CD Reviews on projects by Americana Artists
Listening to the new CD from The Brother Stereo It’s Sunday morning. I am listening to the first Track from the new Brother Stereo CD, “Sweet of the Fall”. The music, my coffee, the rain outside and a quite house in the morning all blends together to make for a level of relaxation I honestly […]
americana, blues, blues radio, blues-rock, Funk, indie, indie Blues, live from the midnight circus, making a Scene, Midnight Circus, Music on the couch, neo blues, new Blues, nu blues, r&B, RNB, Rock, roots, soul
“All Things Must Pass” The rise and fall of Tower Records (96 minute DVD) www.MVDb2b.com – MVDvisual The death of Tower Records was a major blow for many of us who grew up purchasing vinyl LP’s, seven inch forty-fives and CD’, laser discs, and DVD’s. This triumphant and reflective DVD “All Things Must Pass,” is […]
americana, blues, blues radio, blues-rock, Bruce Katz, Funk, indie, indie Blues, live from the midnight circus, making a Scene, Midnight Circus, neo blues, new Blues, nu blues, r&B, RNB, Rock, roots, soul
The Meters “A Message from the Meters” The Complete Josie, Reprise & Warner Bros. Singles 1968-1977 (2CD’s) www.RealGoneMusic.com This wouldn’t be the first time a label released a two-disc set on The Meters. Previously (1995) Rhino issued “Funkify Your Life: The Meters Anthology” that covered forty-three songs. Roll forward to 2016: Real Gone Music has […]
Jesse Dayton The Revealer (Blue Elan records) There is much debate these days as to what is “Real Country music,” but there is no doubt when you hear Texas guitarist, singer/songwriter Jesse Dayton on his new album, The Revealer, released in September of 2016 that he is “The Real Deal.” Dayton won his bonafide stature […]
americana, blues, garcialive, indie Blues, jam band, jerry garcia, making a Scene
Garcia Live Volume Six: Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders 7/5/73 ATO Records – 3 CD’s www.JerryGarcia.com Timeline: July, 5th, 1973. Location: Small two-hundred person capacity club called The Lion’s Share in San Anselmo, in northern CA, now defunct. The band: Jerry Garcia guitar/vocals, Merl Saunders keyboards/vocals, John Kahn bass, and Bill Vitt drums. You’ll also […]
blues, rockabilly, Travis Green. A Little Too Late
On A Little Too Late, Travis Green offers 10 original songs, backed by an all-star group of musicians including Kid Andersen (guitar and producer), Randy Bermudes (bass), Jason Hansen (drums), Jim Pugh (keyboards), Nancy Wright (sax), and Lisa Leuschner Andersen and Courtney Knott (backup vocals)The songs are an interesting blend of blues, country and rockabilly […]
cd review, dave's picks, grateful dead, jam band, making a Scene
Grateful Dead “Dave’s Picks Volume 18” Orpheum Theatre San Francisco, CA 7/17/76 – 3 CD’s Plus a 4th (limited edition) Bonus disc. www.Dead.net – www.Rhino.com This eighteenth edition of the Dave’s Picks series is taken from the Dead’s “comeback tour,” from a six night stretch at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco. The three CD […]
allen toussaint, American tunes, blues, indie Blues, jazz, new orleans
Allen Toussaint “American Tunes” Nonesuch Records It would seem that “American Tunes” was/is intended to be the follow up to Toussaint’s 2009 “The Bright Mississippi.” In preparation for this album solo piano sessions were recorded in 2013, plus during the early fall of 2015 full ensemble tracks were assembled, several with special guests. Unfortunately: weeks […]
blues, classic rock, indie Blues, paul butterfield
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band “Got a Mind to Give Up Living: Live 1966” www.RealGoneMusic.com “Got a Mind to Give Up Living” is a live performance from (fifty years ago) May of 1966 recorded at the Unicorn Coffee House in Boston, MA, two months prior to the groundbreaking Elektra LP “East – West.” Previously this […]
dicks picks vol 1, grateful dead, jam band, making a Scene
Grateful Dead “Dick’s Picks Volume One” Tampa, Florida 12/19/73 (2-CD’s) www.RealGoneMusic.com This was the first Dick’s Picks edition that was made available at www.Dead.net some twenty plus years ago in 1993. It’s also the last of a series of Dick’s Picks reissues from Real Gone Music. Real Gone started their countdown by first offering the […]
americana, del and Woody, making a Scene, woody guthrie
Del McCoury Band Del & Woody McCoury Music Woody Guthrie (1912 – 1967) was a singer, songwriter and musician who wrote hundreds of songs. Many are today considered traditional but included were ballads, children’s songs and political tunes. Best known is his song “This Land is Your Land”. Guthrie was a big influence on other songwriters […]
americana, blue, blues, folk, Good Days a Comin, indie Blues, Ivas John, making a Scene, neo blues, new Blues, nu blues
While Ivas John is new to me, Good Days a Comin’ is actually his fifth. It is the first, however, to be completely acoustic. The trend to a return to acoustic music more often is a welcome one, allowing listeners to experience once again the power of this less embellished form in the hands of […]
acoustic folk, Everybody as A Purpose, folk, Joe Kidd and Sheila Burke, traditional folk
Joe Kidd and Sheila Burke’s album is called Everybody Has A Purpose, and it is clear from the first listen that they believe this, and also that every word and note also has a purpose. From the haunting “Veteran’s Song,” sung by Burke alone in her pure, soaring voice and telling a story about the […]
blues, blues-rock, indie Blues, making a Scene, Rock, the rides
The Rides Pierced Arrow 429 Records The Rides a bonafide super group with youth, legendary hit making, and chops are comprised of: Thirty-five year old, five time Grammy nominated and two-time Blues Music Award winning, guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd who has recorded with Hubert Sumlin and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. Two-time Rock and Roll Hall […]
americana, Darryl Purpose, folk, singer-songwriter, Still the Birds
When a person is as unusual as Darryl Purpose, you can expect his music to be as different as he is, and it is. Purpose is a member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame who has been banned from casinos in six continents. After spending years sleeping in his truck and playing anywhere he could […]
blues, classic rock, festival express, grateful dead, jam band, janis Joplin, making a Scene
Festival Express New Line Entertainment DVD In 1970 the following bands got on a train and rode across Canada stopping to play in Toronto, Winnepeg and Calgary. The film which shows footage of them both in Concert and “ridin that train”, sat in a garage for thirty years. Imagine being on a week long train […]
americana, blues, brothers brown, Dusty Road, indie Blues, making a Scene, Southern rock
The first thing you have to figure out about the Brothers Brown is that there are two of them named Paul Brown, one from Los Angeles and one from Nashville. Once you know you aren’t reading the lineup wrong you can relax and enjoy this bluesy bands’ debut album, Dusty Road. (The other members of […]
dave's Picks vol 17, dead heads, grateful dead, jam band
Grateful Dead “Dave’s Picks Vol. 17” Fresno, CA 7/19/1974 <3CD’s> www.Dead.net – www.Rhino.com This seventeenth chapter of Dave’s Picks is resurrected from the Selland Arena in Fresno, CA recorded on July 19th, 1974. The performance occurred at a time when the Dead nearly bankrupted themselves hauling around their massive Wall of Sounds System which was […]
americana, dicks picks, grateful dead, jam band
Grateful Dead “Dick’s Picks Volume Two” Columbus, OH 10/31/71 www.RealGoneMusic.com Dick’s Picks Two (originally issued in 1995) is the lone single disc release from the magnificent “Dick’s Picks” series. All told: There were thirty-six “Dick’s Picks.” Nonetheless: This one packs a powerful wallop – flowing for nearly an hour of non-stop dynamic jamming. Weir’s guitar […]
dicks picks, grateful dead, making a Scene
Grateful Dead “Dick’s Picks Volume Four” Fillmore East 2/13-14/1970 – 3 CD’s www.RealGoneMusic.com February 13-14, 1970 is one of the Dead’s most memorable appearances at Bill Graham’s historic Fillmore East. This NYC Fillmore run was partially released on vinyl in ‘73 “History of the Grateful Dead, Vol. 1 (Bear’s Choice,)” named after (Bear) Aka: Owsley […]
dicks picks, grateful dead, jam band, making a Scene, oakland auditorium
Grateful Dead “Dick’s Picks Volume Five” Oakland Auditorium Arena 12/26/79 – 3CD’s www.RealGoneMusic.com This full concert is taken from the first of the Grateful Dead’s run-up to New Year’s Eve at the Oakland Auditorium Arena; it also includes a hot preview of “Alabama Getaway” that preceded its appearance on the “Go To Heaven” album by […]
another glorious decade, blues, classic rock, indie Blues, making a Scene, van morrison
Van Morrison: “Another Glorious Decade: Under Review 1977 – 1987” DVD www.ChromeDreams.co.uk – www.MVDb2b.com This is the follow-up to 2008’s “Van Morrison: Under Review 1964 – 1974,” and like its predecessor this current edition is not sanctioned by Van Morrison or his representatives. There are interviews with several music journalists, including Nigel Williamson (Uncut Magazine,) […]
Lowell Levinger, pop Americana, The Youngbloods Get Together
Back in the 60’s, there was a gret band called The Youngbloods who had a great lead singer called Jesse Colin Young, another guy named Joe, one called Jerry, and a curly-haired fellow they called “Banana” who allegedly inspired the Donovan line in “Mellow Yellow:” “Electrical Banana’s gonna be a sudden craze/ Electrical Banana’s gonna […]
americana, blues, blues rock . indie b, indie Blues, long road back, making a Scene, richard ludmerer, todd wolfe band
Todd Wolfe Band Long Road Back American Showplace Music Todd Wolfe was born in the Forest Hills, Queens, section of New York City. He started playing guitar in garage bands as he was inspired by rock guitarists George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Wolfe recorded and toured with Sheryl Crow from 1993 until 1998. He has […]
americana, blues, Dr. John, indie Blues, new orleans
Dr. John “The Atco/Atlantic Singles 1968-1974” www.OmnivoreRecordings.com Despite remaining extensively productive at recording albums, Dr. John’s 1968-1974 stretch at Atlantic Record’s subsidiary label Atco was his largest selling and most commercially successful era of making music. Along the way, he’s won six Grammy Awards, and in 2011 he was also was inducted into the Rock […]
.blues, davie's Picks, grateful dead, indie Blues, jam band, making a Scene, robert putignano
Grateful Dead “Dave’s Picks Volume 15” Nashville, TN – 4/22/78 – Three-CD’s www.Dead.net – www.Rhino.com Mr. Lemeieux whose first name is Dave the namesake for the “Dave’s Picks” series that’s now reached its fifteenth volume. Dave states in the liners that when he released “Dave’s Picks 7” a concert that was recorded two days prior […]
americana, blues, Indie B, indie Blues, making a Scene, richard ludmerer, the ragpickers string band
The Ragpicker String Band Grosswendt, Flower and Del Grosso Yellow Dog Records The Ragpicker String Band is the trio of mandolinist Rich Del Grosso, guitarist Mary Flower, and multi-instrumentalist Martin Grosswendt. Their collective talents and appreciation for pre-war folk blues make this an excellent recording. Del Grosso is a blues mandolinist who plays in a style […]
americana, blues, Devils Music, Indie B, indie Blues, jam band, Randall Bramblett, steve winwood
Review of Randall Bramblett’s DEVIL MUSIC New West Records – release Sept. 18, 2015 By Bruce Yandle One of the things you can generally expect when Randall Bramblett releases a new album is that it won’t be what you expect…or, at least, that it won’t sound like the last one. There are consistent thematic and […]
americana, dick's Picks Volume 6, grateful dead, jam band
Grateful Dead “Dick’s Picks Volume Six” Hartford Civic Center 10/14/83 3-CD’s www.RealGoneMusic.com The first five Dick’s Picks were all taken from seventies concerts; this sixth Dick’s Picks installment was the first that yielded a live performance from the eighties. The two set show is delivered in its entirety on three discs with approximately three hours […]
jazz, peanuts, vince guaraldi trio.
Vince Guaraldi Trio “Peanuts Greatest Hits” www.ConcordMusicGroup.com Even though Vince Guaraldi has passed on some forty years ago he left behind volumes of (in-print and readily available) recorded music. His most popular are the Peanuts television tracks, bringing us to this 2015 compilation “Peanuts Greatest Hits.” Charles Schulz created Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and Snoopy […]
.blues, americana, Bobby Long, Ode To Thinking
Let’s just say right away that Bobby Long is not feel-good, dancing music. But it is powerful, strong music, on which American-based English musician Long uses elements of soul, folk, rock and blues to tackle some serious emotions and tough subjects. With this, his third releases, he has proved himself a proficient musician and guitar […]
blues, dirty memory, Indie B, indie Blues, jason ricci, jj appleton, making a Scene, richard ludmerer
JJ Appleton and Jason Ricci Dirty Memory Old Boy Network JJ Appleton was born in 1976. His father was a Dartmouth professor who turned him on to the Folkways Records catalogue. At the age of ten Appleton saw Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and got hooked on the Blues. Other influences include Albert King, Stevie Ray […]
americana, Angela Easterling, Common Law Wife, country folk, roots
Angela Easterling’s voice reminds me of Emmylou Harris. It has that same range and purity. Her new album, “Common Law Wife” finds her backed by some great Nashville musicians and proving that she is, indeed, “a bright new star on the horizon,” as the legendary Roger McGuinn recently proclaimed. Eaterling lives in the area of […]
dicks picks Vol 7, Gratefull Dead, jam band
Grateful Dead “Dick’s Picks Volume Seven” Alexandra Palace London, England – September, 1974 www.RealGoneMusic.com The seventh volume of the Dead’s “Dick’s Picks” series is a no-frills and no liner notes Dick’s Picks/three disc box with approximately three and one half hours of music. At this time the Dead’s recent studio album “From the Mars Hotel” […]
Bob Putignano, making a Scene, rockabilly, rockpalast, stray cats
Stray Cats “Live at Rockpalast” 1981 & 1983 www.Mig-Music.de DVD/2-CD set Two live concerts by the Stray Cats recorded in 1981 from Cologne, Germany and 83’s Loreley Open Air, also from Deutschland. These are available as a single-disc DVD, and as a triple-disc DVD/2CD combo box-set. The DVD has the entire 1983 video concert and […]
Ashes & Dust Americana, blues, Railroad Earth, roots music, Southern music, warren haynes
Note: This article originally appeared at examiner.com. Warren Haynes has strong Southern roots and he uses them all on his new album, Ashes & Dust, which will be out July 24. He has long been a favorite in the Atlanta area and has performed here many times.Haynes is best known for his 25 years with […]
americana, Brian Perry, folk, singer-songwriter, Something
Atlanta singer/songwriter Brian Perry describes his music as “at the intersection of James Taylor and Garth Brooks with Bruce Springsteen directing traffic.” He is firmly in the folk tradition, but with a very contemporary twist. His uncomplicated acoustic guitar and clear, pleasant vocals allow his sensitive and heartfelt lyrics to shine. And, in true singer/songwriter […]
americana, Jonquil Child, singer-songwriter, Tiffany Huggins Grant
Tiffany Huggins Grant has an amazing voice, perfect for Americana with its mix of “crystal and honey” as the press release accurately describes it. Grant grew up in Smyrna, GA, thus explaining the title, Jonquil Child. Smyrna is known as the “Jonquil City” due to the springtime proliferation of the bright yellow flowers. The song […]
americana, arlen roth, blues, Indie B, indie Blues, making a Scene, richard ludmerer, slide guitar summit
Arlen Roth Slide Guitar Summit Aquinnah Records Arlen Roth is known as the “Master of The Telecaster”. He released his first album “Guitarist” in 1978 and it won the Montreux Critics’ Award for Best Instrumental Album. He recorded “Toolin’ Around” in 1993 with Danny Gatton, Duane Eddy, Jerry Douglas, and Duke Robillard and an accompanying […]
americana, dave's Pics 14, grateful dead, jam band
Grateful Dead “Dave’s Picks 14” Academy of Music, NYC 3/26/72 – 3 CD’s – www.Dead.net – www.Rhino.com This is the fourteenth edition of the “Dave’s Picks” series of live performances from the bands vast tape vault. Recorded on March 26, 1972 in New York City at the now defunct Academy of Music, that was located […]
americana, blues, Ian Siegel The Picnic Sessions
There is a welcome trend in blues music lately, of people wanting to get back to basics, to create music that is as authentic and natural as possible on record, so that the listener feels as though he or she were right there with the band listening as the music goes down. That is the […]
Grateful Dead “Dick’s Picks, Vol. 11” Stanley Theater Jersey City, NJ 9/27/72 – 3 CD’s www.RealGoneMusic.com With the popular three LP “Europe ’72” set available decades prior, it took ten “Dick’s Picks” releases and nearly twenty-five years for the Dead’s archivist Dick Latvala to exhume this 1972 three CD release. Latvala selects the middle date […]
Albert Lee, Amos Garrett, blues, David Wilcox, Guitar Heroes, James Burton, live guitar, rock n roll, rockabilly
This is what happens when you put a group of legendary guitar players together to make a live recording called Guitar Heroes. You get gold. Originally this performance was supposed to be just a souvenir for the players, who were performing at the Vancouver Island MusicFest in 2013. But when James Burton, Albert Lee, Amos […]
americana, Blue Healer, blues, Indie B, indie Blues, Jimbo Mathus, making a Scene
Jimbo Mathus is almost impossible to categorize. This Mississippi native’s music is a combination of all sorts of Southern styles from gospel to blues to country to rock, fueled with mysticism and given a psychodelic twist. Add Mathus’s growling vocal and masterful storytelling and you have something strange and wonderful. You feel at times as though […]
“The Complete Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Recordings” 4 vinyl LP’s, 40th Anniversary Edition Fantasy – Concord Forty years ago Tony Bennett and pianist Bill Evans recorded their first of two duo albums: 1975’s “The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album,” followed by their ’76 “Together Again.” These albums have been distributed on various formats in the past, but […]
Classic American Ballads Various Smithsonian Folkways This is the twenty-fourth installment in the Smithsonian Folkways award winning Classic series which began in 2002. The old English traditions of “broadside” ballads were adapted by American musicians as they carried the news of the day in the form of narratives. These songs were written between 1836 and […]
blues, Indie B, indie Blues, making a Scene, richard ludmerer
Moondog Medicine Show Let It Go Independent This is Moondog Medicine Show’s second cd. Their first cd “Elixir” was released in 2013. The band is fronted by Lana Spence. Spence is one of a dozen Janis Joplin type replacement singers used by Big Brother and The Holding Company from 1987 – 1997 and again between 2008 […]
Bob Putignano, grateful dead, jam band
The Best of the Grateful Dead (2 CD’s) www.Dead.net – www.Rhino.com Issued as part of the Dead’s fiftieth anniversary, their “long strange trips” will (supposedly) conclude over the Fourth of July weekend (2015) with three shows titled “Fare Thee Well: Celebrating Fifty Years of the Grateful Dead” at Chicago’s Soldier Field. Previously there have only […]
blues, blues music award, bma, doug macleod, Indie B, indie Blues, making a Scene, richard ludmerer
Doug MacLeod Exactly Like This Reference Recordings Doug MacLeod has been nominated for thirteen Blues Music Awards. He finally won in 2014 for both Acoustic Album of the Year, “There’s a Time”; and more importantly as Acoustic Artist of the Year. His song “The Entitled Few”, from that album, also received a 2014 nomination as […]
blues, Bob Putignano, Indie B, indie Blues, making a Scene
Jerry Williams “Gone” www.RealGoneMusic.com Jerry Williams (AKA Jerry Lynn Williams) is more known as a songwriter than solo artist. From this recording Delbert McClinton covered and notched a hit with Williams’ “Givin’ It Up for Your Love.” From later Williams’ albums; Eric Clapton covered “Forever Man,” “Pretending” and “Running on Faith,” with millions of copies […]
