Thursday, November 6, 2025

11/5/25

Vin Gordon- African Shores (2019)- ***1/2
Mikey Dread- At The Control Dubwise (1979)- ***1/2
The Mad Lads- In Action (1966)- ***
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds- The New Religion (1966)- ***1/2
Arthur Alexander- A Shot Of Rhythm And Soul (1983)- ****

Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys- Bayou Ruler (1998)- ****

(Produced by C.C. Adcock, I think I read that purists were disappointed that the Playboys ventured into some other territories like rock & roll and rockabilly. I think that's the appeal. This one always kills.)

The Pretty Things- S.F. Sorrow (1968)- ***

(I know it's a classic and people love it, but I don't. It tries too hard. Good stuff, but def overrated.)

Rush- Signals (1982)- **1/2
Faces - Early Steps (2025)- ***

Glenn Tilbrook- Happy Ending (2014)- ***1/2
(This one is a sleeper. Some really beautiful music here. Tilbrook is a master.)

Jerry Lee Lewis- Rock & Roll Time (2014)- ****
(I missed this one somehow. It happens. The lineup: Keith and Ronnie, Neil Young, Robbie Robertson,  Nils Lofgren, "Hutch" Hutchinson, Ivan Neville, Shelby Lynne, Jon Brion, Waddy Wachtel, the amazing James Walbourne and the amazing Jim Keltner who also produced the whole thing. Such a great record!)








2 comments:

hpunch said...

Happy Ending is a great one. Way more than an "acoustic" album, as some consider it.

Bill said...

I first discovered Arthur Alexander because I loved (and still love!) Ry Cooder's cover of Go Home Girl. I picked up a hits album--maybe on the Ace label?--and couldn't believe how great it was. I think his version of Funny How Time Slips Away is the definitive one--a beautiful cross of country and soul.

After he released his comeback album, Alexander was scheduled to open up for Los Lobos in Central Park and I was looking forward to seeing him live. Alas, it was not to be. We got to see Solomon Burke open up instead, which wasn't bad. But it wasn't quite the same.

12/18/25

Titus Turner- The Chronological Titus Turner: 1949-1954 (2005)- ***  Robert Walter- Super Heavy Organ (2007)- ***1/2 Queen- II (1974)- **** ...