Beach Boys

Rock Flashback: The Rutles

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Rock Flashback

Rock Flashback: Top Albums of 1976

Here's the face that looked out upon millions of record buyers from the cover of "Frampton Comes Alive!"

By J.A. Bartlett | December 30, 2011

By 1976, many of the major artists of the 1960s had faded into the background. A new generation of performers, many of whom had toiled anonymously in the 1960s, topped the charts. After the jump, we'll remember some of the top rock albums of 1976. … Read more »

Rock Flashback

Rock Flashback: James Taylor in “Two-Lane Blacktop”

(Getty Images/Spencer Platt)

By J.A. Bartlett | December 27, 2011

In the summer of 1970, film director Monte Hellman saw a Los Angeles billboard with James Taylor's face on it, and he believed he'd found a star. After the jump, read about Taylor's road movie, Two-Lane Blacktop. Roll film ... Read more »

Top 10

It’s All Over Now (Maybe): Top 10 Songs With False Endings

The Raiders ask that you hold your applause until the song is finished. Thank you. (YouTube)

By Michael Verity | December 21, 2011

How often does it happen, that awkward moment at the elementary school band concert when you think the song is over (and you clap) but, alas, it continues on (and on and on, sometimes forever). … Read more »

What Goes On

What Goes On: Original Beach Boys Announce 50th Anniversary Reunion

XXX of The Beach Boys performs on stage in concert at the Palais Theatre, Melbourne on November 2, 2007 in Melbourne, Australia. Their landmark album "Surfin Safari" hit the charts 45 years ago, and it is 33 years since they last toured as a band, albeit this time without the frontman Brian Wilson.

By Michael Verity | December 19, 2011

Founding members Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine announced Friday they're getting back together to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Tell Me More Read more »

Bubbling Under

Bubbling Under: Wendy and Carnie Wilson’s “Hey Santa”

Wilson Phillips (L to R: Wendy Wilson, Chynna Phillips, Carnie Wilson) performs in 2011. (Getty Images/Kevin Winter)

By J.A. Bartlett | December 18, 2011

Each week, Billboard magazine's "Bubbling Under" chart features singles that rank below its famous Hot 100 chart. Each weekend, we spotlight one of them. … Read more »

Bubbling Under

Bubbling Under: Larry Lurex

Our image search for "lurex" brought up this photo of model Nicole Trunfio at a movie premiere earlier this year, and we forgot why we were searching. And we hate ourselves because we had to crop the best part. (Getty Images for Relativity Media/Larry Busacca)

By J.A. Bartlett | November 13, 2011

Robin Geoffrey Cable was a sound engineer at Trident Studios in London in 1972. He was fascinated by Phil Spector's "wall of sound" records made a decade before, and wondered if he could recreate that sound. He chose a couple of likely songs for his… Read more »

Rock Flashback

Rock Flashback: “Monster Mash” Cover Versions

(Getty Images/Peter Macdiarmid)

By J.A. Bartlett | October 28, 2011

As Halloween draws near each year, Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash" emerges from its tomb. We've devoted a fair amount of space to it over the years: Michael Verity wrote about it this past summer, and I did too, a couple of years ago. It's the… Read more »

Rock News

Rock Flashback: On Tour With Lynryd Skynyrd

(Getty Images/Mark Wilson)

By J.A. Bartlett | October 7, 2011

We love those exhaustive tour listings we often find on the Internet, whether they're officially sanctioned by the bands themselves or a labor of love by dedicated fans. They provide a look back in rock-n-roll time that nothing else can provide.… Read more »

Forgotten Favorites

Forgotten Favorites: “Wendy”

The Beach Boys SInging About My Friend, "Wendy" (YouTube)

By Michael Verity | October 3, 2011

Whilst writing the introduction of a pop singer named Goldstoned over at our sister site, MP3.com, and going on about how he is a worthy acolyte of the Beach Boys, I got to thinking about one of my fave Beach Boys tunes, "Wendy," and an old girl… Read more »