A Taboo Subject: The Mental Health Of Pilots

by Catherine Ho San Francisco Chronicle    An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot’s attempt to shut down the engines on a San Francisco-bound commercial flight last month has drawn renewed attention to airline pilot mental health — a topic long considered taboo in the industry but one that has generated more scrutiny in recent years since the …

Did Gilbert O’Sullivan Launch Disco Era?

by Kevin Burton    There have been many theories to explain the rise and fall of disco music. Here’s a new one for its rise:    Disco music exploded in the mid-70s as a direct result of “Alone Again Naturally” by Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan.    OK, so I can’t prove I’m right, but you …

A Moment To Savor With Gerry Rafferty

by Kevin Burton    The hit sniffers at United Artists wanted the title track from Gerry Rafferty’s 1978 smash album “City To City” to be the first song released as a single.    Rafferty knew better, successfully spoke up for the sonic masterpiece “Baker Street” as the first single and the rest is history.    …

Last Echoes From The Brilliant Rafferty

by Kevin Burton    Thanks to his daughter Martha, we have a new studio album from Gerry Rafferty, ten years after his death.    Parlophone Records released “Rest In Blue” on Friday.  It’s a revamping of the songs he was working on at the time of his death.    For dedicated Rafferty fans it’s a …