To celebrate the new year, we're bringing back some of our favorite music interviews from 2010. We hope you enjoy them, and wish you a safe, prosperous, and moderately happy new year. And thanks for spending time with us in 2010. -- John Rabe and Kevin Ferguson

John Cale was a founding member of the Velvet Underground, then went on to have a prolific solo career and to produce the debut albums for Patti Smith, Squeeze, and the Stooges.

Fitz and the Tantrums are a soul-revival band in the proud tradition of Motown legends like Marvin Gaye, the Jackson Five and The Four Tops, and even modern acts like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.

In the first part of Alex Ben Block's interview with Lou Adler, the entertainment legend talks about how he recognized Carole King's talent (easy) and won a Grammy for producing "Tapestry." Plus, Jan & Dean, Sam Cooke, and his association with Herb Alpert. (Alex is a Hollywood historian, frequent Off-Ramp guest, and senior editor at The Hollywood Reporter.)

Elvis impersonators and Beatles tribute acts are just fine, if you walk into the room and close your eyes, you'll probably have a hard time telling the difference. There's plenty of them in Vegas. But here in LA, there's a different scene altogether: many female musicians here make a living performing music from some of the most famous male rock artists in history. Off-Ramp music correspondent Kevin Ferguson reports. LANGUAGE WARNING: The name of one of the bands includes the B-word.

Monday, the Geffen Playhouse is hosting a staged reading of “The Normal Heart,” Larry Kramer’s wrenching play about the AIDS crisis. It's a 25th anniversary benefit performance for a clinic at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, and it's directed by Joel Grey, who played Ned in “The Normal Heart” 25 years ago. (COME INSIDE for a link to the production, a look at Grey many years ago, and info on Grey's new exhibit of celphone photos.) This time on Off-Ramp, in a four-part interview, Joel Grey talks with host John Rabe about his decades in show business, including "Dallas," "Alias," "Cabaret," "Wicked," and even an appearance on Tom Jones' variety show in the 1960s.

As Paul "Rainbow Connection" Williams put it, "now there's a place for all our stuff!" The Grammy Museum cut the ribbon Tuesday night on its new Songwriters Hall of Fame Gallery honoring the likes of Hal David, Mac Davis, Lamont Dozier, Ashford and Simpson, and Paul Williams -- all of whom attended the inaugural and sang their most famous tunes at the event. Off-Ramp host John Rabe spoke with Dozier, Davis, and Williams before the concert. CLICK THROUGH for more information about the unique new exhibit, which includes letting YOU write a song with members of the Hall of Fame.

Brian May wraps 40-year project by publishing first complete book of TR Williams's c. 1850 photos of an English village ... they're in stuning 3D.

This week, a look back at how a BeatBoxing champion was crowned...on the web, by the web.

Donovan is headlining a concert at the El Rey Theatre March 19th to benefit the David Lynch Foundation, which works to teach at-risk schoolkids to meditate. Donovan learned how to meditate with the Beatles and the Maharishi back in the 1960s. In our Off-Ramp interview, Donovan talks about the old days, reducing students' stress and reliance on ADHD drugs, and the benefits and drawbacks of fame. He also sings three of his favorites. (COME INSIDE for info on the concert, a link to Lynch's foundation, and to see who is taller -- Donovan or Off-Ramp host John Rabe.)