Eagles, Can’t Buy a Thrill, Toulouse Street. The year 1972 was a prosperous one for great rock albums. Three in particular signaled a titanic shift in music for the rest of the decade. Let’s not use the term “yacht rock” because these groups could rock. The Eagles debut album was simply called Eagles. Country-rock is … More A Trio of Smooth, Genre Defining Rock Bands
What lineups were the best for bands? Membership changes happen for various reasons: death, substance abuse, ego, solo careers, etc. Here are some of my favorites: Beatles. The post Best and Sutcliffe days, obviously. Rolling Stones. The Mick Taylor years, after Brian Jones. The classic era. Fleetwood Mac. Obviously, the McVies, Fleetwood, Buckingham and Nicks. … More Classic Band Lineups
These 50 year anniversaries are a bit depressing, how can so much time has passed? I was a teenager then, but not quite age legal to drive. The early 1970s was one of the most eclectic periods in music. The phrase, anything goes, could apply to what you heard in 1972. I am known as … More 1972: The Year in Music (50 Years Ago)
This was one of the most eclectic years in music. It was easy to hear any kind of music on the radio or placed on the charts. Radio was becoming equally divided between AM and FM stations, and crossover songs between genres was common. This was the heart of classic rock, a mixture of pop, … More Best Albums of 1975
Nothing says rock & roll like discussing missile defense systems and guitar string bending. Jeffrey “Skunk” Baxter can do both. “My big thing is to look at existing technologies and try to see other ways they can be used, which happens in music all the time and happens to be what terrorists are incredibly good … More Skunk Baxter: Rock Star & Missile Defense Consultant
For nearly 50 years, Steely Dan was principally Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, augmented by a constantly changing cast of session and touring musicians. For much of that time, Steely Dan did not tour, by their own choice. Late in their career, when new records did not sell, touring I suspect helped to pay the … More Steely Dan Live!
What makes an impressive debut album? A million copies sold? Hit singles? Your face on the cover of Rolling Stone? Having fans and critics stand up and take notice. Lasting impact. The start of something greater. These are ones that are familiar to me. This list is certainly not inclusive and is obviously just my … More Impressive Debut Albums
The job of the drummer is to drive the train. The exceptional drummers do so taking you on a journey you’ve never traveled. The best grooves get your attention, but aren’t showy. Yes, drummers can be self-indulgent with exaggerated playing, tiresome soloing and drum kits that need their own zip code. It’s very difficult for … More Best Drum Grooves
Sometimes music grows on you. That was never how I operated. If it did not hit me pretty quickly, I moved on. Over the decades, I have passed on a number of decent, and sometimes very popular albums because something did not click. On occasion, these albums became hugely popular, always on the radio, which … More Give It Another Listen
Back in the old days, music was recorded in an actual recording studio on analog tape machines. In the early days of the Beatles, engineers wore white lab coats and neckties. Experimentation was frowned upon and only certain approved personnel could touch the knobs. There was no school to learn the process of sound or … More Recording Engineers
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