
In his new series, music and vinyl expert Claude Lemaire highlights essential recordingsโand the best pressings to seek outโfor your LP collection, indexed by year of release.

In this episode, writer and self-taught musicologist Claude Lemaire chooses Iron Butterfly, Jeff Beck, and even the Beatles as pioneering heavy rock influencers.

George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh was an unqualified success, and the first-ever pop concert for charity.

On a chilly afternoon in London, January 30, 1969, the air in Savile Row was sharper than usual, the kind that bites at your cheeks and makes your breath visible. Little did anyone know, history was about to be serenaded by the unexpected. It was on this day, atop the Apple Records building, that The…

As the ’60s came to a close, with the dawn of the new decade just on the horizon, many rock bands abandoned references to psychedelics in their music, favouring instead a return to roots, folk, and country.

Apple Recordsโ prodigal sons Badfinger were poised to inherit the Beatles’ mantleโcomplete with George Harrisonโs guiding handโyet behind the scenes, turmoil, label neglect, and internal fractures began unraveling their golden opportunity.

George Harrison championed them, Paul McCartney produced their debut hit, and Apple Records signed themโyet the Iveys (soon to be Badfinger) nearly vanished before they began, victims of internal rifts and corporate reshuffling.

Joe Cocker’s career nearly derailed in 1970 until Leon Russell hastily assembled the raucous โMad Dogs & Englishmenโ tourโtransforming a PR crisis into a legendary, if chaotic, rock caravan that launched Russell to solo stardom.

Founder of Le Studio, the iconic, pop-culture defining music studio tucked in the Canadian wilderness, Andrรฉ Perry worked with some of the biggest artists in the biz. Did he have any favourites?

George Harrisonโs enthusiasm for Delaney & Bonnieโs Accept No Substitute nearly landed the duo on Apple Recordsโuntil label politics and Delaneyโs double-dealing derailed the deal, sparking industry drama and setting off a ripple through rock history.