Breaking It Down: What Makes a Great Riff?
It only takes a few notes, but you’re hooked. In this episode of their “Breaking It Down” podcast, John Montagna and Jeff Ganz furiously trade riffs and analyze what makes them so great.
Country Joe & The Fish: Riding Waves of Electrical Sound
Joe McDonald’s affair with Janis Joplin was brief but his contributions to pop have lasted a long time because of tunes such as “Thursday,” “Death Sound Blues,” and “Rock and Soul Music.”
Aretha’s Roots: The Gospel and Jazz Years
If the Queen of Soul had stuck with either jazz or gospel, she could easily have become a sovereign of those music genres too.
Joe Cocker at his Cocker-iest
None other than Ray Charles gave this British blues man a shout out for absorbing his style – then making it his own. Our list of great Joe Cocker covers reminds us as to how he put a unique stamp on some modern classics.
Countdown to Ecstasy Indeed: Steely Dan’s Studio Albums
Steely Dan expert Anthony Robustelli has nice things to say (and unique insights) about all their studio albums but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his personal preferences.