I was churning through my music collection recently, trying to bring order to the chaos that results from a haphazard mix of digital music files, CDs, and even a few cassettes and vinyl records. In case you're wondering (and I know you are) I got rid of my eight-track tapes a long time ago -- … Continue reading From Alvino To Zoot – The Name’s The Thing
Category: Oldies
Tinkering With Car Radios – Simpler Isn’t Always Better
A while back, the little display window on my car stereo suddenly went dark. Since I normally listen to CD's, and on those rare occasions when I do listen to the radio it's usually tuned to one station, I didn't really notice it much at first. But I eventually found myself missing it, so I … Continue reading Tinkering With Car Radios – Simpler Isn’t Always Better
Jimmie Driftwood – A Teacher Who Became A Musical Treasure
He's seldom mentioned these days, and even at his peak never experienced huge record sales. He also didn't have the passionate following of other, more politically-minded folk music artists, but Jimmie Driftwood still left his mark on American music. Born James Corbett Morris in rural Arkansas, he was brought up in an family that included … Continue reading Jimmie Driftwood – A Teacher Who Became A Musical Treasure
REVIEW: Various Artists – Four Decades Of Folk Rock
Having reviewed several Time-Life boxed sets, I've learned that there are some basic truths about them. First, you can always count on these guys to have access to just about every recorded piece of music in existence. You also know that they'll work diligently to make intelligent selections from among those songs, trying their best … Continue reading REVIEW: Various Artists – Four Decades Of Folk Rock
Remembering Janis Martin – The Female Elvis
Last week, a lady passed away at age 67 in a hospital not too far from her lifelong home in Virginia. Her death, along with a little of her history, was reported in the national media but didn't make much of a ripple in the music world, and that's a cryin' shame. Her name was … Continue reading Remembering Janis Martin – The Female Elvis
Bobby Helms Was Something Special
While I was growing up, I often heard adults talking about some of the musicians who were popular at that time, and many of those artists are still pretty well known today. However, there were others who seemed to be huge stars in those days but are now largely forgotten, and sometimes I wonder why. … Continue reading Bobby Helms Was Something Special
Retro Rockin’ With The Georgia Satellites
I've never made much of a secret about my feelings concerning musicians who are sometimes called one-hit wonders. I think the very term is unfairly applied to many of them, and even when it's used with some accuracy it still carries an unfortunate stigma that shouldn't exist. Having said that, I have to confess that … Continue reading Retro Rockin’ With The Georgia Satellites
REVIEW: 50th Anniversary Collection – Dick Clark’s American Bandstand
If you're in the business of producing boxed sets of CDs, and your intent is to put together the Big Kahuna of oldies collections, one that includes the best from the 1950's through the 1980's, I can't imagine a more potent combination than Dick Clark and Time-Life. Think about it. A company that has corralled … Continue reading REVIEW: 50th Anniversary Collection – Dick Clark’s American Bandstand
Remembering Elvis — Via Terry Stafford
With the approach of the thirtieth anniversary of Elvis Presley's death, we're inevitably being flooded with articles about the King, even though there's not much left to discover about him. Maybe the way to mark the occasion is from an entirely different perspective, and if imitation is really the sincerest form of flattery, then we … Continue reading Remembering Elvis — Via Terry Stafford
REVIEW: Flower Power: Music Of The Love Generation
Every time I see another collection from Time-Life, I am once again floored by the skill and determination they exhibit in assembling these things. I can almost picture a room full of elves, all with little phonographs spinning furiously as they listen to endless oldies, deciding which to include in their latest boxed set. The … Continue reading REVIEW: Flower Power: Music Of The Love Generation
Geezer Music Club 