Bassist James Jamerson was the bedrock of Motown Records’ legendary studio band the Funk Brothers, between 1959 and 1973 playing on no fewer than 23 Billboard Hot 100 number one hits as well as 56 Billboard R&B chart-toppers. Famed for his inventive, deeply melodic rhythms, Jamerson was largely unsung during his brief lifetime, but he […]
The KORD Guide: Motown Masterpieces of 1971
Motown Records scaled new heights in 1971, the label’s final year in its physical and spiritual home of Detroit, Mich. prior to relocating to Los Angeles. The year kicked off with Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” — the title track of his then-forthcoming LP, arguably the most celebrated release in the Motown canon — and […]
How Dylan grounded rock’s most tired joke
If you’re a live music enthusiast anywhere under the age of 25, you might bemoan all the great performers, events and venues you were born too late to experience. True, you never got to see Nirvana, and sure, you never got to visit CBGB. But look on the bright side: you also never had to […]
Homer Simpson’s favorite band?
Homer Simpson loves donuts, beer, and Grand Funk Railroad. America’s favorite cartoon dad famously declared his affection for the hard rock group in 1996’s “Homerpalooza,” the penultimate episode of the seventh season of The Simpsons, highlighting among Grand Funk’s virtues “the wild shirtless lyrics of Mark Farner, the bong-rattling bass of Mel Schacher and the […]
Breaking down Sheryl Crow’s breakout song
This week we explore the instrumental tracks of Sheryl Crow’s 1993 chart-topping global smash “All I Wanna Do.” As always, you can hear the song and each of its stems here in KORD; sit back for a top-to-bottom analysis.
How the Commodores built their ‘Brick House’
Our latest Stem Breakdown marvels at the incendiary funk anthem “Brick House” by the greatest band to come out of Tuskegee, Ala.: the Commodores. Released in 1977, the song still delights decades later. (Spoiler alert: no, that isn’t Lionel Richie on lead vocals.)
Gibson Les Paul
Electric GuitarFirst released: 1952Produced in: Kalamazoo, MI
Gibson Explorer
Electric GuitarFirst released: 1958Produced in: Kalamazoo, MI
‘No Rain’ shines in the summer of 1993
One-hit wonder, or song of the summer? Either way, Blind Melon’s “No Rain” rose to the top of the U.S. rock charts on its way to going multi-platinum.
A bubblegum pop recording masterclass
“It’s a Sunshine Day” was originally released on 1972’s The Kids from the Brady Bunch, the third album featuring TV’s favorite children-of-remarried-parents. However, the song was most famously featured on Episode 16, Season 4 of The Brady Bunch, an unforgettable episode appropriately titled “Amateur Nite.” This classic piece of television magic, originally aired in primetime […]
