Sly Stone appeared in the late 1960s just as he was needed – in a time when the music itself seemed to be a reflection of the emotional divide between blacks and whites. You May Also Like: The Immediate Family, “Cruel Twist” (2020): One Track Mind Robert Randolph & theRead More

There’s a specificity to this song, by Austin, Texas-based roots rocker Eric Hisaw, that pulls you all the way into the story. You May Also Like: Eric Clapton, “Motherless Child” from ‘From the Cradle’ (1994): One Track Mind

By day, Mike Prigodich works at a software company, though as a kid he dreamt of becoming a professional jazz musician. It might have ended right there, but for a bout with cancer that began in November 2008. Inspired by the post-diagnosis successes of Lance Armstrong, with whom he sharedRead More

A Michael Jackson hit rejiggered as a blues, by a Canadian. It’s enough to make your head hurt. But in a good way. You May Also Like: Disaster Relief and Thornetta Davis, “How I Feel / Not So Scared of You” (2021): One Track Mind David Crosby, “Amelia” from ‘SkyRead More

With ’21st Century Breakdown,’ Green Day wears their love of rock operas right out there in the open.

by Mark Saleski One of my favorite guitar players, Ribot defines ‘angular.’ While some of his finest stuff has happened as a sideman (good gawd, he’s all over the fricken place on Tom Waits’ Rain Dogs … and now that I think of it, he applies extra twangosity on ElvisRead More

A young Bruce flashes a lot of exuberance in a rambling, upbeat dedication to New York City. Reported points of interest on the song include Bruce’s dad working as a bus driver and Bruce taking a bus trip from Freehold to Manhattan to visit a girlfriend. You May Also Like:Read More

Last year we introduced a really good avanteer to this site in Rich Halley, a lively and imaginative saxophonist and composer who would probably be more of a household name if he were in Chicago or New York instead of Portland, Oregon. You May Also Like: Rich Halley 5 –Read More

One day back in 1996, I was on my way to work and heard this terrific song … about a kid playing in the backyard? Refusing to wear a shirt? Huh?! You May Also Like: Joe Jackson’s Rain underscored a complete modern-era return to form

“Night By Night” falls right in the middle of the best three song sequence on any Steely Dan album. Last week we took the occasion of “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” to reflect on the genius of Jim Gordon. If Jim Gordon was the heir to Hal Blaine as theRead More