The conflicted history of Sammy Hagar’s Van Halen smash “Right Now”: ‘It shows you what I know’
“Right Now,” released this week as part of 1991’s ‘For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge,’ was both a huge Van Halen hit and a harbinger of their eventual split.
Spotlight
David Crosby, June 12, 2015: Shows I’ll Never Forget
His shows with Graham Nash and Stephen Stills are where the money is. But David Crosby, alone and acoustic, now that was something special.
The Isley Brothers, “Here We Go Again” (2015, rec. 1980): Something Else! sneak peek
Here is a sneak peek of a track from the great lost Isley Brothers album, ‘Wild In Woodstock: The Isley Brothers Live At Bearsville Sound Studio 1980.’ It’s a funky, uptempo number called “Here We Go Again.”
Hall and Oates were reinvigorated by a down period: ‘We revamped our entire approach’
Once on a seemingly unstoppable roll, Hall and Oates became mired in a lengthy dry spell. John Oates says it’s the best thing that could have happened.
Dire Straits’ typically overlooked Communique is an understated gem
Dire Straits’ ‘Communique,’ released on June 15, 1979, caught my ear much later – but it only confirmed Mark Knopfler’s genius.
In defense of Roger Waters’ oft-derided, over-the-top Radio K.A.O.S.
Roger Waters’ ‘Radio K.A.O.S,’ released on June 15, 1987, was defined by a tangled narrative and plasticine production. Here’s why we like it, anyway.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ gritty Mojo was more than just the blues
Released on June 15, 2010, Tom Petty’s ‘Mojo’ built off a rootsy foundation, extending their reign as the most sophisticated garage band in America.
Paul McCartney says the Beatles used Motown as a template – for what not to do
The Beatles covered a few Motown cuts, but that doesn’t mean they fashioned themselves after Detroit’s hitmaking juggernaut. In fact, quite the opposite.
Micky Dolenz on a Monkees song that got away: ‘I always kick myself in the butt’
Micky Dolenz memorably turned down a huge hit at the peak of the Monkees’ popularity. It took years for him to right the wrong.
The Cars’ Often-Overlooked ‘Candy-O’ Still Revs With Excitement
‘Candy-O,’ released on June 13, 1979, wasn’t quite as immediate or artfully cool as the Cars’ celebrated debut. Here’s why we love it, anyway.
