Posts

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Rush- Moving Pictures- Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, the late Neil Peart

"Music was changing," Rush lead singer/composer Geddy Lee tells us in this In the Studio  episode, and without Lee, guitarist/composer Alex Lifeson, and drummer/lyricist the late Neil Peart embracing the fresh musical ideas in the crosswinds of the early Eighties on "Moving Pictures" with songs "Tom Sawyer","Red Barchetta","Limelight", "Vital Signs", and "Witch Hunt", it is doubtful that a path to mainstream success would have been cleared for later major bands...
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Heart- Dreamboat Annie- Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson

"In the Studio" with Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart for the real rock fairy tale of "Dreamboat Annie".

Jackson Browne- Lives in the Balance 35th Anniversary

Jackson Browne had grown increasingly active in a series of high-profile humanitarian causes including nuclear energy moratorium, climate change awareness, famine relief, and anti-apartheid in South Africa...But not until the February 1986 release of "Lives in the Balance"  had the popular singer/songwriter turned his introspective mirror around in his songs. Jackson Browne joins me here In the Studio for the 35th anniversary.

Queen- Innuendo 30th Anniversary- Brian May, Roger Taylor

Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor In the Studio with Redbeard on the 30th anniversary of "Innuendo", Freddie Mercury's final album, which Rolling Stone magazine called "Queen's last masterpiece."
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Bad Company- Run With the Pack- Paul Rodgers, Mick Ralphs, Simon Kirke

Bad Company lead singer/songwriter Paul Rodgers, guitarist/songwriter Mick Ralphs, and drummer Simon Kirke all agreed that being the first band signed to Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label, as well as sharing management with them, was advantageous. However the expectations for this "supergroup", containing Rodgers and Kirke from Free and Ralphs from Mott the Hoople, were exceedingly high for "Run With the Pack"  in 1976.
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David Bowie- Station to Station 45th Anniversary

"The way you change Music is by changing the music," David Bowie told me, without any hint of irony whatsoever, as we discussed  1976's Station to Station. Songs include "Golden Years","Stay" ,"TVC 1-5" ( Bowie said that the unused tune for the Man...Earth soundtrack was about a girl and her relationship with her television),"Wild is the Wind" , and the title song, often cited by post-punk bands including The Cars, Talking Heads, and Gary Numan as a major influence.

Genesis- A Trick of the Tail- Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford

The first album in the post-Peter Gabriel era, Genesis "A Trick of the Tail" interview In the Studio with Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford.
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Styx- Paradise Theatre- Tommy Shaw, James Young

If I told you that over forty years ago  one of America's top music acts released a concept album that  identified growing cracks in the foundation of our society and presciently predicted everything we find today, who would you guess it was? Bob Dylan? Neil Young? Crosby Stills and Nash? I doubt that Styx would come to mind to many, but that is precisely what "Paradise Theater"  was, part lament, part warning. Current members Tommy Shaw, JY, & Lawrence Gowan all weigh in as does ex-member Dennis DeYoung on "Paradise Theater" 's fortieth anniversary.
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Peter Frampton Comes Alive

Peter Frampton interview In the Studio for "Frampton Comes Alive".

Alex Lifeson- Victor 25th Anniversary

The early 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 twenty-fifth anniversary..