Out of a catalogue of superb music, all of which I like a lot, most of which I love deeply, “Anything That’s Rock and Roll” is still my favorite. “It’s sort of […]
Tom Petty…anything that’s rock and roll’s fine….
I Me Mine: George Harrison’s non-autobiographical autobiography
Only about 80 pages of I Me Mine are given over to George’s conversations with Derek Taylor. The rest of the book is devoted to Harrison’s songs. For the serious Beatle or […]
The Savoy Truffle: you know that what you eat you are…
George has a laugh at Eric Clapton’s expense. “‘Savoy Truffle’ on The White Album was written for Eric [Clapton]. He’s got this real sweet tooth and he’d just had his mouth worked […]
Hey Jude: Paul acts the peacemaker…
In a song canon filled with incredible moments “Hey Jude,” a song of conciliation and consolation by Paul the peacemaker, is one of the Beatles’ finest. “He told me that he’d been […]
Walter Becker: every word was true… (S&R Honors)
Walter Becker and his partner Donald Fagen created some of rock’s darkest music, giving voice to the disenchanted, the cynical, those who, to paraphrase, want a name when they lose. “All night […]
Toward a geography of rock: part 4, the West – good vibrations in a heart-shaped box…
“Any minute playing ‘Good Vibrations’ is a minute that I feel spiritually whole. I hope that any minute hearing it is the same.” – Brian Wilson “I sing and play the guitar, […]
The 20 greatest music videos of all time: #ArtSunday
For a bright, shining moment in our cultural history there was an art form called “music video.” Some clever people once ushered in a golden age, transforming “promotional video” into a legitimate, […]
I Me Mine: George lets go of the little i…
George looks past desire to find happiness. “I Me Mine is the ego problem. There are two ‘I’s: the little ‘i’ when people say ‘I am this’; and the big ‘I’ – […]
Little Richard: the ecstasy of cognitive dissonance…
Little Richard is the victim of enough cognitive dissonance for at least three people. “Elvis may be the King of Rock and Roll, but I am the Queen.” – Richard Penniman Reading the […]
I’m Happy Just to Dance with You: one for George…
“This one anyway was a straight co-written song for George.” – Paul McCartney “That was written for George to give him a piece of the action.” – John Lennon Like most old musicians, my […]
