Crime Of The Century – School, Bloody Sunday, Ken Scott
In October 1974, Supertramp released Crime Of The Century on A&M with Ken Scott co-producing: School, Dreamer, Bloody Well Right, and a UK Top 5 breakthrough.
George Harrison – Isn’t It A Pity
In November 1970 George Harrison placed Isn't It A Pity on All Things Must Pass: seven patient minutes of Spector rise for a song the Beatles had passed on.
Bruno Mars – Showbiz muscle under silk
Peter Gene Hernandez left Honolulu stages for Los Angeles writing rooms, then built a solo career on Motown homework and precision showmanship.
Prince – The Love We Make
On 12 July 1996 Jonathan Melvoin died of a heroin overdose in New York, and Prince answered with The Love We Make at Paisley Park.
Wasting Light – Garage tape, Butch Vig, No. 1 on analog
In April 2011, Foo Fighters released Wasting Light: eleven songs cut to tape in Dave Grohl’s Encino garage with Butch Vig, no Pro Tools safety net.
Covers or originals: can a remake outshine the first version?
When a second voice takes a song further than the writer.
What If Blur and Oasis Made an Album Together ?
In a parallel 1996, a pub-quiz row becomes a secret Brixton album, a chart event, and a Wembley night Blur and Oasis never quite escape.
Afterlife Interview with Freddie Mercury
Riffs and Beats finds Freddie Mercury backstage in a fiction of Wembley lights, yellow jacket still on, treating the afterlife like overtime.
The Chemical Brothers – Hey Boy Hey Girl
The Chemical Brothers’ Hey Boy Hey Girl (Surrender, 1999): Rowlands/Simons drop, festival door, Freestyle Dust/Virgin.
Eagles – California harmony with a hard rimshot
Glenn Frey and Don Henley built the Eagles on stacked vocals, country-rock craft, and Hotel California's long ride.