Category: Rock and Roll Revisited

The genesis of The Carpenters’ “Goodbye to Love” is the stuff of legend. Tony Peluso’s guitar solo kicks it up to iconic status.

While “Touch Me” remains my all time favorite Doors Tune, some critics considered it a sell-out. I think it’s their best work.

The backstory of B.J. Thomas’ 1972 Top 20 hit, “Rock and Roll Lullaby”, is one of serendipity and how all the elements can converge to create a classic.

A sequel is almost never as good as the original. Petula Clark’s “I Know a Place,” the follow up to her smash international debut, “Downtown”, broke the rule.

“Monday Monday” was an afterthought. John Phillips wrote it over a weekend and the Mamas and Papas wrote it off, until fans made it as a classic.

When we still did “record hops”, certain songs always filled the dance floor. Johnny Rivers’ “Swayin’ to the Music ” was one of em.

The syncopated bass line in “The Beat Goes On” was totally Carol Kaye’s invention. And it helped make Sonny & Cher rock stars.

They knocked the Beatles out No.1, smoked dope in the White House, and after 5 decades, The Turtles are still “Happy Together”.

The Beach Boys’ “Dance, Dance, Dance” is Brian Wilson when the stories the songs told were about the joys and tribulations of growing up.

The story of the unlikely success of Chris Rea’s “Fool If You Think It’s Over” is the stuff of a novel about trial and redemption.