for those who never gave up their turntables
ROLLING STONE REJECTED MY COMMENT! Two years ago, the Rolling Stone Daily newsletter ran an article titled “Hear the Beach Boys Reunite on Charity Re-Recording of ‘Add Some Music to Your Day.’ ” I read the piece, watched and listened to the video, and left a comment. It was immediately rejected for—get this—inappropriate language! [Continue reading]
“BACK THROUGH THE OPERA GLASS” is the title of three lengthy articles that review most of the Beach Boys album covers released on major labels in the US. It is subtitled “The Stories Behind the Album Covers” and was written by Malcolm Searles. This massive project covers every important album from 1962 through the present. [Continue reading]
WHAT IS THE BEACH BOYS’ BEST ALBUM? For most people, that’s an easy answer: Pet Sounds. But for aficionados of the group, it’s a tricky question that requires clarification. Fans would want to know does the question refer to the best album attributed to the Beach Boys or to the best album actually created by the Beach Boys as a group. [Continue reading]
THIS ARTICLE ADDRESSES BRIAN WILSON and the inspiration for his legendary SMiLE album. It bears the unwieldy title of “On Brian Wilson And SMiLE (A Convoluted Conversation Part 3),” because it is the second of a three-part article. Please find Parts 1 and 2 and read them before continuing with this article. [Continue reading]
THE ORIGINAL TITLE to this piece on David Bowie was “Damn That Damn Disco Music!” But that was really an inadequate opening for the tone of this ‘true story’ about conversion. Then I dallied with variations on “The Day I Came Out as a David Bowie Fan,” which was an allusion to his androgynous Ziggy Stardust period. [Continue reading]
MIKE LOVE OF THE BEACH BOYS has a reputation that has dogged him around for almost fifty—and it’s generally as one of the most unpleasant people in the world of rock & roll music. Because of this, he has been unfairly castigated for his role in the Beach Boys. [Continue reading]
IN THE OPINION of many pop music aficionados, the best all-around album by a white female pop singer recorded and released in the ’60s was Dusty Springfield’s DUSTY IN MEMPHIS. But, for my taste, the lady with the best pipes and the best all-around taste in the songs she chose to record was Petula Clark. [Continue reading]