Monthly Archives: July, 2016
AMERICA-THE WARNER BROS. YEARS.
AMERICA-THE WARNER BROS. YEARS. Somewhat confusingly, the America story began in London in 1971. That’s when high school students Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek, and Gerry Beckley first met. Their fathers were all members of the US Air Force, and at that time, were stationed in London. Far from home, and strangers in a foreign country …
RICK WAKEMAN-5 CLASSIC ALBUMS.
RICK WAKEMAN-5 CLASSIC ALBUMS. To misquote George Orwell, “not all box sets are created equal.” Indeed, box sets come in all shapes and sizes. Some are lovingly compiled, lavish and bespoke. They’re released in limited numbers and quickly become a collector’s item. Then there’s the mid-price box sets, which feature all the albums an artist …
MARIA MULDAUR-SWEET HARMONY, SOUTHERN WINDS AND OPEN YOUR EYES.
MARIA MULDAUR-SWEET HARMONY, SOUTHERN WINDS AND OPEN YOUR EYES. Although some artists record twenty or thirty albums, they’re often remembered for just one song. Usually, that song is the biggest hit of their career. That was the case with Maria Muldaur. She released her eponymous debut solo album Maria Muldaur in 1973. The song that …
THE LADIES OF TOO SLOW TO DISCO-RECORD STORE DAY VINYL EDITION.
THE LADIES OF TOO SLOW TO DISCO-RECORD STORE DAY VINYL EDITION. Over the last few years, there’s been a resurgence in interest in the West Coast sound. It fell from grace in the late seventies. Before that, the West Coast sound had won over the hearts and minds of record buyers, and provided the soundtrack …
HANK BALLARD AND THE MIDNIGHTERS-UNWIND YOURSELF-THE KING RECORDINGS 1964-1967.
HANK BALLARD AND THE MIDNIGHTERS-UNWIND YOURSELF-THE KING RECORDINGS 1964-1967. Hank Ballard played an important part in musical history. He was a successful singer and songwriter, whose career spanned fifty-two years. The most successful period of Hank Ballard’s career, was between 1953 and 1969, when he was the lead singer of Hank Ballard and The Midnighters. …
ERLEND APNESETH TRIO-DET ANDRE ROMMET.
ERLEND APNESETH TRIO-DET ANDRE ROMMET. Practise makes perfect. So the old proverb says. Erlend Apneseth is proof of this. He’s one of Norway’s top young fiddlers, and is already competing at the highest level. That has been the case for some time. Erlend Apneseth competes at the elite level in Norway’s National Contest For Traditional …
SPOOKY TOOTH-THE ISLAND RECORDS YEARS.
SPOOKY TOOTH-THE ISLAND RECORDS YEARS. All too often, some bands don’t get the credit they deserve. That was the case with Spooky Tooth, who for a time, pioneered the use of twin keyboards. They lead the way. Soon, other bands were following in their wake. By then, the Spooky Tooth story was over. Spooky Tooth were …
LITTLE FEAT-THE LOWELL GEORGE YEARS.
LITTLE FEAT-THE LOWELL GEORGE YEARS. Before founding Little Feat in 1969, Lowell George was a member of Frank Zappa’s Mothers Of Invention. Then in 1969, Lowell met Bill Payne who previously, had auditioned for The Mothers Of Invention. Bill however, never joined The Mothers Of Invention. No. In 1969 pianist Bill Payne and guitarist Lowell …
THE WILD OATS-THE WILD OATS.
THE WILD OATS-THE WILD OATS. Way before The Beatles burst onto the scene with Love Me Do in 1962, bands were being formed up and down Britain. Bands literally sprung up from John O’ Groats to Land’s End. This included in Leiston, a small, rural town in sleepy Suffolk. It was an unlikely place for …
THE AROCK, SEROCK, SYLVIA SOUL STORY CONTINUED.
THE AROCK, SEROCK, SYLVIA SOUL STORY CONTINUED. Al Sears’ career began in the 1928, when he replaced Johnny Hodges in Chic Webbs’ band. This was the start of a long and successful career. In 1931, Al Sears joined Elmer Snowden’s band. He was the tenor saxophonist right through until 1932. Then in 1933, Al Sears …
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