Posts From Mark Leviton
The Who’s ‘Odds & Sods’: Beat the Boots
Fed up with the volume of unauthorized Who LPs on the market, the band put together this mixed bag of leftover tracks.
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Supertramp: ‘Crime of the Century’—Success at Last
Even before they set foot in the studio to begin recording, the band “knew we had a hit,” said Roger Hodgson.
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Frey & Souther’s ‘Longbranch Pennywhistle’: Not Ready for Prime Time Players
The sparks of genius are here and there in the songwriting, and especially in the deft singing and instrumental arrangements.
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Elvis Costello’s ‘Taking Liberties’: Spare Parts
The compilation album proved early in his career that his so-called “leftovers” are better than many other artists’ main meals.
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Revisiting Paul Simon’s U.S. Solo Debut: World Music
He said at the time, “I am really happy to be by myself now and not have to share decisions. Now I do things almost entirely to my taste.”
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Joe Cocker ‘Mad Dogs & Englishmen’: More Than a Little Help
“We can imagine how exhausted Cocker, Russell and Co. must have been when they got off the road, but from the audience’s point of view, it was worth it.”
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Vanilla Fudge’s 1967 Debut: Maximum Psychedelia
It was rock music pushed to its limits, with a radical use of soft-loud-soft dynamics and the emotional drama of rhythm and blues and soul.
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Maria Muldaur: Debut Solo Album—Smart, Sassy and Seductive
The 1973 album, which included the top 10 hit “Midnight at the Oasis,” is a potent blend of country, blues, folk and pop, and it still sounds fresh.
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Blind Faith: Behind the Doomed Supergroup’s Only Album
Formed from the ashes of Cream and Traffic, the new British quartet had so much promise. But after one stellar LP and a handful of gigs, they were gone.
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Talking Heads—‘More Songs About Buildings and Food’: Artful Music
“We don’t fit into anyone else’s category, so we’re going to have to create our own,” said David Byrne about the band’s second album.
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