In the early 1970s, a surge of racial pride swept the United States and soon it found its way to the popular medium of broadcast television, where people of color had been entertaining the public since jazz pianist and vocalist Nat King Cole’s show debuted in 1956. The Civil Rights movement had elevated the status …
Month: March 2011
An oldie but a goodie. Gotta love Clem Burke’s drumming, so simple yet so hypnotic: .
The Rolling Stones—“Tell Me (You’re Coming Back)” (Decca 1964, 3:47—UK LP version) Sometime in the fall of 1981, well before my freshman year at Brown took its big nosedive, I finally had the opportunity to see Mean Streets, the movie that made Marty Scorsese’s rep in 1973. When, near the outset, Harvey Keitel enters a …
I saw this movie only once, 25 years ago, and have never forgotten this scene: . And here, thanks to Steve Stav for the tip, is the SNL Christmas version: . .
I was thinking about genius tonight. It starts with some talent; then these wunderkinds go off and work hard to hone it, like the Beatles did in Hamburg. Genius doesn’t just happen, it takes work. It took a lot of time to get these voices to blend so well (above). More on the subject of …
“At some point in young manhood, I fell in love with Sade’s stomach.” – from my upcoming autobiography, The Luckiest Unlucky Man. – Steve Stav
The Airborne Toxic Event is the best band out there named for a catch phrase from a Don Delillo novel. In this case, the novel is “White Noise.” Here’s “Changing,” their latest and grooviest yet:
Recently, the “Greatest Guitar Solo Ever” clip has been in circulation on the Tube of You, and might I say — “Wow! Up with hyperbole.” While there’s no question that this was supposed to be rock legends covering another rock legend’s song, the focus quickly shifts to who has the hottest lick. With Prince in …
Phil Collins has a new record coming out. Entitled “Going Back”, it features classic soul and Motown covers and no original songs by Collins. He says it’s his best album yet. He has also announced he’s retiring soon. The full story is here. Below, the critic’s roundtable responds to Collins’ retirement announcement: **************************************************** What a …
Interesting post in the Palm Tree in Poland blog: “What on earth to do with that post-tax $150 million lounging around in the bank account like a lazy cat on a silk pillow? Infinity pool? Teachers? More Ding Dongs? I gave some guys a bunch of cash and I’ve got an idea what they can …
Seattle alt-country songwriter Charlie Smyth has made his new album, “Leaves,” available for free download at CharlieSmythMusic.com. “Leaves” is pensive, spare, beautiful, emotive and distinctively American. It’s a lovely work from the softer end of the alt.honky.tonk continuum. It’s mostly Smyth’s voice with an acoustic guitar, punctuated here and there by drum, bass and piano. …
“Sting, the Jazz Man.” He DID have the sense to surround himself with the best jazzmen available. When this double LP came out, I played this song incessantly. Later, I find its mesmerizing-crescendo structure to be reminiscent of something Chico Hamilton would do. A great performance, Omar Hakim’s solo has become iconic in the drum …
Misery Bear misses Lady Di. Gotta love Misery Bear: . Misery Bear Goes to Work .
. Bob Marley – Is This Love? .