By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor There is a reason why ABBA sold millions of records and why people are still talking about, listening to, and obsessing over them some fifty-plus years since their debut LP and the forty-plus years since they called it a day. The reason is, they were f'n great! They […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor Have you ever been to a thrift store? Goodwill, Salvation Army, and so on? Chances are, you have been, and chances are, you have seen this record there. At any given time, over any selected year over the past several decades, Herb Alpert's classic 'Whipped Cream and Other […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor Issued in early 1992, 'Stick Around For Joy' put a shining bow on top of the pop package known as the Sugarcubes. Their third LP would be their final album after a brief five-year run. The album showcased the effervescent pop from this Icelandic combo with shining, punchy […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor Sometimes, when you would drop the needle on an album, from those first notes, you knew you were in for something special. It didn’t take much to establish a mood and intent. One such album was ‘Horses,’ the debut long player from Patti Smith. The somber, almost gospel-like […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor Released in the spring of 1982, 'The Golden Age of Wireless' introduced Thomas Dolby to a waiting world. The man, and his music, seemed a perfect fit for the coming era, but it would take a while for him to find a firm footing. Rewinding the tape a […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor Inspired by the likes of the Kinks, the Sonics, and raw blues, the Stooges formed in 1967 but remained somewhat dormant until Pop experienced an inspiring moment. After seeing the Doors, everything changed. "I just thought, well, this is so brazen, there is no excuse for us not […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor After a handful of singles with the McSon trio in the late 1940s into early 1950s, Ray Charles signed to Atlantic Records in 1952, headed by Ahmet Ertegun, it was the perfect home for an artist like Charles. From 1952 through 1960, he placed over 20 singles in […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor In 1987, a young Irish singer wandered into the worldwide music scene via an album called 'The Lion and The Cobra,' The 21-year-old Sinead O'Connor was out to set herself apart from the faceless pop stars of the era. With a little help from Rob Dean of the […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor Of all the blues legends in history, few, if any, have the magic and presence of Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as Howlin' Wolf. His transformation of acoustic blues into an electric-charged storm was a major factor in creating rock and roll music. His guitar playing was raw […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor The underground music world of the early 1980s was a treasure trove of styles, ideas, poses, and sonic assaults, each with a tale to tell. From the urgent pop of bands like the dB's and the Bongos to the garage party vibe of the Fleshtones and the Last, […]
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