Author: Larry Howard
Console Wars: Neve vs. API in 1970s Control Rooms - The Real Story Behind the Sound
The real console battle of the 1970s wasn’t between Neve, API, and SSL - it was between Neve and API. SSL didn’t enter studios until the 1980s. This is the untold story of how two American and British consoles shaped the sound of rock, soul, and pop.
Elton John's Flamboyant Fashion: How Platform Shoes Redefined Male Rock Style
Elton John’s platform shoes weren’t just footwear-they were a revolution. In the 1970s, he turned glam rock into a visual spectacle, challenging gender norms and redefining male style with glittering, towering boots that still inspire fashion today.
The Role of DJs in 1980s Hip-Hop: Turntables as Instruments
In the 1980s, DJs transformed turntables from playback devices into powerful musical instruments, inventing scratching, beat juggling, and turntablism that became the foundation of hip-hop. Grandmaster Flash, Jam Master Jay, and others built the genre’s sound with vinyl, two turntables, and pure skill.
The Studio Musicians Behind 1990s R&B and Neo-Soul Classics
The 1990s neo-soul movement brought live instrumentation back to R&B, led by legendary studio musicians like Questlove, Pino Palladino, and James Poyser. Their work on albums by D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Maxwell redefined soul music with raw, human grooves.