It’s an album that starts with an Overture. No, it’s not a Broadway Cast album or film soundtrack to a musical; however, it is an album with lofty levels of conceit and pretension that could only have been recorded in the late ‘60s by Mason Williams. And for The Mason Williams Phonograph Album, it all […]
Song Of The Day – “House Party Starting” by Herbie Nichols Trio
If Herbie Nichols is remembered for anything, it’s probably for composing one of Billie Holiday’s signature songs “Lady Sings The Blues.” Problem is, Nichols is all but totally forgotten today, even though he recorded a handful of seminal EPs and an album for the Blue Note record label between 1955 and 1956. For the 30 […]
Today in Rock History – January 14
1965, Bob Dylan starts recording Bringing It All Back Home. 1966, The Who play Municipal Hall in Pontypridd, Wales, United Kingdom. 1966, David Bowie release his first single, “Can’t Help Thinking About Me,” on Parlophone Records. 1967, Pink Floyd played at the Coming-Up Hop, held at The Great Hall, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading England. […]
Today in Rock History – January 8
1966, The Beatles started a six week run at number one on the album chart with Rubber Soul, the group’s seventh chart topper, which went on to spend 56 weeks on the chart. The group also started a three week run at number one on the singles chart with “We Can Work It Out” the […]
Song Of The Day – “Invocation & Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin” by The Mothers Of Invention
It’s Mother’s Day and you should always listen to your MOTHERS! Nobody and I mean absolutely nobody sounded like The Mothers Of Invention back in 1966 when they released their second album Absolutely Free. The Mothers offered their own brand of compositional complexity, out of the ordinary instrumentation, Doo Wop harmonies and Free Jazz wig-out […]
Song Of The Day – “Waiting Is Forbidden” by Rudresh Mahanthappa
Welcome to the sonic space where Ornette Coleman’s Prime Time meets King Crimson. Sound intriguing? If it doesn’t, read no further because today’s Song Of The Day is not for the faint of heart or those of closed mind. Despite his exotic name, Rudresh Mahanthappa was born in Italy of Indian descent, but raised in […]
Song Of The Day – “I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman” by Whistling Jack Smith
Whistler’s brother? Actually, no. Then who was Whistling Jack Smith, and why is his sole hit from 1967 haunting me? I played an album of British Invasion hits released on the Parrot Record label from the late ‘60s before I went to work this morning. When this song came on, my ears quickly perked up. […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Oh Yeah” by Foxygen
When I recently went to see Unknown Mortal Orchestra play in Chicago, the opening act was their Jagjaguwar label mates Foxygen. I had never heard of them before, however I must say that not only was I duly impressed enough to delve further into their oeuvre, but there were probably more people there to see […]
Today in Rock History – December 6
1962, During sessions for the Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan album, Dylan recorded “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” and versions of “Hero Blues,” “Whatcha Gonna Do,” “Oxford Town,” and “I Shall Be Free,” at Studio A, Columbia Recording Studios in New York City. 1964, The film Ferry Cross The Mersey premiered in London. Featuring Gerry And The […]
Song Of The Day – “Where Life Begins” by Madonna
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Where Life Begins” by Madonna It’s a dirty little song…from a dirty little record! “My name is Dita, I’ll be your mistress tonight…” so began Madonna’s fifth and most artistically accomplished record with this introduction from “Erotica,” its title track. In it, Madonna took on the alter […]
