Best Classic Bands | The Scene: Archives

The Scene:

The Scene features a variety of articles that explore a wide range of subjects, all of then delving into the many aspects of rock ‘n’ roll music, its artists and players, the music business and classic rock culture

The Scene: Promo Hits, Flops & Swag

Elvis Costello 1977 U.S. Debut: The Inside Story

Dick Wingate, then a Product Manager with Columbia Records, shares his marketing plan on how the label set up My Aim Is True to radio, record stores and the public.

The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

The Gentrys’ ‘Keep on Dancing’: Behind the ’60s Garage Classic

The Memphis septet took an obscure R&B tune and turned it into a top 5 rocker in 1965. The story behind the recording—and the band—is fascinating.

The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

Lou Reed ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal’: Behind the Scenes

“Until the day he died, Lou didn’t know that the applause on his best-selling album came from a John Denver concert!”—Producer Steve Katz

The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

10 Top Second Albums From Classic Rockers

A sophomore slump is a common classic rock jinx. Here are some where artists like Creedence and the Beatles made a big creative leap between albums 1 and 2.

The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

The Mighty Manfred Mann: From ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’ to ‘Blinded By the Light’

They underwent frequent personnel changes, including several lead singers—and they were named after the keyboardist—but they kept producing hits.

The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

A-Ha’s ‘Take On Me’ MTV Unplugged Transforms the Song

A song you’ve heard countless times; its 1985 video has an astonishing number of views on YouTube. A touching acoustic version transforms the song.

The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown’s Incendiary ‘Fire’

He took the title of his one hit seriously, even putting flaming items on his head while he performed. But he never made the charts again after his 1968 smash.

The Scene: The Classic Rock Legacy

17 Classic Chuck Berry Covers

The legend, who may have invented rock and roll, died at 90 in 2017. To celebrate his legacy, we’ve chosen 17 of his best, by some of his biggest fans.