Posts From Mark Leviton

Mark Leviton

Mark Leviton began writing about music and pop culture in 1967, with credits in Rolling Stone, Creem, Fusion, Bay Area Musician, LA Weekly, Phonograph Record and many fly-by-night publications. For 25 years he worked for the Warner Music Group and Rhino Records, producing hundreds of compilation albums and historical reissues, placing recordings in films and TV, and generally having a blast. His bi-weekly radio show "Pet Sounds" is heard on KVMR-FM in Nevada City, CA and the website www.petsoundsmusic.com.

Johnny Cash ‘Unchained’ With Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

For one of his final recordings, he teamed with the great rock band. “I was with a bunch of people and we had fun,” he said.

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1977’s Incendiary ‘Moonflower’ From Santana

After several years without a hit single or album, this top 10 hybrid studio/live LP featured a cover of the Zombies’ “She’s Not There.”

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Al Stewart and ‘Year of the Cat’: Musical Cinema

He liked the title track, but didn’t consider it suitable as a single, until producer Alan Parsons and the record company convinced him of its destiny.

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When Carlene Carter Created ‘Musical Shapes’ (With Rockpile)

Desperate to find a simpatico partner for her third LP, she turned to her husband, Rockpile bassist Nick Lowe.

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Electric Light Orchestra’s ‘Out of the Blue’: The Masterpiece from Munich

It’s full of treasures, a sweeping double-LP that Jeff Lynne dubbed “probably the hardest work I have ever done, but the most satisfying.”

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Cat Stevens: ‘Teaser And the Firecat’—A Singer-Songwriter Classic

With hit songs like “Moonshadow,” “Peace Train” and “Morning Has Broken,” the singer-songwriter became a star, lighting up pop radio.

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Warren Zevon Copes with Mortality in ‘Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School’

Newly sober after years of alcohol abuse and subsequent bad behavior, the singer and songwriter was forthcoming about his new outlook.

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Buddy Guy: ‘Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues’—A Joyous Noise

The album earned him the first of many Grammy Awards and sold way better than any of his previous recordings.

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The Stills-Young Band One-Off Album: ‘Long May You Run’

The 1976 release is an outlier, a stopgap that is often overlooked. But there are treasures in it.

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Pete Townshend/Ronnie Lane: ‘Rough Mix’—An Overlooked Gem

The collaboration between the Who mastermind and Faces great was sadly overlooked at the time of its release, but is now considered a minor masterpiece.

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