Man on the Run: Paul McCartney and his Tucson connections

I'm doing this post on one of our living legends of rock and pop music, Sir Paul McCartney. This is a musician who's musical career spans from the 1950s to today as he continues to put out albums and tours the country.

Paul McCartney is one of two living Beatles, and he continues to add and grow to his legacy every year. Aside from releasing a brand new album this year, "New," Paul has only contributed the song Helter Skelter to the Hurricane Sandy relief album "12-12-12," seen a fully released concert DVD from his band Wings put out titled "Rockshow" and had a biography published about himself and wife Linda, "Man on the Run: Paul McCartney in the 1970s."

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!

War Child Presents: Heroes (An Album To Benefit Children Affected By War)

The library recently acquired a wonderful new benefit compilation album entitled  War Child Presents: Heroes(An Album To Benefit Children Affected By War).  The purpose of the album is to bring awareness to the enormous amount of children who in some way have been affected by the brutality of war. This CD is loaded with excellent musicians all providing covers of classic bands. Read on to learn more about the album.