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.

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 this podcast.

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.

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 Harry Partch.

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 a record makes a difference.

During many concerts, bands return to the stage after their performance to crank out a few more tunes as the audience screams 'encore.' Explore the history of the encore -- and the philosophy behind the practice -- in this episode.

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 this episode.

Everyone's familiar with the ear-wrenching screech that unexpectantly blasts from speaker systems during a public address -- but what exactly is it? John and Mark investigate the unpleasant phenomenon of feedback in this episode.

How do you feel about the seasons? Whether you're in love with winter, summer, spring or fall, odds are that certain tunes remind you of the turning seasons. Join John and Mark as they present a guide to the seasonal music in this episode.

Have you ever misheard a lyric? If so, then you've heard a mondegreen. Mondegreens are surprisingly common throughout musical history. Join John and Mark as they explore perplexing -- and humorous -- mondegreens in this episode.

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 -- in this episode.

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 about DJ CAPCOM.

Tuning forks have been used since the 1800s, and are still common today. Yet tuning forks aren't just for music -- they're also used for watches and medical evaluations. Tune in and learn more about the rise of the humble table fork in this episode.

The term 'interval' refers to the distance or relationship between two notes. In this continuing series on the basics of music theory, the crew examines different types of intervals, as well as their respective roles in classical and modern music.

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 this episode.

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.

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 HowStuffWorks.com.

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 timbre in this podcast.

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 HowStuffWorks.com.

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 this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

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.

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 podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

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.

In this episode of Mark and John's continuing series on Les Paul, the B-Side crew takes a look at Paul's inventive side. Learn how this musician developed the solid-body electric guitar in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.

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 podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.