essay Archive
04 Sep 2026
Take Five: Must-hear Tracks featuring Eric Burdon
Acclaimed by Rolling Stone as No. 57 in their “100 Greatest Singers of All Time, Eric Burdon has has a fascinating career. First as lead singer with the Animals during […]
03 Sep 2026
Take Five: Classics Written by Graham Gouldman
Graham Gouldman is perhaps best known for his time with 10cc. As a member of that art-pop group, he was responsible for writing or co-writing some of their biggest smash […]
31 Aug 2026
Take Five: Caravan Classics
During the so-called British Invasion (“beat era” if you’re British), countless musical acts from Great Britain made inroads into the musical marketplace of the United states. Led by the Beatles, […]
21 Aug 2026
Music Blurbs, Vol. 25
Totally Tubular Festival Enough time has passed that musical nostalgia – with its terms like “oldies” – now refers to the 1980s. The era of MTV, big hair, digital synthesizers, […]
10 Aug 2026
Take Five: Rick Wakeman’s A&M Years
Virtuoso keyboardist and composer Rick Wakeman has been incredibly prolific. Since the release of his solo debut, 1973’s The Six Wives of King Henry VIII, the British musician has released […]
06 Aug 2026
Take Five: Key Beach Boys Tracks from the Mid-’70s
The Beach Boys and their music have gone through many phases. From their early songs about Southern California culture – surfing, girls and cars – to the ambitious baroque pop […]
05 Aug 2026
Music Blurbs, Vol. 24
Rod Stewart With his distinctive raspy voice, London-born Sir Rod Stewart is one of the most popular vocalists of all time. In his early years as a musician, he showed […]
23 Jul 2026
Take Five: Ramones Rarities
Hitting the scene in 1974, the Ramones were a blast of gritty air onto the pop music landscape. Their stripped-down, sped-up songs combined wild punk energy and bubblegum-style lyrics. Their […]
22 Jul 2026
Take Five: Great Covers by Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs are both beloved figures in the world of power pop and tuneful rock. As a solo artist, Sweet created and released landmark albums like 1991’s […]
26 Jun 2026
Take Five: Peak-era Classics from Supertramp
Supertramp was one of the highest-profile rock/pop bands of the late 1970s and early ‘80s. Three of the group’s best-loved albums – Even in the Quietest Moments…, Breakfast in America […]