Posts

The Doors- the late Ray Manzarek

In January 1967 when John Densmore's snare drum cracked like a rifle shot before Ray Manzarek's nimble fingers made their intricate run of baroque-sounding notes on that reedy Farfisa organ, all on the introduction to jazz/flamenco guitarist Robbie Krieger's composition "Light My Fire", it clearly and boldly announced a unique approach to rock and roll that really has no peer. And all of that before Jim Morrison stepped up to the microphone to introduce one of the greatest voices and hedonistic personalities in rock history. Not unlike Creedence Clearwater Revival from the same period, no other American bands put out more albums in less time which were more influential in the last 50+ years. And like CCR, no one ever sounded like The Doors ever since. Here is Doors co-founder the late Ray Manzarek with me In the Studio to mark The Doors anniversary. -Redbeard
,

Sammy Hagar- Standing Hampton

The pivotal album in Sammy Hagar's long career, "Standing Hampton"...Sammy joins me In the Studio.
,

Eddie Money- Can’t Hold Back

The late Eddie Money's sojourn with his most popular album "Can't Hold Back" took him from the top of the charts with "Take Me Home Tonight" back to the hospital where his drug overdose six years earlier had paralyzed his leg. "The first time I heard 'Take Me Home Tonight' on the radio I was doing the dishes in rehab," Eddie tells us incredulously. "I said to myself, 'What's wrong with this picture?' "
,

David Bowie- Hunky Dory- David Bowie, Mick Ronson

"Hunky Dory", David Bowie's December 1971 fourth album, hard to believe when reading all of the revisionist raves now, that "Hunky Dory"  was a commercial flop, so much so that it failed to even make the Billboard Top 200 sales chart. The late great David Bowie joined me here In the Studio  for the tale, as did his original wingman, guitarist Mick Ronson, for the scoop on "Changes","Andy Warhol", and "Life on Mars?"
,

Traffic- Low Spark of High Heeled Boys- Steve Winwood,the late Jim Capaldi

Not always considered a Progressive Rock band, nevertheless the title song to Traffic's most popular album, November 1971's "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" fits easily high atop any list of the most popular and creative songs of the Progressive Rock era..In my classic rock interview In the Studio prior to Jim Capaldi's death in 2005 from cancer, it is clearly evident how much Steve Winwood and Capaldi loved woodwind player ChrisWood, and each other. 

Queen- A Day at the Races- Brian May, Roger Taylor

Queen songwriter/ singer/ world-class guitarist Brian May and drummer/singer/songwriter Roger Taylor tell the story of the first five Queen albums including "A Day at the Races"  in this wonderful classic rock interview tribute to the late great Freddie Mercury. -Redbeard

Humble Pie- Rockin’the Fillmore- Peter Frampton, Jerry Shirley

...(cont) Humble Pie the full fiery amalgam was unleashed of Small Faces veteran Steve Marriot's megawatt blue-eyed soul voice , the thundering rhythm section of ex-Spooky Tooth bass player Greg Ridley and drummer Jerry Shirley, with the melodic lyrical lead guitar of a teenage Peter Frampton. Frampton and Shirley join me In The Studio for this classic rock interview on the golden anniversary of Humble Pie "Rockin' the Fillmore"..
,

Eagles- Hotel California- Don Henley, Joe Walsh,the late Glenn Frey

"Hotel California" by The Eagles... impressive combination of cinematic vision, songcraft, and high tech production seemed to be coming from a place in the near future to which the rest of rock would have to catch up...Joe Walsh, Don Henley, & the late Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey are my guests In the Studio for "Hotel CA" .

Ted Nugent- “Ted Nugent” 50th Anniversary

Ted Nugent's "Ted Nugent" fifty years ago changed the national  radio reception and over-amped its way onto the Billboard album chart in Fall 1975, becoming the first of his three consecutive multi-platinum sellers. Tyrannosaurus Ted is my guest In the Studio.
,

Alice Cooper- Love It to Death- Killer

"Love It to Death" in March 1971 may have been the the third album by the band Alice Cooper, but that doesn't change the fact that nobody bought the first two. By December of that same year, EVERYBODY had heard "I'm Eighteen" off of Love It to Death ,  and Alice Cooper had written and recorded a soon-to-be-classic additional full album, "Killer" . And it was. Alice proves in this classic rock interview that  you can project practically any fringe, edgy, sociopathic image in rock and get away with it - as long as you deliver the hits.