Titoro, Three Times
Sean MurphyAn amazing tune by Billy Taylor, played three times (by him twice with different drummers three times). The first one is coupled with the incredible "Oscalypso" (which is also covered…
Through A (Broken) Glass, Darkly: Celebrating The American Splendor of Harvey Pekar
Man, what a rough week for Cleveland. It's never easy to watch a homegrown talent -- a native son who defied odds to become a national treasure -- abruptly depart. Even…
The Spanish Caravan
Congratulations to a very worthy and deserving Spain for securing their first World Cup title. Condolences to the Dutch, who did not exactly do their Clockwork Orange-era compatriots especially proud…
You See This Sign?: Appreciating ‘Five Easy Pieces’
MacMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Jake Gittes in Chinatown; Jack “Here’s Johnny!” Torrence in The Shining—these aren’t characters from famous movies, they are permanent fixtures of American…
A Mixture of Mischief and Cheer: Remembering Bob Probert
This hurts. R.I.P. Probie. Quick tally: #24, over 3,000 penalty minutes. Member, along with Joe Kocur, of the legendary "Bruise Brothers" tandem back in the days when the Detroit Red…
It Don’t Come Easy: Happy 70th, Ringo!
Happy birthday, Ringo. Let's hope you're planning to stick around for a long time. We need you. "What Goes On": "With A Little Help From My Friends": "Don't Pass…
Summertime is Reggae Time (Revisited)– Part Two: Culture’s ‘International Herb’
Culture is immortal for their 1977 tour de force, Two Sevens Clash, one of a handful of albums that can justifiably be uttered in the same sentence as Heart of…
Hot Enough For Ya?
It was hot. The kind of heat that hurt. The kind of heat that caused children to stay inside and adults to appreciate being stuck in an air-conditioned office. The…
The Doors: America’s Star-Spangled Band (Revisited)
The 4th of July presents an at least two irresistible reasons to talk about The Doors. One: Jim Morrison took his last bath on July 3, 1971 in Paris. R.I.P.…
From Russia With Love?
No comment necessary? Mad Professor, "Internet Spy": The Skatalites, "James Bond Theme":