The Tenth Anniversary of Eclectic Avenue

A long time ago, in a city not so far away, a young man declared he wanted to be a writer, in order to share his love and passion for the music, movies and books that he loved so much. It took a long time, and several almost serpentine twists and turns in life for it to happen, but here I am many years later, writing about music, movies and books here at Eclectic Avenue (since 2011) and for CultureSonar, the excellent arts and entertainment website I began writing for in 2017. Since this month marks the tenth anniversary of Eclectic Avenue, I just wanted to say a few words of thanks to all the friends and colleagues who've said kind things about my work, and supported my writing throughout the years.

I have always dabbled in writing in one way or another, starting in my high school years, and moving on through college and into my subsequent jobs in the publishing and IT worlds. As with many things in life, there were those who supported me in my endeavors, and others who thought I was crazy to pursue my dream. After several tough years on the personal side of life in the early to mid 2000s, I decided to start my own blog in 2011, and Eclectic Avenue was born. That led to me meeting a great group of writers in the blogging community. I began participating in some blogathons, which got my work noticed by a larger number of people, and gained me some new readers. I even got some sincere kudos from some of the bands I covered (thanks, Early Elton) and a lot of support from my pal and musical compadre Gilda, with whom I'd worked on the well-regarded KISS fanzine, FIRE, back in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Since Eclectic Avenue was doing well, I decided to expand my horizons. I submitted a piece to CultureSonar, a fantastic arts and entertainment website which features the work of some very talented writers penning articles celebrating the music, movies and books they care about the most. My first piece for CultureSonar, a story on Elton John's Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only The Piano Player, was published in February 2017, and I've been writing for them ever since. My work for CultureSonar has allowed me to write some great articles, and to interview Dave Mason, William Shatner and Phil Volk of Paul Revere & The Raiders, among others. I continue to write for CultureSonar, and I want to thank Al, Cindy and Drew of CultureSonar for their support of my work. It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of such a phenomenal group of writers.

The writing I do here at Eclectic Avenue, and for CultureSonar, continues to be a lot of fun for me, and never seems like work. I've been able to write about everything from classic films to a number of great albums, as well as share my reviews of some terrific live concerts, including shows by Todd Rundgren and Bruce Springsteen. In addition to being able to indulge my passion for writing, I also have a full-time job in the healthcare world, and I also share positive energy as a Reiki volunteer. I can honestly say that all of these things bring me a great deal of joy. I'm very grateful for these multi-faceted parts of my life. Eclectic Avenue has come a long way in ten years, and so have I. Thanks to all of the artists, producers and writers who've graciously allowed me to interview them over the years. A big thanks to all of my friends and colleagues for your ongoing support of my work: thanks for reading, for commenting on my pieces, and for sharing my stories with others. I look forward to sharing more of my work with you in the future.

The Enthralling Story of The Bee Gees

The Bee Gees are one of the best-selling groups in music history. They had numerous hits from the 1960s through the 1990s as performers, and also found success as writers and producers for other artists. Their story is filled with ups, downs, twists and turns, happiness, and heartbreak. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?, an HBO documentary released in 2020, does a fantastic job telling the in-depth story of the band, from their beginnings in the 1960s, to their super-sized 1970s success, which was spearheaded by their contributions to the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. The film also details their fall from grace during the disco backlash, and their re-invention as hit-makers for artists like Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross. The story of their rise, fall and rise is captivating

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? charts the group's early years with some terrific performance footage, featuring their early hits, such as "New York Mining Disaster 1941" and "I've Gotta Get A Message To You." In the wake of the British Invasion, their heavenly harmonies, and innate talent for crafting memorable pop songs, brought them great success in the mid to late 1960s. But in the latter part of the decade, the pressures of fame and internal rivalries within the group caused the band to break up. Their attempt at solo careers didn't work out, however, and the group reunited in 1970, finding success with the songs "Lonely Days" and "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?" It was just the first of several times the brothers Gibb would successfully re-invent themselves.

When the group once again fell into a musical dry spell during the early-mid 1970s, their manager Robert Stigwood and his client Eric Clapton suggested they try recording in Miami, where Clapton had rejuvenated his career making his album 461 Ocean Boulevard in the studio located at that address. The band worked with legendary producer Arif Mardin, and began exploring a more R&B oriented sound. Songs like "Jive Talkin'" and "Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)" brought the band back onto radio playlists, and expanded their audience. Barry's unique falsetto vocals also played a significant part in the band's new direction, becoming a vital element of songs like "Nights On Broadway." The Bee Gees were back on top of the charts.

Then came Saturday Night Fever. Robert Stigwood wanted the band to contribute songs to the soundtrack of a little movie about disco dancing starring John Travolta, who was then best known for his role as Vinnie Barbarino on TV's Welcome Back, Kotter. No one could have predicted the film and its soundtrack album would go on to become such a phenomenal success, raising The Bee Gees profile into the stratosphere. As their younger brother Andy began his own career in music (aided by his brothers) and the disco craze took the world by storm, it seemed like there was nowhere to go but up for The Bee Gees. Their music was everywhere, and their follow-up to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, Spirits Having Flown, was another chart-topping album, spawning three number one hit singles.

Then came the backlash. Disco music had risen in popularity, and saturated the airwaves and record stores. It was inevitable that there would be a downturn. A Chicago DJ named Steve Dahl, who often spouted diatribes about how "Disco Sucks" on his radio show,  hosted a "Disco Demolition Night" on July 12, 1979 at Comiskey Park. Thousands of people brought disco albums to the ballpark to be blown up between the games of a scheduled White Sox doubleheader. The event turned into a free for all when fans stormed the field and caused significant damage after the records were destroyed. Sadly, as noted in the film, the event had overtones of racism and homophobia attached to it, but what it really signaled was the beginning of the end of the disco era.

Unfairly labelled as simply a disco-oriented act, The Bee Gees found themselves essentially blacklisted on the airwaves, with their subsequent releases, like 1981's Living Eyes, receiving little to no airplay on US radio. Hurt by this rejection, the band re-trenched, and re-invented themselves once again, finding new success as writers and producers for Barbra Streisand, Dionne Warwick, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and their brother Andy, before his untimely death in 1988. Their success as behind the scenes hitmakers rejuvenated the brothers, and they began to write and record once again as The Bee Gees. The trio started touring, and found that their fans were thrilled to see them performing live again. Sadly, both Robin and Maurice have now passed on in the intervening years, leaving Barry the only surviving member of the group.

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?, directed by Frank Marshall, is a heartfelt, moving and insightful look at the history of the brothers Gibb, featuring archival interviews with Maurice, Robin and Andy, as well as new footage with Barry filmed specifically for the documentary. There are also interviews with Justin Timberlake, Eric Clapton and Nick Jonas regarding their thoughts on the band's legacy. The film doesn't shy away from the dark side of the band's story, but it justly celebrates the lasting impact and wonderful discography of the group. If you're a fan of The Bee Gees or Andy Gibb, this film is a must see; the phemonenal in-studio and performance footage alone makes it worth watching. You'll also be reminded about just how many incredible songs the band has provided for us over the years. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? is currently available for streaming on HBO Max. Here's a link to the trailer for the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5tncybE7Wg.

Ken Sharp's Marvelous "Miniatures"

Ken Sharp, the talented artist behind a number of terrific power pop records, including 1301 Highland Avenue and Beauty in the Backseat, has just released a phenomenal new album entitled Miniatures. What’s unique about the record is that the all of the songs are under two minutes in duration. This emotionally driven album is a heartfelt song cycle focused on life, love and friendship. Even though the thirty-two tracks on the record have a brief running time, they’ll have a lasting impact on you as a listener.

Songs like “Perfect Sun” and “Lorelei” will appeal to fans of the baroque pop sound of bands like The Zombies, The Left Banke, Belle and Sebastian and Arcade Fire. There’s also more than a passing nod to the Pet Sounds era work of Brian Wilson on “Jeanne I Will Remember” and “Susannah Silently Shining,” among others. Sharp hasn’t lost sight of his power pop roots, which you’ll find in the DNA of songs such as the British Invasion sounds on "Something’s Happening" and the Big Star essence of “Drivin.”

Sharp evokes a confessional, singer-songwriter vibe throughout the album, which has touches of pop, jazz and even a hint of folk. There’s a deep 1970s mood on songs like “Growing Up So Fast” and “You’ll Be Known,” and you'll definitely encounter stylistic echoes of Todd Rundgren and Laura Nyro. Miniatures is an intimate, low-key and acoustic-based affair, and thanks to the terrific production work by Sharp, there’s a marvelous array of instruments on display, including harpsichord, ebow, organ and mellotron. His expressive vocals and masterful guitar work are aided and augmented by special guests Fernando Perdomo and Kaitlin Wolfberg.

Embarking on a personal project like this can often have its drawbacks. When an truly artist bares his soul, the music sometimes doesn't connect with listeners. There are no such issues with Miniatures. Sharp’s thoughtful, introspective songs are instantly accessible and absolutely unforgettable. The beautiful tunes on Miniatures will touch your heart, make you smile and energize your soul. This wonderful album is one of Ken Sharp’s best works. Miniatures sounds better every time you listen to it.  I highly recommend checking out the record, as well as the other albums and singles in Ken's discography. Follow this link, https://kensharp.bandcamp.com/album/miniatures, to the album's bandcamp page, and this one, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTIP3DW1Ju4, will bring you to the video for the song “Susannah Silently Shining.”