Archive for June, 2015

The Beatles, "Tell Me What You See" from Help! (1965): Deep Beatles

The Beatles, “Tell Me What You See” from Help! (1965): Deep Beatles

One of the Beatles’ least-known ‘Help!’ tracks, “Tell Me What You See” has even been dismissed by chief songwriter Paul McCartney. We make its case.

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Neal Schon, “Lady M” from Vortex (2015): One Track Mind

Neal Schon’s baseline is one of torrid invention. But there’s another side to the Journey great, and an advance track for ‘Vortex’ powerfully showcases it.

Ornette Coleman + Pat Metheny - 'Song X' (1986): On Second Thought

Ornette Coleman + Pat Metheny – ‘Song X’ (1986): On Second Thought

Here is a reflection on free jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman and his wonderful 1985 encounter with Pat Metheny, ‘Song X.”

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Neil Young, “Wolf Moon” from The Monsanto Years (2015): One Track Mind

Neil Young’s “Wolf Moon” features a delicately inviting sound that leads long-time fans back to ‘Harvest’ and its terrific sequel ‘Harvest Moon.’

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Ornette Coleman, an inscrutable genius, gave jazz its freedom

There were technical things that made Ornette Coleman’s work great. But stressing that gives away the one thing that really mattered: Its freedom.

Steve Cropper Still Can't Get Over Producing Jeff Beck: 'How Is He Doing That?'

Steve Cropper Still Can’t Get Over Producing Jeff Beck: ‘How Is He Doing That?’

As Steve Cropper watched Jeff Beck at work on 1972’s ‘Jeff Beck Group,’ he’d focus on his hands and think: “You can’t get that there.” Then, Beck would.

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Sail Away: Whitesnake’s Fantastic Voyage, by Martin Popoff (2015): Books

‘Sail Away: Whitesnake’s Fantastic Voyage’ goes beyond the hairspray, frilly blouses and MTV videos to tell the story of David Coverdale’s band.

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Steely Dan’s Underrated ‘Everything Must Go’ Is Even More Pertinent Today

Steely Dan’s ‘Everything Must Go,’ released on June 10, 2003, just gets better with age. So, let’s try it in reverse order.

Rolling Stones' Some Girls offered one final blast of nervy, rock 'n' roll attitude

Rolling Stones’ Some Girls offered one final blast of nervy, rock ‘n’ roll attitude

The Rolling Stones’ ‘Some Girls,’ released on June 9, 1978, was a very important moment. We now know that they would never sound the same again.

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Denny Zeitlin and George Marsh – Riding The Moment (2015)

Here is a review of a uniquely experimental set of electro-acoustic improvisations between Denny Zeitlin and George March, ‘Riding The Moment.’