Posts

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Doobie Brothers- What Were Once Vices…/Stampede 50th- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons

The surprise success from "Black Water" afforded the Doobie Brothers some creative license on their next album, "Stampede", released in April 1975. But as you will hear from Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, and the late Doobie drummer Mike Hossack, the non-stop grind of five years of one-nighters, stopping only long enough to record the next album, was starting to create stress fractures in the foundation of the band which  would sideline Tom Johnston with a bleeding ulcer and, ultimately, alter the sound of the Doobie Brothers for the next decade.
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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.
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Aerosmith- Toys in the Attic 50th- Steven Tyler, Brad Whitford, Joey Kramer, Tom Hamilton, Joe Perry

On its 50th anniversary, we dust off "Toys in the Attic", the breakthrough third album for Aerosmith in  April 1975. Contrary to what you might assume, through their first two albums Aerosmith struggled to get noticed. In this classic rock interview, Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer reminded me that "Dream On" from their debut by then had been released as a single three times  and flopped twice.

ZZ TOP- Fandango 50th- Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard 4-14

ZZ Top's squankmaster Billy Gibbons and shuffle king Frank Beard are In the Studio with the late bass man Dusty Hill for the fiftieth anniversary of their fourth album, "Fandango", the week of April 14.

Bad Company- Shooting Star- Dallas/Ft.Worth 7-10-13

Bad Company really impressed on their Summer 2013 40th Anniversary Tour, and here is irrefutable evidence, as this live performance of "Shooting Star" originally found on their second album, Straight Shooter  , came straight off the concert mixing console the night of July 10 in Dallas
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David Bowie- Young Americans 50th Anniversary

By 1975 David Bowie had abandoned the Glam Rock he had virtually invented in the guise of the ego-tripping tragicomic Fallen Rock Star, Ziggy Stardust. Bowie's mid-decade "Young Americans" album with the #1 hit "Fame" pointed directly toward Disco's dominance a mere two years later...the late David Bowie is my guest on "Young Amercans" 50th anniversary.
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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".
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Eagles- On the Border- the late Glenn Frey, the late Randy Meisner

It's the golden anniversary of The Eagles' third release, "On the Border". Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey was exceedingly proud of their second album, 1973's "Desperado". Purely in popularity and chart stats, that sophomore record had the lowest glide path of any Eagles effort, yet in this exclusive In the Studio interview Frey and original Eagles bass player/ singer/ songwriter Randy Meisner make a detailed case for why, on its golden anniversary, "Desperado" may be the most formative flight of all.