If the idea of smooth jazz makes you cringe, we’ve got some great news for you: It ain’t all bad.

A couple of years ago I set out to shine a light on stellar fusion records in a decade where the genre started running out of ideas, passion and gumption. You May Also Like: Lyle Mays (1953-2020): An Appreciation Lyle Mays, “Eberhard” (2021): One Track Mind Pat Metheny, “You Are”Read More

Paul McCartney had always been cuffed around for the times when he got too cute or — worse, really — too domestic. Yet, until the 1980s, he’d always possessed an unerring sense of hitmaking magic. You May Also Like: No related posts.

We’d like to make the argument for those times when Sammy Hagar’s edition of Van Halen, affectionately known as Van Hagar, was pretty good.

Like most fans, we were hoping the Rolling Stones would pull out some deep cuts as they convened to celebrate five decades of debauched rock. What we got, however, was “Emotional Rescue” You May Also Like: How ‘Love is Strong’ Grew Into a Stone-Cold Rolling Stones Classic

We’ve sorted through nine Led Zeppelin albums, looking for the times when we simply weren’t feeling the love, when it was nobody’s fault but theirs.

We called “All You Need Is Love” a pasted-together goof, “The Long and Winding Road” a devastatingly maudlin bore. And you ripped us to shreds. Now, we’re back for more. You May Also Like: The Beatles, “You’re Going to Lose That Girl” from Help! (1965): Deep Beatles

Criticizing Van Halen for the times it were too corny or over-the-top almost feels disingenuous.

When it came to Fleetwood Mac, there was plenty of blame to go around. After all, more than dozen songwriters have moved through the band’s ranks.

For all of the promise that greeted their time apart — we’ll get four Beatles albums a year now! — the reality was far different as Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison embarked on solo careers. You May Also Like: Yes, ‘Now and Then’ Is an Actual Beatles Song