The following interview with Alan Parsons originally appeared in a 2005 edition of Goldmine magazine. I interviewed Mr. Parsons, along with Eric Woolfson, for this cover story. “Will you be paying for this with cash or credit, sir?” asked the record store clerk. “Credit card,” said the tall, bearded Englishman, putting down the several Alan…
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The Gift in Three Speeds
Trust me, I was NOT expecting this. Not in the slightest. I received a Facebook message from my friend Tim – he’s the captain of the Stir Crazy trivia team upon which we won the 2017 World Tavern Trivia championship. Tim and his friends have dominated Hudson Valley trivia competitions, so I figured he was…
Read MoreRonnie Spector: For Every Kiss You Give Me, I’ll Give You Three
This article was originally written by Chuck Miller for Goldmine magazine in 1998. At the center is a voice. A voice that could wring emotion out of any lyric; a voice that could capture an audience and share the emotions of ecstacy and pain and love and longing. A voice that has evolved over the…
Read MoreDid the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame get it right? (2017 induction edition)
The inductions for the Class of 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were just announced. Of the nearly two dozen bands, singers and musicians nominated, six were selected for enshrinement. Personally, I’m still griping about the omission of the Moody Blues, Boston, Styx, Grand Funk Railroad, New Order and the Skatalites. Not even on…
Read More“Bohemian Rhapsody” – the violent crime drama
The first 45 record I ever bought with my own money – or at least the first 45 that didn’t have the words “Disney” or “Cricket” on it – was the 45 of “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. I’ve blogged about this before, about how I went to the Blue Note Record Shop in downtown Albany…
Read MoreSome post-9/11 memories…
I have two stories to tell. One of the stories took place on the anniversary of 9/11, one only tangentially involves 9/11. So bear with me. The first story takes place on September 11, 2004. It’s the three-year anniversary of that somber date. At the time, I was freelancing for an antiques and auction publication…
Read MoreMarcia Howard: A voice from the past brings the past to The Voice
Way back in 1982, one of my favorite international rock songs was a track called “Solid Rock,” by the Australian group Goanna. I loved this song, I played the bejeebers out of it on my college radio station, and I’ve featured it several times in this blog. You know … this track. Over time, Goanna…
Read MoreThat’s not the Little River Band that you remember…
On June 17, a band calling themselves the Little River Band will perform a concert at Proctor’s Theater. This band will perform many of Little River Band’s classic songs and hits. There’s just one little problem. The current lineup taking the stage at Proctors is not the classic lineup from the 1970’s. In fact, there’s…
Read MoreEarth Wind and Fire: I’ll Write a Song For You
I originally wrote this article, a profile of the legendary band Earth, Wind and Fire, for Goldmine magazine way back in January 1998. The article consisted of extensive interviews with Maurice White, Philip Bailey and Verdine White. This article is being reprinted in today’s blog in honor and in memory of the legendary Maurice White,…
Read MoreCongratulations to Shane Howard, now a Member of the Order of Australia
I first discovered Shane Howard’s music in 1982 when, as a student at Hamilton College, I worked at the college radio station WHCL. I received an imported copy of the Australian band Goanna’s Spirit of Place album, and proceeded to play the LP on air as often as I could – including playing the LP’s…
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