Posts

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ZZ Top- Fandango 50th- Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard

For their 1975 "Fandango", my guests Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard in "That Little Ol' Band from Texas" ZZ Top were tellin' tall tales here In the Studio  long before Netflix or Amazon Prime were ever invented! -Redbeard

Doobie Brothers- Stampede 50th- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons 4-28

Even a half-century after its April 1975 release, the two things I recall most about "Stampede", the fifth album from San Jose's Doobie Brothers, was the duality evident in the band's emerging sound. There was the noticeable sophistication in the sweeping symphonic "I Cheat the Hangman", but in stark contrast to the Doobie Brothers' big hit with the Motown cover of "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me for a Little While)". Band co-founders Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons join me In the Studio for the golden anniversary of "Stampede" by the Doobie Brothers the week of April 28.

Lynyrd Skynyrd- Nuthin’ Fancy 50th- the late Gary Rossington, Leon Wilkeson, Ed King

"Nuthin' Fancy" indicated a creative well running low for Lynyrd Skynyrd which would only worsen soon on "Gimme Back My Bullets".  No doubt the non-stop pace of nearly constant touring partly was to blame, but there was something darker and even more sinister which no one outside the band knew, nor anyone in it would admit. This tour had casualties...United once again in Eternity, Gary Rossington, Leon Wilkeson, & Ed King played it like they felt it here In the Studio.

Steely Dan- Katy Lied 50th- Donald Fagen, the late Walter Becker

Steely Dan's 1975 fourth album, "Katy Lied", is a perfect example of a "sleeper", but it's not simply the passage of time that obscures its many-faceted brilliance. Here are Donald Fagen & the late Walter Becker interviewed.
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Led Zeppelin- Physical Graffiti 50th- Jimmy Page

By the time of its late February 1975 release, Led Zeppelin's sixth album, "Physical Graffiti"  , signaled a fundamental change in the popular music and media equation that began with Led Zeppelin " IV". Jimmy Page joins me for the story In the Studio. Part 1 of 2.
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Led Zeppelin- Physical Graffiti pt2- Robert Plant, Jimmy Page

Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page discusses the grandeur of "Kashmir", the progressive rock of "In the Light", the furious electric funk of "The Wanton Song", and the shimmering delicacy of "Ten Years Gone".

Billy Joel- New York State of Mind- San Francisco 6-75

...a live performance of the then new song "New York State of Mind" in June, 1975 in San Francisco.This may be the earliest known live recording of the gem, but most certainly it would be one of the last performances where no one in Billy Joel's audience applauds during the piano intro in recognition!

Queen- Bohemian Rhapsody/ Killer Queen medley- London 1975

The regal rock of Queen came of age on the stage by this time in 1975 as is evidenced by this stunning performance at London's Odeon Theater with a medley of songs "Black Queen" from Queen II,  "Killer Queen" from their first solid album, 1974's Sheer Heart Attack , and their breakthrough "Bohemian Rhapsody" from Queen's fourth effort, A Night at the Opera.

Gary Wright,”The Dream Weaver”, has Died

Keyboardist Gary Wright, who chose a bold pioneering effort which had never been attempted before then, with spectacular results from the songs "Love Is Alive","Made to Love You","Blind Feeling","Much Higher","Power of Love" (the only song to include electric guitar, courtesy of Ronnie Montrose), and the million-selling hit "Dream Weaver", has passed away. Join Gary Wright here in a very rare In the Studio classic rock  interview

Marshall Tucker Band-50th Anniversary- Doug Gray, Jerry Eubanks

In the 50th anniversary April of  Marshall Tucker Band's debut,  we feature Doug Gray and former member Jerry Eubanks telling charming stories while surrounded by "Take the Highway" and "Can't You See" (sung by Toy Caldwell ) from MTB's 1973 debut; a scorching live performance of "24 Hours at a Time" with Charlie Daniels on fiddle; the late George McCorkle's "Fire on the Mountain","Virginia", and "Searchin' for a Rainbow".