Wikipedia defines an Easter egg as a “hidden message, or a secret feature.” In software, it could be a simple game that appears when a certain keyboard combination is used, or on a DVD, hidden features are revealed when a menu image is selected. Rock and roll is filled with wonderful Easter eggs. An EasterContinue reading “Rock and Roll Easter Eggs”
Category Archives: Rock and Roll
Johnny Come Lately, by Steve Earle
“Johnny Come Lately” and a Difficult America
Running Up the Stairs to “Sweet Child o’ Mine”
Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns and Roses
Just Like Pagliacci Did. “Tears of a Clown”
“Smokey Robinson is America’s greatest living poet.” Though this quote has been attributed to Bob Dylan, it has never been confirmed that our modern day Bard actually uttered these exact words. It may have been him, it may have been his manager, or it may have just been a creative journalist with a wild imagination.Continue reading “Just Like Pagliacci Did. “Tears of a Clown””
My Sweet Teenage Summer Nights, and “No Surrender”
“No Surrender,” by Bruce Springsteen
Straight from the Gutter
My friend Michael had just come home after spending a college semester abroad in London. We met for lunch to catch up after his return home, and he handed me a cassette tape. “I heard these guys performing on the street in London, and they were great. Listen to the tape…You’ll love it.” Michael told meContinue reading “Straight from the Gutter”
The Perfect Fantasy of “Just My Imagination”
The fantasy is Over, Reality Sets In. “Just My Imagination”
A Classic, from Just Down the Street
The centerpiece of my teenage room was my stereo. I had a killer turntable with a receiver, a dual tape deck and beautiful sounding speakers on either side of my bed. Behind my turntable were two milk crates, stacked on top of one another, holding my 250 record albums. The first album I really remember listeningContinue reading “A Classic, from Just Down the Street”
The Day We Met Mavis
In 2007, Mavis Staples released the album We’ll Never Turn Back, an amazing collection of civil rights anthems, updated to reflect the current struggles and concerns of African Americans in a post 9/11 America. I first discovered Mavis Staples as a member of The Staple Singers, a soul group that found fame in the 1960’sContinue reading “The Day We Met Mavis”
Paul Pena, and the Career that Should Have Been
Every now and then I find a nugget. Whether through the recommendation of a friend, something I happened upon on the radio or read about, I always enjoy finding that rare musical treasure I had not heard of before. The discovery (though usually aided by others) is mine, and I hold it dear. Riding in the carContinue reading “Paul Pena, and the Career that Should Have Been”
1Perfect Song 