I guess it might be a little bit of a stretch to call the Sixties group Peanut Butter Conspiracy a one-hit wonder, mainly because their biggest seller barely made it into the top 100. But they were pretty representative of the many psychedelic groups that appeared in those days, and they certainly had one of … Continue reading Peanut Butter Has Always Had A Lot Of Fans
Category: Boomers
Buddy DeFranco Deserves Some Love
I've been on a kind of clarinet thing lately, reminiscing about my childhood and my own lack of talent while also restating my admiration for some of the greats. With the latter thought in mind, it occurred to me that a few of the great jazz clarinetists have never received the recognition they deserve, and … Continue reading Buddy DeFranco Deserves Some Love
Coal Miners And Country Gentlemen
At one time, several members of my extended family were involved in coal mining at some level, and that's probably true of many of us with rural roots. Along with farming (something my family also knew a little about), mining was one of the most common jobs around in those days. In some cases -- … Continue reading Coal Miners And Country Gentlemen
REVIEW: Gary Burton Quartet – Quartet Live
Throughout his long career, vibes master Gary Burton has been one of the most respected jazz performers around. But even though he's performed alongside many of the greats (and won six Grammys along the way), one of his best spots has always been as the heart and soul of the groups he's led. Those groups … Continue reading REVIEW: Gary Burton Quartet – Quartet Live
The Captain Meets His Match
I've once again been digging through old photos, and I ran across a standard school picture of myself as a sixth-grader. Nothing unusual about that, but I couldn't help but notice the white band across my chest. I immediately recognized it as part of my Safety Patrol belt, which in turn released a flood of … Continue reading The Captain Meets His Match
Master Of Vibrato – Sidney Bechet
Those who have read my stuff before (all three of you) will remember that I was once quite a clarinetist. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that I played at being a clarinetist, but that was enough to find myself drawn to some of the greats. You know, the guys who could … Continue reading Master Of Vibrato – Sidney Bechet
Tennessee Ernie And The Caravelles
As a young teenager with eclectic music tastes, one of my favorite records was Tennessee Ernie Ford's tribute to coal miners, "Sixteen Tons." Of course, I wasn't the only one who found a lot to like about that song -- after all, it rocketed to the top of both country and pop charts -- but … Continue reading Tennessee Ernie And The Caravelles
REVIEW: Hank Jones & Frank Wess – Hank and Frank II
Follow-up albums are sort of like movie sequels. If the original was well-received and successful, the sequel is often disappointing because it's just more of the same and probably not as well done. But occasionally a follow-up comes along that not only includes a lot of what made the original good, but adds new elements … Continue reading REVIEW: Hank Jones & Frank Wess – Hank and Frank II
Glenn Campbell And The Bogus Beach Boys
In all fairness to the 1960s group known as the Hondells, it's probably a little misleading to call them "bogus". In fact, they were a bunch of solid musicians who did manage to generate some good sounds that were very reminiscent of the Beach Boys -- but the group wasn't quite what it might have … Continue reading Glenn Campbell And The Bogus Beach Boys
Memories Of Memorial Day
Memorial Day can hold different meanings for all of us, but most of our thoughts obviously have something to do with memories. The holiday itself was originally called Decoration Day and was intended to honor military casualties, but has gradually become a day to honor all those who have passed on. Although those types of … Continue reading Memories Of Memorial Day
Geezer Music Club 