Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic
Media Alert! A battle has suddenly erupted between two formidable foes who share a common sound — the analog synthesizer. Not just any analog synthesizer sound, mind you, but a deep burbling one: pulsating and insistent. In this corner, wearing a strangely intricate electronic eyepiece, we have Ronnie Montrose with
The received wisdom is that The Beatles single-handedly invented ‘power pop’ with “And Your Bird Can Sing,” an album track from 1966’s Revolver. The truth, however, is a little more elusive. One could point out that “Paperback Writer” – a song that very much embodies the power pop sound –
How nutty to release 12 albums of Moog synthesizer music simultaneously, one for each sign of the Zodiac. And yet Mort Garson somehow convinced A&M to do so in 1969 – “I Know You Aries,” the lead-off track on the Aries LP, could have been the A-side of a 45:
I picked up an odds & sods collection of NRBQ tracks – Stay with We – taken from their short-lived stint on the almighty Columbia label. One tune that I found to be particularly energizing – “I Say Gooday Goodnite” – was identified in the CD’s liner notes as “previously
Allison Anders‘ 1996 fictional film, Grace of My Heart – a clever and heartfelt tribute to the great sounds of the 1960s and early 70s – features original songs that take their inspiration from Brill Building and girl group pop, as well as Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound,” British Invasion
During the 1970s when progressive rock, pop and soul were at their peak, a number of wizard keyboardists enjoyed superstar status: Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson, Stevie Wonder, Jan Hammer, Billy Preston, Jon Lord, Bernie Worrell. And Sir Christopher Scott. The liner notes for Sir Scott’s 1970 Decca LP, More Switched
Alan Price gets an intoxicating sound out of his trusty synthesizer on this lovely track from 1974’s Between Today and Yesterday on Warner Brothers: “Look at My Face“ Alan Price (1974) LP Musician & Production Credits Alan Price – Piano, Organ & Vocals Colin Green – Guitar Dave Markee – Bass
Paul Tanner, who just recently passed, lived to the ripe old age of 95. I was delighted to learn that this one-time trombonist for The Glenn Miller Orchestra went on to play the pivotal theremin part on the Beach Boys’ worldwide 1966 hit, “Good Vibrations” – as well as on
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