The Day The Music Died, Redux (Revisited)
Sean MurphyIt was thirty years ago today... Where were you? I was in my mother's bedroom, kissing her goodbye before I caught the school bus, and I heard the horrible news…
Five From Frank Zappa
December 4, 1993: impossible as it is (at least for me) to believe, Frank Zappa passed away (yet another casualty of the Big C.) seventeen years ago, today. Zappa, to…
Jethro Tull: Stand Up (Expanded Collector’s Edition)
The first bit of good news regarding this “collector’s edition” of Stand Up is that you don’t need it. The second bit of good news is that for the most…
A Dose Of Dennis Miller With An Ian Curtis Chaser
I saw something the other night that really depressed me. It concerns a genius who, for a variety of reasons, could not maintain control. His implosion can be attributed to many of the usual ailments:…
What’s It All About, Then? Part Three: Jazz, Featuring Five Of My Favorite Things
Just before my birthday, on the subject of Eric Dolphy (who I'm happy to call attention to anytime the opportunity presents itself), I had the following to say about what the…
Five From Sonny Boy Williamson
Sonny Boy. Another harp player, arguably the greatest of them all (some would vote for Little Walter, but not many people would argue that anyone else belongs in the same…
Five From Junior Wells
Junior. They didn't break the mold when they made him; he broke it himself. This was an era when being street-smart actually involved streets and a type of smarts that…
They’ll Never Put Me in Their Bag: The Continuing Story of Syd Barrett
When he died in 2006, after decades of cult-figure status and willful anonymity, Syd Barrett was arguably better known as the person who inspired one of Pink Floyd’s best albums,…
Beethoven, Barenboim, Bliss
Beethoven again. It seems impossible to believe that Daniel Barenboim is only 68 years old. It feels like he has been around forever. Possibly it’s because the music he plays–the…
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain?
Yer daaaaamn right! On a Friday afternoon it doesn't get too much better than this (huge h/t to Mickey G. and Karen M.): And, in case you needed a double…