The Doors “L’America” (1971)
The Doors burst into my world like a supernova for but a few magical years, much like the incredibly brief lifespan of the band itself, which disintegrated with the exceedingly predictable death of iconic frontman Jim Morrison of, well, that depends on who or what you believe... Read More
ZZ Top “Blue Jean Blues” (1975)
..This is Billy Gibbons putting on a blues guitar clinic, of restraint and intensity. He’s not exactly holding back but he’s not showing off either. It’s all tone and feel, with attention to every note and lick, and the perfect intention..... Read More
Pink Floyd “Great Gig In The Sky” (1973)
One of the best-known songs on what remains the longest charting album in rock music history features none of the band’s four members, has no words, and spotlights only a session singer who initially turned down the gig to attend a Chuck Berry concert..... Read More
The Guess Who “No Time” (1969)
There are records, there are nights, and there are memories. Indelible, irreplaceable, lifetime memories. This one included me and my friends Zing and Stenley in our frat house (and later, critically, Stenley’s roommate Yak), and it featured one album: The Best of The Guess Who..... Read More
Creedence Clearwater Revival “Molina” (1970)
..I’d like to revisit the topic here to award an equally important title for the longest single fake ending duration – call it the qualitative title – to Creedence Clearwater Revival. In their 1970 hit ‘Molina,’ the band held their false finish for a full, time-stopping..... Read More
Rolling Stones “Dance Little Sister” (1974)
Over the years, rockers seem to have exhibited some curious ideas about sisters, but in particular little sisters. The thought occurred to me recently when hearing Elton John’s much-forgotten rave-up ‘Your Sister Can’t Twist (But She Can Rock and Roll)’ – not explicitly about a “little” sister, but with the lyric..... Read More
Richie Havens “Freedom” (1969)
Of all the iconic performances that took place at Woodstock during its era-defining “3 Days of Peace & Music,” 32 acts in total, perhaps none was as singularly identifiable with the event, as historically significant for truly capturing the zeitgeist of the counter-culture moment, as Richie Havens’ classic rendition of his song ‘Freedom.’ Guess how...... Read More
Bob Dylan “My Back Pages” (1964) [performed 1992]
..on the occasion of the 30th anniversary tribute concert to Bob Dylan. As they set forth into Dylan’s 1964 classic ‘My Back Pages,’ the procession of participants taking a turn went as follows: Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison. Talk about a murderers’ row!..... Read More
Lynyrd Skynyrd “Freebird” (1973)
It’s two songs, really. The second part – the seemingly endless rounds of classic chord progressions and never-to-be-matched guitar wailing – made it what it is, arguably the greatest rock song of all time. But would it be remembered that way without the first part, that sweet, melancholic ballad written and sung by perhaps the...... Read More
The Beatles “All Together Now” (1969)
Since the onset of the Coronavirus crisis we’ve been bombarded with the message “We’re all in this together.” Celebrities, newscasters, friends, neighbors, all well-intentioned, no doubt. Well guess what, I’m calling bullshit. Sad to say but we’re not actually all in this together... Read More