Shows / Dave's Side One
Dave's Side One
Talk about music, vinyl, classic rock, classic jazz, and whatever else comes to mind. Hosted by one of the founders of Art of Listening Records - Dave Gwilliam. https://artoflisteningrecords.com https://www.discogs.com/seller/artoflistening/profile
Episodes
Dave's Side OneThe Best Part of an Album Happens After the Hit
Dave shares how one Three Dog Night album taught him an important lesson: sometimes the song that makes you buy a record isn't the one that makes you love it…
- Dave's Side One
You've Never Really Looked Inside This Gatefold
Today's episode celebrates one of the forgotten joys of vinyl: opening a gatefold album, reading the lyrics, studying the artwork, and experiencing music…
- Dave's Side One
Change My Mind Monday - Everybody Picks the Wrong Album
Many fans put Rumours at the top of the classic rock mountain. Dave makes the case for Hotel California and explains why one overlooked song transformed the…
- Dave's Side One
Sunday Slow-Down — Take It Easy: The Perfect Sunday Song
If there were a soundtrack for a peaceful Sunday afternoon, Take It Easy would have to be near the top of the list.
- Dave's Side One
Saturday Hot Take — Hotel California Is Better Than Rumours
From the opening notes of Hotel California to the closing moments of The Last Resort, the album feels like a journey through the dreams and disappointments of…
- Dave's Side One
Dave's Memory Lane — The Best Record I Ever Received As a Gift
The best record I ever received as a gift was Jump on It by Montrose. Released in 1976, this was the band's fourth and final studio album. By then, Sammy Hagar…
- Dave's Side One
Dave's Memory Lane — The Second Record in My Collection
My first record was We Can Fly by The Cowsills, a birthday gift that introduced me to the world of albums and record collecting. But my second record? That one…
- Dave's Side One
The Most Underrated Eagles Album
One of These Nights. Released in 1975, this was the album where the Eagles stopped being a very good band and became a great band
- Dave's Side One
Dave's Memory Lane — The First Record in My Collection
If someone had told me then that decades later I'd own hundreds of records, run a record store, and spend my mornings talking about music with people all over…
- Dave's Side One
Don Henley — The Secret Weapon of the Eagles
Most drummers are content to stay behind the kit. Henley somehow became one of the most recognizable voices in rock music while keeping the rhythm section…
- Dave's Side One
Sunday Slow-Down: 'The Spirit of Radio' — The Perfect Rush Song?
If someone asked me to explain Rush in one song, I might choose "The Spirit of Radio
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Saturday Hot-Take: Moving Pictures Isn't Rush’s Best Album
It's one of the greatest rock albums ever made. But is it Rush's best album? I'm not convinced.
- Dave's Side One
Anika Nilles Is the Perfect Complement to a Revitalized Rush
As we’ve seen and heard during the first week of Rush’s return to the stage, Anika Nilles is the perfect complement to the resurgence of RUSH.
- Dave's Side One
Why Rush Fans Are Different
One of the most impressive things about Rush is how deeply they connected with listeners without ever chasing trends. The band simply stayed true to…
- Dave's Side One
Rush and the LA Forum
Rush grew up alongside arena rock itself. As the Forum became one of the country's premier concert venues, Rush evolved from club-sized audiences into one of…
- Dave's Side One
The Return of Rush?
For me, the most exciting thing isn't necessarily new albums. It's the idea of hearing those songs performed live again by the musicians who helped create them.
- Dave's Side One
Sunday Slow-Down: 'Baby Come Back' — The Ultimate Late-Night Song
The late 70s produced a lot of great reflective songs—tracks by Ambrosia, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Orleans, and Christopher Cross all captured a similar…
- Dave's Side One
Skipping Tracks Ruined Album Listening
Streaming has made music more convenient than ever, but it's also made us more impatient. We hear ten seconds, decide whether we like it, and move on
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Why Record Stores Still Matter
The people who run record stores matter too. The best store owners aren't just selling records. They're curating experiences. They're introducing customers to…
- Dave's Side One
Albums Worth Owning Even If You Stream
When you pull an album off the shelf, clean it, and lower the needle, you're making a commitment. You're choosing to spend time with that record. Streaming…
- Dave's Side One
The Most Beautiful Vinyl Labels
For pure visual impact, though, it's hard to beat the custom labels. Led Zeppelin's Swan Song records. The palm-tree labels on many Island Records releases…
- Dave's Side One
Albums Everyone Owned in the 70s
These albums crossed boundaries. They weren't just owned by rock fans or pop fans. They were owned by music fans
- Dave's Side One
Episode 141
The streaming world gives us instant access to millions of songs. That's wonderful. But it doesn't give us the thrill of the hunt. It doesn't give us that…
- Dave's Side One
Sunday Slow-Down: Ride Like the Wind - Driving Music Perfection
Other great driving songs from the era like “Take It Easy” by The Eagles or “Ventura Highway” by America have similar qualities, but “Ride Like the Wind”…
- Dave's Side One
Saturday Hot-Take: Concerts Were Better Before Giant Screens
The best concerts were the ones where you left with ringing ears, a sore throat from singing, and a story to tell. Giant screens made concerts more convenient…
- Dave's Side One
The Rise of Triple-Guitar Rock Bands
This triple-guitar approach gave rock a richness and power that felt overwhelming in the best possible way. It allowed for complex harmonies, trading solos…
- Dave's Side One
Bands That Were Better Live Than in Studio
These bands proved that for some artists, the studio was just a blueprint. The real art happened when the lights went down and the audience became part of the…
- Dave's Side One
The Art of the 70s Guitar Solo
What made 70s guitar solos so special was their variety. You had Gilmour’s lyrical, emotional approach, Page’s epic storytelling, May’s theatrical flair, and…
- Dave's Side One
Concert Openers That Instantly Hooked
These songs didn’t ease the crowd in — they attacked. They set the tone that this was going to be a night to remember, and they gave the audience permission to…
- Dave's Side One
The Loudest Arena Rock Bands of the 70s
What made these bands so loud wasn’t just volume for volume’s sake — it was presence. They understood how to use the size of the venue to their advantage…
- Dave's Side One
Sunday Slow Down: Sailing - Soft Rock at Its Smoothest
Beyond the technical beauty, “Sailing” has this magical ability to slow time down. Whenever I play it, the outside world fades away. The gentle groove and…
- Dave's Side One
Technical Skill Doesn’t Always Make Better Music
I’m not saying technique is bad. It’s impressive. But when it becomes the main point — when players are showing off instead of serving the song — the music…
- Dave's Side One
Session Musicians Behind Huge Hits
These session musicians brought consistency, creativity, and professionalism to every track. Many famous 70s hits owe as much (or more) to the session players…
- Dave's Side One
Basslines You Feel More Than Hear
These basslines weren’t just holding down the low end — they were driving the songs, creating hooks, and giving the music its backbone and personality. A truly…
- Dave's Side One
Drummers Who Played for the Song
These drummers understood that the song always comes first. They locked in with the bass, left space where it was needed, and knew exactly when to push or pull…
- Dave's Side One
Guitarists With Instantly Recognizable Tone
These guitarists didn’t just play notes — they had a sonic signature. You could pick them out of a crowd of players because their tone told a story before the…
- Dave's Side One
70s Keyboards Changed Everything
The 70s keyboards were dynamic — warm analog synths, roaring Hammonds, and ethereal Mellotrons — became the sonic signature of the decade’s ambition. It was…
- Dave's Side One
Sunday Slow-Down: Year of the Cat — Why It Feels Cinematic
In the 70s soft rock landscape, this song stands out as something truly sophisticated. It’s intelligent without being pretentious, romantic without being…
- Dave's Side One
Saturday Hot-Take: Concept Albums Were Peak Music Nerd Culture
Critics often called them pretentious. I call them courageous. In an era when everyone else was chasing radio hits, these bands said, “No, we’re going to tell…
- Dave's Side One
Records You Can’t Stop Flipping Over and Over
These albums share a special quality: very little filler and excellent flow. Every track earns its place, so stopping the record feels wrong. In the vinyl era…
- Dave's Side One
The Best Gatefold Album Art of the 70s
What made 70s gatefold art so special was how it enhanced the listening experience. You didn’t just put the record on — you held the artwork in your hands…
- Dave's Side One
Albums That Reward Headphone Listening
Putting on headphones and diving into one of these albums is a form of meditation. The outside world disappears, and suddenly you’re inside the music. It’s one…
- Dave's Side One
Side One Openers That Deserve More Love
A great Side One opener does more than start an album — it makes a promise. It tells you what kind of ride you’re in for, whether that’s epic storytelling, raw…
- Dave's Side One
Albums That Sound Better at Night
The best night albums tend to have depth, mood, and sonic space. They reward focused, immersive listening rather than background music. They often have a…
- Dave's Side One
Sunday Slow-Down: A Horse with No Name — Minimalism Done Right
In a decade full of ambitious prog suites, intricate guitar solos, and overproduced rock, America stripped everything back to the bare essentials and created…
- Dave's Side One
Saturday Hot-Take: The Most Overplayed Classic Rock Songs
The problem isn’t that the songs are bad. It’s that we’ve heard them so many times that they’ve lost some of their magic
- Dave's Side One
The Perfect Starter Vinyl Collection
What makes this collection special is that every record is a complete artistic statement. None of them feel like filler. They’re the kind of albums you can put…
- Dave's Side One
Is Yacht Rock Actually Genius?
The songwriting is clever, witty, and emotionally nuanced. Steely Dan’s Aja is a jazz-rock masterpiece full of sophisticated chord changes and cryptic lyrics…
- Dave's Side One
70s Bands With Bigger Fan Bases Than What Record Sales Showed
Some bands sold millions, but others had incredibly loyal, almost cult-like followings that didn’t always translate to massive Billboard numbers
- Dave's Side One
The Rise of Arena Rock
The sound evolved to fill huge spaces. Big choruses, massive guitar riffs, dramatic keyboard swells, and powerful drums became the standard. Productions got…
- Dave's Side One
Why the 70s Were Better Than the 60s or the 80s
The 70s was the sweet spot — rock had grown up but still had its edge. It felt like the perfect balance between artistic exploration and popular appeal. You…
- Dave's Side One
Sunday Slow-Down: Summer Breeze — The Sound of Calm
What makes “Summer Breeze” so enduring is its timeless simplicity. In a decade full of loud guitars, ambitious prog suites, and arena rock anthems, Seals and…
- Dave's Side One
Saturday Hot-Take: Live Albums Are Better Than Studio Albums
My take: Give me the crowd noise, the extended solos, the happy accidents, and the “we’re really feeling it tonight” moments over clinical studio perfection…
- Dave's Side One
Best 3-Song Runs on Any Album
What makes these runs so special is how they set the tone for the entire record. They grab you immediately and build excitement, making you want to listen to…
- Dave's Side One
Guitar Solos That Tell a Story
These solos weren’t just flashy displays. They served the song. They added emotional depth, built tension, released it, and left a lasting impression that made…
- Dave's Side One
One-Man Studio Geniuses
These artists proved you didn’t need a full band if you had vision, talent, and enough tracks on a tape machine. Their work was intimate yet ambitious, often…
- Dave's Side One
The Keyboard Sound That Defined the 70s
The 1970s were the golden age of keyboards in rock music. From swirling Mellotrons to massive Hammond organs and pioneering synthesizers, the keyboard became a…
- Dave's Side One
Greatest Basslines of the 70s
These basslines weren’t just holding down the low end — they were driving the songs, creating hooks, and giving the music its backbone and personality. A truly…
- Dave's Side One
Sunday Slow-Down: Magnet and Steel — Soft Rock Perfection
The production is warm and inviting. The groove never rushes. Everything about the track feels effortless, like a perfect summer evening drive with the windows…