Patsy Cline - A Tribute To Patsy Cline / A Portrait Of Patsy Cline (BGO; BGOCD809)
Patsy Cline was renowned for her mastery of the heart tugging ballad. She never overdid it. She always struck just the right note of sincere longing. Like Edith Piaf, she could bring a tear to the listener without going over the top. All she had to do was tell the truth, in that sweet, warm, soul stirring way she had… READ MORE
Smithereens - B-Sides The Beatles (Koch; KOC-CD-4504)
Fame may come and go, but good music is forever. While The Smithereens aren’t in the national spotlight anymore, they are still cranking out some of the finest retro pop records ever. The band’s sound was always a mixture of the best of old and new, blending vintage mod, rock, folk, and beatnik sounds with a contemporary touch that can only be described as Smithereens… READ MORE
Slammers Maximum Jive Band [Live] - Hey There You (Self-Released; CD002)
Some bands are great in the studio. Some shine onstage. The Slammers Maximum Jive Band rocks both. After releasing a truly brilliant studio album earlier this year (the appropriately titled Jive Time), The Slammers return with Hey There You, an absolutely killer live recording… READ MORE
Michael Nesmith - Pacific Arts (CD/DVD; Edsel; EDSX 3004)
During his stint in the Monkees, Michael Nesmith spent a lot of time fighting the good fight for creative control. After leaving the manufactured pop group, he proceeded to demonstrate just how creative he could be, once he had control. Forming his own media company, Pacific Arts, in the 1970s, he released albums, produced films and television, pioneered the concept of music video as an art form, and even sold a pilot to Time Warner that was the basis for the development of MTV. The Edsel label’s new Nesmith CD/DVD compilation, Pacific Arts, features some of the company’s finest output… READ MORE
Jay and the Americans - Live From The Cafe Wha? / Blockbusters (BGO; BGOCD791)
During the turbulent 1960s, Jay and the Americans existed in a kind of bubble world, immune to political, social and musical trends. For over a decade, the squeaky clean pop vocal group released singles and albums that sounded like a throwback to a more innocent time. Despite being a walking, talking, crooning anachronism, the Americans were also a nearly unstoppable hitmaking machine. How did they do it? The evidence can be found on BGO’s new 2-on-1 CD reissue of a couple of long out of print Americans LPs, 1962’s Live From The Café Wha? and 1965’s Blockbusters… READ MORE
Jet Harris and Tony Meehan - Diamonds and Other Gems (RPM Retro; Retro 825)
Bassist Jet Harris is a master of the musical sonic boom, as evidenced on RPM Retro’s complete Decca singles collection, Diamonds and Other Gems. In the early 1960s, Harris and drummer Tony Meehan created sweeping soundscapes of infinite grandeur and exquisite beauty. Combining elements of pop, rock, surf, and even folk, they brought the rhythm section into the lead, while scoring several chart hits along the way… READ MORE
Michael Nesmith - The Prison (Edsel; EDSX 3002)
Michael Nesmith - The Garden (Edsel; EDSX 3003)
With The Prison and The Garden, Michael Nesmith takes the book and record concept to an entirely new level. As an artist, Nesmith has always been a big thinker, dealing with grand ideas and philosophical questions. On these two works, originally released in 1974 and 1994, respectively, he allows his penchant for soul searching to roam unfettered. Here is Nesmith at his finest, blending music and narrative in a way that is entirely unique… READ MORE
Ringo Starr - Ringo 5.1 - The Surround Sound Collection (2 Discs; Koch; KOC-CD-4496)
On this compilation of tracks from recent solo albums, Ringo Starr offers up a heapin’ helpin’ of The Big Jangle. And honestly, who better? As one quarter of the band that practically invented The Big Jangle, he’s entitled. Songs such as “Fading In And Fading Out” and “Choose Love” are bound to bring a wistful smile to the face of any Fab Four fan… READ MORE
Tremblers - Twice Nightly (Cherry Red; CDM Red 343)
No question, The Tremblers do tremble. With a sound somewhere between The Cars and Lene Lovich, Peter Noone’s post-Herman’s Hermits New Wave pop outfit trembles, shakes, shimmies, and indeed, rocks. Formed in 1980 as a declaration of musical independence, this catchy quintet had all the charm of the Hermits, but without the creative restraints inherent in a pop music franchise… READ MORE
Graham Parker - The Parkerilla (Lemon; CD LEM 103)
Arguably one of the finest rock and roll acts of all time, Graham Parker and The Rumour stormed the British charts in the late 1970s, with a unique blend of soul and cynicism. Parker’s sometimes acidic, sometimes romantic lyrics were a perfect match for the note twisting antics of veteran pub rock guitarist Brinsley Schwarz. Keyboardist Bob Andrews, bassist Andrew Bodnar, drummer Steve Goulding, and rhythm guitarist Martin Belmont rounded out a combo that could tear your playhouse down with just a look…READ MORE
