10 by The Meters
It's time to funkify your life by diving into The Meters' criminally overlooked catalog.
10 Songs for the Next Rolling Stones Album
A few nuggets the Stones can consider when they record a follow-up to their all-blues album Blue & Lonesome.
The Seventies are Back
Let’s talk about the Seventies. What exactly happened? I’m not sure I can answer that question, because I lived them – in the same smoky haze that partially obscured my view of The Rolling Stones [...]
The Other Take
Alternate Takes. Some artists – especially jazz musicians – live by them. Others do their best to make sure they never see the light of day. And there’s often some merit to the latter approach, [...]
Raised on the Stones
Here’s a re-post in honor of The Rolling Stones’ final 50th Anniversary concert (the 12/15 show in Newark will include Rubber City favorites The Black Keys… Hopefully [...]
Solomon Burke on Atlantic: 1961-65
Two years ago (on 10/10/10, to be precise), we lost one of the greatest soul singers of all time. Here’s a much-belated tribute – a few of our favorite Solomon Burke songs from his early years [...]
The Country Soul of Arthur Alexander
American Idol’s Randy Jackson would probably describe him as “pitchy,” and I don’t think he’d make it on anyone’s team on The Voice. But Arthur Alexander is one of the great heroes of early [...]
Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac
There’s a curious scene in the movie “Cadillac Records” when the Rolling Stones show up at 2120 South Michigan Avenue to record at the legendary Chess Studio. Of course Mick and the boys were [...]
Random Playlist #27: Sixties/Garage
Although it may seem like we’re careening out of control now and then (“Thankless Jobs”), I started this blog with a simple, basic premise. Over the years, I’ve collected a whole lot of music. [...]
Music by Ry Cooder: 1967-1994
Our new Fly Fishing Correspondent, Kevin Swan, reels in some of his favorite Ry Cooder moments from the “pre-Buena Vista Social Club” era: When Rolling Stone magazine published their [...]
Chico and The Kid
Alright, guitar fans. I know all of you have your favorite examples of six-string nirvana – Derek & the Dominos, The Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East, Stevie Ray Vaughan’s first album, [...]
Raised on the Stones
The recent reissue of the Rolling Stones’ classic “Exile on Main St.” made me nostalgic for the days when a new Stones album was something worth arguing about… Beatles or Stones? It’s one of [...]
Superhits of the Early Seventies (and Pass the Sausage)
Every year I get together with five or six of my high school buddies – as well as assorted spousal units and special guests – for a party at my friend’s alpaca farm just outside of a small town [...]
You’re Covered
The cover song is a proud musical tradition – and it dates back centuries. Let’s face it, many popular tunes and entire forms of music wouldn’t exist today without the act of appropriating [...]