Recommended Links

Just about every site, these days, has it's preferred links to 'those other' sites that best typify the aesthetic or referential values of the site host/author. As we have no desire to stray from this M.O., we can honestly say that all of the artist and resource links shown here, have either directly influenced our artistic vision, or have, at some point, served as a resource for us (or possibly both). Each and every one of the performers listed here is a true "Scary Monster", as measured by the quality and ubiquitous acceptance of their artistic output, and the breadth of their influence on other musicians around the world. At some point I may alphabetize this list. And then again...

This list is intended to be a living / changing entity. So please be sure to let us know if any of these links ever 'go south' before we have a chance to discover it ourselves.

Jeff Pevar Site - Renowned Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Performing / Recording Artist, Member of "Crosby, Pevar, and Raymond". Jeff's supported many "Heavy Hitters", including Kenny Loggins, Ricki Lee Jones, Ray Charles, and Carly Simon. Peev's also known for lending a helping hand to projects by a number of lesser artists. This is a great site dedicated to a great musician, and an equally fine human being.

David Crosby (& CPR) Site - As long as I'm at it, I may as well include one of my all-time favorite singer / songwriter / recording artists. Croz once told me that he wrote "Laughing" as a gentle nudge to George Harrison not to take the whole Maharishi Mahesh Yogi "Guru" thing so seriously. Ironically I suspect Croz wrote "Page 43" precisely to impart to the rest of us his own "wisdom from the mountain top". After all is said and done, it is my unyielding opinion that Crosby's best work is as good as it gets. And if that's not enough, I can personally attest to the fact that he's consistently gracious and giving to his many fans. David's pal Willy probably says it best "People just love him...".

Joni Mitchell Site - Crosby has often stated that he thinks Joni is the single finest songwriter of our generation. At the very least, Joni has few equals. The JM site is a tribute both to a remarkable artist, and to the site's award-winning designer, Wally Breese, who invested so much love creating it. Wally's no longer with us, but his love of Joni and her work still shines radiantly for all of us to enjoy. In gratitude, Joni gave Wally a very special gift during the final days of his illness -- shared time together -- which places her even higher in my book (if that's possible). Thank you, Wally, for your gift, and what is undoubtedly the best site dedicated to any contemporary musical artist. (PS: Look for a familiar 'by-line' in one of the early "Bio" pages.)

Steely Dan Site - Boink! Zuit! Caramba! Been chasing dragons past rusting hurricane fence? Dancing past broken shards of tokay wine bottles you'd never see at the Dana Point Marina, or on Oahu? Tut-tut, Mowgli... Power up your anti-gravs and have no fear. These are, after all, the pros from Dover... Don't need no funky 'Ju-Ju' or 'Gri-gri' to protect you when the boys are on duty. Come to think of it, while there have been a multitude of outstanding lead guitar breaks by a multitude of fine guitarists over the decades, they all share one shortcoming -- failure to equal the spare and sublime elegance -- the jeweled precision of those 16 flawless measures of pure "musica vitae" comprising the instrumental break in "Third World Man". Say no more. ( I can say no more). What's the point. I'll just take up the tambourine and be done with it.

Little Feat Site - This band first hit our radar screens in the early/mid '70s. I was introduced to their work by David Gray and Billy Shaw, who handled their sound at various times back then. And a slicker, grittier, more down-home brand of "southernwesternsoulbluesrockfusioncountry" you've never heard. They lost co-founder Lowell "Craftsman socket" George a few years back, and sometime thereafter added a wonderful (and far prettier) vocalist. Bless their pointy little "road-dog" heads!! The real deal...

Toto Site - This is what can happen when sublime musicianship meets fire-spirit. Don't worry. Technical superiority never gets in the way of the Meaning. Just keep repeating "I am not worthy... I am not worthy...". Jeez, Luke & Co., what's left for us mere mortals?

Kevin Gilbert Site - Look up the term "Scary Monster", in the "Hodge-Podge Dictionary of Galactically-relevant Music", and you'll see a picture of Kevin Gilbert. Probably one of the top three or four 'Producer/Writer/Performers' in the Rock/Pop pantheon. We lost Kevin in '96, and a lot of us are still pondering at what he might have done, given time.

Max Bennett Site - Composer / Bassist who is partly, largely or entirely responsible, among other things, for LA Fusion, and some of the best music you've likely heard, over the past forty years... I'd need a whole web page just to list his recording and touring credits, but if I say "Streisand, Zappa, Beachboys, LA Express, Steely Dan, Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, and the Crusaders" well... you get the idea.

Laura Nyro Site - Iconoclast, poet, songwriter, performer, feminist, this woman leaves behind a legacy of musical work so fine and so original, we can only look upon her life, which tragically ended in '97, with equal measures of awe for the quality of her work, and regret that it all ended so soon. Spooky story: A week or so after Laura left us (April, '97), I was in Liverpool visiting friends and doing a little pub performing. Out for dinner with these friends, at a Jazz club, I was expressing my deep sadness at Laura's death. At that moment, two young musicians, 18 yr old women from the University of Liverpool -- a pianist and a cellist, stepped onto the small stage nearby and began performing "Poverty Train". Hair stood up on the back of my neck. Turned out they were music majors, taking a class on the works of Joni Mitchell and Laura Nyro...

Brian Wilson Site - Few songwriters intimidated Lennon and McCartney, during their heyday. Brian was one of the few. He's that good. How anyone can sustain the kind of psychic blows that Brian's experienced in his life, and still produce songs like "Caroline no", "God Only Knows", "Wouldn't it be nice", and "Good Vibrations" is beyond me. I'm only grateful he's still with us, and still creating. God bless you, Brian. We are still in total awe. And we love you.

John Hall Site - John and Johanna Hall continue to create great music, long after the days of the legendary band "Orleans" -- check out their "Siren Songs" site. I confess that I still use "Dance With Me" as the true test of playability and intonation, for any guitar I'm thinking of buying -- just because it sounds so good and covers so much fretboard real estate in so little time. And if the instrument can't do justice to this tune, I don't want it.

OasisCD Site - Where to get your music project CDs and Cassettes manufactured, if you want it done right, the first time... Probably not the cheapest, but absolutely one of the best. Supplier to Full Measure Music.

Nash Editions Site - Graham Nash has always been a gifted visual creator as well as a phenomenal singer /songwriter. With the advent of high-end digital press technology, Graham and partner Mac Holbert are creating some wonderful visions. Have a look-see!

The Band Site - From "Big Pink" to "Last Waltz", no hostages to fashion, these guys. Still, you couldn't list the number of current notable musicians influenced by these guys if you took all day and night to do it.

Roger McGuinn Site - There may be one or two (British) guitarists who picked up the Rickenbacker 12-string electric guitar first, but none who've played it better. Again, huge influence on two generations of pickers, including Prof. Futz, his-self, who bought his first 360 Deluxe (Roger plays a 370), in 1966 - a year after he first heard the Byrds. Roger's largely gone back to his folk roots. That said, be it "Folk-Rock" McGuinn, or "Folk-Roots" McGuinn, we, his audience, win either way... And to this day I've yet to hear any guitarist duplicate his lead track to "Eight Miles High".