Posts

YES- The YES Album- Jon Anderson, Tony Kaye, Steve Howe, Bill Bruford

"The YES Album", a progressive rock touchstone. If the British Invasion bands led by The Beatles and Rolling Stones wanted to be rock'n'roll's second verse after "Be Bop a Lula" and "Maybe Baby", then London's King Crimson, Emerson Lake and Palmer, and YES were determined to be rock's "C" section, the musical bridge which takes the listener somewhere unexpectedly before returning to the familiar refrain.
,

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...
,

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- 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."
,

David Bowie- Station to Station 50th Anniversary

"The way you change Music is by changing the music," David Bowie told me, without any hint of irony whatsoever, as we discussed  January 1976's "Station to Station". Songs include "Golden Years","Stay" ,"TVC 1-5" ,"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. David Bowie guests for "Golden Years" golden anniversary.

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.
, ,

Styx- Paradise Theatre 45th Anniversary- Tommy Shaw, James Young

If I told you that forty-five 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 practically 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, James Young, & Lawrence Gowan all weigh in as does ex-member Dennis DeYoung on "Paradise Theater" 's forty-fifth anniversary.

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.. 

Three Dog Night- Naturally 55th- Danny Hutton, the late Cory Wells

It's the 55th anniversary of Three Dog Night "Naturally". Between their 1968 debut album and the mid-Seventies, it was virtually impossible to turn on an American radio without hearing Los Angeles-based legendary hitmakers Three Dog Night and one of their twenty-one hit singles...Here is my April 2005 interview with dearly departed Cory Wells and Danny Hutton "In the Studio".