Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: ‘I’m Mississippi, Got The New York Blues’ (Forbert Comes Alive)

Photos courtesy of Steve Forbert Between 1977 and 1978, at the height of the Bowery punk movement, a fresh-faced 22/23-year-old singing-songwriting Mississippian named Steve Forbert strove to make New York...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: One-Take Wonders – The Knack’s Supposed Sophomore Jinx

Photos courtesy of Prescott Niles  Their journey has been depicted as both a Cinderella story and one of music’s most epic fails. Yet there can be no denying that for (at...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: The Voice (‘Ooh Johnny Johnny Johnny’)

Black & white photos by Richard Avedon   Johnny Mathis didn’t need to come from a rock and R&B background to become one of the coolest entertainers ever. Give a think as...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: Big Bad Jim

Photo of A.J. and Jim Croce together courtesy of Joshua Black Wilkins and Paul Wilson   September 20, 1973 marked the day the music died a second time. Jim Croce, the tender singer,...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: ‘Did I Hear You Say That This Is Victory’ –...

It’s doesn’t matter that it’s been 50 years; Blue Öyster Cult remains one of rock music’s most underappreciated bands. Here we have a powerhouse collective where democracy (at least for...

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: “Could You Tell Me How To Get To Carnegie Hall,...

Photos courtesy of Annie Haslam, Michael Dakota and William James Throughout the decades, Carnegie Hall has been a benchmark of both cultural history and performance virtuosity. Artists and bands spanning...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: “Touch The Sun And Run” ~ The Association Go To...

Photos courtesy of Russ Giguere Every Sunday night when I was growing up meant movie night with my father. Usually my sister and I would pick from a round robin...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: Sad-Eyed Sinatra ~ Rickie Lee Jones’ ‘Pirates’ Looks At 40

Select photos courtesy of Michael Halsband When Rickie Lee Jones set about making the follow-up to her smashing success of a debut album, she could have easily coasted with an...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: “And The Gods Made Love” ~ Eloy’s Wave Of Brilliance

Photos courtesy of Frank Bornemann I will admit, there have been many times during this pandemic when my brain has been consumed by more negative thoughts than positive ones. Fear,...