Imagine the world without The Beatles. I cannot. We would be deprived of such incredible music, yes, but the loss would be so much more than that. From the moment The Beatles arrived in America, the Earth spun with a different groove. “She Loves You” had such energy and enthusiastic vocals, yeah, yeah, yeah. Not … More The Beatles
Screaming kids in the early and mid 1960s, the British Invasion had arrived. The Beatles are the best known band to reach shore, but there were other groups that captivated Americans and sent songs up the chart. A couple of weeks ago, Chad Stuart of Chad & Jeremy, passed away at age 79. Between 1964 … More Gerry Marsden Remembered
I’m semi old school. I still buy CDs. The car I bought recently does not have a CD player, so I rely on putting songs on a flash drive. I bought an inexpensive CD drive for my car, but I really do not use it. I have adapted better to a flash drive than I … More Where Do You Get Your Music?
I have provided thoughts on several YES albums, but held this one back. This is a phenomenal recording, YES at the top of their game. A master stroke of progressive rock. In my opinion, Fragile (1971) and Close to the Edge represent the best work of the band and featured the greatest of the various … More Close to the Edge (1972)
In 1974, Atlantic Records released this strange album, a greatest hits collection that spanned only two albums and the A and B sides of a single. It was also a bit misleading because Neil Young only played on four of the songs. The group was reportedly not very happy about the release, but it proved … More Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: So Far
Jimmy Carter was a bit of an anomaly in his one term as president. Before him was Nixon/Ford and after his presidency was Reagan/Bush. The contrast couldn’t have been greater. This film, Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President, was a blend of music and Carter politics, as told by many of the musicians of the … More Jimmy Carter: Rock and Roll President (2020)
After The Who By Numbers album, The Who had some ground to make up. The Who By Numbers was not a bad album, it just was not what many fans and critics expected. Pete Townshend’s songs were a bit dark and the arrangements were sparse for a Who album. This was the last studio album … More Who Are You (1978)
Who are the best songwriters? There are many to choose from. There are some great songwriting teams, but I am only going to talk about individuals who write both music and lyrics. These are in no particular order. Bob Dylan – Bob has been at it for nearly 60 years. He is not a great … More Best Songwriters
I like Weird Al. I get him. He’s a clever and funny guy. You either like him or you do not. Alfred Yankovic started calling himself Weird Al in college as a way to give himself some distinction. He started college at age 16 and admitted to be a big nerd. He got picked on … More Weird Al
Hard to believe John Lennon has been gone 40 years, but it is safe to say his legacy is stronger than it has ever been. I remembered John Lennon back in 2017. Remembering John Lennon Even more than his musical career, I believe he is most associated with the peace movement. It is impossible to … More John Lennon at 80
