In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed Yes's Steve Howe, Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman for my "Anatomy of a Song" column on Roundabout, released in 1972 (go here). Researching, interviewing and writing the column was a wonderful trip back in time for me. I loved the song and the band's album Fragile. I was 15, and every family in our suburban neighborhood north of New York owned an odd-colored muscle car and a station wagon. For some reason, muscle cars seemed to be all that was available back then. Dads drove them and so did moms. As for the song, I had no idea what the words meant, but I do now, and so will you.
Also in the WSJ, my "House Call" interview with Danica McKellar, who played Winnie Cooper on TV's Wonder Years (go here). We talked about her own wonder years growing up near San Diego and in Los Angeles and her passion for math and riding on swings.
And finally, my "Playlist" interview with Floyd Cardoz on how Bob Seger's Against the Wind convinced him to study culinary arts in India and why he yearned to visit America (go here). Today, Floyd owns Paowalla, a superb
Gene Puerling. Following my post last week on the J's With Jamie, I received the following email from Barrin Bonet:
"Thanks for the nice post on the vocal groups.
The link for the Gene Puerling interview is really a tribute with a short quote from the interview.
The complete interview on YouTube is here"...
Bette Davis sings! If you're unfamiliar with director Raymond De Felitta's blog, Music Til Dawn, be sure to bookmark it. This week, with the Bette Davis-Joan Crawford feud recently in the news with FX's broadcast of Feud: Bette and Joan, Raymond found great footage on YouTube of Davis singing What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, a theme song that wasn't, and the theme to the film sequel, Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte (go here and scroll down)
Jimmy Heath. Bret Primack's documentary, Passing the Torch, on tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath and his work with the Tucson Jazz Institute Ellington Band has been selected for screening at the Arizona International Film Festival in April. High five, Bret! Here's the trailer...
Peter and Will Anderson, the saxophonist twins, were students of the late Joe Temperley at the Juilliard School of Music. Now they are trying to raise money to record an album in tribute to the baritone saxophonist called Blues for Joe. They've nearly reached their goal and can use a little bit of your help to go over the top. Go here to watch the video explaining their mission...
What the heck. The Spidells were formed in 1962 at Tennessee State University. Here's Billy Lockridge and the Spidells covering the Tymes' So Much in Love...
Oddball album cover of the week.
More like the ghost of Ray Bohr at the pipe organ.