ELO’s ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ Like You’ve Never Seen It
Electric Light Orchestra fans will be surprised to discover how this favorite fared on U.S. radio. It was released in the midst of a string of hit singles for the group that combined electric instruments with orchestral ones
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Harp On It: 20 Great Rock Songs Featuring Harmonica
The harmonica has long been used—particularly by lead singers—to inject a bit of bluesy, earthy authenticity into a song. We look at some of the best.
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Willie Nelson’s ‘Red Headed Stranger’ & the Unlikely Birth of Outlaw Country
The album defined him as an iconoclast comfortable on his own path, which he would follow in singular fashion for decades to come.
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Interview: Procol Harum’s Gary Brooker on ‘Whiter Shade’
In the wide-ranging conversation, he talks about the band’s 1967 classic debut (and his favorite cover of it), working with Robin Trower and the Concert For George
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Graham Nash’s ‘Songs for Beginners’: Taking Center Stage
His stunning solo debut, arriving when CSNY was in flux, exemplified Nash’s ability to navigate the divide between desire and despair.
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New Book Features Interviews With Greenwich Village Singer-Songwriters
The Bleecker Street Tapes includes interviews with Leonard Cohen, Roger McGuinn, John Sebastian, Phil Ochs, Peter Tork, Richie Havens, Janis Ian & more.
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Carole King 1973 Live in Central Park Concert Album Released For 50th Anniversary
The previously unreleased performance captured King at her critical and commercial peak, basking in the enormous popularity of Tapestry.
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The Rolling Stones Bring Howlin’ Wolf to U.S. TV
From the start they were huge fans of the blues. So when the British band had the chance to present one of their idols on American TV, they grabbed it.
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When Eric Clapton Headlined the Greenwich Town Party
The annual event has had a knack of booking big name talent. Slowhand’s 15-song set featured a favorite he hasn’t played in decades
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Desmond Dekker’s ‘Israelites’—Admit It, You Don’t Know the Lyrics
Even as it found its way to the top 10 in the U.S. and several other countries, many listeners had no idea what this proto-reggae song was about.
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