The Isley Brothers: A Funky Family

It was the summer of '79, and Tucson’s disco radio station, 13-KHYT, just couldn’t play the Isley Brothers often enough. It seemed every time I tuned in, there was the churning funk of “I Wanna Be With You,” with its vocoder hook repeating the title over and over, alternating with a semi-whisper of the Isleys chanting “You and me, babe, gettin’ it on, you and me.” Even though I loved disco, I grew to hate the tune, and generally avoided the Isley Brothers’ music whenever I could.

Thanksgiving - Turkey, Football, and... The Last Waltz

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, time to pay homage to The Band, Martin Scorsese, and the numerous guest musicians who joined The Band for their final show on Thanksgiving in 1976.  While I have already written about The Last Waltz in a former blog, it is so good (and timely), it is time to recycle some of the praise.

Graham Nash: Howard Stern Interview

Last month I listened to a wonderful segment on The Howard Stern Show in which he interviewed Graham Nash to promote his new biography which the library now owns. For over an hour, Mr. Nash, w/ his guitar in hand, shared a very endearing lecture on the fantastic musical world that he lived in and witnessed. He played over 6 songs and talked about meeting The Beatles, to leaving The Hollies, to forming Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, to explaining why Joni Mitchell was the love of his life. This was one of the finest interviews I've heard in a long time. Keep reading to learn more.

Linda Ronstadt: Simple Dreams

Last week we sadly learned that one of our greatest Tucsonans Linda Ronstadt has Parkinson's Disease and it will end her legendary career.  If it hurts this much as a fan, I cannot imagine how hard this is for Ms. Ronstadt. I searched our catalog and was pleased to find that we still own a wonderful assortment of her discography and her new biography that the library will soon be receiving.  As a loving tribute to this Goddess of  Rock and Latin American music, I'd like to share some stories, discuss the importance of her as a rock icon,  and applaud her majestic Spanish records. Please continue reading.

Your favorite song was recorded in Van Nuys

Fleetwood Mac. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Pat Benatar's Hit Me With Your Best Shot. Rick Springfield's Jessie's Girl. Nirvana's  Nevermind. Cheap Trick, Ratt, Guns n' Roses, REO Speedwagon, Neil Young, Carl Perkins, Barry Manilow, Johnny Cash, Dio, Rage Against The Machine...the list goes on and on. What do these artists and songs have in common? The recording studio called Sound City, in Van Nuys, CA., the subject of Dave Grohl's (of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame) documentary Sound City. I  remember as a kid looking at the back cover of Rick Springfield's Working Class Dog album and wondering why he had said, "God Bless Van Nuys", and why so many albums seem to have been recorded there in the 1980's. I remember thinking, "What is it about this Van Nuys place, and why does everyone record their albums there?" Now I know why!

A Crazy Horse's Psychedelic Pill

Neil Young with Crazy Horse

Psychedelic Pill

One of two albums Neil Young released with Crazy Horse last year, Psychedelic Pill finds the group in its distorted and feedback-drenched mode.  Reminiscent of their early '90s classics like Ragged Glory and Weld, this double CD set is very much worth your while if you like your rock served with lots of noise.

The ABC'S Of Rock!

Here is a little treat for those of you who have children and would like to get them interested in rock music at an early age. The ABC'S Of Rock by Melissa Duke Mooney and The Print Mafia is a dynamite little picture book that has an A-Z listing of some of Rock music's finest talent.