After Bon Scott’s death on February 19, 1980, AC/DC considered disbanding, even knowing full well that Bon would have wanted them to continue the band. So, the process of replacing the legendary vocalist started. Several vocalists were considered for filling the void. Buzz Shearman, an ex-Moxy member, and Terry Sessler were considered as possible replacements. […]

The story of a Jimmy, young mod with multiple personalities (each representing a different member of the Who), Quadrophenia was Pete Townshend’s second attempt at crafting a “rock opera,” carrying the narrative over a double album, with a photographic depiction of the narrative (as well as text) including in the liner notes. Arguably even more […]

The “VH” in VH-1 stood for “Video Hits” when VH-1 first launched in January 1985 as an adult contemporary adjunct to MTV - though today to catch videos, it might be best to flip past VH-1 or MTV to VH-1 Classic. Its early VJs were Don Imus, Frankie Crocker (also early program director), Jon Bauman […]

Cloud Nine is a watershed Motown album. Recorded in late 1968 into 1969, it brought psychedelia to the increasingly out of step label and marked the first Temptations studio LP to feature new vocalist Dennis Edwards. The start of the Temp’s four year psychedelic soul trip led by producer Norman Whitfield, it was at the […]

Brothers Don and Phil grew up singing 4-part harmony with their parents, Ike and Margaret Everly. The younger Everlys struck out on their own, and struck gold with their close harmonies that incorporated country’s high lonesome into a pure pop sound. After the song’s debut on the Grand Ole Opry, “Bye Bye Love” hit #1 […]

One of the early forerunners to the modern Jukebox was the Nickel-in-the-Slot machine. In 1889, Louis Glass and William S. Arnold, placed a coin-operated Edison cylinder phonograph in the Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco. The machine had no amplification and patrons had to listen to the music using one of four listening tubes.
The jukebox […]

Is this punk? Compared to other CBGB veterans like the Ramones and the Voidoids, Talking Heads sounded more like prep-school pop than 1977-style DESTROY! But the art school friends’ debut album, 77, showcased the tension, tightness, and truly unusual sounds of Talking Heads, with one of their best-known songs, “Psycho Killer.” Other songs, like “New […]

On August 25, 1990, Stevie Ray Vaughan finished up the summer leg of his tour with shows at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, just outside of East Troy, Wisconsin. The next morning Vaughan talked about his “horrible” dream that night. This turned out to be a premonition. Vaughan dreamt that he was at his own funeral […]

Sly & the Family Stone, an American funk, soul and rock band form San Francisco were popular from 1966 to 1983. The band was the first major American rock band to have an integrated lineup in both race and gender. Upon its February 1968 release, “Dance to the Music” became a widespread ground-breaking hit, and […]

There was a point when country music, R&B, soul, gospel, and blues were separate genres. Then there was Ray Charles. His 1962 release, “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music,” has been names one of the best albums of all times by Rolling Stone and VH1. With arrangements by jazz composer Gerald Wilson, […]