By 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, […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor Tom Petty's decision to 'go solo' always seemed a bit off, since Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were, well obviously, his band. But in 1989, Petty did just that with mega hit, 'Full Moon Fever,' an album which could have easily been a Heartbreakers LP, but this go-round, […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor Throughout the years, contemporary artists of whatever genre have tossed their Santa hat in the ring, trying to create a classic Christmas album. Countless takes of holiday standards mixed with self-penned songs of the season would become standard, while at other times, artists would issue special 'fan club […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor The Blind Boys of Alabama are an American institution, keepers of the flame of a musical tradition and cornerstone. Founded in 1939 in Talladega, Alabama, the ensemble has, obviously, changed members several times over the decades, all the while maintaining the legacy established way back when. Over those […]
Read MoreBy Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor Like many subgenres, country rock has somewhat murky origins. Who was first to the table, who did it best, who was most successful, and so on. While not being first, no one has been more deeply connected to the concept of 'country rock' than Gram Parsons. Born in […]
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