Jill Sobule Too Cool… by Jay S. Jacobs It’s Friday evening at the Upstage; a new Philadelphia venue built in a beautiful old bank building that has been used as a Goth nightclub for the last several years. Lloyd Cole, the Scottish cult-singer who turned some heads with his 80s band the Commotions, is unpacking … Continue reading
Devo-Pioneers Who Got Scalped–The Anthology (Rhino) Now, many years on, Devo is somewhat thought of as a novelty act. But in 1978, the spuds of Devo were every bit as subversive musically as the Sex Pistols and the Clash. They put together a truly unique philosophical and artistic pose that revolutionized music. The fact that they … Continue reading
Jimmy Webb All He Knows… by Ronald Sklar If you are under thirty and have even the slightest retro sensibility, chances are you are familiar with the classic pop songs of Jimmy Webb, and good for you. And if you are over thirty, endlessly toiling in an office and music appreciation is just a faint … Continue reading
BOBBY VEE SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE BY RONALD SKLAR Rock and roll is cram-packed with ironic stories. Read the bio of almost any artist and you’ll find the woulda-coulda-shoulda tale of how he almost became an accountant. And prefacing almost every Top 10 hit is the tiresome fable of how the song nearly wound up … Continue reading
Debbie Gibson Shocks Your Mama by Jay S. Jacobs (PopEntertainment.com Archives: This interview was conducted in 1994 when Debbie’s fourth album was released.) Debbie Gibson played a stripper in the video for her recent single, “Losin’ Myself.” Her current single is called “Shock Your Mama” and the promo clip features Debbie in a scantily clad … Continue reading
TARZAN (1999) Starring the voices of Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Glenn Close, Rosie O’Donnell, Brian Blessed, Nigel Hawthorne, Lance Henriksen, Wayne Knight, Alex D. Linz and Taylor Dempsey. Screenplay by Tab Murphy, Bob Tzudiker and Noni White. Directed by Kevin Lima and Chris Buck. Distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. 88 minutes. Rated G. After the … Continue reading
Sixpence None the Richer – There She Goes by Jay S. Jacobs Originally posted on June 14, 1999. Sixpence None the Richer are just one of a long, storied tradition in music– the overnight sensation that had been toiling away in obscurity on the sidelines for years. Sixpence – which is made up of singer Leigh … Continue reading
Peabo Bryson – Unconditional Love (Private Music) On the first new disk in five years by the soul balladeer extraordinaire, it seems like time has stood still. It is amazing how Unconditional Love feels completely contemporary and yet holds the seductive allure of Bryson’s older work. Bryson’s smooth soul love songs still put the wannabes out now to … Continue reading
Peabo Bryson Feel The Fire by Jay S. Jacobs The first time I listened to Peabo Bryson’s music – I mean really listened to it – was the spring of 1984. I was at Pennsylvania State University on a date with Denise, a girl with whom I thought I might just be in love. Before going out, … Continue reading
Chuck E. Weiss Chuck E.’s In Love by Jay S. Jacobs “How come he don’t come and p.l.p. with me down at the meter no more…” With that opening line to a hit song in 1979, singer/songwriter Chuck E. Weiss was introduced to American popular culture. Problem was he didn’t write the song – or … Continue reading
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