Sean Callaghan
Bio
Neurodivergent, Writer, Drummer, Singer, Percussionist, Rock Music Star Wars and Disney Devotee.
Stories (113)
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'One Of These Nights'
With the success of On The Border, Eagles, in particular Glenn Frey and Don Henley, felt vindicated in their desire to go in a tougher, more rock-oriented direction. The pair bought a house in Beverly Hills with a panoramic view of the city of Los Angeles, where they wrote the majority of the songs that would make up the One Of These Nights album. Bill Scymczyk, after doing most of the work on On the Border, returned to produce his first full Eagles album, recorded in late 1974 into early 1975, at both the Record Plant in Los Angeles and Criteria Studios in Miami.
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'On The Border'
Following the relative disappointment of Desperado, at least in the minds of the group itself, the Eagles once again went to London to record their third album with producer Glyn Johns. However, the sessions began with a surly attitude between Johns and the band, and after just six weeks--in which they recorded only two songs--arguments with Johns over the sound of the recordings made the sessions unworkable. Don Henley and Glenn Fey decided to end the sessions with Johns, and return to Los Angeles to record at the Record Plant with Navy veteran Bill Sczymzyk, fresh off recording guitar hero Joe Walsh's hit LP The Smoker You Drink The Player You Get, and its still in rotation hit "Rocky Mountain Way."
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'Desperado'
In 1972, the album Eagles proved highly successful, making the band one of the most successful purveyors of country rock even so early in their career. Now, in 1973, they faced the daunting task of following up that hit record, with the album Desperado coming out in April.
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'Eagles'
The original Eagles, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner, each came from diverse backgrounds before performing together for the first time as Linda Ronstadt's backing band at Disneyland in 1971. The two relatively inexperienced Eagles destined to be the group leaders were Glenn Frey, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and Don Henley, from Linden Texas. Both say their lives were changed by seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, as so many American musicians have.
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'American Standard'
On February 28, 2020, just prior to a global pandemic coming to these shores, James Taylor finally followed up 2015's Before This World. But in this century songwriting had not come easily to James; in fact, he had to lock himself away to come up with the original material featured on the 2015 album. So not surprisingly, James had found a project here for which he didn't need to apply his songwriting skills
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'Before This World'
In the 11 years following October Road, James Taylor's songwriting output pretty much came to a halt. Fearing that he had lost his creative edge, he convinced his family, friends and manager to let him cut off all communication for the year of 2013 to focus on writing a new album. To accomplish this, he rented a waterfront apartment in Newport, Rhode Island, where in September of that year he began composing the new songs that would become Before This World.
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'Covers'
James Taylor's eighteenth album, Covers, was recorded over 10 snowy days in January 2008, at a converted barn in Washington, Massachusetts. As the title suggests, it is an album of cover songs, which was perhaps inevitable since over the years James had frequently peppered his LPs with pop and R&B tunes that fit his fancy. The album was recorded primarily with his touring band, which since the recording of October Road in 2002, had added fiddle player and singer Andrea Zonn. The album was released on September 30, 2008, on the label, Hear Music.
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'October Road'
Following the success of 1997's Hourglass, James Taylor laid low professionally for a few years. In 2001 he married current wife Kim Smedvig, with whom he subsequently had twin boys Rufus and Henry. Despite his dedication to his new domestic life, by 2002 James had assembled enough songs for a new album. To produce this album he brought in a face from his past--Russ Titelman who had co-produced (with Lenny Waronker) James's 1970s albums Gorilla and In The Pocket. The album was made in fits and starts--was recorded at various studios from 2000 through 2002. Finally, on August 13, 2002, the completed October Road was released.
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'Hourglass'
James Taylor's semi-comeback in the 1990s, which began on 1991's New Moon Shine, reached its climax on 1997's Hourglass. The album was dedicated to Don Grolnick, the producer of Taylor's previous two albums, who had passed away from lymphoma in 1996. Otherwise the band from New Moon Shine was kept pretty much intact, with some key musician's musicians to spice the soup.
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'New Moon Shine'
New Moon Shine, James Taylor's first album of the 90s, was recorded in June 1991 at the Power Station and Skyline Station in New York, A&M Studios in Hollywood and Studio F in Los Angeles. There were a few new faces in the band for this album, with Jimmy Johnson on bass taking over for Leland Sklar, who had left to tour with Phil Collins. Kate Markowitz joined the veteran backing vocal team of Valerie Carter, David Lasley and Arnold McCuller. Michael Landau played electric guitar on the album.
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'Never Die Young'
James Taylor's 12th studio album, and last album of the 1980s, Never Die Young was produced by James' longtime keyboard player Don Grolnick. It was recorded at "the Power Station " in New York and featured the debut of Bobby Mann on guitar and Carlos Vega on drums and percussion, two musicians who would become integral members of James's touring band over the next decade.
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'That's Why I'm Here'
James Taylor's eleventh album, That's Why I'm Here, was released in 1985, four years since his last longplayer Dad Loves His Work and two years after Taylor cleaned up from his well-publicized drug addictions. The album's title and demeanor suggest a new beginning for Taylor, and indeed Taylor decided to self-produce the album in collaboration with Frank Filapetti, a producer, engineer and mixer who would go on to win multiple Grammy Awards for his work on various Broadway albums, including Wicked, Spamalot, The Color Purple, and Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida. (Not to mention Grammys received for his production and engineering on Taylor's Hourglass, which will be covered when that album is assessed.)
By Sean Callaghan5 years ago in Beat
