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Top Picks: CNN's 'Race for the White House,' the AllTrails app, and more

The documentary 'Produced by George Martin' profiles the calm and elegant force who possessed the perfect mix of talent and temperament to pilot the Beatles and others to recording nirvana, PBS's '10 Homes That Changed America' look at various structures that influenced U.S. culture, and more top picks.

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  • By Staff

George Martin documentary

Did you know that the late Sir George Martin, “the fifth Beatle,” was also responsible for some of the great comedy records of all time? The four lads from Liverpool did, and were “right chuffed” to work with the man who produced British comics Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, and Dudley Moore. Produced by George Martin profiles the calm and elegant force who possessed the perfect mix of talent and temperament to pilot the Beatles and others to recording nirvana. Watch his fascinating life on Amazon Prime. 

High-stakes elections

In between US presidential debates (how many more can there be?), CNN’s Race for the White House, narrated by Kevin Spacey and running through April 10, provides some historical context as it revisits influential presidential races such as “Lincoln vs. Douglas” and “JFK vs. Nixon.” The next episode, “Jackson vs. Adams,” airs April 3 at 9 p.m. Catch up on earlier installments through On Demand, Roku, and Apple TV.

PBS

American environs

Throughout history, some houses have inspired how Americans live, from the ancient Taos pueblos that can regulate indoor temperature to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. PBS’s 10 Homes That Changed America looks at how these styles of buildings affected US culture. The program debuts April 5 at 8 p.m. as part of the three-part series “10 That Changed America” and will be followed by “10 Parks That Changed America” (April 12) and “10 Towns That Changed America” (April 19).

Get outside!

As the weather turns warmer, you may find yourself dreaming of a refreshing hike or bicycle ride. But where to start? The free app AllTrails identifies and classifies nearby trails and their highlights. AllTrails is available for iOS and Android. 

RCA Records

Sonic adventure

Ray LaMontagne’s new album Ouroboros finds the singer suddenly astride planet Floyd – light-years from his backwoods home – reflective, emotional, and blissed out. The record’s throwback psychedelic sounds are courtesy of his producer, My Morning Jackets leader Jim James, a longtime proponent of echo and blur. Grab your headphones and strap yourself in for a rewarding sonic journey with a masterly musician who always has somewhere new and fascinating to take us.

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