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.

Deep Purple ‘Machine Head’: Rockin’ in Montreux

The 1972 album, cut by their classic lineup, made them big stars, and they soon toured the world. And there was much more to it than “Smoke on the Water.”

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ZZ Top ‘Eliminator’: Hot-Rods, TV Dinners and Sharp-Dressed Men

The music is stellar, and the LP became a massive hit, selling 10 million copies and staying on the Billboard album chart for three years.

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10cc ‘The Original Soundtrack’: A Widescreen Masterpiece

The talented quartet was committed to using satire, parody, jokes and sonic guffaws in their eclectic mix.

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Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge: ‘Full Moon’ and In Harmony

“Harmony came easily for both of us, it was very natural,” said Kristofferson.

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Los Lobos’ ‘How Will The Wolf Survive?’: Songs of Passion

“The title song is about people who are living along that fine line between extinction and…staying alive.”

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Yaz ‘Upstairs at Eric’s’ & Alison Moyet ‘Alf’: Dynamic Duo

Vince Clarke and Moyet were an “arranged marriage.” When Yaz split, each went on to a successful solo career.

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Roy Orbison ‘Mystery Girl’: Exit Music

“The Big O” aka “The Caruso of Rock” still thrills whenever the microphone captures his one-of-a-kind voice.

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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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