Archive for category: Beard’s Blog

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George Harrison- Cloud Nine

George Harrison's "Cloud Nine" comeback album in 1987 included "When We Was Fab","Devil's Radio", the #1 cover of "Got My Mind Set on You", & the bluesy title song "Cloud Nine". The late George Harrison is my guest from In the Studio archives.
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Queen- News of the World- Brian May

With the release of November 1977's "News of the World" , Queen had succeeded as four real "mates" on an international scale, which  would continue only to increase for the next decade. With four writers and vocalists, the band had a surplus of strong songs, while Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury possessed such an operatic voice that it's easy to forget that both Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor also sang lead on select songs. Brian May is my guest In the Studio with "News of the World".
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Kansas- Point of Know Return- Phil Ehart, Richard Williams, Kerry Livgren

With back-to-back quadruple platinum albums "Leftoverture"  in 1976 and "Point of Know Return"  barely eighteen months later, the band Kansas was assured of permanent statehood in rock history.
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INXS- Kick- Andrew & Tim Farriss, Kirk Pengilly, the late Michael Hutchence

Keyboard player/songwriter Andrew Farriss of INXS is joined by multi-instrumentalist Kirk Pengilly & guitarist Tim Farriss here In the Studio to share the backstory behind "New Sensation", "Devil Inside","Never Tear Us Apart","Need You Tonight", and the stunning "Kick" title song. Also we share my interviews with the late INXS singer/lyricist Michael Hutchence about the international blockbuster "Kick".
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Meat Loaf- Bat Out of Hell

Meeting Meat Loaf head on in the narrow hallway at midnight "on a hot summer night" in 1978 left an unforgettable memory. His debut album "Bat Out of Hell"  had been building slowly over the ten months since release, and now the bombastic, passionate, outrageously funny music of composer Jim Steinman as performed by Meat Loaf was one of the hottest new things in American music then. The late Meat Loaf is here In the Studio for the story of "Bat Out of Hell".
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R.E.M.- Automatic for the People- Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills

R.E.M. singer/lyricist Michael Stipe, multi-instrumentalist/singer Mike Mills, and guitarist/songwriter Peter Buck all convene with me here In the Studio for "Automatic for the People" by R.E.M., estimated to have sold 18,000,000 copies worldwide because of "Man on the Moon","Everybody Hurts", & "Drive".
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Billy Joel- The Stranger

Billy Joel is certainly not "The Stranger" to spectacular popularity, or the record books documenting same. And it's not as if Billy Joel had not been a prolific recording singer/songwriter or an infrequent touring musician prior to his fifth album, "The Stranger", in Fall 1977. But strangely his album sales were in a decidedly negative trend after "Piano Man". "The Stranger" changed all that, permanently. Billy Joel joins me In the Studio on the album's 45th anniversary.
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Steely Dan- Aja- Donald Fagen, the late Walter Becker

Two purveyors of progressive pop, rock, and jazz in Steely Dan, singer/piano player Fagen and the late guitarist Walter Becker,  discuss  "Aja" with Redbeard In the Studio.
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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.
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Pink Floyd- A Momentary Lapse of Reason- David Gilmour, Nick Mason

In the first half of the Eighties, Pink Floyd was M.I.A. for five long years,  conspicuous in their absence for instance at the largest one day gathering of rock royalty, Live Aid, in July 1985. It was not until the end of that year that Roger Waters' official departure from Pink Floyd was revealed to the other band members, and this bowling ball revelation left the group with the musical equivalent of the dreaded 7-10 split. David Gilmour spills the beans & spills his guts, & drummer Nick Mason analyzes the net effect, here In the Studio for "A Momentary Lapse of Reason"