By Steve Newton I was just searching around on YouTube for Uriah Heep's "Magician's Birthday", 'cause I needed a music-from-high-school fix, when I came across a concert video I'd never seen before, posted on the UriahHeepNetwork channel. It shows the band performing what is probably my favourite Heep song, the beautiful "Circus", off the Sweet … Continue reading I freakin’ love Uriah Heep’s live version of “Circus” with Ian Anderson on flute
Category: The ’70s
25 rock albums from 1977 that are way better than Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell
By Steve Newton Since the death of Meat Loaf last Thursday I've been hearing an awful lot about his 1977 debut album, Bat Out of Hell. The media's been falling all over itself, declaring how it's one of the best-selling albums of all time--moving over 40 million copies--and how much people love the music on … Continue reading 25 rock albums from 1977 that are way better than Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell
The Climax Blues Band had a song about living together and free that Americans should take to heart right now
By Steve Newton It was clean-the-freakin'-basement day today, so I searched around for an album that might put me in the mood for getting some crap moved from one area to another. I settled on the Climax Blues Band's 1976 LP, Gold Plated, and the opening track on SIde One got me thinkin' that, man, … Continue reading The Climax Blues Band had a song about living together and free that Americans should take to heart right now
Tom Petty’s King of the Hill character buys Brownsville Station tix for primo view of Mike Lutz’s guitar solo
By Steve Newton I was channel surfing last night and came across a King of the Hill episode from 2006 that perked me up and made me yearn for the halcyon days of '70s arena rock. At the end of the Season 10 episode titled "Hank Fixes Everything", the recurring character Lucky--voiced by Tom Petty--buys tickets to … Continue reading Tom Petty’s King of the Hill character buys Brownsville Station tix for primo view of Mike Lutz’s guitar solo
The 70 greatest closing tracks of the ’70s
By Steve Newton Remember when the last track on an album would finish and you'd wish the music would just never end? Me too. "All Right Now" (Fire and Water, Free, 1970) “American Girl” (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, 1976) "Another Star" (Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder, … Continue reading The 70 greatest closing tracks of the ’70s
The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s
By Steve Newton Remember how you'd set the needle down on the opening track of a new rock album and the first tune would just blow you the funk away? Me too. "(Ain't Nothin' But a) House Party" (Bloodshot, J. Geils Band, 1973) "All the Way From Memphis" (Mott, Mott the Hoople, 1973) "Already Gone" … Continue reading The 70 greatest opening tracks of the ’70s
That time Circus Magazine’s editorial department sent me a rejection letter :(
By Steve Newton Thirty-six years ago today somebody at Circus Magazine sent me a rejection letter. They could have at least signed it. Back in the seventies I devoured Circus. It was a total fanzine, but it really covered the bands I was interested in. On any given issue you'd see capitalized band names like MOTT, … Continue reading That time Circus Magazine’s editorial department sent me a rejection letter 🙁
Newt’s top 20 David Bowie songs of the seventies
By Steve Newton As everybody knows by know, pop-rock legend David Bowie has died. It's the worst loss for the music world since John Lennon was murdered, I reckon. A few days ago I did a blog about my personal remembrances of discovering Bowie as a teen in the seventies. Now here's my top 20 Bowie … Continue reading Newt’s top 20 David Bowie songs of the seventies
Michael Bruce’s deletion from Super Duper Alice Cooper is a bloody travesty
By Steve Newton Finally got around to watching the 2014 documentary Super Duper Alice Cooper for the first time the other night, and it was awesome: except for the part where they refused to even mention the name "Michael Bruce". For the uninitiated, Bruce was the rhythm guitarist for the Alice Cooper Band during its first … Continue reading Michael Bruce’s deletion from Super Duper Alice Cooper is a bloody travesty
Backstage with Scott Gorham (and Gary Moore) on Thin Lizzy’s Bad Reputation Tour in 1978
By Steve Newton See that Thin Lizzy mirror pin I'm holding? That's not just any old Thin Lizzy mirror pin. That's the one Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham gave me backstage at Vancouver's Pacific Coliseum on October 12, 1978. That was an unforgettable moment for me. Lemme tell ya about it. At the time I … Continue reading Backstage with Scott Gorham (and Gary Moore) on Thin Lizzy’s Bad Reputation Tour in 1978
The Newt’s 300 Best Rock Albums of the 1970s
By Steve Newton You had to be there. Abraxas: Santana (“Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen”, “Oye Coma Va”, “Samba Pa Ti”) 1970 A Day at the Races: Queen (“Tie Your Mother Down”, “Somebody to Love”, “Long Away”) 1976 Aerosmith: Aerosmith (“Make It”, “Dream On”, “Mama Kin”) 1973 After the Gold Rush: Neil Young (“Tell Me Why”, “Southern Man”, “When You … Continue reading The Newt’s 300 Best Rock Albums of the 1970s
Major concert news: Newt’s buddy’s band will play the Chilliwack Senior High class of ’75 reunion
By Steve Newton It probably won't garner as much attention as the announcement of the upcoming AC/DC world tour, but I just found out that my old buddy's cover band is playing the 40-year reunion for the Chilliwack Senior High School class of 1975. So I guess I'll go. Here's the unofficial setlist. The band … Continue reading Major concert news: Newt’s buddy’s band will play the Chilliwack Senior High class of ’75 reunion
Wherein the Newt pines for the ’70s along with a panel of Vancouver rock experts
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 4, 1993 “The music you listen to becomes the soundtrack of your life.” —Mike Bloomfield Ah, the ’70s—what a great decade for rock. I don’t care what anybody says, because, disco aside, the ’70s ruled, man. Back then I could easily name 50 bands that I was crazy … Continue reading Wherein the Newt pines for the ’70s along with a panel of Vancouver rock experts