Redbeard’s Blog

Mark Knopfler- Solo Best pt 1

"Dire Straits' success came with a lot of baggage...I think a sense of humor is critical to doing this," reveals guitarist/singer/songwriter Mark Knopfler in part one of his solo best of, including "Sailing to Philadelphia" (2000), "The Ragpicker's Dream" (2002), and 2004's " Shangri La". Mark Knopfler is my thoughtful guest here In the Studio for part one of his post-Dire Straits 21st century output.

Styx- Blue Collar Man- 2120 Michigan Ave, Chicago- 2005

Styx here live in blues legend Willie Dixon's Chicago recording studio at 2120 Michigan Avenue, the site of the original Chess Records, back in 2005 laying down a soul-infused reading of Tommy Shaw's working class musical manifesto "Blue Collar Man".

Alex Lifeson- Victor 30th Anniversary

The January 1996 solo project release "Victor"  by Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson was a highly personal rock Rorschach test for the gestalt guitarist, primal scream therapy with a beat. Alex Lifeson lies down on the couch here In the Studio on the album's thirtieth anniversary.. 
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Peter Frampton- Comes Alive 50th Anniversary

Peter Frampton interview In the Studio for "Frampton Comes Alive" 50th anniversary.

Peter Frampton- Nowhere’s Too Far for My Baby- Montreal 2011

Here's Peter Frampton on 2011's  triumphant Frampton Comes Alive 35   tour with  a terrific song called "Nowhere's Too Far for My Baby" which was dropped for vinyl time restrictions from the original Frampton Comes Alive   album. This tight performance is  from the Montreal  show in 2011.
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Steve Winwood- Arc of a Diver

When I sat down In the Studio in Autumn 1990 with Steve Winwood to talk about his then new release "Refugees of the Heart" , he had already established himself with the breakthrough album  "Arc of a Diver"  ten years prior, then midway in between released "Back in the High Life", one of the biggest albums commercially as well as critically, and "Roll With It",  in the Eighties.

Steve Earle- Days Aren’t Long Enough

"Days Aren't Long Enough" by Steve Earle is the 21st century replacement for "Auld Lang Syne", performed live In the Studio in Dallas in 2007 by the former Guitar Town resident  and his ex-wife, Allison Moorer.
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Van Morrison- His Band & Street Choir

With Belfast-born Van Morrison's the mainstream rock audience November 1970's "His Band and Street Choir" finally caught up to the quality jazzy, folksy rhythm'n'blues Morrison had been belting out consistently since critics began lauding his debut,"Astral Weeks". This rare 21st century classic rock interview was conducted in Belfast by the BBC's intrepid John Bennett.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers- Gloria- San Francisco 2-6-97

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were among the best working bands on the planet even before they did twenty nights at San Francisco's Fillmore early in 1997, and this not-to-be-missed performance of Van Morrison's "Gloria" certainly doesn't…

R.E.M.- Fables of the Reconstruction- Michael Stipe, Peter Buck

With R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe and lead guitarist Peter Buck in my classic rock interview. Includes the earliest days of the Athens GA band, with songs from their first four full albums Murmur, Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction, & Life's Rich Pageant.