Archive for November, 2015

Vinyl

Steve Cropper sparked a key moment in the Blues Brothers legend: ‘They started dancing and clowning around’

The Blues Brothers’ ‘Briefcase Full of Blues,’ released on Nov. 28, 1978, was all but complete when Steve Cropper made a career-changing suggestion.

Vinyl

The Shadows of Knight “Someone Like Me” (1967): One Track Mind

Tautly performed and as contagious as the chicken pox, the Shadows of Knight’s “Someone Like Me” deserved a far better showing.

How the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour was almost, but not quite, saved

How the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour was almost, but not quite, saved

Pity the poor Brits, who didn’t initially receive the full 11-song U.S. version of the Beatles’ ‘Magical Mystery Tour,’ released on Nov. 27, 1967.

Bruce Springsteen – ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’ (1995): Gimme Five

Bruce Springsteen – ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’ (1995): Gimme Five

Released in November 1995, Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’ traced the distance between the American Dream and the American Reality.

Vinyl

The Kinks – Sunny Afternoon: The Very Best of (2015)

This is the compact, early-career overview the Kinks have deserved for some time, one that builds upon their familiar successes rather than simply relying upon them.

Vinyl

Mats Gustafsson, on the state of jazz: Something Else! Interview

Mats Gustafsson joins Sammy Stein in a brutally honest discussion on the industry, travel these days and the resistance required to make good jazz.

Phil Collins found himself at a crossroads with Hello, I Must Be Going!

Phil Collins found himself at a crossroads with Hello, I Must Be Going!

Released this month in 1982, Phil Collins’ ‘Hello, I Must Be Going!’ was a disparate collection of moods, tempos and personas – a reflection of both his career and private life.

Vinyl

The folkiest moment on Queen’s Night at the Opera was still a trip

Released this month in 1975, Queen’s ‘A Night at the Opera’ boasted a stunning musical promiscuity. They even found a way to take folk rock to outer space.

Daniel Davies + Sebastian Robertson – ‘Condemned’ (2015)

Daniel Davies + Sebastian Robertson – ‘Condemned’ (2015)

Sons of famous axemen, Daniel Davies and Sebastian Robertson have made the brave choice to spin a blood-curdling yarn without the infrastucture of guitar.

Vinyl

Grand Funk Railroad – E Pluribus Funk (1971): Forgotten Series

Grand Funk Railroad were at the top of their game at this point, and yet ‘E Pluribus Funk’ goes largely unnoticed today.