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
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
Brian Wilson – Imagination (Giant) It’s kind of sad that after decades of being an acknowledged pop musical genius, former Beach Boys front man Brian Wilson is probably best known now by kids as the guy that Barenaked Ladies sang about. On Wilson’s first solo album in nearly a decade, he sets about straightening that out. … Continue reading
Garbage – Version 2.0 (Almo Sounds) The surprise success of Garbage’s debut album took this band from being a vanity project for producer Bruce Vig and a bunch of studio boffins with a hot British bird fronting into an actual working rock band. This new sense of permanence works in this follow-up’s favor, giving a sense … Continue reading
Vonda Shepard – Songs From Ally McBeal (550 Music Soundtrax) Shepard is a L.A. cult singer who’s hit career paydirt playing the musical voice of TV’s quirkiest new lawyer. She has a strong bluesy folk sound that captures the streetwise but frazzled feel of the series. The rocking out theme song “Searching My Soul” captures the … Continue reading
Todd Rundgren – The Very Best Of Todd Rundgren (Rhino) It’s a little easy to forget now that he is calling himself TR-i (Todd Rundgren Interactive) and putting the technology cart before the musical horse, that once upon a time, Upper Darby, Pa.’s favorite son was just a damned good singer and songwriter. The Very Best … Continue reading
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