It’s exciting to see that the Beatles suddenly have incredible momentum on Spotify and other platforms because young people are discovering the Beatles through YouTube reaction videos and documentaries. The Beatles are hot again, go figure. I’ve been listening to some older Beatles. I’m really digging the Help! soundtrack and the later stuff, like Magical Mystery Tour (so unfairly maligned) and Abbey Road, a lot. Another album the reaction video algorithms have fed me is Led Zeppelin’s first album. It was always my favorite, but I hadn’t listened to that album in probably 40 years until I saw a reaction video for it.
Sheer Heart Attack by Queen is another. So much of Queen’s legacy lies in their later material, which I think is absolute crap. But Sheer Heart Attack, to me, was their best album and “Killer Queen” might be one of the best 45s of the ’70s. Check out a few reaction videos for “Miss You” by the Rolling Stones. The comments are priceless. If you lived through that era, they’ll make you smile. Many of the reactors have no reference to the popularity of disco and Studio 54 in particular and how it affected rock ‘n’ roll. Wire’s first two albums, Pink Flag and Chairs Missing, are unusually innovative early punk and postpunk. Wire created an artsy wall of interesting sound, with grinding guitars, a pop sensibility, and perfectly witty lyrics. It has been so great revisiting them. When I first discovered them, I was in my late teens and I liked their music, but I didn’t really get it like I do now.
Ric Orlando is an award-winning American chef, restaurateur, author, travel host, and culinary storyteller known for his bold, globally inspired approach to food. He leads food tours of Italy and works with recently opened restaurant Accord Social. Ricorlando.com
