On May 8th, 1977, the Grateful Dead played what many consider, one of their best shows ever. It’s certainly is one of their most famous, that being their show at Barton Hall at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Why the big…
Blog Archives
“There’s A Riot Going On” . . : Duke Ellington’s Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue At Newport Jazz Festival, 1956
The mid 1950’s were not the best of times for Duke Ellington and his Orchestra. While dominating jazz from the late 1920s through to the 40s, his post war recordings suffered in comparison. In addition, changes in popular culture were…
Tagged with: Diminuendo And Crescendo In Blue, Duke Ellington, Jazz, Newport Jazz Festival, Paul Gonzalves
Posted in Jazz, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Jazz, Music Appreciation and Analysis
“Rollin In My Sweet Baby’s Arms”: A Guide To Bluegrass History By Subgenre
A little while back I got on a bluegrass kick. I even learned a little bit of dobro (see https://roymusicusa.com/2021/06/28/seven-year-twitch-a-long-strange-trip-and-the-debut-album-of-wire-wood-steel/). While I wasn’t a complete stranger to the history of Bluegrass, I was aware that there were big gaps in…
Tagged with: bluegrass, Guitar Fretboard
Posted in Country/Bluegrass, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Country/Bluegrass, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Cause We Ended As Lovers . . : Jeff Beck 1944 – 2023
If you are reading this, then you’re into guitars and if you’re into guitars then you no doubt know of the passing of guitar legend Jeff Beck. There are plenty of online articles and videos that have gone into Beck’s…
Tagged with: David Bowie, guitar, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, John McLaughlin, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rod Stewart, Rolling Strones, Tal Wilkenfeld
Posted in Classic Rock, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Classic Rock, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Holiday Haiku 2022
This year has been hardWith music it’s been betterSo let us play on (music in link below) Jingle Blues
“Mrs. Peel . . . We’re Needed”: British TV Spy-Fi Music From The Sixties
Being the boomer that I am (yes, I know that as a member of a given market derived demographic I represent all that is wrong with the world. . . . you’re welcome) I have different pop culture references than…
Tagged with: British TV Show The Avengers, British TV Show The Prioner, Spy-fi
Posted in Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Music Appreciation and Analysis
“Roam If You Want To” . . . : The B-52’s
I recently read the the B-52’s were making their farewell tour. I first encountered the B-52’s when my brother came home from Baltimore and brought some of his records with him, including the first B-52 album. I was still in…
Tagged with: Athens Georgia, Deadbeat Club, Love Shack, Private Idaho, Roam, Rock Lobster, The B-52's
Posted in Classic Rock, Uncategorized
Posted in Classic Rock, Uncategorized
“White Stuff On My Nose” . . . : I Wanna Be A Lifeguard by Blotto
As we come to the tail of end of summer here, there’s a song that always comes to mind. The song: I Wanna Be A Lifeguard. The band: Blotto. I Wanna Be A Lifeguard – Blotto Coming from Albany, New…
Tagged with: Blotto, Dr. Demento, I Want To Be A Lifeguard, MTV, My Father's Place, We Are The Nowtones
Posted in Classic Rock, Music Appreciation and Analysis
Posted in Classic Rock, Music Appreciation and Analysis
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