This KORD Interactive Playlist commemorates the career of Aston “Family Man” Barrett, the longtime bassist for reggae pioneers Bob Marley and the Wailers. You can use the stem player to isolate or mute Barrett’s booming rhythms, or deconstruct each song any other way you wish. All songs are presented in chronological order to underscore the […]
Singing in the Shadows of Motown: The Annotated Andantes
This KORD Interactive Playlist commemorates the career of Motown Records’ longtime backing vocal trio the Andantes, spotlighting their role in landmark hits by the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and others. You can use the stem player to isolate or mute the Andantes’ enchanting, gospel-inspired harmonies, or deconstruct each song any other way you wish. […]
Diana Ross returns to the summit with ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’
In the wee small hours of Jan. 14, 1970, the night she delivered her final performance as a member of the Supremes in front of a packed house at Las Vegas’ New Frontier Casino & Hotel, Diana Ross retired to the blackjack table to try her luck. The odds seemed stacked in Ross’ favor: following […]
Anthrax’s thrash classic ‘Caught in a Mosh’ brings mayhem to the masses
In 1986, the year thrash evolved from a speedy branch of heavy metal into a genuine commercial phenomenon, Anthrax watched from the stage as its ear-splitting assault drove the Denver crowd to madness. Then, in founder Scott Ian’s words, “A kid climbed onstage and fucked up my pedalboard.” Guitar tech Artie Ring, fearing damage to […]
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ rolls on
If Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” is the sacred text of Southern rock, then its “Sweet Home Alabama” is the genre’s national anthem: the song that most compellingly articulates the pride in Southern culture implicit in classics such as the Allman Brothers Band’s “Midnight Rider,” the Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See” and “Free Bird” itself. […]
How Onyx’s ‘Slam’ brought grunge spirit to hip-hop
Nirvana’s 1991 grunge landmark “Smells Like Teen Spirit” inspired untold numbers of loud, gravel-voiced anthems about youthful angst and rebellion. Perhaps the most surprising came from a hardcore hip-hop foursome based in Queens, N.Y. KSID::F235a2413P24914
Gladys Knight and the Pips bid Motown adieu with ‘Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)’
“Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)” inaugurated Gladys Knight and the Pips’ partnership with songwriter Jim Weatherly, a pairing that yielded the most successful recordings of their respective careers. KSID::201d0124320t62
No Diana Ross, no problem: ‘Stoned Love’ elevates the Supremes to new heights
The Supremes earned their biggest hit of the post-Diana Ross era with 1970’s psychedelic pop symphony “Stoned Love,” a showcase for the vocals of Ross’ replacement, Jean Terrell. KSID::P34b3J0P34a6
‘Love Machine’ yields the Miracles’ biggest hit (with or without Smokey Robinson)
Billy Griffin remembers what it was like at the peak of his music career, when he was an eligible bachelor dating Hollywood starlets. “I would get in my car… and I knew when the girl sat down, I could say ‘You wanna hear my record?’ and I would just turn on the radio. ‘Love Machine’ […]
James Gang’s ‘Funk #49’ numbers among the all-time AOR classics
James Gang’s “Funk #49” represents the platonic ideal of a classic rock song. The trio of Jim Fox, Dale Peters and a pre-Eagles Joe Walsh turned what was originally a spontaneous soundcheck jam into a monster groove, and while “Funk #49” might not have the cultural clout of a “Free Bird” or a “Stairway to […]
