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‘Cahoots’: A Testament To The Band’s Stylistic Tenacity
‘Cahoots’ remains an important part of The Band’s story, and one that came at a time when the group found themselves at a crossroad.
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The 120 Best Blues Albums: Classic Records You Need To Hear
From Muddy Waters to B.B. King and Koko Taylor to Shemekia Copeland, discover the records that made it onto our list of the best blues albums ever.
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Doc Watson’s Unique Approach To Guitars and Flat-Picking
Doc Watson's flat-picking guitar style was a marvel. This liner notes excerpt explains how he developed it.
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‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy!’ How Cannonball Adderley Brought Jazz To Its Knees
Recorded live at Capitol Studios, in front of family and friends, ‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy’ transformed “the new Charlie Parker” into an unlikely 60s pop star.
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Cannonball Adderley: The Importance Of The Jazz Great
The saxophonist's name isn't as known as among non-jazz fans these days, but he should be remembered as a pioneer and innovator.
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‘Blue Train’: John Coltrane’s Hard-Bop Masterpiece
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in September 1957, ‘Blue Train’ is one of John Coltrane's masterpieces.
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Best Male Jazz Singers: An Essential Top 25 Countdown
From gravelly-voiced icons such as Louis Armstrong, to super-smooth singers like Frank Sinatra, these are the 25 best male jazz singers of all time.
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Tracing The Influences Of The Velvet Underground
What were the inspirations that empowered The Velvet Underground to trash rock’n’roll tropes and replace them with the sound of the future?
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‘You Decorated My Life’: Kenny Rogers Picks Another Winner, Eventually
The ballad continued Rogers’ chart-topping country form and went on to win a Grammy for Country Song of the Year.
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Rolling Along: Jimmy Smith Takes His Hammond Down ‘Ol’ Man River’
The ‘Show Boat’ tune became one of the master organist’s dozen appearances on the Hot 100.
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Best Halloween Songs: 50 Terrifying Tracks For All Hallows’ Eve
The best Halloween songs are frightfully good, horribly catchy, and a right old monster mash-up of floor-filling classics. Listen... if you dare...
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Best Bond Songs: 16 James Bond Themes To Be Shaken And Stirred By
The best Bond songs have been recorded by some of the greats of popular music, and hold a special place in the legacy of film soundtracks.
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Star-Spangled Banner Performances: The 15 Most Awe-Inspiring Versions
Fifteen of the best ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ performances – from soulful balladry to all-out guitar shreds – proving that “traditional” doesn’t always need to be dull.
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Eric Clapton’s ‘I Shot The Sheriff’: E.C. Takes Bob Marley To The World
The Clapton cover was a big factor in introducing the reggae star to an international audience.
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‘Fulfillingness’ First Finale’: Stevie Wonder’s Exquisite Chart Victory
One of the greatest-ever sequences of musical creativity was in full flow in 1974.
