Stax Records and Isaac Hayes
adminIsaac Hayes and Stax Records were forever linked in terms of their influence on and their promotion of African American culture. As an ace songwriter and session man Hayes was…
Read MoreIn Ten Tracks: Steely Dan
A selection of Steely Dan songs that have meaning to me and have stuck with me through the years, appearing frequently on mix tapes and playlists. Not necessarily stuff you’ll…
Read MoreFreddie Hubbard: Blue Spirits
Freddie Hubbard’s Blue Spirits album is culled from sessions recorded in February 1965 and in March of the following year. The 1966 tracks are bonus tracks added to this Van…
Read MoreHow V.S.O.P. Revived Freddie Hubbard’s Career
The trumpet player who had become known as ‘the new Miles’ was at a low point in the mid-70s until the V.S.O.P. quintet revitalized his playing.
Read MoreMiles Davis: The Making of ‘Tutu’
The long road to making Miles Davis’ album Tutu, his first recording for the Warner Brothers label, influenced by Prince and Marcus Miller.
Read MoreGinger Baker, Beyond Cream
Ginger Baker passed away recently after a brief hospitalization, leaving Eric Clapton as the only surviving member of Cream, with Jack Bruce having passed in 2014. There have, of course,…
Read MoreRobert Hunter: Lyricist, Poet, and Musician
by Marshall Bowden Robert Hunter was as much responsible for the overall image of the Grateful Dead as any performing member of the band. As much as the visual imagery…
Read MoreAlbum Cover Art: A Brief Survey
The age of vinyl was the heyday of artistic album covers and album covers as art.
Read MoreIn Ten Tracks: Talking Heads
A selection of Talking Heads songs that have meaning to me and have stuck with me through the years, appearing frequently on mix tapes and playlists. Not necessarily stuff you’ll…
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