Articles by: Preston Frazier

Chicago, "Bright Eyes" from Chicago VIII (2002 reissue): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “Bright Eyes” from Chicago VIII (2002 reissue): Saturdays in the Park

A hidden gem, Robert Lamm’s Rhodes-driven “Bright Eyes” finally made it onto ‘Chicago VIII’ – but it took 27 years.

Yes, "Shock to the System" from Union (1991): YESterdays

Yes, “Shock to the System” from Union (1991): YESterdays

“Shock to the System” almost seems like a leftover from Yes’ ‘Big Generator’ era, instead of a tune begun by Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe.

Toto, "Struck By Lightning" from 40 Trips Around the Sun (2018): Sneak Peek

Toto, “Struck By Lightning” from 40 Trips Around the Sun (2018): Sneak Peek

Toto’s “Struck By Lightning” has a tough attitude that wouldn’t have been out of place on 1984’s ‘Isolation’ or 1992’s ‘Kingdom of Desire.’ Yet it also offers something different.

Vinyl

Steve Porcaro goes inside Toto’s new music: ‘It was a Toto first’

Toto’s Steve Porcaro joins Preston Frazier to discuss their expanded greatest-hits package, and how a key moment on his recent solo project impacted the band.

Vinyl

Giada Valenti, “Gracias a La Vida” (2018): One Track Mind

An example of what pure joy and gratitude should sound like, Giada Valenti’s “Gracias a La Vida” is a worthy tribute to life.

Warren Zevon - Mr. Bad Example (1991): On Second Thought

Warren Zevon – Mr. Bad Example (1991): On Second Thought

This remains a strong, too-often overlooked Warren Zevon album. Yet ‘Mr. Bad Example’ marked the beginning of his career’s second act.

Mark Wade, jazz bassist: Something Else! Interview

Mark Wade, jazz bassist: Something Else! Interview

Mark Wade, named one of jazz’s Top 10 bassists in the 2016 ‘DownBeat’ readers poll, joins Preston Frazier to discuss his second album ‘Moving Day.’

Yes, "I Would Have Waited Forever" from Union (1991): YESterdays

Yes, “I Would Have Waited Forever” from Union (1991): YESterdays

“I Would Have Waited Forever” kicks off a pieced-together so-called collaboration with four former key members, but they never actually played with Yes in the studio.

Toto, "How Many Times" from Kingdom of Desire (1992): Toto Tuesdays

Toto, “How Many Times” from Kingdom of Desire (1992): Toto Tuesdays

The band-written “How Many Times” might have been only O.K. in lesser hands. Instead, this standout ‘Kingdom of Desire’ track confirms the magic that was and still is Toto.

Vinyl

Projekt Gemineye – A Brand New Day (2017)

Projekt Gemineye’s ‘A Brand New Day’ is a great continuation of 2017’s ‘An Ordinary Day,’ with a more guitar-centered progressive hard-rock core.