Category Archives: Music

A Dozen Rock ‘N’ Roll Hits Like You’ve Never Heard Them Before

Isolated Vocals Means Hearing A Song You’ve Heard Hundreds Of Times In A New Way

Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend The Who photo; London Features, Neal Preston

With these versions where all the other instruments have been eliminated but the vocals, you can hear the singer’s voice as an instrument itself. These songs range from 1969 – 1980, all before the invention of pitch correction (aka auto-tune) which many music purists believe ruined music forever. These songs are from an era when singers actually had to be able to sing. Continue reading

Metallica Plays “Am I Evil” Live With Diamond Head’s Brian Tatler

Brian Tatler Joins Metallica For A Rare Full Length Performance of “Am I Evil” – June 26, 2024

It may be one of the most recognizable opening riffs in all of heavy metal.

But the band who wrote it achieved limited commercial success. They did however influence countless other heavy metal bands – the most important of them being Metallica.

During a concert in Oslo, Norway on June 26, 2024, Metallica brings Brian Tatler on stage and does something they have rarely done: perform Am I Evil in its entirety. Metallica singer and guitarist James Hetfield sounds absolutely great here.

Diamond Head

Am I Evil was written by Diamond Head’s guitarist Brian Tatler and vocalist Sean Harris. The song was released in Great Britain in 1980 on the album Lightning To The Nations Continue reading

55 Years Ago Today The Woodstock Music Festival Dramatically Concluded

Jimi Hendrix Closes Woodstock With A Memorable Performance – August 18, 1969

Bethel, N.Y. – August 16: Huge Crowd At Rock Festival
Air view shows part of crowd Friday which converged on Bethel, N.Y., for rock festival there. More than 200,00 persons are estimated to be present. photo A.P.

While the attendance numbers have been in dispute, there probably were close to a half million people who attended The Woodstock Music and Art Fair. The concert began on August 15, 1969, and by the time it was over on Monday, August 18, it is estimated that less than 200,000 people remained to see the conclusion.

The final act was Jimi Hendrix. Continue reading

Classic Hollywood #163 – Peter Sellers & Ringo Starr

Peter Sellers & Ringo Celebrate Completion Of “The Magic Christian” 1969

Ringo & Sellers At A Party
Peter Sellers and Beatle drummer Ringo Starr are seen playing roulette at a party at Les Ambassadeurs in London. The party was to celebrate the completion of the film  “The Magic Christian” in which they co-star. Among other guests at the party were Beatle John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono who have just bought a 72 acre estate and mansion at Tittenhurst Park, near Ascot, Berks. photo:Syndication International (Daily Mirror) May 5, 1969

One does not necessarily associate Peter Sellers with The Beatles. But strange casting for a strange film brought the two stars of different genres together. Continue reading

He Wrote ALL These Pop Rock Hit Songs For Different Artists

“He” Is Mike Chapman, Writer, Producer Extraordinaire

Mike Chapman (wearing sunglasses) in the studio with Blondie photo: GEMS/Redferns

From age 18 to 80 the fact that even novices of melody will recognize many of Mike Chapman’s songs, says a lot about his talent.

Mike Chapman (born in Queensland, Australia, April 13, 1947) is not just a record producer, but also a songwriter of major importance.

He has written and / or produced music with The Sweet, Suzi Quatro, The Knack, Pat Benatar, Tina Turner, Divinyls, Nick Gilder, Scandal, Billy Squier, Agnetha from ABBA, Lita Ford, Smokie and arguably most successfully, Blondie.

But it’s Chapman’s skill at songwriting that will remain his legacy. Continue reading

The Beatles Recording Of Metallica’s Enter Sandman

The Beatles “Covering” Enter Sandman Via Artificial Intelligence

https://youtu.be/B5Yjgn9vLtU?si=blo5omst28z864AL

As pointed out here previously, Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used in amusing ways. There is another version of this on youtube that is musically virtually the same note for note. But Continue reading

Donald Trump & Joe Biden Debate – Who Was The Better Van Halen Front Man: Hagar or Roth.

What Presidential Candidates Should Debate About  – Rock ‘n Roll

Sammy Hagar David Lee Roth photo: Bryan Steffy/Getty, Jason Kempin/Getty

The future of artificial intelligence is a very serious subject which at some point we will cover in a serious way.

But in the meantime this is a short, frivolous use of AI, but entertaining if you are a Van Halen fan.

In reality I doubt either candidate could name one Continue reading

This AC/DC Demo Turned Into One Of Their Most Iconic Songs

AC/DC Rejected Dirty Eyes, Instead Using The Same Riff For Whole Lotta Rosie

Plus The Only Known Photograph Of The Real Life “Rosie”

AC/DC’s singer / lyricist Bon Scott once described himself not as a poet, but more a bathroom graffiti writer.

Though Bon Scott was self effacing, he could look at his own work honestly to see if there was room for improvement. Scott would frequently write and rewrite lyrics in notebooks and record on portable tape recorder he carried with him.

In one case he took a good rock song and made it a great song by completely changing the lyrics. Continue reading

Remembering “Satchmo” Louis Armstrong’s Funeral July 9, 1971

Fifty Two Years Ago Today Was The Funeral Of Louis Armstrong

Is “Satchmo” Remembered Today?

Louis Armstrong funeral July 9, 1971 photo: Globe

It is impossible to say who will be remembered by the multitudes years after their passing. I would hope Louis Armstrong will be among those whose name and music goes on for eternity.

Louis Armstrong brought love and joy everywhere he went. And the world universally returned that love.

On July 6, 1971 Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong died at the age of 69 of a heart attack in his home in Corona, Queens. Continue reading