essay Archive
03 Jul 2023
Take 5: Ed Cassidy
Ed Cassidy was a force of nature. A jazz drummer who fully and enthusiastically embraced rock and roll, he was the co-founder and sole constant member of Spirit from its […]
02 Jul 2023
Preview: Music to Your Ears — Ziggy Stardust
David Bowie was already some eight-plus into his career as a musician and recording artist when he created the landmark album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the […]
30 Jun 2023
Take 5: Paul McCartney’s ‘Red Rose Speedway’
After dominating the 1960s pop music landscape with the Beatles, Paul McCartney arguably reached his solo career’s creative peak with the release of 1973’s Band on the Run, sustaining that […]
20 Jun 2023
Take 5: David Bowie Guest Appearances
David Bowie’s sixth album, Aladdin Sane, was released 50 years ago; it’s a highly regarded record, but that quality is shared by nearly every one of his releases. Over the […]
12 Jun 2023
Take 5: April 1973
In 1973, rock was at its commercial zenith; a good case can be made that it was near its creative peak as well. A look at Billboard’s tally of album […]
08 Jun 2023
Take 5: Julian Lennon
While it’s true that the listening public probably wouldn’t know his name if he weren’t the son of one of the most famous and important musical figures who’s ever lived, […]
30 May 2023
Take 5: The Moody Blues’ Graeme Edge
Beloved drummer-poet Graeme Edge passed away in 2021 at the age of 80. Edge had been a mainstay of the Moody Blues; by the time of his passing, he was […]
23 May 2023
Take 5: Pre-ZZ Top Songs You Should Know
ZZ Top’s blockbuster Eliminator was released more than 40 years ago on March 23, 1983. But the drum machines and synthesizers that characterize that album weren’t part of the trio’s […]
22 May 2023
Take 5: Eric Woolfson
One of the great studio-only aggregations of the 1970s and early ‘80s was the Alan Parsons Project. Producer/musician/songwriter Parsons didn’t act alone, though; along with a core group of musicians […]
06 May 2023
Take 5: Chris Squire
During his lifetime, bassist Chris Squire was arguably the backbone of progressive rock heroes Yes. A founding member of the group, Squire appeared on every Yes release until his death […]