Music

Pink Flies High at the Grammys
Liz Smith

In some ways, I thought the Grammys belonged to Pink. Ten years after her initial surge to fame with 'Get This Party Started,' the soulful-voiced blonde, had one of those classic gasp-inducing performances -- I've rarely seen or heard anything as astonishing as Pink's rendition of 'Glitter.'

Barbra Streisand, Still Pitch-Perfect After All These Years
Liz Smith

Barbra Streisand's voice has not suffered much over the years, despite the fact that she doesn't exercise those golden vocal chords. She has admitted to some last-minute warm-ups right before recording or beginning a tour, but otherwise, she just opens her mouth and out come those famous tones, ravishing, if inevitably matured and deeper.

Mariah Carey - Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel

Mariah Carey - This 'Imperfect Angel' Knows What Love Is
Liz Smith

"ALL MY life, my saving grace, the thing that kept me steady, was listening to music; on the radio, on records or my mother's singing." That's the famously voluptuous singing superstar Mariah Carey, with whom I had a brief conversation the other day. I was the last of Mariah's duties that long afternoon; she'd given about 19 interviews to promote her new album, "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel."

80s Acts Touring Again: Demand High for Forgotten Decade Music
Andrew Barker

For '80s acts, the moment that signified pop music's wheel of fortune had spun back around their way may have been in 2007's final episode of 'The Sopranos' when Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing' played during the final moments of a series well-known for its pop IQ.

Willie Nelson, 10 Best Songs in 'Rock Band: Country Track Pack'
Willie Nelson

10 Best Songs in 'Rock Band: Country Track Pack'
Gus Mastrapa, Crispy Gamer Videogame Reviews

Music games have the power to turn people on to new music.

And what genre needs more rehabilitation than country music?

More people hate on Nashville's music than live in the entire state of Tennessee. Gus Mastrapa has been playing 'Rock Band: Country Track Pack.'

Michael Jackson, Gone Too Soon
(M. Ryder)

Remembering My Michael Jackson
Liz Smith

Here's how I want to remember Michael -- not as the mega-star, not as Wacko Jacko, but as a lovely boy whom I got to know a bit during the filming of "The Wiz" when he was 16. He was shy -- surprisingly so, for somebody who was already a show biz veteran, and a star.

His solo "Off the Wall" and "Thriller" albums were just around the corner. He was still the brilliant lead singer of the Jackson Five -- a group that never would have gotten off the ground had it not been for Michael's unique talents.

Who was Michael Jackson
Victor Davis Hanson

When Michael Jackson tragically died two weeks ago, millions were shocked. The wonder, though, is not that the troubled pop-music megastar died at the relatively young age of 50 under regrettable circumstances, but that he was able to live as long as he did

Michael Jackson, Gone Too Soon
Leonard Pitts Jr.

Sometimes, death is lightning from a clear blue sky, a car that runs the red light, ice-cold water dumped on you from behind. That's how it was last week when Michael Jackson died.

Michael Jackson: 'Thriller' Was Greatest Triumph, Greatest Tragedy
Leonard Pitts Jr.

I got to interview Michael Jackson only once, at the family home in Encino, Calif. I remember Jackson did not walk about the place so much as haunt it, slumping from room to room as a great weight rested upon his sparrow shoulders.

Michael Jackson's Creative Self-Destruction
Clarence Page

Which was your favorite Michael Jackson? News that the "King of Pop" had died at age 50 might well have felt more shocking had he not shocked us so often in the past. He shocked the world in a good way back when he was a kid.

The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night
Artist: The Besnard Lakes Review: At its website, Montreal's Breakglass Studios — run by Besnard Lakes bandleader Jace Lasek — trumpets its custom 1969 Neve mixing board, used by Led Zeppelin on Physical Graffiti. The same piece of equipment was used on "Albatross," a standout on the Lakes' immersive second LP, a magnificently oceanic meld of Beach Boys harmonies, My Bloody Valentine tidal waves and Phil Spector girl-group siren songs shot through with soaring guitar. It's a producer's wet dream, like most of the... Rating: 3.5 Stars

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat The Devil's Tattoo
Artist: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Review: Five studio albums in, California psych-garage trio Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are still religious zealots — worshippers in rock's Gothic cathedral. The song titles tell the tale: "Bad Blood," "War Machine," "River Styx." In "Aya," singer-guitarist Peter Hayes moans, "She's a reckless lover/With blood-stained hands/Around the neck of her helpless man." There was a time, circa 2001, when Black Rebel Motorcycle Club were supposed to inherit the Earth, or at least the mantle of Rock's Great... Rating: 3 Stars

Serj Tankian - Elect The Dead
Artist: Serj Tankian Review: System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian's 2007 solo debut, Elect the Dead, was a harmless brain-dump, but the idea of recording it live with an orchestra is another story. The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra gamely chase Tankian into a maze of art-song, but where SoD might turn lyrics like "prophets all destroying the Tao" into an apocalyptic blitz, surging symphonics expose it as the doofy pomp it is. And asking classical musicians to play a song called "Beethoven's Cunt"? That's just mean. Rating: 1.5 Stars

Jimi Hendrix - Valleys Of Neptune
Artist: Jimi Hendrix Review: Some grousing from fans greets most posthumous Jimi Hendrix studio releases. And fair enough: Hendrix can't offer his opinion anymore, and between past dubious product (i.e., the heavily overdubbed Crash Landing) and ongoing estate squabbles, there's been plenty of sketchy business over the years. But on Valleys of Neptune — a collection of more-or-less previously unreleased tracks recorded with the Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1969, assembled by the archivists at Legacy and the Hendrix... Rating: 3.5 Stars

Broken Bells - Broken Bells
Artist: Broken Bells Review: Part Kanye West, part Brian Eno, producer-musician Brian Burton — a.k.a. Danger Mouse — has defined himself with his excellent taste in brilliant misfits. His biggest smash was Gnarls Barkley, with whom he turned oddball former Dirty South rapper Cee-Lo into a falsetto swinging soulman on the sublime "Crazy," triggering moving karaoke performances worldwide. He's helped blues-rock freaks the Black Keys find their groove; helped midcareer weirdo Beck locate his mojo on 2008's Modern... Rating: 4 Stars

Various Artists - Amchitka
Artist: Various Artists Review: This two-CD set documents a 1970 Vancouver fundraiser that sent a boatload of protesters off to halt nuclear-bomb tests on Alaska's Amchitka Island — the first example of Greenpeace-style activism. The concert was sweet and stirring: Phil Ochs is in fine voice despite tape noise; ditto a 22-year-old James Taylor, showcasing his brand-new Sweet Baby James. But the night belonged to a giggly, incandescent Joni Mitchell, previewing songs from her future classic Blue. Choice moment: "Big... Rating: 3.5 Stars

Rolling Stone Album Reviews
From the latest releases to archived favorites, here's the final word on all the music that matters, from the editors of Rolling Stone.

Magnetic Fields
Music Reviews: Show does more to reveal the flexibility of Stephen Merritt's compositions than the strength of the new album.

Mariah Carey
Music Reviews: "We Belong Together" may have been the climactic moment of Mariah Carey's Gibson Amphitheater show Tuesday (the first of two sold-out nights), and "you and I" something of a lyrical refrain, but the 90-minute performance ran according to Carey's clock.

Eric Clapton/Jeff Beck
Music Reviews: Guitarists exude different personae when examined side by side, but show a surprising congruity when together.

We Are Plastic Ono Band
Music Reviews: Yoko Ono can throw herself just about any sort of party that might strike her fancy, so one day before her 77th birthday, she opted to take over one of Gotham's most beautiful concert halls and let her freak flag fly -- as high and spectacularly vividly as it ever has.

Manhattan Transfer
Music Reviews: Manhattan Transfer seem every bit as enthusiastic about their musical collaboration as they were decades ago.

Mumford & Sons
Music Reviews: London's Mumford & Sons arrives on these shores for their first U.S. with new music to boast.

Mumford & Sons
Music Reviews: A unique, high-spirited reworking of a familiar formula.

Chris Cornell
Music Reviews: Casual was the byword for Chris Cornell's solo acoustic turn at the Troubadour Friday night.

Yeasayer
Music Reviews: Fest favorite attracted 600 patrons to the L.A. Natural History Museum's Mammoth Hall.

The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards
Music Reviews: The Grammys have become a near-ideal made-for-TV vehicle -- a musical show with few actual awards.

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall
Music Reviews: Alpert's jazz roots have emerged into full view with a show featuring his wife, Lani Hall.

Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America
Music Reviews: Docu is a slick sojourn through the show's staggering 36-year run.

Dorado Schmitt and the Django All-Stars
Music Reviews: French guitarist Dorado Schmitt leads a centennial celebration tour of Django Reinhardt's birth.

Nouvelle Vague
Music Reviews: There's nothing new about musicians tweaking convention by giving bizarro-world facelifts to iconic songs.

Joseph Arthur
Music Reviews: The Troubador was the first venue at which Joseph Arthur combined painting and singing, and for a return visit he added philanthropy.

Hope for Haiti Now
Music Reviews: Telethon goes down as a particularly stirring and well-oiled production.

Lady Gaga
Music Reviews: When Lady Gaga announced the plans for her Monsters Ball tour, she referred to the production -- with typical hyperbole -- as a "pop-electro opera." Well, doggone it if she didn't deliver just that -- Viking horns, death scenes and all -- as she kicked off her four-night, tour-ending home stand Wednesday night.

Leonard Cohen Live at the Isle of Wight 1970
Music Reviews: Murray Lerner's mesmerizing docu closely chronicles Leonard Cohen's set at the Isle of Wight.

Marianne Faithfull
Music Reviews: From doe-eyed ingénue to wrecked rocker to the emergent stateswoman of avant-cabaret.

Vampire Weekend
Music Reviews: The much-discussed cover art of Vampire Weekend's sophomore album, "Contra," features a pretty, preppily-attired young woman staring directly into the camera.

Variety.com - Music Reviews
The premier source of entertainment news. Turn to Variety.com for timely, credible articles, reviews and analysis of film, TV, music, theater, video, gaming and movie and television production -- information vital to your showbiz career.

Skillet to stay 'Awake' for headlining run
(LiveDaily.com) Following an in-progress support tour with TobyMac, Christian rockers Skillet [ tickets ] will take to the road for their own headlining trek behind last year's "Awake."... continued

Muse Gallery Spotlight: Boston, MA - March 6, 2010
(LiveDaily.com) After years of plugging away under the mainstream radar, British alt-rockers Muse [ tickets ] have finally reached A-list status, filling arena shows around North America in support of "The Resistance."... continued

Jackson Browne maps summer tour with David Lindley
(LiveDaily.com) Jackson Browne [ tickets ] will head out on the road this summer with longtime collaborator David Lindley, as the two performers support a new 2-CD live set recorded during the pair's 2006 tour.... continued

Billy Idol debuts new band in Russia
(LiveDaily.com) Billy Idol [ tickets ] will debut a new band this summer when he launches his upcoming world tour in Russia. Idol will be joined on June 5 in Moscow by longtime guitarist Steve Stevens, bassist Stephen McGrath and keyboardist Derek Sherinian, according... continued

Serj Tankian performs orchestral interpretation of 'Elect the Dead'
(LiveDaily.com) Serj Tankian [ tickets ] will perform an orchestral interpretation of his solo debut, "Elect the Dead," at two US shows this summer: July 9 at Chastain Park Amphitheater in Atlanta and July 30 at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Tankian debuted... continued

God Street Wine reunite for MS benefits
(LiveDaily.com) The members of God Street Wine [ tickets ] will come together July 9-10 for two shows benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The concerts at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City will be the first live performances by the band in... continued

Blue October maps rescheduled headlining trek
(LiveDaily.com) Alt-rockers Blue October [ tickets ] will headline a rescheduled version of the Pick Up the Phone Tour, a postponed trek from last fall to benefit suicide-prevention services and raise awareness of mental-health issues.... continued

Hot Chip adds gigs to US run behind 'One Life Stand'
(LiveDaily.com) British electro-pop group Hot Chip [ tickets ] have added more East Coast shows to its forthcoming North American tour in support of its recently released effort, "One Life Stand."... continued

Indigo Girls push 'Poseidon' run through late spring
(LiveDaily.com) Indigo Girls [ tickets ] have tacked more dates onto their in-progress US tour behind last year's "Poseidon and the Bitter Bug."... continued

Simon & Garfunkel reveal North American tour plans
(LiveDaily.com) Just days after announcing a pair of Midwest dates following their April appearance at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel have revealed plans for a complete spring North American tour.... continued

Eagles continue tacking dates onto 'Eden' excursion
(LiveDaily.com) For the third time in the last month, the Eagles [ tickets ] have confirmed additional stops for their forthcoming North American run behind "Long Road Out of Eden."... continued

About Country Music
Get the latest headlines from the About.com Country Music GuideSite.

Country Throwdown Tour firms up spring plans
(LiveDaily.com) Organizers of Country Throwdown--a traveling multi-stage affair headlined by Montgomery Gentry [ tickets ], Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town and Jack Ingram--have firmed up the tour's itinerary with dates in 23 cities this spring.... continued

Brad Paisley fine after on-stage fall
(LiveDaily.com) Brad Paisley [ tickets ] was transported to a hospital by ambulance Saturday (3/6) night after falling on stage during his performance at the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, SC. Paisley bounced back up after falling and finished the show, which was the final... continued

Toby Keith firms up plans for 'American Ride'
(LiveDaily.com) Country superstar Toby Keith [ tickets ] has filled out his summertime schedule behind last year's "American Ride," confirming dates and venues for several more US concerts.... continued

Uncle Kracker gets 'Happy' on the road
(LiveDaily.com) After a five-year lapse between albums, Uncle Kracker [ tickets ] is "ecstatic" to promote in his latest collection, "Happy Hour." He begins his jaunt in support of the CD on March 11 in his home state of Michigan.... continued

Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson added to CMA festival
(LiveDaily.com) Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Billy Currington and Kellie Pickler have been added to the lineup for the 2010 CMA Music Festival [ tickets ], set for June 10-13 in Nashville, TN, according to a press release.... continued

Darius Rucker plots spring, summer road plans
(LiveDaily.com) Hootie & The Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker [ tickets ] continues to build a successful second career as a country artist, with headlining dates lined up through much of the remainder of 2010.... continued

Steve Martin works the road behind 'The Crow'
(LiveDaily.com) A little more than a month after co-hosting the Academy Awards, actor/comedian Steve Martin [ tickets ] will take to the road with the Steep Canyon Rangers for a lengthy trek behind last year's "The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo."... continued

Willie Nelson pushes 'American Classic' into fall
(LiveDaily.com) The constantly touring Willie Nelson [ tickets ] has once again added more stops to his US trek behind last August's "American Classic."... continued

Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert top ACM noms
(LiveDaily.com) Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert lead the pack with the most nominations for the 45th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which takes place next month in Las Vegas.... continued

Sugarland fills out 'Incredible Machine' itinerary
(LiveDaily.com) Country-music duo Sugarland [ tickets ] has released the remaining stops for their substantial "Incredible Machine Tour," which will hit 57 cities this spring and summer.... continued

More quick sell-outs for Garth Brooks
(LiveDaily.com) Tickets for 20 Garth Brooks [ tickets ] concerts at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas sold out within hours of going on sale Saturday (2/27) morning. The resort's phone lines received more than 75,000 calls and the website received more than... continued

About Christian Music / Gospel
Christian Music / Gospel

1. Break Your Heart (feat. Ludacris) - Taio Cruz
Break Your Heart (feat. Ludacris) by Taio Cruz from the album Break Your Heart (feat. Ludacris) - Single

2. Rude Boy - Rihanna
Rude Boy by Rihanna from the album Rated R

3. Hey, Soul Sister - Train
Hey, Soul Sister by Train from the album Hey, Soul Sister - Single

4. Imma Be - Black Eyed Peas
Imma Be by Black Eyed Peas from the album The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)

5. Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
Need You Now by Lady Antebellum from the album Need You Now

6. Carry Out (feat. Justin Timberlake) - Timbaland
Carry Out (feat. Justin Timberlake) by Timbaland from the album Shock Value II

7. Blah Blah Blah (feat. 3OH!3) - Ke$ha
Blah Blah Blah (feat. 3OH!3) by Ke$ha from the album Animal

8. Baby (feat. Ludacris) - Justin Bieber
Baby (feat. Ludacris) by Justin Bieber from the album Baby (feat. Ludacris) - Single

9. In My Head - Jason Derülo
In My Head by Jason Derülo from the album In My Head - Single

10. Tik Tok - Ke$ha
Tik Tok by Ke$ha from the album Animal

11. Nothin' On You (feat. Bruno Mars) - B.o.B
Nothin' On You (feat. Bruno Mars) by B.o.B from the album Nothin' On You (feat. Bruno Mars) - Single

12. BedRock - Young Money & Lloyd
BedRock by Young Money & Lloyd from the album We Are Young Money

13. Breakeven (Falling to Pieces) - The Script
Breakeven (Falling to Pieces) by The Script from the album The Script

14. Say Aah (feat. Fabolous) - Trey Songz
Say Aah (feat. Fabolous) by Trey Songz from the album Ready (Deluxe Version)

15. How Low - Ludacris
How Low by Ludacris from the album How Low - Single

16. All the Right Moves - OneRepublic
All the Right Moves by OneRepublic from the album Waking Up (Deluxe Version)

17. Bad Romance - Lady GaGa
Bad Romance by Lady GaGa from the album Bad Romance - Single

18. Telephone - Lady GaGa & Beyoncé
Telephone by Lady GaGa & Beyoncé from the album The Fame Monster

19. Ridin' Solo - Jason Derülo
Ridin' Solo by Jason Derülo from the album Jason Derülo

20. Driving Me Crazy - Sam Adams
Driving Me Crazy by Sam Adams from the album Boston's Boy

21. I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas from the album The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies)

22. Whataya Want from Me - Adam Lambert
Whataya Want from Me by Adam Lambert from the album For Your Entertainment (Deluxe Version)

23. Live Like We're Dying - Kris Allen
Live Like We're Dying by Kris Allen from the album Live Like We're Dying - Single

24. Today Was a Fairytale - Taylor Swift
Today Was a Fairytale by Taylor Swift from the album Today Was a Fairytale - Single

25. I Made It (Cash Money Heroes) [feat. Birdman, Jay Sean & Lil Wayne] - Kevin Rudolf
I Made It (Cash Money Heroes) [feat. Birdman, Jay Sean & Lil Wayne] by Kevin Rudolf from the album I Made It (Cash Money Heroes) [feat. Birdman, Jay Sean & Lil Wayne] - Single

iTunes Top 25 Songs
iTunes Store: Today's Top 25 Songs

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Jim Capaldi's "Love Used to Be a Friend of Mine"
Fans of mainstream rock and AOR during the '80s may not have always had a tremendous amount of quality to choose from, but such worthy music most certainly exists, as this track deftly proves. As a founding member and drummer of Traffic, Jim Capaldi made an immediate mark on the late-'60s rock music scene as both a songwriter and occasional singer. But the depth and longevity of this artist's solo career may come as a surprise to classic rock fans who never got a chance to hear this music on '80s rock radio.

Capaldi may have adapted well to the synthesizers, big production and power rock guitars popular during the era, but his most impressive contributions on "Love Used to Be a Friend of Mine" stem from his far-reaching songwriting skills and his explosive, underrated lead vocals. This happens to be one of several tracks from Capaldi's 1988 release Some Come Running that could have been a major Top 40 hit as well as a mainstream rock staple. Unfortunately, though I listened to a very good classic rock radio station constantly during that period, I somehow failed to become familiar enough with these tunes to help support Capaldi's surely modest sales. Well now, it might just be time to rectify that, even if it is already five years after this great artist's early death.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Island Records

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Jim Capaldi's "Love Used to Be a Friend of Mine" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Thursday, March 4th, 2010 at 11:03:10.

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Hall & Oates Bassist Dies Unexpectedly, Leaves Behind Groovy '80s Bass Line
Any day on which a musician closely associated with the '80s dies is a mighty sad one on this site, but March 1, 2010 was particularly nasty in taking away from us the man behind one of the greatest, most recognized bass lines of the decade. I don't know if he wrote the bass part or had any particular creative hand in the song, but Tom "T-Bone" Wolk - long-time bass player for '80s pop duo Hall & Oates - has always played an anonymous but major role in the pair's smash 1982 hit "Maneater." Unfortunately, Wolk's death at 58 from an apparent heart attack might be the first chance for many '80s music fans to put a name with the bass (or face, for that matter).

Wolk served as stabilizing force and for many years as the band's music director, but many of us will always remember him fondly as the lanky dude with the hat from that song's music video as well as the clips from so many of the duo's other signature '80s hits. Sometimes it's all too easy to forget that our pop music legends have deep and dear supporting casts that help create the magic, but Wolk certainly deserved his day in the spotlight long before today's remembrances. Maybe we can all make up for it a bit by banishing "dude with the hat" from our customary descriptions of this beloved '80s musician.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Amazon.com

Hall & Oates Bassist Dies Unexpectedly, Leaves Behind Groovy '80s Bass Line originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 01:16:45.

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Ongoing '80s Music Popularity & Reverence No Surprise to Me
I'm such an equal-opportunity music lover that I'm not sure you'd catch me making the claim that the '80s was the absolute best era of music. Still, I'm not surprised that a recent Music Choice poll shows that nearly a third of respondents prefer the pop music of that decade to any over the last 40 years. I'm heartened by the fact that children of the '80s still deeply love the music of their era, and I'll also be among the first to argue that genres such as new wave, synth pop and even hair metal have received far more than their share of derision over the years.

So now is as good a time as any to celebrate not only the joy produced by artists like Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, and Lionel Richie but also to point out the persistent permanence of such music. In many cases never anticipated to outlast the popularity of legwarmers or the Rubik's Cube, '80s music from its most popular to most underrated artists continues to influence the ever-fickle world of pop culture. That's a hell of an accomplishment for a decade that gave us Loverboy, Poison and Milli Vanilli. OK, I won't bother to defend the latter, but even Bret Michaels & Co. had their moments two decades back.

More '80s Music in Spotlight

Top 10 New Wave Artists of the '80s

Top 10 Hair Metal/Pop Metal Songs of the '80s

'80s Music Genres - A Capsule View

Ongoing '80s Music Popularity & Reverence No Surprise to Me originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 at 14:54:07.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - The Knack's "Just Wait and See"
On the heels of the sad news earlier this month that the Knack frontman Doug Fieger had lost a lengthy battle with cancer at age 57, it seems nothing less than compulsory to celebrate the massively successful but too-brief career of one of power pop's most important '80s-era bands. Although the core of the group's output consisted of only three albums from 1979-1981, the L.A. outfit helped inject a bona fide rock flavor into the fashionable new wave sounds of the era. Despite a short critical and commercial shelf life that saw them veer from critical darling to a harshly discarded victim of fickle pop music backlash in the blink of an eye, the Knack and frequent songwriter Fieger produced plenty of hooky rock and roll that has more than stood the test of time.

Of course, everyone knows about the Knack's 1979 debut album and its smash hit "My Sharona," but by the time of the group's third release, 1981's Round Trip, the music world had completely turned its back on the band's straightforward, fun-fueled approach. That's quite a shame, as this generally ignored record contains plenty of solid guitar pop that should have helped earn the band a central role in '80s rock. Alas, the emerging music video age moved right on past the Knack, but that doesn't mean music fans lack an opportunity to find out what they were missing. "Just Wait and See" arrives on the strength of a nifty melody and then scampers along in typical Knack style toward a grin-inducing, highly satisfying chorus. Power pop has always had its share of detractors that claim the genre prizes sugary musical fluff over gritty rock substance, but this charge sticks only marginally to the Knack's punchy catalog. This track eschews the group's frequent fixation on adolescent sexuality in favor of a romantic philosophy a bit more mature. But don't worry; that doesn't make it any less fun.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Capitol

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - The Knack's "Just Wait and See" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 14:30:52.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Rosanne Cash's "Blue Moon With Heartache"
One of the finest mournful female vocalists in Americana music today, singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash actually got her start in commercial country during the early '80s. As the eldest daughter of rock and roll/country legend Johnny Cash, this versatile artist has always blended folk, pop, rock and country in lovely, singular ways. Even as she enjoyed a string of top hits in Nashville during the first decade of her career, Cash artistically exceeded most of the country-pop being pumped out by her peers. The brilliant crossover single "Seven Year Ache" certainly demonstrates Cash's depth as a singer and songwriter, but she really should have remained a crossover mainstay for the full length of the '80s. "Blue Moon With Heartache" features a tasty and romantic guitar riff that blends achingly well with Cash's vocals, but it also calmly makes its mark on a listener with a wonderfully delicate subtlety. 30 years into a storied, independent career, Cash harbors many such gems in her deep catalog. Enjoy at will.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Columbia/Legacy

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Rosanne Cash's "Blue Moon With Heartache" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Sunday, February 14th, 2010 at 21:20:03.

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Business As Usual Indeed - Men at Work Plagiarism Lawsuit Decision Further Sours Tarnished Music Industry
After last week's court decision regarding an odd music publishing plagiarism case, the short-lived but potent Australian new wave band Men at Work now faces the very real prospect of financial sanctions stemming from the now-successful copyright infringement case against them. I've written about this issue before and hoped - like many other '80s music fans, I'm sure - that I wouldn't have to revisit the matter. Alas, here we are, seemingly right back where we started.

Publisher Larrikin Music has accused the band of lifting the melody of "Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree" - an old girls' campfire tune - for its distinctive flute riff in the worldwide early-'80s top hit "Down Under." And now a judge has agreed with this notion and set a dangerous precedent for future attitudes about compositions influenced by existing tunes that also (most likely subconsciously) draw from their musical structure. Observers in disbelief that this is a can of worms capable of poisoning further an already rotten music industry certainly call into question their knowledge of pop music history. I'm already hearing from plenty of readers - most of them quite disheartened by the decision - but I certainly welcome additional input. Maybe I'm missing something here, but shouldn't this have been an instance of case quickly dismissed?

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Columbia

Business As Usual Indeed - Men at Work Plagiarism Lawsuit Decision Further Sours Tarnished Music Industry originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 22:55:54.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Ambrosia's "Ready"
While certainly soft rock/progressive rock band Ambrosia could never be accused of producing one of pop's most heterosexually themed album covers in 1980's One Eighty (umm... just look at it for a moment), the group can stake a legitimate claim as one of music's most interesting hybrids of guitar-based hard rock and the two aforementioned styles. Fans of the band's earliest mid-'70s offerings - built often on symphonic complexity and a bit of a renegade spirit - have probably always balked at Ambrosia's smooth yacht rock that ruled the charts beginning with 1978's "How Much I Feel." Still, it's difficult to argue with frontman David Pack's vibrant sense of melody and the keen production eye that always fueled the group's sweeping sound. In the case of "Ready," Pack presents some of his most compelling and genuine rock vocals, all on top of a driving rock attack more reminiscent of vintage April Wine than the early-'80s soundtrack for wine spritzer consumption. Ambrosia will probably never be able to boast substantial arena rock credibility (if there even is really such a thing), but the band's versatility will come as a pleasant surprise for the patient listener.

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Ambrosia's "Ready" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 19:51:13.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Linda Ronstadt's "How Do I Make You"
I was too young to appreciate Linda Ronstadt as the bona fide, girl-next-door sex symbol she was throughout the '70s, but that fact didn't prevent me from experiencing a surprisingly strong level of mesmerism last night while exploring some old photos of the artist online. Of course, not only was Ronstadt one of the most beautiful female celebrities on the planet during the prime years of her career; she was and remains one of pop/rock's finest interpretive singers as well. Still, forgive me if I'm still temporarily stuck on her special brand of gorgeous. OK, I think I'm done now; let's focus on some music.

1980's Mad Love found Ronstadt embracing a driving rock sound more than she'd ever done or would ever do again in her storied career. She wore this blend of new wave freshness and Pat Benatar sass remarkably well, even if some audiences expressed suspicion of crass commercial motives or at least puzzled at the new direction. "How Do I Make You" happens to be a composition from famed commercial pop songwriter Billy Steinberg, but it certainly doesn't sound like it came from the co-writer of "Like a Virgin." Recorded initially with his rock band Billy Thermal, the song certainly reached more ears coming from the lips of Ronstadt than Steinberg himself, but I'm still surprised to learn it peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard pop charts. Maybe I'm just too young to remember massive airplay for this one, but I'm definitely not too young anymore to gawk at mid-'70s Ronstadt pictures online. Not that I've been doing that for hours on end or anything.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Warner

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - Linda Ronstadt's "How Do I Make You" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 23:28:18.

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Late INXS Frontman Michael Hutchence Would Have Been 50 Today... Heavy Sigh
Don't let this make you feel too much older than you probably already feel, but today would have been original INXS frontman Michael Hutchence's 50th birthday. The photogenic performer probably would have greeted the milestone gracefully based on his stylish ability both to define and buck '80s trends. Still, Hutchence's 1997 death remains one of the most stinging '80s music losses of all time, as a 15-years-plus career as a rock star seemed like only the beginning for the talented singer.

Despite the still-hovering cloud of his early death, Hutchence's surviving bandmates have released heartfelt statements to coincide with the bittersweet occasion of January 22, 2010. It may be depressing to recall just how early Hutchence's voice was silenced, but it's also an opportunity to acknowledge yet again the band's importance as well as the continuing impact of the classic frontman it so generously provided to the entertainment world.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Rhino Atlantic

Late INXS Frontman Michael Hutchence Would Have Been 50 Today... Heavy Sigh originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 at 20:27:44.

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This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - the Moody Blues' "The Voice"
Purists undoubtedly point to late-'60s and early-'70s classics like "Tuesday Afternoon" and "Question" as the finest tunes ever recorded by sophisticated classic rock outfit the Moody Blues. And with very good reason. But when it comes to the Moodies' more outwardly commercial pop of the '80s, there simply is no greater specimen than 1981's exhilarating, irresistibly melodic "The Voice."

Fitting comfortably amidst the synth-heavy new wave sounds characteristic of the time, this track richly deserved hit status no matter what year featured it. Unfortunately, the band's native U.K. completely ignored most of the band's '80s output, and despite an impressive No. 1 showing on Billboard's mainstream rock charts in America, the song failed to crack the pop Top 10. Nonetheless, "The Voice" relies on a nearly flawless chord progression to create one of Justin Hayward's most compelling compositions and vocal performances. If you like to stock your iPod with the true cream of the crop of '80s music, you should deny yourself this tune not a day longer.

Album Cover Image Courtesy of Decca

This Week's Forgotten Gem of the '80s - the Moody Blues' "The Voice" originally appeared on About.com 80s Music on Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 at 23:23:42.

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