Retro Music Review | Oldies, Reissues and New Releases with a Retro Sound

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