Last weekend I attended a Triple-A radio conference in Philadelphia. The event is called Non-Comm (as in noncommercial radio), and I’ll be writing more about it soon. One of the…
Ken Shane
844 Articles
Ken Shane lives in Narragansett, R.I. He is a freelance writer and far and away the oldest Popdose writer. In fact, he may be the oldest writer, period. He wants you to know that he generally does not share his colleagues' love for the music of the '80s, and he does not forgive them for loving it. (Ken passed away in November 2022. R.I.P. —Ed.)
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
When Delta Spirit released their 2008 debut album Ode To Sunshine, I quickly became a fan of the San Diego band. I appreciated the first-rate songwriting, and the impassioned delivery…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
In 1965, one of the most highly regarded blues bands ever assembled coalesced around harmonica genius Paul Butterfield. Their first album for Elektra Records remains a genre classic.
Ken Shane
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Levi Stubbs never left. While Diana Ross split from the Supremes, Smokey Robinson migrated from his Miracles, and David Ruffin took off from the Temptations (ok, technically he was fired,…
Ken Shane
2 Min Read
When it comes to the music of romantic longing, it’s hard to top the songs of Antonio Carlos Jobim, especially when set to the languid bossa nova rhythms that he…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
The new Apples In Stereo album, Travellers (sic) In Space and Time, finds the band traveling back to the ’70s and ’80s to dutifully recreate the sound of pop music…
Ken Shane
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Gene Chandler scored a career-defining hit with “Duke of Earl” in 1962. Topping it wasn’t easy, but he found success again in 1964 with “Just Be True.”
Ken Shane
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A case could be made that Exile on Main Street (Universal) is the greatest rock and roll album ever made. After all, it’s got everything, from the full-tilt boogie of…
Ken Shane
3 Min Read
It was 1969. One warm summer night I found myself parked on a quiet street not far from my Atlantic City home. The girl’s name was Dorothy. We could never…
Ken Shane
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Garnett Mimms and the Enchanters had a massive hit in 1963 with “Cry Baby,” but it’s a less well known 1964 b-side by the group that has stuck in Ken Shane’s memory.
Ken Shane
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By the time a 24 year-old Otis Redding arrived in Los Angeles in 1966 for appearances that included a Hollywood Bowl show with Donovan, Sonny & Cher, and the Mamas…
Ken Shane
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It’s the dobro on the song “The Sweet Part of the City” that you hear first on the new Hold Steady album Heaven Is Whenever (Vagrant Records) . Your immediate…
Ken Shane
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When I first encountered the legend of the Magnificent Men, it was like something out of a movie. According to the story, this group of white kids from Harrisburg and…
Ken Shane
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You probably decided whether you are going to watch the latest installment of the great PBS series American Masters tonight when you saw the title. Because when it comes to…
Ken Shane
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A funny thing happened to Everest on the road to releasing their second album. The plan was to release the album on Vapor Records, just as they had released their…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
Released during the tumult of 1968, this Judy Collins album served Ken Shane as an oasis of serenity during some dark days.
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
In 1968, Aretha Franklin had a hit with “Sweet, Sweet Baby (Since You’ve Been Gone),” but it was the B-side that broke hearts among soul music fans everywhere.
Ken Shane
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Every once in awhile I have the opportunity to report on an artist who continues to grow and evolve with each new release. It’s one of the most gratifying things…
Ken Shane
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I have mixed feelings when it comes to telling people about some of the shows I’ve seen. After all, the Beatles in ’64, Dylan in ’65, and the Stones in…
Ken Shane
2 Min Read
“Big Audio Dynamite was born from the ashes of the Clash, something Mick (Jones) was never allowed to forget (hell, why should he!), and I was always aware of the…
Ken Shane
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Joni Mitchell is a long-time member of my personal pantheon. It’s a short list of artists who I revere not just for what they produce, but for the journey that…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
The Impressions were responsible for some of the most compelling anthems of the civil rights era, but Curtis Mayfield also had a way with a romantic ballad.
Ken Shane
2 Min Read
I love Shelby Lynne. I’m not given to starting my reviews with such proclamations, but I think it’s important that you know where I’m coming from. Not only is Shelby…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
When it comes to soul music, there’s only one King of the saxophone: King Curtis. Ken Shane begins his new column with a look at Curtis’ most famous song, “Soul Serenade.”
Ken Shane
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There is a group of great American songwriters who make the process seem so effortless that sometimes their brilliance is taken for granted. Their chord structures are simple, mostly played…
Ken Shane
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I don’t know how strange it’s been, but it has certainly been a long trip for Matt Pond PA. The band’s story begins in Philadelphia in 1998, before relocating to…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
Ken Shane is giving away a vinyl copy of Jeff Beck’s new album. Find out how you can win!
Ken Shane
4 Min Read
The venerable Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, New Jersey, began life as a legitimate theatre in 1922 before being converted to a movie theatre in 1929. The venue fell on hard…
Ken Shane
1 Min Read
I am certainly not about to knock any songwriter who includes a song called “Shane” on his album. In this case, Martin Sexton is writing about his son, but his…
Ken Shane
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I like the good old three chord rock and roll as much as any other jaded music writer does. But I also like innovation. I love hearing young bands trying…