By James Calemine Released in 1972 on Bearsville Records, Bobby Charles features musical guests such as Dr. John, Neil Young’s longtime pedal steel player Ben Keith, guitarist Amos Garrett and saxophonist David Sanborn as well as Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel...
The Arkansas label Now-Again Records release True Soul: Deep Sounds From The Left of Stax Volumes 1 & 2 contain 60s and 70s Soul, Funk, Disco, Party-Rap and Boogie music. This anthology has been 12 years in the making. Label owner Lee Anthony founded Soul Brothers...
By James Calemine This two-disc compilation of archival recordings from Rev. Johnny L. “Hurricane” Jones, culled from more than 1,000 tapes of live congregational recordings, can now be heard for the first time. The earliest recordings on this set began in 1957....
“The sun was a fitting metaphor to examine my life, because in many ways what was going on both nourished me and blinded me at the same time. I was living this life that was askew. My relationships with people that were supposed to be my closest seemed damaged. Though I love my brother, the fact that my working environment can be challenging has been well chronicled. Nothing was working like it should have been, but by many people’s standards, it was a dream come true…I had everything people work hard for at age 20, and now in my early 40s, in a lot of ways, I’m starting over like someone in their 20s.”
Sam Shepard’s book Day Out of Days contains hypnotic storytelling. Shepard, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of more than 45 plays, has appeared in over 30 films, received an Oscar and won 11 Obie Awards. Some of Shepard's finest collections include The Rolling...
Jim Thompson, born September 27, 1906, in Anadarko, Oklahoma, wrote violent stories about small time criminals, alcoholics and psychopaths until his death in 1977. Thompson wrote 29 novels. Some of his best known books include The Killer Inside Me, Nothing More Than...
By James Calemine Said I Had A Vision revolves around the talented songwriter/preacher/producer David Lee from Cleveland, North Carolina. Ray Harper–of the Harper Brothers–led the Paradise of Bachelors label to Lee’s door. Harper was the college roommate of Rev. Jesse...
Western Ballad, Shannon McNally’s sixth studio album, was recorded in New Orleans. McNally’s 2009 release, Coldwater, was produced by the late Jim Dickinson at his Zebra Ranch Studios. The Western Ballad opener, “Memory of A Ghost”, casts a lush sonic landscape with...
Muddy Waters’ The Complete Plantation Recordings contain the historic 1941-1942 Library of Congress Field Recordings. The father and son team of John and Alan Lomax brought their recording equipment to Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas to record...
This 3 CD set explores the earliest recorded history of the string bass. These recordings include a scope of symphony ensembles, jazz orchestras and early rockabilly bands. Recorded from 1925-1941, these 79 songs provide an interesting look at the musical styles this...