Plethora Of Pop

A childhood obsession reveals so much more — A distinct crunching sound comes from underneath the seat cushion. No doubt the hundredth cornflake to have lost its way among the furred and frayed fabric. That’s my fault, you see, I’m too busy snuggled into the chair watching my favorite program as a five-year-old. Everyone’s bestie and not at…

A list of my favorite non-single tracks — I recently watched a WatchMojo video about Underrated Britney Spears songs. The criteria for their list was that they were non-singles only. I love discovering lesser-known songs, so this was right up my alley. It inspired me to create my own lists of great songs that were never singles. For…

Crossover Country in 1972 — There are no anomalies in AM Hit Radio, circa my youth (1962–75). There are, however, many jarring juxtapositions. Like the position of two songs on the year-end Hot 100 Billboard charts for 1972. The # 75 song for that year was Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out.” …

I haven’t even finished my story on Jeff Beck yet! — I woke in the middle of the night recently and learned of Lisa Marie. Go back to sleep and when I woke up again I learned of Jeff Beck. I’m still working on that piece. And now this. Waaaaat is going on 2023?? You have our attention! The photo above…

One of rock’s greatest sidemen who was so revered they even named a London street after him — Who doesn’t know Rod Stewart, Pete Townsend, Eric Clapton, Ronnie Wood and Steve Marriot? But who knows the guy who wrote, made albums and toured with all of these stellar superstars? No? I’ll tell you. Ronnie Lane was that artist. He was the joint composer of Q Magazine’s no.59 album…

Interview #4: Chelsea Alexandra — A new year means a new slate of interviews! We will be releasing these once a month with the hopes it continues to connect our writers more to the familiar names they see around these parts. Enough of my babbling let’s introduce January’s interviewee — Chelsea Alexandra! See what she…

A surprising Rate-a-Record Challenge — Conflict is the essence of storytelling. Here are three dramatized songs about conflict. You may need to listen to each several times to pick up on the storyline, but I believe you’ll find the experience worthwhile. Hello Saferide, “Long Lost Penpal” Annika Norlin and Firefox AK act out a retrospective drama of a woman reaching…

Reviewing Neil Young’s Time Fades Away — In 1973, the year Neil Young’s live album Time Fades Away was released, I was struggling through my senior year of high school. Not struggling academically; rather, it was a slog to want to stay in such an unchallenging environment, and this time I am speaking academically. This morning, as…

A Reet Good Song from a Rock N’ Roll Icon & 2 Songs he inspired! — The Back-Story Last year a writing prompt was born. Medium writer Terry Barr published this article below: Rate-A-Record A brand new Plethora of Pop Series certain people of my era; semi-baby-boomers, remember. Dick Clark's American Bandstand…medium.com This concept was best described by Paul Combs… … Terry based the original challenge on the American Bandstand segment “Rate-A-Record.” …