Vanity Fair has released their first comedy issue with guest editor Judd Apatow (with three unique covers). Contributers to the issue include Chris Rock, Conan O’Brien, Lena Dunham, Zack Galifianakis, the making of the Blues Brothers and much more. Cameron shares a new article entitled “Rocking the Role” about musicians who shine in acting roles. We will have that piece in the near future. In the meantime, check out the January Vanity Fair issue on store shelves now.
Glenn Frey, Irving Azoff & Dan Fogelberg
We have an exciting new addition to the Journalism section today. Cameron profiled rock manager Irving Azoff for the June 15, 1978 issue of Rolling Stone. At the time, Azoff was the most powerful manager in the industry. He would go on to produce Fast Times at Ridgemont High, head MCA, start his own label (Giant Records) and much more. Azoff is currently the CEO/President of Front Line Management and Live Nation and was recently ranked #1 on Billboard‘s Power 100 list for the music industry.
Yes – Fragile (Atlantic SD-7211)
For several years the group Yes has gone unnoticed in the United States, while in England their albums and performances are looked forward to with tremendous anticipation. TheirYes Album was rated along with After the Goldrush as album of the year in the Melody Maker Poll. Meanwhile back in the States they were buried behind J. Geils and Ten Years After in their American tour.
It is my sincere hope that with Fragile, Yes will achieve all the recognition they deserve.
The production work on the album is the cleanest and most original since perhaps Who’s Next. At the risk of digging up a cliché, Fragile is a complete trip from the first cut to the last. “Roundabout,” the full eight-and-a-half minute version, opens the album in grand manner. The track begins with a short classical guitar riff and slowly flows into the full arrangement of moog, harpsichord, several guitars acoustic and electric, and electric piano. The song, more appropriately, the suite, could have easily become quite pretentious, however, the knowledgeable arranger and producer molded it into a truly classic recording.
Each track takes on a different course than the previous one. The reason behind this could possibly be that five of the album’s cuts are the personal and individual ideas of Yes’s five members. More simply, each of the group members were given the chance to step out into the hypothetical spotlight and produce a cut that was completely their work and no one else’s. Keyboard man Rick Wakeman’s “Cans and Brahms” is an adaptation in which he plays electric piano taking the part of the strings, grand piano taking the part of the woodwind, organ taking the brass, electric harpsichord taking reeds, and synthesizer taking contra bassoon. “We Have Heaven” is the product of vocalist Jon Anderson in which he sings all the vocal parts. “Five Per-Cent For Nothing” is a sixteen bar tune by Bill Bruford, drummer, in which the whole harmony is the percussion line. Bassist Chris Squire’s “The Fish” has each rhythm, riff, and melody produced from the varying sounds produced by the bass guitar. “Mood For a Day” is a solo guitar piece by Steve How.
The musicianship is actually so innovative, that each of the above-described tracks is enjoyable and awesome at the same time. The remaining pieces are the product of the total group and just as excellent.
Fragile is the brand of album that many artists yearn to record as a follow-up to a previous masterpiece. And for one of the all too few times in contemporary music, an artist has actually lived up to the tremendous promise of a proceeding recording.
Courtesy of the Door (aka San Diego Door) – Cameron Crowe – March 9, 1972 – March 30, 1972
Neil Young turns 67 today and is showing no signs of slowing down. His output is amazing and his music, as vibrant as ever. In the past few months, we’ve been treated to two wonderful albums with Crazyhorse (Americana and Psychedelic Pill) and a new Jonathan Demme documentary, Neil Young Journeys (recently released on DVD and Blu-ray).
Here’s the links to three Rolling Stone journalism pieces. Two were in-depth cover stories five years apart along with a short piece during the 1978 tour where Cameron was able to “join” the stage show. Happy Birthday Neil!
1968 Photo By Jack Robinson
We honor the incomparable Joni Mitchell today as she celebrates her birthday. Here’s three things for you to consider on her special day.
1. Listen to her music. N’uff said.
2. Revisit Cameron’s July, 1979 Rolling Stone cover story
3. Check out the liner notes for 2004’s Dreamland
Alice Cooper Circa 1972 by Jim Marshall
In honor of Halloween, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at a 1972 San Diego Door interview with “Mr. Scary”, Alice Cooper. It’s a rare, joint article written alongside fellow Door writer, Art Grupe. Happy Halloween!
Hip-O Select.com/Motown will release a brand new edition of Marvin Gaye’s Trouble Man to celebrate its 40th anniversary on November 19th. The new 2 CD exapanded edition will feature not only the remastered original soundtrack album, but also include 29 unreleased performances including alternate takes, rare vocals and the full score for the film.
The set will also include a 28 page booklet with essays by Cameron, Dr. Andrew Flory, George Tillman, Jr., Lenny Kravitz, Joni Mitchell and Christian McBride. It’s a limited edition of only 5,000 copies and you can order yours directly from the Hip-O website now.
You don’t want to miss Cameron’s 1973 interview with the Grateful Dead’s one and only Bob Weir. He talks about his career with the Dead, their Europe ’72 live album, his solo album Ace and even a ghost story… We hope you enjoy this new Journalism interview from Rock magazine.
