Music
Classic Cuts: Led Zeppelin Sets the BBC Ablaze With ‘Travelling Riverside Blues’
Flipping through some of classic rock's greatest tracks, Led Zeppelin's scorching 'Travelling Riverside Blues' at the BBC gets its due.
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Movies
‘Vertigo’: The Most Puzzling Scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Masterpiece
The Alfred Hitchcock classic Vertigo (1958) can get its hooks into you in so many ways. If the unfolding of the tragedy in the opening scene doesn’t grab you, the hypnotic sequences of Detective John “Scottie” Ferguson (Jimmy Stewart) driving through San Francisco — or maybe the greatest plot twist in the history of cinema …
Music
Bob Dylan’s ‘Desire’ Album Features Eric Clapton on Guitar for 1 Colorful Track
'Desire' featured a new kind of Bob Dylan sound, and for 1 song on the LP Eric Clapton's guitar was part of it. Clapton recalled a massive group in the studio.
Music
Classic Cuts: David Bowie Channels the Velvet Underground on ‘Queen Bitch’
Though piano dominated David Bowie's 'Hunky Dory' album, 'Queen Bitch' was Bowie channeling Lou Reed's guitar-heavy work with the Velvet Underground.
Movies
How Faye Dunaway Thought Norman Jewison Saved the ‘Thomas Crown Affair’ Shoot
Faye Dunaway witnessed a standoff between Norman Jewison and Steve McQueen that could have sunk 'The Thomas Crown Affair.' But Jewison stayed the course.
Music
Why Led Zeppelin Bristled at the ‘Heavy Metal’ Label From the Start
Led Zeppelin could get heavy, but to call the band 'heavy metal' misses the point. The band members have pushed back at the label since the beginning.
Movies
How Steve McQueen Pushed Norman Jewison to the Brink on ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’
Norman Jewison was universally considered as unflappable as directors came. But Steve McQueen managed to get under his skin on the 'Thomas Crown Affair' shoot.
Music
Classic Lines: David Bowie’s ‘Homo Sapiens Have Outgrown Their Use’ Hangs Over ‘Hunky Dory’
If you like David Bowie at his most chilling, this lyric about 'Homo spaiens outgrowing their use' on 'Hunky Dory' represents a peak in Bowie's work.
Music
Classic Lines: Bob Dylan’s ‘To Live Outside the Law You Must Be Honest’ Cuts Through ‘Blonde on Blonde’
The author argues the merits of Bob Dylan's lyric 'to live outside the law, you must be honest' from the song 'Absolutely Sweet Marie' on the album 'Blonde on Blonde. The film 'The Lineup' may have inspired the line.
Music
Classic Lines: Bob Marley ‘Feel[s] Like Bombing a Church’ on the ‘Natty Dread’ Album
Bob Marley really went for it with his 'bombing a church' line on the 'Natty Dread' album. It remains among his most remarkable lyrics.
Music
Legendary DJ Dennis Elsas Recalls His Landmark John Lennon Interview and ‘Extremely Gracious’ Rock Legends on His 50th Anniversary on NYC Radio
Dennis Elsas's Hall of Fame '74 John Lennon interview was only the beginning. Now celebrating 50 years on NYC radio, the DJ and on-air personality reflected on that day with Lennon and his greater run.
Movies
Why Norman Jewison Thought Steve McQueen Wasn’t Right for ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’
Though Norman Jewison had directed Steve McQueen's in 'The Cincinnati Kid,' he thought McQueen was all wrong for 'The Thomas Crown Affair.'
TV
‘The Sopranos’: Why the Season 6 Premiere Ended Without a Preview of Episode 2
'Sopranos' producers decided to change the rules and cut the next-episode preview after the shocking close to the season 6 premiere.
TV
Go to HBO Max’s ‘Gomorrah’ and ‘Umbre’ for Your Gangster TV Fix in ’21
American gangster TV may be in a bit of a lull. HBO Max's 'Gomorrah' and 'Umbre' give fans of the genre plenty of material to view in '21.
Music
The Classic Led Zeppelin Track Stone Temple Pilots Covered for a Surprise Hit
Stone Temple Pilots covered one of Led Zeppelin's poppier tracks, then watched it climb up multiple Billboard charts in the '90s without an official release.
TV
‘The Sopranos’: How Dania Ramirez Almost Got Shut Out of the Blanca Selgado Role
Dania Ramirez was a huge fan of 'The Sopranos' and wanted to audition for a role like A.J.'s girlfriend Blanca. But Ramirez's agent didn't pass along the show's offer.
Music
The Robert Johnson Lyrics Robert Plant Wished He’d Written in His Led Zeppelin Days
Robert Plant wished he'd be the one who wrote these bawdy lyrics from early Led Zeppelin songs. But Robert Johnson beat him to it.
Music
The Model Jimmy Page Used as the Basis for Led Zeppelin’s ‘Gallows Pole’
While folk legend Lead Belly recorded 'Gallows Pole' in the '30s, Jimmy Page said Led Zeppelin worked with a white American's version.
Music
Why Paul Simon Considered It ‘a Big Shock to People’ When Bob Dylan’s Real Name Emerged
Bob Dylan wasn't the only musician going around with a made-up name. Paul Simon thought it was a big thing for Dylan's audience to accept.
Music
The Led Zeppelin Classic Bobby Brown Repurposed for the Hit ‘Humpin’ Around’ Single
Bobby Brown turned to 'Houses of the Holy,' Led Zeppelin most whimsical album, for the riff that powered the hit single 'Humpin' Around.'
