Dave's Side One

Today's episode celebrates one of the forgotten joys of vinyl: opening a gatefold album, reading the lyrics, studying the artwork, and experiencing music before the first note ever plays.

Many fans put Rumours at the top of the classic rock mountain. Dave makes the case for Hotel California and explains why one overlooked song transformed the way he listens to this iconic album.

If there were a soundtrack for a peaceful Sunday afternoon, Take It Easy would have to be near the top of the list.

From the opening notes of Hotel California to the closing moments of The Last Resort, the album feels like a journey through the dreams and disappointments of California in the 1970s.

The best record I ever received as a gift was Jump on It by Montrose. Released in 1976, this was the band's fourth and final studio album. By then, Sammy Hagar had moved on and the group was in a different phase of its history.

My first record was We Can Fly by The Cowsills, a birthday gift that introduced me to the world of albums and record collecting. But my second record? That one was all me. The second album I ever owned was Equinox by Styx.

One of These Nights. Released in 1975, this was the album where the Eagles stopped being a very good band and became a great band

If someone had told me then that decades later I'd own hundreds of records, run a record store, and spend my mornings talking about music with people all over the world, I never would have believed them

Most drummers are content to stay behind the kit. Henley somehow became one of the most recognizable voices in rock music while keeping the rhythm section anchored

If someone asked me to explain Rush in one song, I might choose "The Spirit of Radio

It's one of the greatest rock albums ever made. But is it Rush's best album? I'm not convinced.

Their greatest superpower was evolution

As we’ve seen and heard during the first week of Rush’s return to the stage, Anika Nilles is the perfect complement to the resurgence of RUSH.

One of the most impressive things about Rush is how deeply they connected with listeners without ever chasing trends. The band simply stayed true to themselves—and somehow attracted millions of people who appreciated exactly that

Rush grew up alongside arena rock itself. As the Forum became one of the country's premier concert venues, Rush evolved from club-sized audiences into one of the biggest touring bands on the planet

For me, the most exciting thing isn't necessarily new albums. It's the idea of hearing those songs performed live again by the musicians who helped create them.

The late 70s produced a lot of great reflective songs—tracks by Ambrosia, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Orleans, and Christopher Cross all captured a similar mood. But "Baby Come Back" occupies a special place among them

Streaming has made music more convenient than ever, but it's also made us more impatient. We hear ten seconds, decide whether we like it, and move on

The people who run record stores matter too. The best store owners aren't just selling records. They're curating experiences. They're introducing customers to artists and albums they might never discover otherwise

When you pull an album off the shelf, clean it, and lower the needle, you're making a commitment. You're choosing to spend time with that record. Streaming often encourages us to jump around. Vinyl encourages us to stay put

For pure visual impact, though, it's hard to beat the custom labels. Led Zeppelin's Swan Song records. The palm-tree labels on many Island Records releases. The whimsical artwork on some Warner Brothers pressings

These albums crossed boundaries. They weren't just owned by rock fans or pop fans. They were owned by music fans

The streaming world gives us instant access to millions of songs. That's wonderful. But it doesn't give us the thrill of the hunt. It doesn't give us that feeling of spotting something special buried in a stack of ordinary records

Other great driving songs from the era like “Take It Easy” by The Eagles or “Ventura Highway” by America have similar qualities, but “Ride Like the Wind” stands out with its perfect blend of momentum and calm. It moves forward while making you feel peaceful — a difficult balance that few songs achieve

The best concerts were the ones where you left with ringing ears, a sore throat from singing, and a story to tell. Giant screens made concerts more convenient for the people in the back, but they took away some of the magic that made live music special in the first place