How To Have Fun With a Serious Song (Field Notes from a Music Biz Life, Part 3)

In this installment of his autobiography, MICHAEL SIGMAN recounts some amusing incidents following in the wake of his father CARL SIGMAN's now-classic hit song 'EBB TIDE.' JERRY COLONNA makes an appearance.
by David McGee
 

 
 

Suave, Like Nobody’s Business

We redress a great wrong in finally reviewing RAUL MALO's 2007 Christmas masterpiece, Marshmallow World + Other Holiday Favorites. This Yuletide essential is so suave it even offers 'Silver Bells' as a tango. Believe it.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Old Guard Hated the Rock But Loved the Bankroll (Field Notes From a Music Biz Life, Part 4)

In Part 4 of his autobiography, MICHAEL SIGMAN explains why the old guard post-war pop songwriters 'hated the rock but loved the bankroll'
by David McGee
 

 
 

This New Year’s, Resolve To Give Yourself a Break

'Shooting for the moon with our New Year's resolutions and then falling short is a fast track to aggravation, self-loathing and the joyless consumption of massive quantities of week-old fruitcake,' writes contributing editor Mi...
by David McGee
 

 

 

Torn Between Two Bosses, Not Feeling Like a Fool

BOB AUSTIN and SID PARNES were partners as the owners of RECORD WORLD magazine but otherwise had no use for each other. As RW editor, MICHAEL SIGMAN had to get along with both.
by David McGee
 

 
 

The Quiet Heroism of ‘Right Living’

Contributing editor MICHAEL SIGMAN reflects on the recent fall of 'self-appointed heroes' and the virtues of 'quietly going about one's business.'
by David McGee
 

 

 

Marilyn & Alan Bergman: A Marriage of Two Minds

An exclusive excerpt from MICHAEL SIGMAN's second volume of HITS HISTORY OF THE MUSIC BIZ interviews, this one featuring the great songwriting team of MARILYN & ALAN BERGMAN
by David McGee
 

 
 

A Few Answers About ‘Answer Me’

'ANSWER ME, MY LOVE' is a classic pop song with a complicated history. CARL SIGMAN wrote the lyrics, and herein his son MICHAEL SIGMAN relates the tune's fascinating backstory.
by David McGee
 

 

 

The Mythic Weight Of Phil Spector’s Christmas Gift

In 1963, PHIL SPECTOR thought his CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOU album would be a career-defining event. Then a not-so-funny-thing happened to him on his way to musical world dominance. BILLY ALTMAN fills us in.
by David McGee