Jeff Beck’s first official solo album, Blow by Blow, was released in 1975. Produced by the great George Martin (who produced many of the Beatles later albums), it’s a fantastic collection of instrumentals that span the gamut from slow and melancholy to all-out rockers. “Freeway Jam” was the stand out single,…
Tag: Music
Music
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Music Moment – What’s Going On
I’ve probably heard Marvin Gaye’s classic “What’s Going On” hundreds of times over the years. It’s a great R&B song that never grows old. But when it popped up in my playlist recently, something about it caught my attention and I stopped what I was doing to sit and really…
Abstract Art
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There’s No Art Without Sacrifice
I was writing in my journal the other morning and lamenting on the fact that I often have stories laid out in my head, but have to go through the process of typing them out, which can seem to take forever. It made me realize that I have to sacrifice…
Music
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Music Moment – Everlong
Every now and then, a song comes along that really connects with me. The music, the lyrics, the tone…they all seem to come together in a perfect mix. “Everlong”, by the Foo Fighters, is one of those rarities. Released in 1997, the song has become a staple at Foo Fighters…
Music
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Music Moment – Philosophia
I discovered the song, “Philosophia“, back in 2007. This was when Apple’s iTunes would give away a free song download every week. I didn’t know the band, The Guggenheim Grotto, or any of their music, but this song hooked me on the first listen. What I love about it is…
Creativity
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Music Moment – Mule Variations by Tom Waits
Singer and songwriter Tom Waits has had several interesting career shifts, but none so resonating as when he recorded his 1999 album, Mule Variations. It ended up winning him a Grammy award for “Best Contemporary Folk Album” and a nomination for “Best Male Rock Performance”. The album is a culmination of…
Music
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Music Moment – Elton John’s Tumbleweed Connection
There’s no disputing that Elton John (and lyricist Bernie Taupin) had an amazing string of hit albums in the 1970s. While not quite as popular as some of the others, Tumbleweed Connection (1970) is, in my opinion, one of the best. At heart, it’s a concept album. John and Taupin…
Creativity
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My Foray into Podcasting
A few years ago – 2019, to be exact – I decided to try my hand at podcasting. I’d been listening to podcasts for a while and wanted to give it a shot, see what it was like. I’ve done voice work over the years – narrating marketing videos, interactive…
Influences
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Music Moment – After the Gold Rush by Neil Young
Another one of my favorite singer-songwriters is Canadian artist Neil Young. He first came on the scene as a member of the 1960s folk-rock group Buffalo Springfield. After the band broke up in 1968, Young began an illustrious career as a solo artist, working with his band, Crazy Horse, and…
Influences
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Music Moment – Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen
Arguably one of the more famous singer-songwriters, Bruce Springsteen had an amazing run of albums in the 1970s. Considered his breakthrough album, Born to Run spawned several radio staples. However, the opening track, “Thunder Road”, is the one that stays in regular rotation on my main playlist. The studio version…