Gregg Allman. Photo by Neal Preston
Cameron sits down with for a chat with Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts for this June, 1974 interview for Hit Parader magazine. Gregg and Dickey are open and honest as they discuss Brothers And Sisters, “Ramblin’ Man” and their solo work. It’s an interesting piece and comes just six months after Cameron’s first Rolling Stone cover story on the band. We hope you like this new addition to the Journalism section, it’s the 199th!
Three more new San Diego Door reviews from the summer of 1972. First up is a Beach Boys Pet Sounds/Carl As The Passion-So Tough Double LP. Next up is the self titled Blues Project LP which Cameron plans on using as frisbee. Lastly, Cameron looks at Frank Zappa’s The Mothers live album and sees a bit of charm in it. We are now up to 198 interviews, reviews, liner notes, etc. in the Journalism section. Number 200 is right around the corner…
(L-R) Frey, Meisner, Henley & Leadon. Photo Courtesy of Gary Elam
I’m happy to present a brand new Cameron penned piece of Journalism today entitled “Movin’ Up With The Eagles”. This is a very early interview with the original members of Eagles from November, 1972, shortly after the success of their self titled debut album. Cameron brings the readers up to speed on the band’s formation and then conducts a Q & A with the band. It’s interesting now to reflect back on who the spokesmen for the band was early on. It’s very obvious that both Glenn Frey and Bernie Leadon are the dominating force at this time. Don Henley doesn’t say too much and Randy Meisner is nearly as quiet as “silent Ed Vallencourt” from Almost Famous. Leadon would leave the band in 1975 as they moved in a more rock direction and left their country roots behind.
One last thing. The picture above is from the San Diego Door article and send to me by Cameron from his archives. He wants to point out that it was taken by his high school friend Gary Elam. Enjoy!
As you know, it’s been a very active week with all the PJ20 news. I thought it might be a good time to revisit Cameron’s Rolling Stone cover story on the band from October, 1993 entitled “Five Against The World. The article focuses on the band’s turbulent year dealing with sudden fame, the recording of their 2nd album Vs. and much more.
As promised, here’s the last batch of Cameron’s LP reviews from the December 16, 1974 edition of the L.A. Times. He has nice things to say about America’s latest, more experimental release, Hat Trick, but says that early metal band, Lucifer’s Friend’s album is for “special tastes”. I don’t know about you, but I do think that album cover sure is interesting…
We’ve got a new Rolling Stone article to share with you today. Cameron visited the set of the 1978 film, American Hot Wax, a film that chronicles Alan Freed (an influential DJ) and the early days of rock ‘n roll. What’s interesting is that he was asked to portray a delivery boy and he shares the process with the readers. Ultimately his lines and most of his scene was cut from the film, but you can kind of see him (wearing the paper hat) during the “Come and Go With Me” studio sequence (34:00 minute mark).
Incidentally, American Hot Wax has never been released on DVD and is extremely collectable on VHS. However, you can watch the film over on Myspace.
How about three more L.A. Times LP reviews from 37 years ago this month? First up is Arlo Guthrie and Cameron rates this one “a gem”. Pure Prairie League’s Bustin’ Out also receives high marks. Can we get three LPs in a row that pass the muster? Unfortunately not, as Larry Raspberry’s LP is dismissed rather quickly. Oh well, two out of three isn’t bad…
Cameron chats with Fleetwood Mac in this 1976 interview with the L.A. Times entitled “Better Rocking Through Chemistry”. The band reflects back on their recent platinum success with their self titled LP. Their next album, Rumors is just months away and will catapult the band to an ever greater heights. This interview also comes seven months prior to the Cameron Crowe penned Rolling Stone cover story.
