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We continue our exclusive coverage of the long-awaited release of the SMiLE Sessions from the Beach Boys with our interview with another co-producer of the set, Alan Boyd. He talks to us about how they decided which takes of songs to use for the “estimation” of the SMiLE LP on disc one, if it is ever possible to release a stereo mix of “Good Vibrations,” and which song he was the proudest of helpi...

Grammy-winner Shelby Lynne has fought hard to gain total control of her career. Last year, she started her own record label, Everso Records, and released two albums – Tears, Lies & Alibis, and the holiday themed Merry Christmas. Now, she’s returned with a new batch of songs, and even more independence – she wrote, produced, sang, and played every note on her brand-new album, Revelation Road. Icon...

We continue our exclusive conversation with Mark Linett, co-producer of the upcoming SMiLE Sessions box set from the Beach Boys. In this segment, he talks about the rumor that Paul McCartney contributed to the “Vega-Tables” session, why disc one’s “estimation” of the SMiLE album is presented in mono, and how they stumbled across a never-before heard demo version of Brian Wilson doing “Surf’s Up” f...

Maria Muldaur has made a career out of shifting from one genre to another – folk, blues, jazz, classic R&B and even jug band music, while all along garnering critical praise and multiple Grammy nominations. Her latest venture returns her to New Orleans and the blues – Steady Love, reuniting her with long-time collaborator Dave Torkanowski. The 13 tracks on her new disc have a raw immediacy lacking...

It’s the most famous unreleased album in history – the Beach Boys’ SMiLE was supposed to come out way back in 1967, but the project fell apart amidst a cloud of drugs and self-doubt by leader Brian Wilson. Now, some 45 years later, those legendary tapes are finally seeing the light of day in the SMiLE Sessions, a five-CD boxset containing, for the first time, an estimation of the “finished” would-...

She dated Elvis and Jimmy Page, toured with the Beatles, and wrote many hit songs – Jackie DeShannon is one interesting lady. Way before the current crop of women from Lady Gaga to Taylor Swift began ruling the charts, DeShannon blazed a trail in the early 1960’s, showing that a woman could sing, play guitar, write and produce her own recordings. She penned hits for many artists, including Brenda...

Thomas Dolby, the man behind such enduring hits as “She Blinded Me With Science,” and “Hyperactive,” is readying his first new studio album in 20 years, A Map of the Floating City, an eclectic mix of styles recorded at Dolby’s own home studio, and featuring several guests, including Mark Knopfler and Regina Spektor. Icon Fetch talks to the video pioneer about doing most of the work himself this ti...

Nina Blackwood was one of the original five VJs that played all that crazy music in the early days of MTV. Unbelievably the network quietly just celebrated it’s 30th anniversary. Icon Fetch sits down with the former Ohio resident about how she got chosen to join the fledgling network and what those early days were like, when it seemed like new music was spilling over everywhere. We also touch on s...

A Japanese singer doing songs by great American songwriters like Gershwin and Cole Porter sounds like a novel idea, but Hiromi Kanda succeeds through her excellent interpretations, and her expressive voice. Her new album, Days of Yesterday, features backing by a 50-piece orchestra recorded at the legendary Capitol Recording Studios in Hollywood. The fine arrangements by Matt Catingub help breathe...

That cool music you hear in the movie Pulp Fiction – that’s surf music, and here’s how it all happened. When most people hear the words “surf music,” they immediately think the Beach Boys, yet there’s so much more to that under-appreciated style. During a span of about five years between the late Fifties and early Sixties, surf music was king – helping literally shape the sound of the electric gui...

Their album was dead in the water, but the Spin Doctors kept plugging away…and it paid off. They’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of Pocketful of Kryptonite, their debut album, with a deluxe 2-CD set from Legacy Recordings, featuring a remastered version of the original CD, plus an entire disc of rare early recordings from the band that has never been released commercially. Icon Fetch sits down...

–For 30 years, he’s created radio ready music that never gets played on the radio– Melodic rock, power pop, or just plain good music – whatever you call it, Tommy Keene has been making it for the last 30 years. Hot on the heels of 2010’s 2-CD anthology, we sit down again with Keene to talk about his brand-new studio album Behind the Parade. Unique to this project, he recorded most of the instrumen...

–One of her videos was banned in the early days of MTV– Terri Nunn fronted the Eighties synth band Berlin, who first rose to prominence with their controversial single “Sex (I’m a…)” in 1982. MTV refused to play that steamy bit of erotica, but did put other Berlin tracks like “The Metro,” and “No More Words” into heavy rotation. The band eventually hit pay dirt with “Take My Breath Away” from the...

Rick Derringer was just 17 years old when his band hit with “Hang on Sloopy” – how did he deal with fame at such an early age? Hippiefest 2011 is coming to a city near you. Featuring Rick Derringer, Dave Mason, Gary Wright, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, and Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals, it proves to be a night filled with great songs and performances. Icon Fetch gives you a preview of the...

How on earth do you whittle down a list of the Greatest Guitarists of the 1970s to fit in one book? Mike Molenda has been the editor of Guitar Player magazine since 1998. He’s just put together Guitar Player Presents Guitar Heroes of the 70’s, a collection of classic interviews with 40 of the most influential guitarists that helped shape that decade. Included in the book are familiar heavyweights...

He started the record label from his kitchen table. That was 35 years ago. For 35 years Holger Petersen has run Stony Plain Records, an independent label out of Canada specializing in roots music. Among the artists that have released music through the company are Maria Muldaur, Jeff Healey, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, and Asleep at the Wheel. To celebrate, they’ve just released 35 Years of Stony...

If you like country music, you’ve heard his songs. Now he gets a chance to sing them his way Songwriter Gary Nicholson may not be a household name, but you’re sure to recognize the impressive list of artists he’s collaborated with – Delbert McClinton, Gregg Allman, George Strait, BB King, Ringo Starr, Vince Gill, Fleetwood Mac, and many others. He’s just released Texas Songbook – giving him the ch...

As a teen, he hitchkiked across Europe, at one point ending up at a party at Bridgette Bardot’s house Songwriter Michael Franks has just released his 18th studio album, Time Together, a delectable blend of gentle melodies and clever wordplay – both signatures of Franks’ almost 40-year career. Icon Fetch talks to the jazz singer about the long, five-year gap between recordings, reuniting with some...

Led by a versatile singer/songwriter, this band injects some fresh life into some vintage music Davina & the Vagabonds, featuring the sassy vocals of pianist Davina Sowers and a brash frontline horn section, recall the jazz and blues of turn-of-the-century New Orleans. But, underneath that brazen outer shell is a technically savvy band with an extraordinary songwriter. Their brand new CD, Black Cl...

Any time anyone mentions “#1 hit,” they’re using his research Joel Whitburn is the undisputed expert on hit singles. His extensive research of the Billboard charts has been used by DJs and music fans all over the world. He’s compiled over 200 books, from pop and rock to R&B, country and big band chart data. His latest book, Top Ten Pop Hits: A 70-Year History of Every Top Ten Hit 1940-2010, is the...

An engineer accidentally erased a song he had just recorded. To fill the space, he recorded a song called “Sunshine” – which became a huge hit. Jonathan Edwards is best remembered for his 1972 anti-establishment song “Sunshine.” He’s just released his first new studio album in 14 years, My Love Will Keep — 12 acoustic-based tracks featuring Edwards’ warm voice augmented by tasty accompaniment. He’...

She never fit into the “rock star mold” that the record company wanted her in. Now she’s playing by her own rules Debora Iyall fronted the Eighties band Romeo Void, who scored a pair of MTV hits in the biting “Never Say Never,” and the funky “Girl in Trouble is a Temporary Thing,” before calling it quits in 1985. After a brief stint as a solo artist, Iyall left the music business altogether to con...

Can a band take 16 years off and return like they never left? Yes Urge Overkill scored an alternative smash in 1993 with “Sister Havana,” from the album Saturation. Then, director Quentin Tarantino used their version of the Neil Diamond nugget “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” for his surprise hit movie Pulp Fiction a year later. After their next LP, Exit the Dragon, failed to match their previous re...

Gaye Ann Bruno is the co-host of the “Between the Sheets” podcast. The show, which also features Terri Nunn of the Eighties band Berlin, has gained a reputation for its “no-holds-barred” style and unique lineup of guests (which includes reclusive Jefferson Airplane vocalist Grace Slick, porn star Tera Patrick, and Devo bassist Gerald Casale). Bruno has also managed several prominent bands, worked...

They say everything is bigger in Texas – and singer / songwriter Eric Hanke is no exception. Standing 6’8” tall, he is literally a head above his competition. Hanke has just released his sophomore record called Factory Man, a blend of country, folk and rock with Hanke’s down-home lyrics. Icon Fetch talks to the Austin native about taking five years to put the record together and the stories behind...