Archive for January, 2015

Vinyl

‘Stack O’ Lee’ didn’t come easy on John Oates’ new live set: ‘I literally couldn’t play it’

Eleven hours into work on ‘Another Good Road,’ John Oates decided to cover his old favorite ‘Stack O’ Lee.’ It proved more difficult than he’d imagined.

The Band, “(I Don’t Want To) Hang Up My Rock ‘n’ Roll Shoes” (1971): Across the Great Divide

The Band, “(I Don’t Want To) Hang Up My Rock ‘n’ Roll Shoes” (1971): Across the Great Divide

This old Chuck Willis tune, forgotten in the wake of his early death, gave the Band a chance to let loose — and let loose they most certainly did.

Vinyl

Styx’s James ‘J.Y.’ Young on the lasting impact of Jeff Beck: ‘Perhaps the greatest living guitarist, period’

For James “J.Y.” Young, Jeff Beck has been a constant, standing as an inspiration from his early successes with Styx through to today.

Vinyl

Staple Singers, “Jesus is All” from Freedom Highway Complete (2015): One Track Mind

‘Freedom Highway Complete’ makes viscerally clear that the Staple Singers, though they’d moved far afield of gospel, could still rattle the back pews.

Vinyl

Ali Bey – My Finest Hour (2015)

A funky, groovy midnight run of a record, Ali Bey’s satisfying ‘My Finest Hour’ features an abundance of grooves.

Vinyl

Warren Zevon, “Mohammed’s Radio” from Warren Zevon (1976): One Track Mind

The Jackson Browne-produced “Mohammed’s Radio” helped introduce Warren Zevon — with a key assist from Lindsey Buckingam and Stevie Nicks.

Vinyl

Chris J. Connolly – Flying Lessons (2015)

UK-born New Yorker Chris J. Connolly has figured out on debut album ‘Flying Lessons’ that keeping it simple makes it great.

Vinyl

Mark Knopfler, “Beryl” from ‘Tracker’ (2015): One Track Mind

“Beryl” reminds us of why Mark Knopfler became famous in the first place – even as it seems to retrace the steps that led him away from that fame.

Vinyl

Rene and Rene, “Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero [The More I Love You]” (1968): Forgotten Series

Humming with romance and sexuality, the sentiment of Rene and Rene’s “Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero” radiates with pure pop godliness.

Journey began unlikely shift to pop stardom with the arrival of Steve Perry: ‘I welcomed it’

Journey began unlikely shift to pop stardom with the arrival of Steve Perry: ‘I welcomed it’

‘Infinity,’ released on January 20, 1978, saw Journey add Steve Perry. As ‘Feeling That Way/Anytime’ showed, they’d never be the same again.