At the start of sessions, no one could predict that the quirky former Genesis frontman would produce an album that would sell a zillion copies.
Author: Mark Leviton
Mark Leviton
Mark Leviton began writing about music and pop culture in 1967, with credits in Rolling Stone, Creem, Fusion, Bay Area Musician, LA Weekly, Phonograph Record and many fly-by-night publications. For 25 years he worked for the Warner Music Group and Rhino Records, producing hundreds of compilation albums and historical reissues, placing recordings in films and TV, and generally having a blast. His weekly radio show "Pet Sounds" is heard on KVMR-FM in Nevada City, CA and the website www.petsoundsmusic.com.
For one of his final recordings, Cash teamed with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. “I was with a bunch of people and we had fun,” he said.
“We don’t fit into anyone else’s category, so we’re going to have to create our own,” said David Byrne about the band’s second album.
The talented quartet was committed to using satire, parody, jokes and sonic guffaws in their eclectic mix.
In 1968, the singer decamped to Nashville and cut a double album’s worth of songs written by her good friend and collaborator. The results were mostly glorious
The collaboration between the Who mastermind and Faces great was sadly overlooked at the time of its release, but is now considered a minor masterpiece.
“We can imagine how exhausted Cocker, Russell and Co. must have been when they got off the road, but from the audience’s point of view, it was worth it.”
The album, a landmark release for Motown, remains a monument to Marvin Gaye’s big heart and soul, and a prophecy for our time.
Stewart liked the title track, but didn’t consider it suitable as a single, until producer Alan Parsons and the record company convinced him of its destiny.