Archive for October, 2014

Five Best Walter Becker Guitar Moments: Steely Dan Sunday

Five Best Walter Becker Guitar Moments: Steely Dan Sunday

Walter Becker aficionado Preston Frazier picks out five instances where the guitarist shined on both Steely Dan and his own solo records.

Vinyl

Hall and Oates started by turning down early offer from a legendary label: ‘We want to do something different’

Hall and Oates made a gutsy move, choosing to go their own way – and became genre-jumping pioneers in the process.

Rock is Dead! Songs by Todd Rundgren, the Knack, Elvis Costello, others: Gimme Five

Rock is Dead! Songs by Todd Rundgren, the Knack, Elvis Costello, others: Gimme Five

To celebrate October, autumn and U2’s recent marketing fiasco, here’s a few songs about the death of everyone’s favorite bad penny, rock ‘n’ roll.

Vinyl

Marcin Wasilewski Trio with Joakim Milder – Spark of Life (2014)

Marcin Wasilewski Trio’s ‘Spark of Life’ does absolutely nothing to dispel the ECM stereotype. But so what? Other record companies would kill to be stereotyped like that.

Vinyl

The Grateful Dead – Dick’s Picks 15 (1999; 2014 reissue)

‘Dick’s Picks 15’ was a high-water mark for the second phase of the Grateful Dead’s touring career.

Vinyl

Peter Brotzmann: We Thought We Could Change The World, with Gerard Rouy (2014): Books

As Peter Brotzmann speaks through ‘We Thought We Could Change The World,’ this becomes the rare book that reveals the essence of a man.

Vinyl

Ernie Watts Quartet – A Simple Truth (2014)

Ernie Watts and a band he’s worked with for more than a decade journey through a 24-hour cycle in sound.

Wilco, Whiskeytown, Blind Boys of Alabama: Random Shuffle

Wilco, Whiskeytown, Blind Boys of Alabama: Random Shuffle

Mat Brewster shares thoughts and memories during a random shuffle featuring Wilco, Whiskeytown and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

Vinyl

Journey’s first Top 20 hit was released 35 years ago: ‘Very influenced by the great Sam Cooke’

Issued in September 1979, Journey’s first-ever Top 20 hit found Steve Perry playing a surprising role.

Vinyl

The Beatles and Me on Tour, by Ivor Davis (2014): Books

‘The Beatles and Me on Tour’ recounts Ivor Davis’ month traveling with the band as an embedded correspondent in 1964.