Posts

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Robert Plant- The Principle of Moments 40th/Now and Zen 35th Anniversaries

"The Principle of Moments", Robert Plant's second solo album, first convinced us forty years ago that Plant could sustain a viable solo career outside of the legendary Led Zeppelin, which he fronted for twelve fabled years. But for me personally it was "Shaken 'n' Stirred" in 1985, served pre-release on a Walkman at 40,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean,  that began my professional relationship with the complicated singer. And then with 1988's "Now and Zen", Plant scored with his most popular effort to date, "Now and Zen". Robert Plant is my guest In the Studio.
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Bryan Adams- Cuts Like a Knife 40th anniversary

Bryan Adams interview to explore his breakthrough album "Cuts Like a Knife" from January 1983
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Lou Reed- Transformer 50th anniversary

Lou Reed focuses on his second post-Velvet Underground album,"Transformer" containing the Top 20 alterna-hit "Walk on the Wild Side". Rolling Stone magazine writers rank "Transformer"  at #109 now on their Top 500 All Time list.

Pete Townshend- Who Came First 50th Anniversary

Was "Who Came First" a question or a declarative statement in October 1972? Pete Townshend joins me In the Studio for the answer on the golden anniversary of his first of many great solo albums, which we feature here.

Moody Blues- Long Distance Voyager 40th- Justin Hayward, John Lodge

After scoring a worldwide #1 seller with "Seventh Sojourn" in 1972, then spending the next two years mounting the largest concert tour in history at the time, the Moody Blues baffled everyone by taking practically the rest of the Seventies off as a collective. To fill in the missing piece of the puzzle, as well as mark the fortieth anniversary of their #1 selling album "Long Distance Voyager", Moody Blues lifers Justin Hayward and John Lodge are my guests here In the Studio.
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Led Zeppelin- Presence- Jimmy Page

Thus began a five year period when a series of tragedies befell Led Zeppelin even while they continued to record timeless hard rock such as "Achilles' Last Stand","Nobody's Fault but Mine", and "For Your Life" from Presence  which amaze even now almost half a century later. Jimmy Page blesses us with his Presence  and joins me here In the Studio  for “Physical Graffiti” and "Presence" .
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Doobie Brothers- Best pt 2- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons

The surprise success from "Black Water" afforded the Doobie Brothers some creative license on their next album, "Stampede",  released in April 1975. But as you will hear from Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, and the late Doobie drummer Mike Hossack, the non-stop grind of five years of one-nighters, stopping only long enough to record the next album, was starting to create stress fractures in the foundation of the band which  would sideline Tom Johnston with a bleeding ulcer and, ultimately, alter the sound of the Doobie Brothers for the next decade.

The Band- Stage Fright- Robbie Robertson

The Band's sublime third effort,  "Stage Fright" , released in August 1970, went Top 5 and sold over a million copies. Widely viewed along with Bob Dylan, The Byrds, and Gram Parsons as  fathers of  the Americana musical movement, The Band also may have  been one of rock's first alternative groups. In part one of this classic rock interview, main songwriter Robbie Robertson ("The Weight","The Night They Drove Ol'Dixie Down","Up on Cripple Creek","The Shape I'm In") helps me make that case.
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Aerosmith- Toys in the Attic- Steven Tyler, Brad Whitford

We dust off "Toys in the Attic", the breakthrough third album for Aerosmith in  April 1975. Contrary to what you might assume, through their first two albums Aerosmith struggled to get noticed. In this classic rock interview, Aerosmith drummer Joey Kramer reminded me that "Dream On" from their debut by then had been released as a single three times  and flopped twice.

Ann Wilson- Hope and Glory

On Ann Wilson's birthday in 2007, here was a present from her : a highly personal solo album of carefully chosen covers, Hope and Glory,  at a time when US wars were raging in two separate countries with no end in sight. And the "A" guest list of performers with whom Ann duets  include no less than Elton John, k.d.lang, Alison Krauss, Wynonna Judd, even sister from Heart, Nancy Wilson.