Dweller On The Threshold

Ken Samuels returns to discuss one of the Mount Rushmore albums of Van's catalog. This was a fun one!

Thank you for listening. Please go buy yourself a copy of Hymns To The Silence by Peter Mills. You'll thank me!

This episode, musician Colton Cerny and I discuss the third album of Van's initial mainstream trilogy of releases. That's right, we go deep into the history, players and songwriting of this classic album. It's a damn shame its's not available on any streaming sites. Let me know if you agree with me and Colton or not. Enjoy!

Please enjoy this continuation of my conversation with Van Trumpeter/Musical Director Matt Holland. Next episode coming soon, exploring Tupelo Honey!

It was a great pleasure to talk with trumpet player/musical director, Matt Holland. Matt has played with a laundry list of legendary artists and  served as Van's  go-to trumpeter/multi-instrumentalist  for many years (primarily from the mid-90s to the 2010s and beyond). Enjoy part one of our conversation. 

...And we're back! Another content packed episode is here to promenade with. Enjoy this two and a half hour exegesis of His Band And The Street Choir. Next episode will be another incredibly special interview with a Van alumni.

Enjoy part two of my conversation with John, where we go through the rest of the catalog he was a part of, as well as some behind the scenes insights and what he's up to these days.

In the first diversion from the discography theme of the show, I sit down with longtime Van guitarist, John Platania. Van met him in Woodstock and has utilized his talents (off and on) throughout the years ever since. With an instantly recognizable acoustic and electric touch on guitar, John has contributed some of the most memorable riffs in Van's catalog. 

Music journalist, author and publisher, Alan Light joins the show to wax elagaic about the stone classic album, Moondance. Van took the wheel, aka producer's chair, and released an album that both saved, and in many ways defined his career. Alan has interviewed the Man and lived to tell the tale. He has a deep and insightful relationship with Van's music and is one of the mot articulate guests one could hope for. Enjoy!

This was an intimidating one. How do you put words to what a work of art this deep, healing and transformative? Well, thankfully I've got good company to help me with that this episode, author Ryan Walsh. His book "Astral Weeks : A Secret History Of 1968" is a must-read, for both fans of Van the Man, but also anyone interested in the raw, weird times of the 60s. There's many easter eggs this episode. If, like me, you thought you knew all there is to know about Astral Weeks, think again! I had my mind blown a couple times on this episode. Hopefully, your will be too (and no, that was not a reference to the last album,..).