Posts

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Alan Parsons Project- Pyramid 45th Anniversary

"It started trying to be an album based on witchcraft," Alan Parsons confessed to me about  "Pyramid", the highly anticipated third album by the Alan Parsons Project, released in June 1978. Alan Parsons is my guest In the Studio..

Genesis- And Then There Were Three- Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins

Progressive rock band Genesis flirted perilously close to the mainstream for the first time in December 1976 with "Your Own Special Way" on the album Wind and Wuthering, yet there are no reports of any permanent injury. Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins join me In the Studio. -Redbeard

Procol Harum- the late Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, Matthew Fisher, Robin Trower

Keith Reid, Procol Harum lyricist, has passed away March 23. “Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra" from the eclectic British band Procol Harum, which has the distinction of placing two of the most unlikely songs at the top of the singles chart five years apart with "Whiter Shade of Pale" in 1967 and "Conquistador" in 1972. This ultra-rare interview features organist Matthew Fisher, lyricist Keith Reid, guitarist on the first three studio albums,Robin Trower, and the late singer/pianist Gary Brooker.
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Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon 50th- David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Roger Waters

To illustrate how seriously many of the post-British Invasion bands were approaching the rock idiom by early 1973, you need look no further than Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" to see how this progressive rock movement had matured,  with spectacular results both artistically and commercially, confirmed in this fiftieth anniversary classic rock interview by my guests, musical lunar explorers David Gilmour, Roger Waters, and Nick Mason.

Moody Blues- Seventh Sojourn 50th- Justin Hayward, John Lodge

Justin Hayward & John Lodge are In the Studio on the fiftieth anniversary of their international #1-seller, "Seventh Sojourn".
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Moody Blues- Days of Future Passed- Justin Hayward, John Lodge

"Days of Future Passed" Moody Blues mainstays Justin Hayward and John Lodge document the fascinating story of a true Hail Mary pass to avoid abject poverty and starvation, resulting not only in timeless hits "Tuesday Afternoon" and "Nights in White Satin" but also igniting a musical movement, Progressive Rock,
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Kansas- Point of Know Return- Phil Ehart, Richard Williams, Kerry Livgren

With back-to-back quadruple platinum albums "Leftoverture"  in 1976 and "Point of Know Return"  barely eighteen months later, the band Kansas was assured of permanent statehood in rock history.

Peter Gabriel- Us

The various subjects on Peter Gabriel's "Us", like the deep funky grooves, are all killer and no filler, from the pleading divorced parent to his regressing child on "Come Talk to Me". the matter-of-fact demystification of personal therapy in "Digging in the Dirt", to the Biblical allusions in "Blood of Eden", inspired by Gabriel's study of capital punishment. My exclusive classic rock interview with Peter Gabriel in front of a small intimate audience was his first reveal of those songs in September 1992, plus "Love to Be Loved", "Steam", "Kiss That Frog", and "Secret World". Part one of two. 
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Yes- Close to the Edge 50th- Jon Anderson, Steve Howe , Rick Wakeman, Bill Bruford

A half century ago, YES's Close to the Edge  was stunningly popular, with Top Five sales in both the U.S. and UK. In these thoughtful, detailed classic rock interviews, YES lead singer/lyricist Jon Anderson, guitarist Steve Howe, extraordinary drummer Bill Bruford, and keyboard innovator Rick Wakeman provide a surprisingly candid recounting of the undisputed peak of the Progressive Rock era.
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Pink Floyd- A Momentary Lapse of Reason 35th- David Gilmour, Nick Mason

In the first half of the Eighties, Pink Floyd was M.I.A. for five long years,  conspicuous in their absence for instance at the largest one day gathering of rock royalty, Live Aid, in July 1985. It was not until the end of that year that Roger Waters' official departure from Pink Floyd was revealed to the other band members, and this bowling ball revelation left the group with the musical equivalent of the dreaded 7-10 split. David Gilmour spills the beans & spills his guts, & drummer Nick Mason analyzes the net effect, here In the Studio for "A Momentary Lapse of Reason"