Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: I, Carly

Photos courtesy of Lennie Petze Before Carly Simon formally “let the river run,” she first got her groove back. Fifteen years into an already landmark career, the songsmith behind such beloved radio...

Ira Kantor’s Vinyl Confessions: When Pride First Mattered

Photos courtesy of Charles Valentino and Chris Spierer It took four individuals to propel the first — and, to date, most impactful — gay anthem into public consciousness. Direct in its...

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...