Monthly Archives: November 2012

Irving Azoff: They Call Him Big Shorty

Comments Off

Glenn Frey, Irving Azoff & Dan Fogelberg

We have an exciting new addition to the Journalism section today. Cameron profiled rock manager Irving Azoff for the June 15, 1978 issue of Rolling Stone. At the time, Azoff was the most powerful manager in the industry. He would go on to produce Fast Times at Ridgemont High, head MCA, start his own label (Giant Records) and much more. Azoff is currently the CEO/President of Front Line Management and Live Nation and was recently ranked #1 on Billboard‘s Power 100 list for the music industry.

Filed under News
Nov 21, 2012

Reflections on Marvin Gaye’s Trouble Man

Comments Off

Cameron and legendary saxophonist Trevor Lawrence discuss the new 40th anniversary release of Marvin Gaye’s soundtrack for the film, Trouble Man on NPR’s Tell Me More. You can listen to their conversation via Soundcloud above. Enjoy!

Filed under News
Nov 19, 2012

Journalism Archives: Yes – Fragile

Comments Off

Yes – Fragile (Atlantic SD-7211)

For several years the group Yes has gone unnoticed in the United States, while in England their albums and performances are looked forward to with tremendous anticipation. TheirYes Album was rated along with After the Goldrush as album of the year in the Melody Maker Poll. Meanwhile back in the States they were buried behind J. Geils and Ten Years After in their American tour.

It is my sincere hope that with Fragile, Yes will achieve all the recognition they deserve.

The production work on the album is the cleanest and most original since perhaps Who’s Next. At the risk of digging up a cliché, Fragile is a complete trip from the first cut to the last. “Roundabout,” the full eight-and-a-half minute version, opens the album in grand manner. The track begins with a short classical guitar riff and slowly flows into the full arrangement of moog, harpsichord, several guitars acoustic and electric, and electric piano. The song, more appropriately, the suite, could have easily become quite pretentious, however, the knowledgeable arranger and producer molded it into a truly classic recording.

Each track takes on a different course than the previous one. The reason behind this could possibly be that five of the album’s cuts are the personal and individual ideas of Yes’s five members. More simply, each of the group members were given the chance to step out into the hypothetical spotlight and produce a cut that was completely their work and no one else’s. Keyboard man Rick Wakeman’s “Cans and Brahms” is an adaptation in which he plays electric piano taking the part of the strings, grand piano taking the part of the woodwind, organ taking the brass, electric harpsichord taking reeds, and synthesizer taking contra bassoon. “We Have Heaven” is the product of vocalist Jon Anderson in which he sings all the vocal parts. “Five Per-Cent For Nothing” is a sixteen bar tune by Bill Bruford, drummer, in which the whole harmony is the percussion line. Bassist Chris Squire’s “The Fish” has each rhythm, riff, and melody produced from the varying sounds produced by the bass guitar. “Mood For a Day” is a solo guitar piece by Steve How.

The musicianship is actually so innovative, that each of the above-described tracks is enjoyable and awesome at the same time. The remaining pieces are the product of the total group and just as excellent.

Fragile is the brand of album that many artists yearn to record as a follow-up to a previous masterpiece. And for one of the all too few times in contemporary music, an artist has actually lived up to the tremendous promise of a proceeding recording.

Courtesy of the Door (aka San Diego Door) – Cameron Crowe –  March 9, 1972  – March 30, 1972

Filed under News
Nov 16, 2012

Neil Young: Not Slowing Down

Comments Off

Neil Young turns 67 today and is showing no signs of slowing down. His output is amazing and his music, as vibrant as ever. In the past few months, we’ve been treated to two wonderful albums with Crazyhorse (Americana and Psychedelic Pill) and a new Jonathan Demme documentary, Neil Young Journeys (recently released on DVD and Blu-ray).

Here’s the links to three Rolling Stone journalism pieces. Two were in-depth cover stories five years apart along with a short piece during the 1978 tour where Cameron was able to “join” the stage show. Happy Birthday Neil!

Filed under News
Nov 12, 2012

The Masterpiece of Joni Mitchell

Comments Off

1968 Photo By Jack Robinson

We honor the incomparable Joni Mitchell today as she celebrates her birthday. Here’s three things for you to consider on her special day.

1. Listen to her music. N’uff said.

2. Revisit Cameron’s July, 1979 Rolling Stone cover story

3. Check out the liner notes for 2004’s Dreamland

Filed under News
Nov 7, 2012

Led Zeppelin: Rolling Stone Collector’s Edition

Comments Off

Rolling Stone has just released a Led Zeppelin special collector’s edition issue. In addition to Cameron’s 1975 cover story on the band, it includes the following list of impressive features:

  • The inside story behind the 2007 reunion concert
  • The 40 greatest Zeppelin songs of all time
  • 10 wildest Zeppelin legends, fact-checked
  • A definitive guide to all of Zeppelin’s albums
  • A classic Q & A with John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant
  • Plus 60 intimate photos, from the band’s early days to its epic peak and comeback

This special issue is available at newsstands or Barnes & Noble online.

Filed under News
Nov 5, 2012

David Crosby: Remember My Name-Out Now on DVD/Blu-ray & Digital!


  • Almost Famous- Paramount+
  • Aloha- Starz, DirecTV
  • David Crosby- Starz, DirecTV
  • E-Town- FUBO
  • Fast Times- TUBI
  • Jerry Maguire- Netflix
  • Say Anything...- FUBO,Paramount+,MGM+
  • Singles- Vudu
  • Vanilla Sky- Prime Video,Pluto TV
  • We Bought A Zoo- Disney+