Rufus Thomas, R&B scamp and known ass-shaker about town, was the ripe old age of 53 when this single was released. He hadn’t lost one bit of arm-flapping gusto. Yet, “Do The Funky Chicken” still came out of nowhere. Thomas’s label, Memphis-based Stax, had recently severed ties with Atlantic Records,Read More

by Tom Johnson In many ways, I am still no closer to being able to put words to my feelings for this album. Instead, I find myself forcing words upon it, all of which are rendered meaningless because they really don’t describe this album, only things that have come beforeRead More

Credit Uriah Heep as the co-inventors of hard rock, along with Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. It doesn’t mean they couldn’t craft a crunchy little hit single, too. You May Also Like: On Paul McCartney’s ‘Egypt Station,’ Uriah Heep’s ‘Living the Dream’ + other new releases Doobie BrothersRead More

by Mark Saleski For those unfamiliar with Fritz Hauser, he is one of (maybe the … who knows, there’s gotta be more than one though) Switzerland’s best percussionists. You May Also Like: No related posts.

> *** STEELY DAN SUNDAY INDEX *** The art of narration in a song, I would suppose, is one that’s hard to nail down so tight, because when it’s done so well, you remember it. You May Also Like: Walter Becker, “She Was Good” (early 1990s): Steely Dan Sunday SteelyRead More

Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra has worked well as a creative outlet for its slide trumpet-playing leader, who seems to come up with some off-the-wall ideas for a jazz orchestra. You May Also Like: Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra feat. Catherine Russell, “Yes We Can” (2022): One Track Mind StevenRead More

Sebastian Bach’s ‘Kicking and Screaming’ falls in sound somewhere between Skid Row’s ‘Slave to the Grind’ and ‘Subhuman Race,’ and that’s a very good thing

by Mark Saleski There’s a single reason for me owning this disc: Kurt Elling’s cover of Pat Metheny’s “Minuano (Six Eight),” from Still Life (Talking). You May Also Like: Phil Collins, “In the Air Tonight” (1981): On Second Thought The La De Da’s, Blue Stars and others – How IsRead More

The lyrics have changed over these many years, but the mythical journey of Stagger Lee — “that bad man, oh, cru-el Stagolee” who shot a card-playing companion over a five-dollar Stetson hat — remains this talismanic tale. You May Also Like: Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ – Tajmo (2017)

October 14, 1983. It was a long time ago. It was the one and only night I was lucky enough to see R.E.M. in concert. You May Also Like: Why R.E.M.’s ‘Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage’ Remains Definitive Why R.E.M.’s ‘Live at the Olympia’ Showed They WereRead More