Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: Highly Strung ~ Hackett Revisited

Photos by Tina Korhonen Steve Hackett’s fingers should be in the Smithsonian — given all they’ve created since the opening lines of “The Musical Box” came wafting in to introduce Genesis’...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: Singer Of Songs, Teller Of Tales ~ Paul Davis Remembered

Photos Courtesy of Ed Seay His name is somehow synonymous with yacht rock but don’t let this misnomer fool you. The late, great Paul Davis should really be considered a...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: The Sweetest Victory (“No Pain!”)

“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” – Rocky Balboa I don’t want to be a statistic. That’s...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: Tennessee Studs (Foggy Mountain Breakthrough)

Within the sphere of popular music in Nixonian-era 1972, there’s an interesting hybrid of commercial acts. Teen idols, hard rockers, proggers, female belters, country crooners, soulsters — nothing is...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: 10cc Attains High Art (For Art’s Sake)

Photos courtesy of Glass Onion PR Reflect back on the great 1970s British bands and you’ll see 10cc more than measures up to their competition. Equal parts irreverent and intellectual, the...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: Look At Little Sister

Photo Courtesy of Kate Taylor One of my fondest memories occurred at about 7 AM on August 9, 2014 — my 30th birthday. I was about the board a ferry with my...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: How Do I Survive ~ Amy Holland at 40

Photos courtesy of Amy Holland February 25, 1981, marked one of the most important dates in singer Amy Holland’s life and career. Bolstered by the success of a Number 22 Billboard...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: Rock’s Sultans Swing For The Fences ~ Dire Straits ‘Love...

Dire Straits photo courtesy John IIlsley Dire Straits Love Over Gold Dire Straits has been eligible for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2003. Fifteen years later, the...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: The Album Divine ~ Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin’s ‘Love...

Photo by Ina McLaughlin Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin Love Devotion Surrender It doesn’t take more than five seconds of listening before you realize you’re hearing two guitar masters at the top...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: Magic Is Afoot; Magic Never Died

Photos courtesy of Eric Alper “Illuminations by Buffy Sainte-Marie is one of my favorite albums. When she sings at her best, it’s the soul laid bare.” – Steve Hackett (2020) “I...