essay Archive
09 Oct 2026
Music Blurbs, Vol. 26
Styx and Chicago Two of the most successful American bands of the rock era are teaming up for a tour in which they share top billing. Formed in Chicago in […]
25 Sep 2026
Five Classics from the Original Alice Cooper
My Take Five column has surveyed the work of Alice Cooper on two previous occasions: one explored his notable guest spots; the other focused on music from his solo career. […]
24 Sep 2026
Take Five: Early Classics from Crowded House
Crowded House are a globally beloved group, having sold in excess of 15 million albums worldwide between 1986 and 2024. Launched in 1985 as the Mullanes, the group led by […]
11 Sep 2026
Take Five: Robert Fripp Guest Spots
Robert Fripp is a guitarist capable of conveying massive power and ethereal subtlety, sometimes in a single piece of music. As the sole constant member of King Crimson, Fripp has […]
10 Sep 2026
Take Five: Notable Steve Miller Tracks
The music of the Steve Miller Band is inextricably associated with classic rock of the 1970s. While the San Francisco-based band led by guitarist Miller launched in 1968 as a […]
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 […]