Shagadelic indeed! Literally hundreds of records were released during the 1950s and 1960s carrying the Enoch Light name. Light was born in Ohio and led The Light Brigade, which was a big band that primarily played on the radio and in theaters that scored the 1937 hit “Summer Night.” After they disbanded, they became a […]
Today in Rock History – November 7
1967, The Beatles finished recording “Blue Jay Way,” “Flying,” and “Magical Mystery Tour.” The Beatles have only six songs, not enough for an album so decided to issue a double-EP. Capitol Records didn’t think the double-EP format would be acceptable for the US market, so they decide to put out an album instead. The album […]
Song Of The Day – “Improvisation #2” by Pat Metheny Orchestrion Project
If the essence of Jazz is to listen to and improvise off of the musical ideas of those you are playing with, and you are in essence a one man band, can you still consider the music you make jazz? The orchestrion is a mechanically controlled mini orchestra that was designed by Pat Metheny and […]
Today in Rock History – October 31
1964, Bob Dylan performs a Halloween concert at New York’s Philharmonic Hall. CBS is recording the show for a possible live album. Dylan shows off a new composition called “Advice to Geraldine on Her Miscellaneous Birthday.” 1964, Ray Charles was arrested by Logan Airport customs officials in Boston and charged with possession of heroin. This […]
Song Of The Day – “Caramels” by Mort Shuman
“For those who will listen and not just hear…” That was the intended audience for the album where today’s Song Of The Day comes from, according to its back cover, and they certainly broke the mold after this one was committed to wax. But back in 1969 record labels like Reprise let artists experiment and […]
Today in Rock History – October 26
1963, Bob Dylan played a sell out concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City. 1965, Queen Elizabeth II invested The Beatles with their MBE’s at Buckingham Palace, London. According to an account by John Lennon, the group smoked marijuana in one of the palace bathrooms to calm their nerves. Many former recipients gave their […]
Song Of The Day – “Speak To Me/Breathe/On The Run/Time” by Pink Floyd
So Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon hit its 40th anniversary this past week, and not only did most of us know upon first hearing it that it was a classic, but it has also held up awfully well over the years. The anniversary got me thinking about some of my favorite records from […]
Song Of The Day – “Aries: The Fire Fighter” by The Zodiac
At any other time in music history, this record would have never happened. But the timing was right for Cosmic Sounds by The Zodiac in 1967, and Elektra Records boss, Jac Holzman, was just the man to make it happen. The album cover promised “Celestial counterpoint with words and music,” and the resultant record delivered […]
Today in Rock History – October 23
1966, The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded their first single “Hey Joe,” at De Lane Lea studios in London. The earliest known commercial recording of the song is the late-1965 single by the Los Angeles garage band the The Leaves. The band then re-recorded the track and released it in 1966 as a follow-up single which […]
Song Of The Day – “The Holy Drinker” by Steven Wilson
If you thought that the progressive rock dinosaurs that dominated the musical landscape of the 1970s were all but extinct today, think again. Sure, bands like Yes and Jethro Tull are still churning out the classics on stages around the world, but in recent years the prog-rock scene has seen a full on rejuvenation starting […]
