101 Series Lesson 99.2: Bob Marley In Studio

If you really, really, really think about it . . . reggae is folk music for Jamaican people. And, just like in the folk scene, the main guy is named Bob. For the second part of Lesson 99 of the 101 Series, we follow Mr. Marley and his Wailers into the studio for two hours […]

101 Series Lesson 99.1: Bob Marley (Live, Jah!)

Time once again to listen to the music of another head on Mt. Rushmore. For Lesson 99 of the 101 Series we take a two-part journey into the smokey world of reggae music and the late, great Bob Marley and his band, The Wailers. For Part 1, we go “live” and dance with the crowds […]

101 Series Lesson 98: Willie Nelson

There are few artists in this world who belong on Mt. Rushmore. Fewer look like they’re already carved out of granite. In Lesson 98 of the 101 Series we put the spotlight on an all-time legend: Mr. Willie Nelson. Pull up some rolling papers and a light, in the next two hours we explore a wide […]

101 Series Lesson 97: Alice Cooper

Up to this point the 101 Series has been a rather straight-forward review of music for whatever topic we happen to be exploring. But now it’s time to throw a little Shock in with Rock. We do this in Lesson 97 with a guillotine and the old soft-shoe and a review of Alice Cooper. It’s […]

101 Series Lesson 96: Aretha Franklin

Alright, people, it’s time for another lesson in the 101 Series . . . this week we bow to the Lady Herself, Ms. Aretha Franklin. We’ll start in the early jazz days, proceed to her inventing soul and r&b, take a gospel detour, flirt with her disco(ish) material and wind up somewhere around the time […]

101Series Lesson 95: REM

In some places the water is funny . . . New Orleans, Austin, Chicago, Memphis, Minneapolis. For a reason that cannot be explained, these places have a sound. Another of these spots: Athens, GA. In Lesson 95 of the 101 Series we rock you in a jangly fashion courtesy of the best band Athens produced […]

101 Series Lesson 94: Warren Zevon

The true test of a great singer and songwriter is the influence that person has on music. Warren Zevon, the subject of Lesson 94, wrote lots of songs that were covered by other people and he could rock pretty well himself. For the 101 Series this week we journey through the open life of Zevon’s […]

101 Series Lesson 93: Roxy Music

The glam aliens have arrived and they want to dance and make out with you. And not in that order. They may look a bit odd (especially the guy in the feathered boa with bad hair) but they can still put on good show. For Lesson 93 of the 101 Series we dip into the catalogue […]

101 Series Lesson 92: The Band

The Who? No. The Band. What a bunch of pompous assholes to name their band THE Band . . . but, seriously, when your group has five front men you can call it anything you want. In this lesson (92!) of the 101 Series, we plug into the only bunch of musicians who can run […]

101 Series Lesson 91: Van Morrison

The green isle of Ireland has given the world a great many things: James Joyce, the Boston P.D., Guinness and a certain Mr. Van Morrison. In Lesson 91 of the 101 Series, we sit down and bask in the warm glow of the Belfast genius . . . And we try not to bug him. […]