Fonotopia Radio

Welcome to Fonotopia – the world on record. Fonotopia will resurrect the most beautiful music recorded on 78 rpm discs during the first decades of the 20th century. Ian Nagoski loves this music to death. The vast scope of his knowledge about it is scary. He tells funny stories. He’ll be your host. Each week, Ian will bring you an hour of resurrected gems tied to a theme. Some themes are specific -- like virtuosic vocalists. Some are grand -- like "life." And the songs? Oh, the songs! Middle Eastern oud masters driving dancers into a frenzy? Romanian cantors memorializing Holocaust victims? American country legends leaving aural suicide notes? Portuguese fado singers celebrating the dignity of the poor? We don’t discriminate. If it’s astounding and it was recorded, you’ll hear it and you’ll learn the story of the people and culture that made it.