Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass--Work Song (1966)

     It's not unusual today to see an artist take off on his own and start a record label. Nor is it strange to see them market themselves in a way that allows for the music to be heard on TV and in advertising. However all of those who are making it happen as moguls as well as musicians can look to Herb Alpert as the ground breaker.      Along with Jerry Moss, they turned a cottage record company which was basically just Alpert on the roster, into a major force in popular music. The Tijuana Brass and then...

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The Ace of Base Essentials

My brief review of the recording history of the 90's era Euro pop group can be found here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9083623/the_ace_of_base_essentials.html?cat...

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Steve Miller Band--Fly Like An Eagle (1976)

     It seemed in 1976/77, you couldn't have the radio on without hearing Steve Miller. Although his breakthrough, "The Joker" was back in 73, it wasn't until "Fly Like An Eagle", and "Book of Dreams" that he fully hit his top 40 stride.      Miller was/is first and foremost a blues player. That sensibility, informed his first few albums in the late 60's.. His biggest successes during that time was because of FM radio, which helped propel four of his first five albums into the top 40. The music itself was...

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Air Supply--Lost in Love (1980)

      Doing these blogs from a bit of a historic perspective has given me a different view of many of the songs of our past. It also reminds me that, just like histories of other events (say US history for example) that one can document what actually happened, but interpreting the event is another thing altogether, and proves that historians can be subjected to prejudices just like anyone else.        I say all of this to confess that not all of the music that you find here on the blogs are...shall...

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Helen Reddy--I Am Woman (1972)

    Helen Reddy was looking for a song. She had become inspired by the burgeoning women's rights movement and was wanting to record something that reflected the strength of those who stood in the face of adversity. To her amazement, there was none to be had. So she wrote lyrics and Ray Burton provided the music.         Neither writer thought it would go anywhere other than an album cut and in fact when first released in May of 1972, it went nowhere. A combination of TV appearances and women who began...

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The AC/DC Essentials (the Brian Johnston era)

Part two of our brief retrospective of AC/DC is now available on Associated Content: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9064999/the_acdc_essentials_the_brian_johnston.html?cat...

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a-ha -- Take On Me (1985)

     There was a day not so long ago that artists from around the world wanted to "make it" in the US music market. Although still true, there are many examples of artists who have become worldwide stars without a lot of help from the American listeners. A-ha is one of those groups. Obviously, "Take On Me" was a huge hit stateside, and it's follow up, "The Sun Always Shines On TV" was also in the top 20. After that however they fell off of the Billboard charts except for one more #50 showing in 1986 ("Cry Wolf")      ...

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The Beach Boys--Good Vibrations (1966)

     No matter how you look at it, "Good Vibrations" marked a turning point in rock music. Brian Wilson put this song together out of his fertile imagination and pure studio craft. This song, along with the album, "Pet Sounds" profoundly influenced Lennon and McCartney as both were inspired to produce music that was crafted in the same way...the result was Sgt. Pepper. This inspired many (if not most) groups to go down the same path. This has produced some of the most inspired music in the history of rock. It has also produced...

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After the Fire--Der Kommissar (1983)

     The British group, After the Fire began in the early 70's as a progressive rock band. This incarnation produced one album in 1978 (which was released in 2004), which went nowhere. After this, a change in direction to shorter, pop songs was pursued. This gave them a couple of minor hits in Britain, and the one big hit here in America.       "Der Kommissar" (which means 'the commissioner' in German) was co-written and sung by Austrian singer Falco. (remember 'Rock Me Amadeus??) in 1981. The group...

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Peter, Paul and Mary--Blowin' In the Wind (1963)

     In the early 60's there had been a revival of folk music in America. Led by Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and the Kingston Trio, the airwaves could be filled with traditional music along with the more strident, social conscious music being made from a new generation of songwriters.       Manager Albert Grossman had his finger on the pulse of this movement and it's commercial possibilities. At one time he had Dylan, Odetta, Phil Ochs, Gordon Lightfoot, Richie Havens and many others. He brought Peter, Paul...

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New CD review: Daryl Hall--Laughing Down Crying (2011)

I write about the new Daryl Hall album on Associated Content....check it out! http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9050115/musicreview_daryl_halllaughing_down_pg2.html?cat...

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George McCrae--Rock Your Baby (1974)

     There is much debate on what the first disco song is. At least for me, it's kind of like Rock and Roll, where there is really no "first" song, just a gradual development of the style. However, there are some songs that we can point to as huge steps in the popularity of the genre, and this is one of them.      George McCrae had been singing for years in his native Florida, the last few he had been working with his wife, Gwen. Nothing much had been going on and by the mid-70's was planning to go to college...

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The AC/DC Essentials (the Bon Scott era)

My guide for the novice of the Bon Scott era of AC/DC has been published and ready to read here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9047089/the_acdc_essentials_the_bon_scott_era.html?cat...

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The Beatles--Helter Skelter (1968)

     It's difficult to separate this song from it's link to Charles Manson and his brutal madness, but just a couple of years before it was Paul McCartney's response to an article he had read....       An 1967 article in Guitar Player, had Pete Townshend describing The Who's, "I Can See For Miles" as the loudest, dirtiest, rawest song the group had done to date. Paul began to think about a song that would have that feel as well. One also wonders if the criticisms about him being the "ballad" writer...

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Stevie Wonder---I Wish (1976)

      By 1976, Stevie Wonder was on top of the pop and r&b world. The transformation that began in 1971 with the, "Where I'm Coming From" album saw him move as a teen from love song singles to a serious, socially conscious adult who could mine a serious groove. His albums from 1971-1976 are classics of the pop/rock era       "Songs in the Key of Life" was his reflections on his short but busy life (he was on 26 at the time of it's release), and his dissatisfaction with the US government and...

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The ABC Essentials

My brief retrospective of the 80's dance group ABC can be found here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9032015/the_abc_essentials.html?cat...

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The Moody Blues--Nights in White Satin (1967/1972)

     "Nights in White Satin" was written by Justin Hayward at the age of 19. The song was developed after a friend gave Hayward a gift of satin sheets. It was on the Moodies second album, "Days of Future Passed) and made the top 20 in Britain in 1967. It was not released as a single in the US until 1972 and reached #2 here. The hit version was heavily edited, but for me the only one to bother with is the album version....which you can hear below.      The spoken word poem at the end of the song was written...

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Paul Simon--Mother and Child Reunion (1972)

    All of these years later, we forget that when Simon and Garfunkel broke up, it was not clear what would happen with Simon. He was the major songwriter of the two, but Art Garfunkel's beautifully clear tenor was the duo's calling card. There had been a two year gap since the album, "Bridge Over Troubled Water", and with Art dabbling in acting, and Paul doing some teaching, no one seemed interested in another recording. With the release of, "Paul Simon", it was official.       The release itself was an...

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Hall & Oates--You Make My Dreams (1981)

     Am in the process of writing a review of Daryl Hall's new CD, and noticed that today is his birthday. First of all, I'd like to look him when I'm 65 years old (hell, I'd like to look like that now....). Secondly, his voice believe it or not sounds better now then it did in their heyday. The sharpness of the voice has mellowed out without losing any of the soulfullness....but well you have to wait to hear the review....      Daryl Hall and John Oates have been friends since the day they met at the Adelphi...

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The Carpenters--We've Only Just Begun (1970)

      The suits at Crocker National Bank of California wanted something different. The desire was to plan an advertising campaign that was appealing to young couples, but at the same time, desired to steer clear of traditional jingles.  The bank enlisted the songwriting team of Roger Nichols and Paul Williams to write a song that conveyed the feelings of a newly married couple. The plan was to play the song over the film footage, a concept that was fairly new to advertising.      Late one night,...

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The Beatles--A Hard Days Night (1964)

     As those who know me well would attest, I'm not much of a movie watcher, and it seems as if the older I get, the less likely it is that the time will be spent watching one. However, there was a time that movies held a bit more of an allure and just like with my writing subjects, movies about music were a must watch....      Rock stars have always had a thing for being in movies (the opposite is true as well), with very mixed success, especially when real acting is going on.  More common, if not...

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10cc--I'm Not In Love (1975)

    The group 10cc was an interesting lot. Two of them, Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart were more of a poppy songwriting team, while Lol Creme and Kevin Godley were more "artsy" in style, with more cinematic type writing and unusual direction. The four of them had good, if spotty success in the UK since the early 70's,.      Stewart came up with the initial idea, but in a much different form. Creme and Godley suggested to slow it down to instead of instruments to use a wall of voices. The idea was to take their...

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The Paula Abdul Essentials

Wrote this blog on Yahoo....it's not exactly within the purview of this blog, but if your curious about Paula Abdul's musical career....check it out here... http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9001929/the_paula_abdul_essentials.html?cat...

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REO Speedwagon--Ridin' The Storm Out (1973)

     REO Speedwagon has always been a difficult subject for me to address. The group that many remember was an arena rock force in the early/mid' 1980's, and were known for the album, "Hi Infidelity" (and those....ballads).      The REO we grew up with however was a much different animal. Starting out in the late 60's as a college covers band out of Southern Illinois University, their debut album came out in 1971. Driven by the guitar and songwriting of new member Gary Richrath, they did well in the new...

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Mike Oldfield--Tubular Bells (Theme from 'The Exorcist') (1973)

     I hate that title...but it would be the only way that many would recognize the tune. Never saw the movie (neither has Oldfield), and have no intention too (horror isn't my bag). As it turns out, it was a career defining moment for him, and for Virgin records president, Richard Branson.      Branson was attempting to get his record company off of the ground and heard a small demo of a then 19-year old Oldfield and signed him up. He played most of the instruments by layering one over another. It is an...

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Eddie Cochran--Summertime Blues (1958)

    No one disputes the fact that Elvis blew open the doors for all "Rock and Roll" artists in the mid-50's. However, I believe that Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran, had a much deeper influence on the post-Beatle era of musician. Their guitar playing and experimental work in the studio opened the door to many a young guitarist (especially in England). Holly and Cochran were close friends, both enjoyed working in the studio rather than touring. Eddie was badly shaken when his friend died in a plane crash in 1959, and was determined...

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Don McLean--American Pie (1971)

     One of the first blogs I wrote was on this song (1/15/11) but it was little more then a video with a couple of sentences. With today being McLean's 66th birthday, it should get a better treatment....      It was released when I was in 5th grade and woke up my musical awareness like no other song. At the time Buddy Holly was just a name, rye was a sort of bread, and had no clue what much of the song meant. Forty years later, my suspicions of the meaning(s) of the song are much stronger, even if McLean himself...

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