Music has had a long and complicated political history. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll touch on this history - from the politics of Beethoven to the rebellious songs of folk singer Phil Ochs. Also, why a punk rocker turned to lounge music, and created Combustible Edison.

SEGMENT 1

Phil Ochs' biographer Michael Schumacher tells Judith Strasser that Ochs argued with Bob Dylan about politics; always longed for a hit record; and despite his continued involvement in social causes, despaired of American society and politics after the Vietnam War. The book is called "There But for Fortune: The Life of Phil Ochs." The music is from "Phil Ochs: There & Now: Live in Vancouver, 1968" (Rhino R2 70778)

SEGMENT 2:

From protest to punk! Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain (authors of "Please Kill Me: the Uncensored Oral History of Punk") tell Steve Paulson that American punk started with the Velvet Underground and like all good rock n' roll is about attitude! Also, "The Millionaire," guitarist for the group Combustible Edison, tells Steve Paulson about the importance of being fabulous; the lure of the exotic; and the attraction of getting it wrong. Combustible Edison has a CD out called "I, Swinger." (SUB POP records P.O. Box 20645, Seattle, Wash. 98102).

SEGMENT 3:

Historian David B. Dennis tells Jim Fleming that from the time of its composition to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the music of Ludwig Van Beethoven has been used for all sorts of political purposes. Dennis teaches at Loyola University in Chicago. His book is "Beethoven in German Politics, 1870 - 1989."

Distribution dates:

• week of 01/12/97 - hour 3
• week of 12/07/97 - hour 3