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In the late 1960s, at the height of his popularity, Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson began work on an ambitious album called Smile. Almost four decades later, the album is ready for release. Bob Boilen sits in on the Smile recording sessions.

Peter Lieberson set love sonnets by Pablo Neruda to music. They turned out to be a farewell gift to his wife, mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, who sang the songs' world premiere before she died. Now, the music has won the prestigious Grawemeyer award.

Brian Setzer got his start in the '80s rockabilly band Stray Cats with hits like "Rock This Town" and "Stray Cat Strut." From the '90s until now, his main gig has been with his 17-piece big band, with six albums and Grammy Awards in tow. Hear an interview and performance from WXPN.

Just about any band with six members, all of whom sing and swap instruments, is bound to operate with a degree of eclecticism. Architecture in Helsinki crams an incredible amount of stuff into "Heart It Races," dashing from one idea to the next with manic speed.

Sleepwalking with Santo and Johnny; the child prodigy Debashish Battacharya; Fernando, a great unknown artist and more.

Most albums fit into preconceived categories like rock, jazz, classical or hip-hop, but WNYC's John Schaefer doesn't just listen to those kinds of records. The host of Soundcheck highlights five albums from 2010 that played by their own rules.

No historical fakery: Here's the real music of the Elizabethan era.

The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter brings her modern jazz-pop love songs to the Tiny Desk.

Reggie Watts is at his best on stage, making up songs and jokes on-the-spot. He says an improvisational spirit can turn the mundanity of daily life into an adventure.

As part of its summer series on the sounds of music al fresco, Weekend Edition Saturday speaks with John Thornton, a trumpet player who holds court outside the National Archives.