Posts

,

Beatles- White Album pt1- Paul McCartney, the late George Harrison

The Beatles "White Album" 55th Anniversary: How can an album accomplish so much by embedding itself indelibly in popular culture, continuing to influence generations a half century after release, while on the surface revealing so little about its contents and its creators?

Billy Idol- Rebel Yell 40th Anniversary

Billy Idol joined me In the Studio for the fortieth anniversary of "Rebel Yell" to invoke the eleventh commandment: thou shalt have no Idols before Billy! -Redbeard
,

Queen- Bohemian Rhapsody OST- Brian May, Roger Taylor

In his poignant acceptance speech for the Oscar for Best Actor five years ago, Rami Malek pointed out that he himself was a first-generation immigrant who portrayed a gay immigrant in the role of Queen's Freddie Mercury. But I think that "Bohemian Rhapsody"'s  greatest accomplishment of all is it once again focused the world on Freddie Mercury's remarkable life, rather than the circumstances of his death.
,

R.E.M.- Green- Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, Mike Mills

If you were fortunate in 1983 to discover the first full-length album "Murmur" from Athens GA-based R.E.M. , you probably realize that it sounded unlike anything else at the time, and precious little ever since except maybe their followup,"Reckoning". Over the next four years and five albums on indie label IRS, Michael Stipe Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry made some of the smartest,quirkiest, angular rock of any American band...Michael, Peter, and Mike all join me here In the Studio for the 35th anniversary of R.E.M.'s four million seller "Green".
,

Traveling Wilburys Vol 1- the late George Harrison and Tom Petty

Each night on the 2018 sold out Jeff Lynne/ ELO concert tour, one of the biggest crowd roars came when Lynne performed a song from his "other band", the Traveling Wilburys, and flashed brief melancholy glimpses of the time when rock's ultimate Dream Team convened at a barbeque attended by Lynne, George Harrison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan, with Roy Orbison soon to follow. George and Tom share wonderful stories here In the Studio.
,

Jimi Hendrix Experience- Electric Ladyland pt2- Mitch Mitchell, author John McDermott

Jimi Hendrix and his British trio the Experience created a landmark double album in 1968 called "Electric Ladyland",  but this deep into the 21st century it may be difficult for many to fully understand the context in which it was made and the world into which it was subsequently released. Experience drummer the late Mitch Mitchell & Hendrix biographer/film director John McDermott tell the story from the inside.
,

U2- Rattle and Hum- Bono,The Edge, Adam Clayton

U2's "Rattle and Hum" in October 1988 saw the gauzy media perceptions of American culture by my guests Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen jr jammed up against a Reagan-era reality that did not always ring true. "Rattle and Hum" was a loud love letter to an America that may never have actually existed.

Rush- Counterparts- Alex Lifeson

Rush "Counterparts" in October 1993 was a #2 Billboard magazine album sales debut, Rush's highest American appeal since "Moving Pictures" over a decade earlier. Rush guitarist/co-writer Alex Lifeson is In the Studio for "Counterparts".
,

Elton John- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road pt 2- Elton, Bernie Taupin

the conclusion of the interviews with Sir Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin on the golden about the blockbuster double album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", which includes a segment on the remake of "Candle in the Wind '97", the biggest-selling recording in history.

Heart- Dog and Butterfly- Ann & Nancy Wilson

From the forty-fifth anniversary perspective on Heart's million-seller "Dog and Butterfly" released in September 1978, guitarist/singer/songwriter Nancy Wilson is gratified with how the songs "Straight On","Mistral Wind", and "Dog and Butterfly" have fared over the decades. "When I hear those songs now, I feel proud. For one thing, I feel like we really did contribute something fresh to music." Nancy and big sister Ann Wilson are my guests In the Studio.