The lovin spoonful

This story originally appeared in the February 18, 1971 issue of Rolling Stone. “It is very strange making a living out of being yourself,” says James Taylor , trying to sum up his work. It is also very popular: “Being yourself” neatly defines the personal, confessional school of songwriting which promises to supplant much of the hard rock of the Sixties. The songs range in profundity from Neil Young’s stylized laments to John Lennon’s barings of the soul, but the singers invariably give simple, intimate solo performances which suggest that they are revealing their most genuine feelings. At 22, and with two best-selling albums behind him, James Taylor stands at the head of this class right now. Related 100 Greatest Artists The Return of Sister Kate Related The 10 Most Bizarre Country Christmas Songs 15 Metal Christmas Songs for Unsilent, Unholy Nights They give disturbing glimpses into an appealing but tormented personality; he is the … [Read more...] about James Taylor: The First Family of the New Rock

QARI Abdul Rauf went shopping this week. In a supermarket. Fizzy drinks, bread, stuff like that. He was spotted by a quite a few people. And they weren’t best pleased to have seen him . Nine years ago Rauf was convicted with eight other hideous blokes for his part in the sexual abuse of young girls in Rochdale. He got six years in prison and was ordered, when he finished his sentence, to be deported back to Pakistan. But he’s still here. Still in Rochdale, where many of his victims live. Others in the gang are still clinging on, too. The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, says she is “straining every sinew” to get this savage booted out. But as in so many other cases, it’s proving almost impossible. The girls — now women — who were abused are enraged. But old Qari has his rights, you see. They all do, these men who preyed on vulnerable children. Their human rights, under the law. The victims seemingly have no rights at all . Nor do ordinary members of the public … [Read more...] about As usual, we’re all het up about the criminal’s rights

W e’re behind the wheel of a black Cadillac Escalade, cruising down Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, where they drive like it’s Sunday afternoon every day, all day. They move along at a careful pace, never cut each other off, come to a full stop for pedestrians, and — no matter what, even if someone does cut someone off — they never, ever honk. But the black Escalade of our story is being driven, no, commandeered, by Earl Simmons, 29, of Yonkers, New York, alias DMX . DMX doesn’t drive like they do in Beverly Hills. DMX drives like he’s mad. Hellbent. Fearless. His left hand is tight on the wheel, knuckles turned toward him; his right is busy with a Newport and a plastic cup of Rémy Red; his feet are unaware of any shade of gray — he’s hard on the gas, then hard on the brakes, mashing one pedal or the other, jerking the mammoth Caddy forward, sweeping into traffic, swiping in front of the smaller cars, bobbing and weaving past the palm trees, the Mondrian hotel, the Beverly … [Read more...] about DMX Reigns as the Dark Prince of Hip-Hop