When a Dead Engine Found Its Beat on a Rock RecordA failed car engine usually means an expensive tow, a weekend lost to repairs and a trip to the mechanic. In a recording studio, however, the same lump of…
A look at the tiny clubs that launched rock careersBefore the arenas, festival slots and gold records, many rock artists learned their trade in rooms with sticky floors, unreliable monitors and barely enough…
Rock Songs That Captured Lightning in a Single TakeA great one-take rock recording feels less like a polished product than a room suddenly catching fire. The musicians commit to the tempo, the singer risks the…
The rise and fall of the rock opera in the 1970sThe 1970s were the decade when rock music decided it could carry an entire drama. A song no longer had to stand alone; it could become a scene, a character, or…
Essential Deep Cuts from the British Invasion EraThe British Invasion is often reduced to a handful of giant singles: “She Loves You,” “Satisfaction,” “You Really Got Me,” and “My Generation.” Those records…
How a Motorcycle Breakdown Became a Rock Lyric LegendA motorcycle coughing to a halt on the side of the road sounds like the perfect beginning for a rock song. The rider is stranded, the engine is silent, and the…
When Album Art Crossed The LineA great record sleeve can become part of an album’s mythology, but the most provocative designs have sometimes distracted from the music entirely. From nudity…