Long before professional recording gear became cheap enough for bedroom musicians to create quality recordings, major labels dominated the industry as they had access to the finest equipment available and the producers and studios that housed them. Typically, these labels would force musicians to work with studios and producers to help guarantee that their financial investments would find their way to the airwaves and generate record sales.
 
In the early 70’s, an MIT graduate student named Tom Scholz, who was working at the Polaroid Corporation as an engineer, started collecting and modifying various used recording equipment. Over the next four years, he created his own devices, wrote songs, and recorded demos in the basement of the apartment he was renting. After years of rejection, Epic records signed Scholz to a recording contract with the stipulation that he fly out to LA and work with an established record producer.

John Boylan was the producer, but little did Epic know that Scholz refused to fly out to LA, and Boylan looked the other way while Scholz recorded everything but the drums from Boston in the basement of his apartment.
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“More Than a Feeling” was the first single from that album, and is considered one of the greatest rock songs ever recorded, showcasing Scholz’s engineering prowess and powerful guitar sounds, and Brad Delp’s brilliant vocals. We lost Brad Delp under tragic circumstances eighteen years ago this month, but this song and its unlikely creation will never be forgotten.   

​Back in the days when musical recordings were released as singles, and more specifically as 45 singles with a song on each side, it was rare for the b side to be the standout tune. Such is the case with this month’s classic.
 
“Sh-Boom” was released in 1954 on Cat Records as the b side to “Little Maiden”. It’s one of the first Doo-wop songs to break into the Billboard top ten. It was also the last hit for the Chords as they would have to change their name to the Chordcats and fell into obscurity.  

​This month’s track is an unsung gem from a team of legendary behind the scenes musical heroes, producer David Axelrod and the Los Angeles musical collective The Wrecking Crew. Featuring the tasty drumming of Earl Palmer and the always melodic basslines of Carol Kaye, this track is an interesting mix of funk, rock, classical, and all things arranged.  

2024 is nearly gone and as I look back on the year, one record that stood out was Lutalo’s The Academy. Released in September on Winspear, it’s a standout effort from a musician who deserves more attention.
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https://lutalo.bandcamp.com/album/the-academy
https://winspear.biz/

This is another great song from a hidden gem of a songwriter.
Enjoy!
 
https://maddiemoon.bandcamp.com/track/hold-drifting-away
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbl4SV407owVdhoNzJUdWVQ
https://x.com/maddieemoons
https://www.musicbed.com/artists/maddie-moon/45056
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​Happy Halloween Everyone! 

“Oh yes, the bread feels wonderful Ricky…”
 
Get out and support Bubbles and the boys!
 
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#bubblesandtheshitrockers #trailerparkboys #longhauler
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/bubblesandtheshitrockers/i-only-got-eyes-for-you

With the upcoming release of the Borderlands Film, I thought it’d be fun to go back to 2019 and take a listen to what was, to me, the standout track from one of the video games that this potential blockbuster is based on.

“Sanctuary 3” was composed and produced by Michael McCann. It’s from the Borderlands 3 soundtrack and takes the listener on a musical adventure from the wild west through Africa, Asia, the Middle East, electronica, and beyond. I think it’s a masterclass of modern production and perfectly matches up with the franchise.  
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Michael McCann is a BAFTA-nominated and Clio-award winning composer, producer, and sound designer. He continues to create wonderful soundscapes for each project he touches, while hiding from the limelight and social media trappings. 

Vincent “Randy” Chin’s career in the music business was a winding tale from stocking jukeboxes, to owning a record shop, to then recording local Kingston artists. From his early success producing Lord Creator, Alton Ellis, and John Holt to his later productions with Bob Marley and the Wailers and Burning Spear, Randy’s Studio 17 and his Impact All-Stars house band are now considered legends of Jamaican music.

“Sixpence” was a 1975 single first released on Chin’s Impact! record label. It’s a hilarious play-on-word song, and although it was recorded during the roots time period of Reggae, it was a wink to the often humorous calypsonian music from the early 60’s.
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Max Romeo is still around and is currently in a battle over royalties for his music. I wish him well in his pursuit, as many of these fantastic artists from Jamacia passed away before they were ever able to receive the money they so rightly deserved for their talents and work.    

You know you’re a special musician when a pair of singer songwriters specifically think of your drumming when putting together their next project. Such was the case when Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro and Mike Vennart of Oceansize / British Theater asked famed drummer Dave Lombardo to join them in creating Empire State Bastard.

“Stutter” is the second single released last June from Rivers of Heresy. It’s a frenetic, maybe angry number, that showcases the nearly 60-year-old Lombardo’s lyrical fills and uncanny double bass kick drum heroics.
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From his work with Slayer and John Zorn, to his work with Mr. Bungle, and now Empire State Bastard, Lombardo has always been known not just for his speed behind the kit, but his kindness with his time and with everyone he meets.