Category: Music

Paul McCartney's "The Lyrics": Come for the words, stay for the pictures

If you had a nickel for every time Paul McCartney was asked to write his autobiography, you’d have a lot of nickels. Memoirs from rock music stars usually are formulaic. Here are the basic themes: They grow up poor. There was some form of dysfunction in their childhood. Mediocre to poor students who couldn’t wait... Read more »
By Howard Moore,
January 2, 2022 at 6:11 am • 

The ten best albums from 1971

1971 was a special year in the world of popular/rock music. Some of the greatest acts of the classic rock era released their best and most influential work. For the last year, this column has run a series highlighting almost thirty albums from that year. The goal was to see how they held up after... Read more »
By Howard Moore,
December 22, 2021 at 6:11 am • 

Fifty years of The Concert for Bangladesh

My friend came to meWith sadness in his eyesHe told me that he wanted helpBefore his country dies. Although I couldn’t feel the painI knew I had to tryNow I’m asking all of youTo help us save some lives The lyrics tell the story. Ravi Shankar came to his friend, George Harrison, to tell him... Read more »
By Howard Moore,
December 20, 2021 at 6:11 am • 
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Mike Nesmith death at seventy-eight is a remembrance that there will not always be a next time

I’m heartbroken. I’ve lost a dear friend and partner. I’m so grateful that we could spend the last couple of months together doing what we loved best – singing, laughing, and doing shtick.I’ll miss it all so much. Especially the shtick. Rest in peace, Nez.~Mickey Dolenz on the death Michael Nesmith Last month Mike Nesmith... Read more »
By Howard Moore,
December 11, 2021 at 6:11 am • 

Neil Young and Crazy Horse "Barn": A familiar and comfortable album

Neil Young has been one of music’s biggest stars for close to sixty years. From the Buffalo Springfield to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to a solo career that encompassed more than forty studio albums, Young has been a part of the scene that spans at least four generations of fans. With this fame comes... Read more »
By Howard Moore,
December 10, 2021 at 10:25 am • 

Stevie Wonder's 1971 album "Where I'm Coming From" helped set the stage for future greatness

When discussing the music of the 1970s, you can’t go too long before the name Stevie Wonder comes up. Three of his albums, “Innervisions”, “Fullfillingness’ First Finale” and”Songs in the Key of Life” won Grammy Awards for Best Album. Twelve of his twenty-five Grammys were won during the decade. However, his transformation from the thirteen-year-old... Read more »
By Howard Moore,
December 9, 2021 at 6:11 am • 
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Is Cat Stevens' "Peace Train" as hopeful in 2021 as it was fifty years ago?

Now I’ve been happy latelyThinking about the good things to comeAnd I believe it could beSomething good has begunOh, I’ve been smiling latelyDreaming about the world as oneAnd I believe it could beSomeday it’s going to come It’s 1971. The United States is as divided as it’s ever been. Richard Nixon is President. Protests over... Read more »
By Howard Moore,
November 27, 2021 at 11:53 am • 

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss do it again with "Raise the Roof", but what took so long?

When you saw them together for the first time, you wondered what was this? It even looked a little creepy. A legendary rocker from the 1960s-70s and the much younger violin-playing singer with her roots in the country/Americana genres. What could they possibly have in common? But then you heard sing together. You heard how... Read more »
By Howard Moore,
November 20, 2021 at 6:11 am • 

Rod Stewart's new album "The Tears of Hercules" is unlistenable

I wanted to like it. I really wanted to like it. I have a love/hate relationship with Rod Stewart. I love his early music. His work with Jeff Beck is brilliant. His first few solo albums are outstanding. Faces was a great band. “Maggie May’, “Reason to Believe”, “Mandolin Wind”, “Stay With Me”…I can go... Read more »
By Howard Moore,
November 13, 2021 at 12:29 am • 
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Brian Wilson at the Genesee Theater: A night with some of the greatest hit songs of our lives.

If you’re going to see legendary musician Brian Wilson in concert, be prepared for a night of fun, fun, fun. Also, be prepared for a night tinged with sadness. You saw both Saturday night when he played at Waukegan’s Genesee Theater. When it comes to musical artists, the word genius is overused. But, it certainly... Read more »
By Howard Moore,
October 25, 2021 at 9:04 am • 
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    Howard Moore

    Every five years or so I decide to update this section. I can't believe I've been doing this for close to ten years. The last time I did this I was close to sixty years old. Now I'm just a few months away from the big 7-ZERO. Scary AF!!! I'm pretty sure I won't be doing an update when I hit 80, but you never know. But until then, lets just be grateful.

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