Posts

Chicago VII 50th Anniversary- Robert Lamm

In the Studio with composer/singer Robert Lamm for Chicago's third #1 selling album, "Chicago VII".
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Yes- Close to the Edge- Jon Anderson, Steve Howe , Rick Wakeman, Bill Bruford

A half century ago, YES's Close to the Edge  was stunningly popular, with Top Five sales in both the U.S. and UK. In these thoughtful, detailed classic rock interviews, YES lead singer/lyricist Jon Anderson, guitarist Steve Howe, extraordinary drummer Bill Bruford, and keyboard innovator Rick Wakeman provide a surprisingly candid recounting of the undisputed peak of the Progressive Rock era.

Doobie Brothers- Toulouse Street- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, John Hartman

After a totally forgettable first album, the Doobie Brothers' sophomore effort "Toulouse Street" may just be the strongest second act of the Seventies. In the Studio Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, & John Hartman joined me forf "Listen to the Music","Rockin' Down the Highway","Disciple", and the definitive cover of "Jesus is Just All Right".
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Emerson, Lake, and Palmer-Trilogy- Carl Palmer, the late Keith Emerson & Greg Lake

"Trilogy", Emerson, Lake, and Palmer's third studio album and fourth overall in barely two years,  was released in July 1972, a high watermark peak for Progressive Rock's quality as well as massive popularity ( #2 UK, #5 Billboard in the US )...Trilogy has remained a favorite over these many changes in rock music as the place where Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, and Carl Palmer's ambitions to expand the palette of rock music were perfectly balanced by terrific songwriting and production on "The Endless Enigma", "From the Beginning", a terrific concert showstopper cover version of Aaron Copland's "Hoedown" from the stage musical Oklahoma!, and the title song opus. Carl Palmer hosts with archival interviews from both the late Keith Emerson and Greg Lake.
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Eagles- Eagles- the late Glenn Frey & Randy Meisner

Down through the history of mankind, first flights such as The Eagles are revered: the Montgolfier brothers in Paris in 1783 with their hot air balloon; the Wright brothers in 1903 with powered flight, Apollo 11 landing on the Moon...In June 1972 when the debut album by a Southern California-based band The Eagles was quietly released, it had none of the anticipated date-with-destiny public spectacle shared by all of the aforementioned events. But history proved that the original quartet's first flight would quickly allow a career to take wing that would soon soar, resulting in The Eagles becoming the most popular American band ever. Original member Randy Meisner & co-founder the late Glenn Frey are with me In the Studio for the story on the 50th anniversary of The Eagles.
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Deep Purple- Machine Head- Ian Gillan, Roger Glover

Deep Purple's "Machine Head" album was made amidst a virtual minefield of misfortunes, any one of which had the potential to thwart the effort. Here is the real story from Ian Gillan & Roger Glover In the Studio.
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Todd Rundgren- Something Anything

He may have waited interminably long on the Rock Hall induction, but over fifty years ago his third solo effort, a double album no less, put forth Todd Rundgren's effective nomination loud and clear by spotlighting him and his Spring 1972 masterpiece "Something/ Anything?". Todd Rundgren is my guest In the Studio.

Allman Brothers Band- Eat a Peach- the late Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts

The legendary Allman Brothers Band had officially disbanded even prior to the deaths of drummer Butch Trucks and singer/ organist Gregg Allman in 2017, but to this day I still marvel how it all could have possibly continued for almost half a century after what happened so early on at a critical launching point in the band's career during the making of their fourth album, "Eat a Peach. it was Duane Allman who formed and led the Allman Brothers Band, and behind them an entire new Southern Rock movement. But at the end of October 1971 midway through the recording of what would become" Eat a Peach", Duane died riding his beloved motorcycle. Gregg Allman (who died May 2017) and ex-guitarist Dickey Betts reveal how the music sustained the brotherhood.
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Traffic- Low Spark of High Heeled Boys- Steve Winwood,the late Jim Capaldi

Not always considered a Progressive Rock band, nevertheless the title song to Traffic's most popular album, November 1971's "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" fits easily high atop any list of the most popular and creative songs of the Progressive Rock era..In my classic rock interview In the Studio prior to Jim Capaldi's death in 2005 from cancer, it is clearly evident how much Steve Winwood and Capaldi loved woodwind player ChrisWood, and each other. 
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YES- Fragile- Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman

The remarkably durable breakthrough fourth album by progressive rockers YES has turned out to be anything but "Fragile"... YES co-founder Jon Anderson is joined In the Studio by keyboard innovator Rick Wakeman who joined the band to make "Fragile".