Frank Sinatra

Why Greatest-Hits Albums Matter, and 10 Greatest-Hits Haikus

A solid album, to me, is what I have dubbed a "Front-to-Back." I have two definitions for Front-to-Backs: 1) albums that are structured to listen to as an entire piece of artwork (like Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, or Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea); and 2) alb ... More >>

Artists Who Need Their Own Sirius/XM Channel Already

I've had satellite radio in my life since Christmas. Nothing is better than falling asleep on the couch on a Saturday afternoon after a big fat lunch with Willie's Roadhouse playing; waking up every few hours to piss during a Ray Price cut and then falling back to sleep. What I love the most, besi ... More >>

What Was Your Favorite Concert at The Summit?

It must be music-venue day today. Rocks Off would like to thank Jon Harvey of Houston (@oompahead) for alerting us via Twitter to the fact that on this day in 1975, when I was a few weeks away from turning one year old, the sports and entertainment arena then known as the Summit opened in Greenway P ... More >>

Two Great Tastes? Five Reasons Pallilo and Zierlein Will Succeed on 790

In a very funny Saturday Night Live skit from the `80s, Frank Sinatra played by Joe Piscopo was singing a duet with Stevie Wonder played by Eddie Murphy. Since Wonder had recently had a hit with Paul McCartney ("Ebony and Ivory"), it was theorized by Sinatra that they could have a hit as well, but a ... More >>

New Book Gives Session Aces the Wrecking Crew Their Past Due

The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret By Kent Hartman Thomas Dunne Books, 304 pp., $25.99. Motown had the Funk Brothers, Nashville had the A-Team, and Stax/Volt had their Memphis men, but gold-record-for-gold-record, no group played on more hits in the '60s and '70 ... More >>

Careful With Those Karaoke Song Choices

oribek.net​A man was shot and killed after another man at the Southwest Houston restaurant where he had just sung karaoke took issue with his song choice, according to Channel 13. The incident occurred in a taqueria near Hillcroft and Sands Point around 2 a.m. Police say the two men began ar ... More >>

Classic Christmas: Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song

Over the holidays, we're looking back at some classic Christmas albums taking some track by track and just digging on others. ​Originally titled The Magic of Christmas, when it was released in 1963, this collection of Christmas songs was basically cobbled together in support of what many -- m ... More >>

Classic Christmas: Elvis' Christmas Album

Over the holidays, we're looking back at some classic Christmas albums taking some track by track and just digging on others. ​In 1957 at the near peak of his early success, Elvis Presley did what many artists did: He made a Christmas record. The result was what would become one of the best s ... More >>

Classic Christmas: Charles Brown & Friends' Merry Christmas Baby

Over the holidays, we're looking back at some classic Christmas albums taking some track by track and just digging on others. ​Blues musician Charles Brown released and re-released Christmas songs numerous times throughout his career. The Texas City native got a lot of mileage out of Christma ... More >>

Classic Christmas: Johnny Mathis' Merry Christmas

Over the holidays, we're looking back at some classic Christmas albums taking some track by track and just digging on others. ​On the popular '70s and '80s sitcom The Jeffersons whenever George wanted to get Weezie in the mood, all he had to do was mimic the voice of Johnny Mathis while singi ... More >>

Classic Christmas: The Andy Williams Christmas Album

​There are two reasons we think of Andy Williams fondly. First, there is the classic episode of The Simpsons when Bart, Milhouse, Nelson and Martin travel to Branson where they see Williams perform. A teary-eyed Nelson said, "I didn't think he'd do "Moon River," but then -- bam! -- second enco ... More >>

Classic Christmas: A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records

Over the holidays, we're looking back at some classic Christmas albums taking some track by track and just digging on others. ​Christmas music comes in all shapes and sizes. From jazz and blues to hip hop and heavy metal, everybody thinks they have an interesting take on holiday classics, but ... More >>

National Sandwich Day Is Thursday, November 3!

Photo via karlializa.com​Fact: We love sandwiches. PB&J, BLT, grilled cheese, po-boy, Cuban, Reuben, cheese steak in Philly or muffaletta in New Orleans, single or multi-tiered, we can't get enough. We love them simple and oh so complicated, hot and cold, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some ... More >>

Moules au Curry at Jeannine's Bistro

Joanna O'LearyMoules Au Curry.​When I was in London this summer, I went to Belgo, "the world's greatest Belgian restaurant." Debatable. The restaurant resembled the set of Alien, and my waiter didn't speak any English and was wearing a cheesy monk costume. My moules frites were pretty good, ... More >>

Seven White House Musical Guests Sketchier Than Common

whitehouse.govWe've always wanted to run that photo credit.​Our man Rizoh did a fine job yesterday detailing how, despite what the Fox News brigade may think, Common is a pretty standup guy. In fact, compared to some of the other musicians who have been invited to the White House, he's practic ... More >>

13 Lucky Songs For Friday The 13th

​Happy Friday the 13th, everyone. Unlike most Fridays, this one has gone pretty smoothly here at Rocks Off HQ, which means we must be in for a hellacious Monday. But hey, that's next week. Our luck may be holding up - for now - but we couldn't let the occasion go by unremarked (plus a couple ... More >>

Top 10 Musician Movie Cameos

Rocks Off has no idea why Mick Jagger might prefer Performance to Ned Kelly.​Over recent years, Rocks Off has been repeatedly surprised by the quality performances of musicians in films. Naturally, there are some duds in the mix; even Mick Jagger himself, who starred in 1970's Ned Kelly, disow ... More >>

Fiskadoro's Christmas Of The Damned

​Peace on Earth and good will towards men? We'll have none of that happy hippie horseshit here, thank you very much. Listening to Fiskadoro is like the cuddle session after a brutal orgy, and we do love every damn minute of music they infect our iPod with. Their latest release is a Christmas E ... More >>

Why the Tears?

Day Of The Dead: Music In Memoriam 2009-10

itscactus.com​Rocks Off doesn't mean to be morbid, but today is the Day of the Dead, the Mexican holiday and festival honoring those who have gone before. So instead of waiting until the end of the year, the more traditional time for such things, we wanted to compile a list of the notable name ... More >>

Reverend Horton Heat, Cracker, Legendary Shack Shakers

Creepy, Inappropriate and Otherwise Weird Christmas Albums

​ Christmas is 22 days away, so you still have time to put in some online orders for delivery. And, coincidentally enough, we're going to bet that whatever holiday album you've been playing for the past few years is starting to get a little stale. You can only enjoy the velvet crooning of Bing Cro ... More >>

Next Time You're Bored at a Party, Amuse Yourself With Some "Musical Profiling"

​ Recently, Rocks Off found ourselves skulking around the edges of a birthday party wondering what the hell we were doing there. The week had brutally kicked our ass, and the only place we really wanted to be at that juncture was sitting on our couch watching the Syfy channel with a very strong dr ... More >>

Capsule Stage Reviews: Mud, On the Town, Waiting in the Wings, Wayside Motor Inn

A Chat With Chef John Watt

Tulsa-bred Chef John Watt has long toiled in the kitchens of Houston. He helped found Trevisio (6550 Bertner Street) and Prego (2520 Amherst), both recipients of Wine Enthusiast accolades, among many other culinary plaudits. Trevisio was named one of 2002's best new restaurants by My Table Maga ... More >>

The Lone Star Symphonic Band: Salute to Freedom

Web exclusive!

The Collector: Mack McCormick's Huge Archive of Culture and Lore

A great American folklorist has spent a life squirreling away bits and pieces of Texas culture. Now time is running out on him and his inventory.

Requiem for the Balinese Room

David Beebe's Matagorda Island Discs

(In which locals sound off on the ten records they would take to Matagorda Island, the nearest major unpopulated sandbar to Houston.)

Tony Bennett

Musical Food Groups

If singers were cheese, what kind of cheese would they be?

The Small Stars

Small Stars perform Friday, February 2, at the Continental Club, 3700 Main Street, 713-529-9899. Scott Biram also performs.

Yule Fuel

A discussion of non-Christmas Christmas music

Esquivel

The Sights and Sounds of Esquivel!

Summer Camp

Demme's Candidate overhaul goes for the knowing giggle

Capsule Reviews

A picture of our opinions on local exhibitions

Best Atmosphere

Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse

Faux Strummer, Bogus Buzzcocks and Phony Ramones

Never mind the bollocks, here's Rudyard's punk karaoke night

Hot Pants

Nikka Costa hangs the moon with punchy soul and low-riding trousers

Lazarus, Reborn

Peter Bogdanovich wasn't dead. He was just acting like it.

Soviet Secrets

Stoli Grill's "KGB"

The Theater Shopping Network

Apparently What Women Want is a feature-length commercial

Heeerre's Johnny!

The Master Interpreter

The Rite Stuff

Rao Now

A new owner drags the River Oaks Grill into the '90s -- or at least the late '70s

The Girl in the Glasses

Nana Mouskouri has the world. So why does she want America?

Sound Check

Swamp Thang

Hot plate