New York Groove: An Inside Look at the Stars, Shows, and Songs That Make NYC Rock Book Excerpt — “The Rising” is the title track of Bruce Springsteen’s 12th studio album, released in 2002. The song is a response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Springsteen writes of the hundreds of New York City firefighters who climbed the towers of the World Trade Center on a rescue…

Excerpt from the new eBook 200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs — “A Change Is Gonna Come” has become a civil rights anthem and has grown in historical importance in the years since its release as the B-side to Sam Cooke’s 1964 hit “Shake.” …

Book Excerpt from New eBook ‘200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs’ — Enjoy this excerpt from the new eBook 200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs. “As Tears Go By” was one of the first songs written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The Rolling Stones to that point had mainly recorded old blues standards. …

“Astral Weeks” is the title song of Van Morrison’s second album. In the book Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, the singer described the song as being “like transforming energy, or going from one source to another with it being born again like a rebirth. “I remember reading about…

‘New York Groove: An Inside Look at the Stars, Shows, and Songs That Make NYC Rock’ Book Excerpt — Al Kooper was born Alan Kuperschmidt in Brooklyn and raised in Queens. His first break came in 1958 as the 14-year-old guitarist with the Royal Teens, whose big hit was “Short Shorts.” By 1960, Kooper worked as a guitarist on recording sessions. “People would hire me because their only alternative…

‘200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs’ Book Excerpt — The surf music of the Beach Boys made California the dream destination of young people during the 1960s. But not all of the music was produced on the West Coast. …

‘New York Groove: An Inside Look at the Stars, Shows, and Songs That Make NYC Rock’ Book Excerpt — “Wild Thing” has been recorded by everyone from Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen to Sam Kinison and the Trashmen. The definitive version remains by the Troggs, a working-class British band who formed in 1964. …

‘200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs’ eBook Excerpt — It is sad to note the passing of Robbie Robertson, who died on August 9, 2023, at age 80. In this excerpt from the upcoming eBook 200 Greatest 60s Rock Songs, we look back on the song Robertson wrote that became one of The Band’s best-loved recordings: “The Weight.” The…

“A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” — Steve Martin — “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream After attending a Jimi Hendrix performance, bassist Jack Bruce was inspired to write the guitar lick that runs throughout Cream’s 1967 hit “Sunshine of Your Love.” Bruce and writer Pete Brown struggled with the lyrics during an all-night session. “I picked up my double…