Old-school news, just in time
by Kevin Burton I have read maybe two dozen books about the Beatles on talking book. But I didn’t know this. In books by and about other contemporary artists, the Beatles emerge, as a yardstick, a cultural happening, a turning point. But not so much as a syllable about this. Until very …
Continue reading “A Female Version Of The Beatles? Who Knew?”
by Kevin Burton The headline to an article in The Independent called Gerry Rafferty a “bipolar alcoholic industry misfit.” His biographers including his daughter Martha dispute none of that. The article was printed on the occasion of the 2021 release of “Rest In Blue” an album of Rafferty demos polished and completed by …
Continue reading “Gerry Rafferty Was Born 77 Years Ago Today”
by Kevin Burton International Songwriters Day was observed yesterday and I’m staying on that theme. This post is a service to all you songwriters, or really any kind of writers, out there. But who am I kidding, it’s also to keep my head in the game and stoke those musical fires again. …
by Kevin Burton I grew up mostly at the school for the blind in Ohio. But I had (still have) some partial vision and I played a lot of sandlot baseball in my day. The school used to hire recreation leaders to work with us restless kids. I think these were students from …
Continue reading “Songwriters Day, A Musical Day Of Reckoning”
by Kevin Burton There might be some court wrangling first, but there is a chance the world will get to hear some new Marvin Gaye music. According to multiple reports, a collection of tapes of previously unheard Gaye songs has been discovered in Belgium. The troubled genius moved there in 1981 to get …
by Kevin Burton My tribute to the late Eric Carmen continues today with a closer look at The Raspberries’ rocking masterpiece, “Go All The Way.” Carmen died in his sleep last weekend at age 74 according to his wife Amy. His songs, including “No Hard Feelings” and “Boats Against The Current,” which we …
by Kevin Burton When you move into a house, you see it and feel it in a way all your own. You inhabit that space with your special vitality. The way others see that space, if they see it at all, may be interesting, but it lays no lasting hold on you. …
Continue reading “50 Years Ago, Terry Jacks’ “Season In The Sun””
by Kevin Burton We may have to file this under Benign Stupidity, but after (maybe not enough) careful thought, I’m going to do the story. We’re talking 70s pop music as we often do on Tuesdays. I love this band, I love this song, please hear that up front. But what a load …
Continue reading ““It Only Takes A Minute” Has Strange Lyrics”
by Kevin Burton I’m inclined to give Billy Joel a pass, aren’t you? Hasn’t he proven his brilliance? Hasn’t his place in music history been settled, certified for decades now? Any music-related hall of fame that he is not in, he should be in. Hey, if Dolly Parton is in the Rock …
Continue reading “Billy Joel, We Love You Just The Way You Are”
by Kevin Burton I have made the case for “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Paul McCartney as the greatest love song ever written. But it’s Valentine’s week and nobody’s going to buy that claim just now. Feb. 14 calls for something with a different feel. So I phoned a friend, so to speak. …
Continue reading “Tears Of Joy In This Valentine’s Day Music”
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