Posts From Mark Leviton

Mark Leviton

Mark Leviton began writing about music and pop culture in 1967, with credits in Rolling Stone, Creem, Fusion, Bay Area Musician, LA Weekly, Phonograph Record and many fly-by-night publications. For 25 years he worked for the Warner Music Group and Rhino Records, producing hundreds of compilation albums and historical reissues, placing recordings in films and TV, and generally having a blast. His bi-weekly radio show "Pet Sounds" is heard on KVMR-FM in Nevada City, CA and the website www.petsoundsmusic.com.

Yes’ ‘Fragile’: A British Prog-Rock Classic

Timeless tracks like “Roundabout” and “Long Distance Runaround,” premiered here and defined the prog genre.

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Joan Baez ‘Any Day Now’: A Loving Tribute to Bob Dylan

In 1968, the singer decamped to Nashville and cut a double album’s worth of songs written by her good friend and collaborator. The results were mostly glorious.

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When the Christopher Cross Classic ‘Yacht-Rock’ Debut Went Sailing to the Top

After kicking around the Austin, Texas, scene for several years, the singer found his way to success with a 1st album that sold millions.

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The Traveling Wilburys’ ‘Vol. 3’: More Fun

Two years after their great 1988 debut, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and George Harrison assembled to record a new edition, dedicated to Roy Orbison.

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The Kinks’ ‘One for the Road’: That’s Entertainment!

Ray Davies had found a new, commercial groove that appealed to American audiences that barely remembered the Kinks of the ’60s.

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Faces ‘A Nod Is As Good As a Wink…’ Album: Party Time

“It was an air of merriment. Under all the camaraderie and joviality, we took the music extremely seriously,” said Rod Stewart.

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‘Sheer Heart Attack’: Queen Breaks Through

Wildly theatrical, straddling the worlds of hard rock, pop, prog and Broadway, the album was an eclectic triumph. Now, Queen sounded like a true band.

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Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s ‘Will the Circle Be Unbroken’: Closing the Gaps

As the 1972 triple album broke all the rules it revitalized the country-rock scene and made some very old music cool again.

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‘A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector’: When Holiday Classics Met the Wall of Sound

Sixty years ago, an album redefined the Christmas song. Few heard it at the time, but today it is considered a true holiday classic.

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Quincy Jones’ ‘Back on the Block’: A Movie for the Ears

Recognized as one of the most unusual and kaleidoscopic albums ever produced, the 7x Grammy-winner featured an all-star cast.

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