Afterlife Interview with Aretha Franklin
Riffs and Beats finds Aretha Franklin at a grand piano under Detroit church light, gold gown on, white rose on the lid, treating the afterlife like another call to the mic.
Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On
Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On (1971): multi-voice room, protest as soul suite opener, Tammi Terrell context.
Thriller – Nine tracks that ate the charts
On 30 November 1982, Michael Jackson released Thriller on Epic, the album that turned Off the Wall's promise into a worldwide machine with Quincy Jones still at the desk.
Depeche Mode – Enjoy the Silence
Depeche Mode’s Enjoy the Silence (Violator, 1990): Wilder’s disco push, Gore lyric, Gahan cool, guitar intro.
George Harrison – The quiet Beatle who finally took the lead
After the Beatles split, George Harrison filled Abbey Road leftovers and new songs into All Things Must Pass (1970), then proved the quiet one could open the charts alone.
Indeep – Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life
In 1982, Indeep released Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life on Sound of New York and Becket, a New York single that missed the Hot 100 and still travelled.
Big Soul – California funk-punk that France claimed
Big Soul, the 1995 self-titled debut by the California trio of the same name, is a rare case of a homemade US album that broke first in France.
George Michael – Freedom! ’90
In 1990 Freedom! '90 broke George Michael from his Faith image: Fincher's supermodel video smashed the props while the chorus stayed karaoke-proof.
INXS – Pub rock that learned to slide
Formed in Sydney in 1977 as the Farriss Brothers, INXS spent a decade in Australian pubs before Kick (1987) turned Michael Hutchence's swagger into global chart language.
Aretha Franklin – Respect
Aretha Franklin’s Respect (Atlantic, 1967): Otis Redding rewritten, Muscle Shoals players, Billboard Hot 100 No. 1.