The Mythic Weight Of Phil Spector’s Christmas Gift: A Semicentennial Reflection

November 22, 1963, was a horrible day for the nation, and for PHIL SPECTOR, a personal disaster as well, as his ambitious Christmas album arrived and was promptly forgotten. A semicentennial look back ensues.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles–and Allen Klein

MICHAEL SIGMAN reflects on ALLEN KLEIN, in light of FRED GOODMAN's acclaimed new biography of the man who 'bailed out the Beatles, made the Rolling Stones and transformed rock and roll.'
by David McGee
 

 

 

Updike at Easter, 2022 Edition

Our 11th annual installment of 'Seven Voices on Seven Stanzas' brings together new voices and those of earlier contributors to contemplate the greater meaning of John Updike's provocative poem, 'Seven Stanzas at Easter.'
by David McGee
 

 
 

‘Perhaps the Richest Body of Stories by Any North American Writer of His Generation’

THE LIBRARY OF AMERICA is publishing a two-volume set of John Updike's Collected Stories. CHRISTOPHER CARDUFF, the estate-appointed editor of Updike's posthumous publications, discusses the project.
by David McGee
 

 

 

‘Now Our Minds Are One’: A Native American Thanksgiving Liturgy

A meaningful call-and-response prayer from the Haudenosaunee native tradition to give some persepctive on thanks and PRovidence this Thanksgiving Day.
by David McGee
 

 
 

A Gathering of Voices, in Celebration and Covenant

Continuing a journey embarked upon three albums ago, MOIRA SMILEY & VOCO and The Choir of YOU bring voices, instruments and a gumbo of American and Eastern European folk music together on LAUGHTER OUT OF TEARS.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The ‘Quiet Ecstasy’ of Harry Simeone’s ‘Little Drummer Boy’

The story behind THE HARRY SIMEONE CHORALE's classic 'THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY' begins in 1941 with KATHERINE KENNICOTT DAVIS'S 'CAROL OF THE DRUM' and includes a classic Christmas album featuring the oft-covered seasonal favorite.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Gold Publishes ‘Yiddish Glossary for Goyim’; Special Deal on Facebook

No longer the exclusive province of entertainment business insiders, the YIDDISH GLOSSARY FOR GOYIM has finally been compiled into one volume and published by author-editor Noe Gold, who's making it available in a special offer...
by David McGee
 

 

 

‘Our Spirit Refuses to Die’: Declaring A National Day of Mourning

The story of the National Day of Mourning marked by Native Americans on the fourth Thursday of November begins in November 1970, the 350th anniversary of 'the first Thanksgiving,' with the suppressed speech of Wamsutta (Frank B...
by David McGee
 

 
 

Singles Charts and the Battle for Bullets

In our continuing excerpts from MICHAEL SIGMAN's memoir Just Remember: Field Notes from a Music Biz Life, the author recounts the tumult that erupted when Record World dared to print charts reflecting actual record sales.
by David McGee
 

 

 

‘Her Death is Akin To a Library Burning Down’

Remembering REGINA RESNIK, whose death on August 8 was, says FRED PLOTKIN, 'akin to a library burning to the ground.' A personal reminiscence of an amazing life ensues.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Meaning of Folk-Rock

'The Meaning of Folk-Rock,' an excerpt from CHRISTOPHER HILL's essential 'INTO THE MYSTIC: THE VISIONARY and ECSTATIC ROOTS OF 1960S ROCK AND ROLL'
by David McGee