The Rain Parade Archives • Americana Highways

Music & Film Reviews: A Paisley Underground Anthology, plus ‘Elvis ’56,’ the Light Crust Doughboys, and Sam Lewis

March 8, 2026March 7, 2026Jeff Burger0

If you’ve never heard of the Paisley Underground, it’s not surprising. This rock subgenre—which emphasized psychedelia, electric guitar interplay, and vocal harmonies—flourished mostly just in Southern California and only from the late 1970s to the late 1980s. Moreover, it produced just one band—the Bangles—that broke through nationally and achieved substantial commercial success. But you don’t […]

Book & Music Reviews: A Biography of Joe Meek, England’s Counterpart to Phil Spector, plus Bobby Lee Trammell, the Rain Parade, and Brian Wilson

July 6, 2025July 9, 2025Jeff Burger0

Book & Music Reviews: A Biography of Joe Meek, England’s Counterpart to Phil Spector, plus Bobby Lee Trammell, the Rain Parade, and Brian Wilson In the intro to a new biography of Joe Meek, author Darryl W. Bullock notes that recent years have witnessed heightened interest in the career of the music producer and songwriter. […]

Music Reviews: Laura Nyro’s Massive ‘Hear My Song,’ plus the Rain Parade

December 22, 2024December 29, 2024Jeff Burger0

Laura Nyro achieved fame during her lifetime mainly just as a songwriter. She penned major hits for the 5th Dimension, including 1968’s “Stoned Soul Picnic” and “Sweet Blindness,” 1969’s chart-topping “Wedding Bell Blues,” and 1970’s “Blowing Away” and “Save the Country.” Blood, Sweat & Tears, meanwhile, had a 1969 bestseller with Nyro’s “And When I […]