Main Stage

The Day the Soul Train Stopped: Don Cornelius Dead of Apparent Suicide

Feb 012012

I only have a few minutes to share my initial thoughts on this, but I just read the really sad news that Soul Train creator/host Don Cornelius is dead of an apparent suicide. With this morning’s Little Richard piece I wanted to kick off Black History Month with some positive pieces on what black artists in the music world have meant to me. I wasn’t expecting to have to touch on Cornelius in this fashion. You may know that I’m usually a bit of a wiseass when it comes to the whole “RIP” ritual (“Danny Bonaduce, man…RIP.”), but Cornelius and the scene he presented meant a lot to me. To me, he was truly a great…man.

Little Richard: Rock’s Taken-for-Granted Flake?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Feb 012012

People my age and older grew up knowing Little Richard as one of the founding fathers of rock ‘n roll—and the genre’s most flamboyant practitioner. Little Richard survived the British Invasion, even encouraged it through his friendship with The Beatles. He ping-ponged between religious conversions and ecstatic fits of unadulterated sin. He was lauded during a run of early ’70s rock revivalism, milking it for all the money white record industry types probably stole from him in his prime.

Rhythm Beard

Posted by alexmagic

Jan 312012

Built To Spill, featuring Doug Martsch on Lead Beard (Foreground) and Brett Nelson on Rhythm Beard (Background)

Any long-term follower of discussions in the Hall will note the ongoing importance of discussing Look as a factor in the success of musical acts. Today, we’re exploring a lesser known but nonetheless important Look phenomenon: The Rhythm Beard. Continue reading »

Ferry Aid: The Aid to to End All Aids?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 312012

Don’t worry, Bryan’s all right.

This is not to make light of the Zeebrugge Disaster, involving the capsizing of a ferry in 1987, which killed 193 passengers and crew. I hope this effort raised money for the families. Cause aside, however, there are things you might find humorous in this (mostly minor) star-studded Ham-Off. What I’m curious to know, in the chronology of these “Aid” extravaganzas, is whether this is the last original Aid song of the genre? If the Aid Era started in 1984, with “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” and the 1989 Band Aid II version doesn’t count because it’s not an original Aid song, what Aid event marked the end of this era? Live 8 wasn’t quite the same. It’s a “8” event, not “Aid.”

But all that aside, who won this particular song?

Fascinating

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 312012

I had no idea the following TV special existed. This must have come out during my first days or months as a father. I had more pressing matters at that time, but nevertheless…fascinating. See if you don’t agree—and see if you’re not shocked by something at the 4:05 mark. Et tu, Davy? After the jump…

Super-Deluxe Double-Your-Trouble Mystery Date Revealed!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 292012

Will Your Mystery Date Be a Dream or a Dud?

The time has come to reveal our first-ever super-deluxe double-your-trouble Mystery Date. Mystery Date #1 brought to mind for many Townspeople Love‘s Forever Changes album, but not executed as well. (To my ears, as someone who thinks that Love album mostly blows, lack of execution was helpful.) Mystery Date #2 drove most Townspeople batty. Too bad dbuskirk hasn’t been around to help explain this part of the big reveal…after the jump!

Rock Town Hall’s Saturday Night Shut-In: (Mostly) New Music Edition

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 282012

Sounds of the Hall in roughly 33 1/3 minutes!

In this week’s edition of Saturday Night Shut-In your host, Mr. Moderator, samples mostly new releases, or at least new additions to his collection. This is sure to ignite the long-awaited RTH Youth Movement. Members of the Bad Attitude Club are encouraged to listen in, if only to strengthen their staunch opposition to most things new and unfamiliar.

[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/RTH-Saturday-Night-Shut-In-64.mp3|titles=RTH Saturday Night Shut-In, episode 64]

[Note: The Rock Town Hall feed will enable you to easily download Saturday Night Shut-In episodes to your digital music player. In fact, you can even set your iTunes to search for an automatic download of each week’s podcast.]

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