mark and John break down the use of time signatures. Lend our resident audiophiles an ear and learn more about music theory in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
09.10.2009
The Legendary Les Paul: Multitracking
Today, recording studios across the globe use multitracking -- but it wasn't always this way. In their continuing series on Les Paul, Mark and John explore Paul's pioneering use of multitracking. Learn more in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
09.08.2009
Music Theory 101: Tempo
Join Mark and John as they kick off a new series on the basics of music. This episode explores tempo, and how it works in a piece of music. Listen in and learn more in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
09.01.2009
Is Auto-Tune dead?
Inspired by listener mail, Mark and John take a look at Auto-Tune, an audio processor that automatically corrects the pitch and tone of a vocal track. Has this practice gone too far? Learn why Jay-Z thinks so in this podcast...
08.27.2009
Who was the father of the symphony?
Symphonies have been around for a long time, but everything has to start somewhere. Can Mark and John discover the father of the symphony? Tune in and find out in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
08.25.2009
Did The Beatles use the first concert monitors?
When the Beatles toured the U.S. for the second time in 1965, the sound systems were terrible in many venues. That all changed in Atlanta, Georgia, however. Learn more about the first use of concert monitors in this podcast from...
08.20.2009
Nature in Music: The Sound of Water
The sound of a babbling brook, an ocean tide and drizzling rain have all been called musical. Join John and Mark as they explore the music inspired by the natural sound of water in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
08.18.2009
Can I download CD quality music?
In the world of digital music, mp3 files are compressed audio files that shed the high and low ends of a recording to save space. Does this omission matter? Listen in and learn more about digital music files in this...
08.13.2009
What does the president's record collection look like?
You can often tell a lot about someone's personality by his or her taste in music. During the last election, each candidate's playlist became public knowledge. Learn more about the president's music in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
08.11.2009
How does the iTunes Genius feature work?
The iTunes Genius feature will create a playlist based on the content you're playing. But how does it work? More importantly, are these playlists any good? Listen in as Mark and John assess the iTunes Genius in this podcast from...
08.06.2009
What are sea shanties?
During their workdays and long voyages, sailors sang sea shanties to pass the time. Join Mark and John as they take a look at the history and structure of sea shanties in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
08.04.2009
Did Coldplay plagiarize Joe Satriani?
When Joe Satriani listened to Coldplay's "Viva La Vida", he detected a familiar melody -- one so familiar, in fact, that he suspected an act of plagiarism. Listen as Mark and John compare the melodies in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
07.30.2009
How does music reveal your personality?
In 2003, researchers compared students' personalities to their music preferences. Could they predict a student's personality based on his or her favorite tunes? Learn the results -- which might surprise you -- in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
07.28.2009
Why is the "Jaws" theme so scary?
Bursting onto the scene in 1975, "Jaws" became the first blockbuster film. Much of the film's success comes from John William's score -- but why is the music so scary? Tune in as John and Mark figure it out in...
07.23.2009
Why do musicians use alter egos?
Stage names are a common practice in the world of entertainment. An alter ego is more complex, and can take over an entertainer's life. Learn more about the fascinating lives of musicians -- and their alter egos -- in this...
07.21.2009
The Birth of Blue Note
Blue Note is one of the most famous recording labels in history. This legendary jazz label has been home to the icons of music, from Miles Davis to Thelonious Monk. Learn how Blue Note was born in this podcast from...
07.16.2009
What makes music cool?
Although they may not all listen to the same genres, cultures across the world prize music. In modern times, this reverence translates into that most elusive of qualities -- coolness. Learn what makes music cool in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
07.14.2009
What's the oldest musical instrument?
Music is an ancient human enterprise, and cultures across the world have played music since the dawn of civilization -- but which instrument came first? Tune in as Mark and John try to figure it out in this podcast...
07.09.2009
Why is "Thriller" the world's best-selling album?
As the world reels after the death of Michael Jackson, fans across the planet pay tribute to the King of Pop. Join Mark and John as they ask why Michael Jackson's "Thriller" is the world's best-selling album in this podcast...
07.07.2009
How to Decipher Classical Music Titles
The formal, technical titles of classical music tunes are often hard to decipher -- so why do we use them? Tune in as Mark and John explain the method behind the jargon of classical titles in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
07.02.2009
Can a song really cost $80,000?
A woman in Minnesota was recently convicted of downloading songs illegally and ordered to pay $80,000 per song. Tune in as John and Mark investigate how -- and if -- a song can be worth this much money in this...
06.30.2009
What makes Dave Brubeck's Time Out unique?
Dave Brubeck is a legendary American jazz pianist known for his use of unorthodox time signatures. Tune in as Mark and John take a closer look at the work of this unique jazz icon in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
06.25.2009
What was the cassette version of iTunes?
In the late 80s, mixed tapes ruled the musical world -- and a company called Personics became the first on-demand, custom music service. Learn more about this early cassette version of iTunes in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
06.23.2009
What are drug ballads?
In Mexico and the Southwestern United States, the cheery sound of drug ballads belies dark, explicit stories of drug lords and the cocaine trade. This popular genre is often accompanied by violence. Learn more in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
06.18.2009
How are songs chosen for preservation?
Many iconic songs are preserved in the National Recording Registry. The Registry also preserves speeches and radio broadcasts -- but how exactly are these recordings chosen? Learn more in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
06.16.2009
Can music make airports less stressful?
Psychologists have determined that certain types of music can raise or lower stress levels -- but can this practice work in an airport? Listen in and learn more Stuff From the B-Side in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
06.11.2009
What is the Tabla?
The tabla is an extraordinarily popular percussion instrument in India, capable of producing a surprising variety of sounds. Tune in for a closer look at the history, techniques and modern use of the tabla in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
06.09.2009
Can music help people with autism?
Music therapy is often used to soothe and calm people -- but some believe music can also be used to help individuals on the autism spectrum. Join Mark and John as they take a closer look at music and autism...
06.04.2009
Do musicians have better memory?
Musicians are masters of memorization. Members of jazz groups and orchestras must often play long pieces that require a surprising level of concentration and recall. Tune in and learn more about music and memory in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
06.02.2009
CDs to buy before they die
With digital sales becoming the new norm for music purchases, the compact disc is certainly endangered, and may become extinct. Join John and Mark as they pick a few CDs that music fans should hold onto in this podcast from...
05.28.2009
What are the best film scores?
A good soundtrack can often make the difference between an above-average film and a cinematic masterpiece. Tune in as Mark and John review some of Hollywood's greatest film scores in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
05.26.2009
Why was there an East Coast/ West Coat Hip Hop rivalry?
Hip hop has often been haunted by a reputation for violence, especially when it comes to the practice of beef, or conflicts between performers. Tune in and learn more about hip-hop's most notorious (and tragic) beef in this podcast from...

What's Stuff from the B-Side about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Stuff from the B-Side episodes:

Before They Were Robots: Early Kraftwerk

The Birth of a Folk Song: Stagger Lee

The World's Oldest Music Company

Who was Harry Partch?

Are heavier records better than others?

The Great American Songbook

The History of The Grand Ole Opry

Why does NASA have a morning DJ?

The One-Armed Pianist: Paul Wittgenstein

How Didgeridoos Work

Why were singers castrated?

What makes an instrument's sound unique?

Can a building be an instrument?

What are the highest and lowest notes ever played?

Are the planets making music?

Who was the "black Mozart?"

Music Theory 101: Notation and Pitch

How Lester Young Worked

Music Theory 101: Time Signature

The Legendary Les Paul: Multitracking

Music Theory 101: Tempo

Is Auto-Tune dead?

Who was the father of the symphony?

Did The Beatles use the first concert monitors?

Nature in Music: The Sound of Water

Can I download CD quality music?

What does the president's record collection look like?

How does the iTunes Genius feature work?

What are sea shanties?

Did Coldplay plagiarize Joe Satriani?

How does music reveal your personality?

Why is the "Jaws" theme so scary?

Why do musicians use alter egos?

The Birth of Blue Note

What makes music cool?

What's the oldest musical instrument?

Why is "Thriller" the world's best-selling album?

How to Decipher Classical Music Titles

Can a song really cost $80,000?

What makes Dave Brubeck's Time Out unique?

What was the cassette version of iTunes?

What are drug ballads?

How are songs chosen for preservation?

Can music make airports less stressful?

What is the Tabla?

Can music help people with autism?

Do musicians have better memory?

CDs to buy before they die

What are the best film scores?

Why was there an East Coast/ West Coat Hip Hop rivalry?