Whitey Johnson – Live From Printer’s Alley For a live recording, this is impressively pristine. Every note is clearly detected & Whitey Johnson (guitar/vocal) is captured with distinction. The Reese Wyans piano (who also plays the Hammond B3 organ) is saloon crisp & accentuates perfectly on the opening number “Livin’ It Down.” Johnson isn’t a […]
J.D. Crowe & The New South – The New South – 50th Anniversary This is a remastered collection of the influential bluegrass LP produced by J.D. Crowe (1937-2021/banjo/guitar/baritone vocals) with Ricky Scaggs (mandolin/fiddle/viola/tenor vocals) & recorded in Maryland in Jan. 1975. This set also updates the musician’s credits. The tunes are old-fashioned now, but the […]
Continue Reading
Teni Rane – Never Turning Back This artist has a warm juvenile strength in her expressive vocals. A cross between Melanie Safka (“Lay Down Candles In the Rain”) & Judee Sill (“Jesus Was a Crossmaker” & “The Kiss”). Not quite folk but a pop-Medieval-rural classical ornamentation. Wonderfully applied. The opening tune “Driveway Conversations” has a […]
Continue Reading
Terry Haggerty – Family Revisiting songs from guitarist Terry Haggerty, a veteran musician from San Francisco’s Sons of Champlin (1969-1977). The original band closed up shop in 1979 & have since reactivated with new members. This LP retains the hip R&B feel of the band spread over 5 distinctive vocalists (Phil Perry, Mike Duke, Cliff […]
Continue Reading
Cedar County Cobras – Sinners & Saints At first, this struck me as something that came from the same dispensary as bands like Pure Prairie League & The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, but this group…this group has a magical style in their vocals & arrangements. It’s country rock, but it’s brewed in a still that has […]
Continue Reading
Wesley Stace – One Last Heist Earlier in his career, Wesley Stace was an edgier singer-songwriter with some creative approaches to his repertoire. However, this new set, while well-recorded & showcased in a realm similar to Canada’s award-winning Alfie Zappacosta. Alfie, who started as an intense, evocative rocker on his first Capitol Records LP (1984), […]
Continue Reading
Mitch Woods – A Night In New Orleans – Live & Solo At Snug Harbor A rollicking pace kicks off when Mitch Woods sits before his 88-key piano & starts his boogie-woogie piano assault recorded live at the Crescent City’s Snug Harbor nightclub. The recording sounds pristine during the music & vocals. It’s an electrifying […]
Continue Reading
Ruby Dice – Take Me Back Packaged in an artistically busy one-color illustration, the music is decorated wildly in this expressive 10-track collection with varied guests. This interesting showcase celebrates the Austin, TX music community with Take Me Back – A Love Letter To Austin, TX (Drops Aug 28/Gitcha Records/36:05). There’s a cross-section of styles, […]
Continue Reading
Laurelyn Dossett – How Many Moons I’ve always felt the most gifted singers are the ones blessed with unique voices filled with the individual’s personality, expressiveness, & charm. Alison Krauss, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Iris De Ment, Janis Joplin, Dolly Parton & Emmylou Harris, among others, have this quality. You can hear it when you […]
Continue Reading
Mama’s Broke – Reunion This is a quietly rural, prairie-expansive Americana spring rain collection of tunes sung with a landscape of harmony. The picking has clarity & is played with assurance & confidence. While not quite The McGarrigle Sisters (yet), the duo has warmth & skill that’s evident in each piece they perform. It would […]
Continue Reading