Archive for category: Medium Rare

Rare musician interviews by Redbeard not part of the weekly radio series .

INXS- X- Andrew Farriss, the late Michael Hutchence

It is bittersweet to share with you the World Premiere radio broadcast of INXS "X" which I was so fortunate to get to produce and host in September 1990 with guests lead singer/lyricist Michael Hutchence and keyboardist/composer Andrew Farriss.

Buckingham Nicks- Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks Rare Interview

Stevie Nicks & Lindsey Buckingham join me In the Studio for the re-release of "Buckingham Nicks", their remarkably good1973 recording which has eluded availability for 52 years & is actually worth the wait.

Styx- Equinox 50th- James Young, Tommy Shaw, Dennis DeYoung

there was high drama and great music before with the third-time's-the-charm "Lady", then 1975's strong Equinox  album containing "Light Up", "Lorelei", and the timeless "Suite: Madame Blue". Band leaders even today James "JY" Young and Tommy Shaw look back on the Equinox  along with the original former co-founding member who wrote and sang all of those songs, Dennis DeYoung

Foghat- Fool for the City- late Lonesome Dave Peverett & Rod Price

British blues-rock foursome Foghat's "Fool for the City" album, with the title song plus "Slow Ride", dominated American FM airplay from its release in September 1975 all through the following year (#20 Billboard). Foghat were four British electric bluesmen who comprised the most successful  limb of the sprawling Savoy Brown musical family tree, albeit that success almost exclusively in North America. This is a bittersweet edition of In the Studio as both of my guests in this classic rock interview, Foghat co-founding guitarist/singer/songwriter Lonesome Dave Peverett and slide guitarist/songwriter Rod Price, have since passed away.

Allman Brothers Band- Idlewild South- the late Gregg Allman

...for me in Autumn 1970 with discovering the Allman Brothers Band, as it was their second album, "Idlewild South" , which was my gateway drug to a five decade musical high for what turned out to be, as legendary producer Tom Dowd put it it, "the greatest musical fusion I've ever witnessed."

Neil Young and Crazy Horse- Ragged Glory 35th Anniversary

Fall 2019 when I made what felt like a pilgrimage to a suburban Dallas movie theater with very dear friends to see Neil Young and Crazy Horse's film of making their album, "Colorado" , I could not resist the comparisons to "Ragged Glory" three decades earlier. Neil Young joins me In the Studio.

Jethro Tull- Best pt 2- Ian Anderson

Selecting the fifty songs over the twenty-one studio offerings for the "50 for 50" massive undertaking proved a challenge for Ian Anderson to curate, not simply for fan expectations. If there ever was a lyrical wordsmith who learned his songwriting trade in the widescreen cinematic tradition of the album format, and who is ill-suited for the one-song You Tube world he found himself in fifty years hence, it would be Ian Anderson.

The Band- Stage Fright- Robbie Robertson

Widely viewed along with Bob Dylan, The Byrds, and Gram Parsons as  fathers of  the Americana musical movement, The Band also may have  been one of rock's first alternative groups. In part one of this classic rock interview, main songwriter Robbie Robertson ("The Weight","The Night They Drove Ol'Dixie Down","Up on Cripple Creek","The Shape I'm In") helps me make that case on the 55th anniversary of "Stage Fright".

Styx- Big Bang Theory 20th- Tommy Shaw, James “JY” Young, Lawrence Gowan

Imagine Styx playing your high school prom absolutely nailing The Who's "I Can See for Miles", Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home", Humble Pie's "I Don't Need No Doctor", the improbable "A Salty Dog" from Procol Harum, and simply the most spectacular live version of "I Am the Walrus" ever recorded with my guests Tommy Shaw, JY, and Lawrence Gowan exploring "The Big Bang Theory" 20th anniversary by Styx.

Jethro Tull- Minstrel in the Gallery/Songs from the Wood- Ian Anderson

"Minstrel in the Gallery", released fifty yeas ago, and "Songs from the Wood" released in February 1977, were already the English folk/progressive rocker's ninth and tenth albums. There was nothing then that sounded remotely like the ancient pastoral songs and instrumentation on "Minstrel in the Gallery" and "Songs from the Wood" playing on the all-important American rock radio. Ian Anderson is my guest In the Studio  for "Minstrel in th Gallery" 's 50th anniversary.