WHY NO AIRPLAY FOR AIMEE’S FIRST RECORD?
Whatever was the first solo record from Aimee Mann. It was released over 25 years ago this month to little fanfare, although it is arguably one of 1993’s best albums. Continue reading “”
Category: Vinyl / Tunes Blog
THE ULTIMATE 928 DIY RESTORATION
“Minerva’s Journey” is a behind the scenes look at what it takes to rebuild a 166,000-mile Porsche from the tub up to “as new” stock condition nearly 40 years after it left the factory.
William Anast and Rob Edwards deserve big kudos for this month’s publication of their 1978 928 refurbishment in PCA’s Panorama Magazine. This was an epic journey in more ways than one. No traffic on the Balboa Island ferry… Continue reading “”
IT DOESN’T MATTER
Stephen Stills and Manassas were a short-lived super group in the early 1970s. They made some great music together. Here’s proof.
Big Gretsch guitars, big hair, big mutton chops…
“Moment by moment. One day at a time. It doesn’t matter. It’s nothing but dreaming anyhow.” Continue reading “”
DEBRIS
One of my favorite songs. And my favorite Ron Wood riff on any album. Here’s a Ronnie Lane tune from 1971 with Rod Stewart, and the rest of Faces, with producer Glyn Johns on board. It just gets better with age. A Nod is as Good As a Wink, indeed. Continue reading “”
MONORAUL REMINISCING
The Beatles in mono are still a great listen, and one of their songs on the recently reissued 1967 Sgt. Pepper LP I’m playing today. It was the B-side to “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”. McCartney wrote it when he was 16. Continue reading “”
HAPPY VALENTINE DAY TRAVELS!
Somehow, I never got around to this. But in 2018, I’ll be spending some time visiting hotels with vinyl and turntables. There are some pretty cool suites where a guest can play LPs in their room. First stop is the Kimpton Goodland in Santa Barbara. Continue reading “”
SCARE EASY
Tom Petty spoke to me with this song. Having grown up in Alaska with a don’t mess with me attitude I understand. R.I.P. You will be missed, Tom Petty! Continue reading “”
PIGS (Three Different Ones)
It’s 2017 and the first day of fall. It doesn’t seem possible that it’s been forty years since Pink Floyd released Animals. This album is still a great listen. Especially this track. All 17 minutes of it. The original UK vinyl sounds incredible. This is true for all Pink Floyd LPs, including the holy grail for record collectors. Continue reading “”
PETE TURNER
One of the original master color photographers (Ernst Haas and Jay Maisel are two others), Pete Turner passed away today. He was 83. Pete made many of the most iconic jazz album covers of all time. Photo District News voted him as one of the 20 most influential photographers of all time. Continue reading “”
WALTER BECKER (1950-2017)
The elusive genius and co-founder of Steely Dan passed away five days ago. I’ve been listening to a lot of his music lately, and the hits he co-wrote with Donald Fagen are legendary: “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”, “Kid Charlemagne”, “Katy Lied”, “Aja”, “Hey Nineteen”, and the autobiographical “Third World Man”. Continue reading “”
SMART DISCO
OK, maybe that’s an oxymoron. But exactly 37 years ago Jackson Browne released his answer to what was then music’s latest rage. It didn’t hurt that it included the best ever song about Lowell George of Little Feat. Continue reading “”
SUMMER OF LOVE
50 years ago, pop culture was blossoming. There was Sgt. Pepper, Andy Warhol, Haight Ashbury, free love, and power to the people. If you were a teenager in June 1967, you’ve never forgotten it. I certainly haven’t. Continue reading “”
GREGG ALLMAN – LAID BACK
Gregg Allman passed away today. He was a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band with brother and maestro guitarist Duane Allman.
Duane and bassist Berry Oakley died in in 1971 and 1972 in similar motorcycle accidents, after the release of the groundbreaking Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs and At the Fillmore East. Continue reading “”
DOG EAT DOG
Dog Eat Dog was Joni Mitchell’s twelfth album. Foreshadowing ongoing global challenges, it was released in 1985. Lyrically, the album deals with artifice, brutality, and innocence. Yup, that’s her car that got hit on Mulholland Drive on the back cover. Continue reading “”
DISNEY GIRL
Walt Disney, America’s animated film producer, inventor of Tinkerbell, and founder of Disneyland, lived and died this week, 115 and 50 years ago respectively. It’s remarkable how his legacy has only continued to grow in stature. Continue reading “”