MIKE DOWLING & RANDY SABIEN
LIVE AT THE CAFÉ CARPE
1996 – FIDDLEHEAD MUSIC
Produced By JAN & MIKE DOWLING
1. Introduction
2. Boogie Woogie Dance
3. Weary Lonesome Blues
4. Minor Thing
5. Monday Morning Blues
6. Rag, Mamma, Rag
7. Jitterbug Waltz
8. Highway Of Regret
9. Dead Presidents
10. Stompin’ At Decca
11. Jan’s Song
12. Jaguar And Thunderbird
13. Carpology
14. Ain’t Gonna Go Away
Let’s see who the principals are here. Mike Dowling is a singer and songwriter who is considered to be one of the greatest fingerstyle guitar players in America. He’s been recording since 1995, but never had a hit record. Randy Sabien is primarily a violinist, also playing guitar and mandolin. His solo career began in 1983, and he’s played on countless country and jazz albums. The Café Carpe is a venue in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The pair is joined here by only a standup bass player, and it’s a pretty terrific show. Dowling handles the vocals and most of the guitar, with Sabien on everything else. It’s a pretty laid back acoustic show with plenty of great soloing and some terrific songs. The two seem very at ease on stage together, and it’s ultimately a lot of fun.
“Rag, Mama, Rag” is a fine bouncy tune. “Weary Lonesome Blues” is an old Roy Acuff number. And “Jitterbug Waltz” is as pretty as it is expertly done. This album wasn’t a hit by any means, but if you like perfectly played acoustic music, you should seek this out. This is a case of a pair of great session players with less than successful solo careers getting together and making incredible music together. Sabien still records, and does a lot of work with youth musicians. Dowling lives in Wyoming, releases his own music and teaches guitar. And the Café Carpe remains a live music staple in Wisconsin, having also been the site of a fine live album by Redbird in 2007. Seek out this album…it’s a really well made and nicely performed set of tunes. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
LAURA NYRO
ANGEL IN THE DARK
2001 – ROUNDER
Produced By SCOTT BILLINGTON, LAURA NYRO & EILEEN SILVER-LILYWHITE
1. Angel In The Dark
2. Triple Goddess Twilight
3. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
4. He Was Too Good To Me
5. Sweet Dream Fade
6. Serious Playground
7. Be Aware
8. Let It Be Me
9. Gardenia Talk
10. Ooh Baby, Baby
11. Embraceable You
12. La La Means I Love You
13. Walk On By
14. Animal Grace
15. Don’t Hurt Child
16. Coda
Unquestionably one of the single most important voices and writers of the twentieth century. Laura Nyro’s life and career ended way too soon, but what she was able to accomplish was simply amazing. Her first five albums came out in the five year period between 1967 and 1971, each one loaded with great songs sung by that voice. After 1971, Nyro’s career suddenly slowed to a crawl. After a pair of late seventies albums, she released just one in the eighties and one in the nineties. She shied away from stardom, and took time when she needed to in order to live her life. In 1994, she began recording new material for an album that was never finished. She had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was working in between chemotherapy sessions. Nyro died in 1997 at the age of 49, the same age as her mother had been when she died.
That unfinished album is Angel In The Dark. It was released in 2001, to very little fanfare and unfortunately minimal sales. But the songs don’t sound unfinished, and her voice is still a powerful instrument. The album is split down the middle between covers and her own material. She knew that these were likely her final recordings, and she made the most of it. The songs are a fitting farewell, and the record as a whole is a throwback to her most important and prolific early days. Her perfect songwriting is all over this, particularly on the lovely “Triple Goddess Twilight”. The covers are songs by those she had long admired (Goffin & King, Bacharach & David), and her takes are original and beautiful. Even in parting, Laura Nyro did it the right way. Massively underrated, and a perfect farewell, as only Laura Nyro could have done it.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
JIM LAUDERDALE
HEADED FOR THE HILLS
2004 – DUOTONE
Produced By JIM LAUDERDALE & TIM COATS
1. High Timberline
2. Looking Elsewhere
3. Sandy Ford
4. Headed For The Hills
5. Trashcan Tomcat
6. Paint And Glass
7. Tales From The Sad Hotel
8. Crazy Peg And Darby Doyle
9. Leaving Mobile
10. Joanne
11. I’ll Sing Again
12. Head For The Sun
13. Upside Down
There is a thing in country music known as The Jim Lauderdale Phenomenon. In the 1990’s, Nashville record companies would drop an artist after one or two albums, good or bad, if they weren’t receiving enough radio airplay. This happened to Lauderdale not once, but four times in his career. And that’s his solo career in a nutshell. Jim Lauderdale is one of country’s greatest songwriters. He’s written many hits for other artists. He’s recorded and toured with everyone from Hot Tuna and Elvis Costello to Nick Lowe and Ralph Stanley. He’s collaborated with Buddy Miller and Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. He’s released nearly forty albums in his career. And yet, most people don’t know who he is. Headed For The Hills is his 13th album, and his first collaboration with Hunter…
…And like pretty much all of Lauderdale’s catalog, this album was not a hit. It has never been re-issued since its 2004 release. And it did not contain a single. Don’t care. Jim Lauderdale is one hell of an underrated talent. And Headed For The Hills is filled with what you can expect from him: great songs, great recordings, and a lot of head scratching wondering why this wasn’t big. You won’t figure that one out. But if you enjoy traditional country music, you can’t go wrong with Jim Lauderdale. Fine tracks like “Looking Elsewhere” and “Tales From The Sad Hotel” will make a believer out of you. The good news is that there is a whole world of his music out there just waiting to be discovered. Nashville got this one wrong, for sure…Jim Lauderdale should be a star.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
BAD RELIGION
SUFFER
1988 – EPITAPH
Produced By BAD RELIGION
1. You Are (The Government)
2. 1000 More Fools
3. How Much Is Enough?
4. When?
5. Give You Nothing
6. Land Of Competition
7. Forbidden Beat
8. Best For You
9. Suffer
10. Delirium Of Disorder
11. Part II (The Numbers Game)
12. What Can You Do?
13. Do What You Want
14. Part IV (The Index Fossil)
15. Pessimistic Lines
Punk legends Bad Religion were almost over before they really got started. Their first two albums were disappointing, and they couldn’t keep the band together. But five years after Into The Unknown sank like a stone, the band was back. Suffer didn’t sell a lot of copies either, but it remains one of the most important American punk albums ever made. Don’t let the presence of fifteen tracks fool you…this is almost an EP, clocking in at just over 26 minutes. The songs are all written by either singer Greg Graffin, guitarist Brett Gurewitz, or both. Eleven are less than two minutes in length. This is Bad Religion in full punk mode, not screwing around and not taking any prisoners. This is the way punk was originally intended…fast, furious, and angry as hell.
So many of these songs have remained fan favorites over the years, and for good reason. “You Are (The Government)”, “Do What You Want”, and “What Can You Do” are some of their greatest songs in a career that is going on 45 years long. The influence of this album on the punk that was to come in the next pair of decades can not be overstated, and it’s a major reason why Bad Religion has endured for as long as they have. Suffer tends to get overlooked by some, but those who know Bad Religion know the truth…Suffer is a huge part of this bands’ successful history. This record is not perfect by any means, but it is good enough, important enough, and historical enough to be a must have for any punk fan. And it won’t take long to listen to.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
FischmanRockMonster, JazzMeister, Bluesboy,ClassicalMasterProfile Land of Enchantment
LAURA NYRO
ANGEL IN THE DARK
2001 – ROUNDER
Produced By SCOTT BILLINGTON, LAURA NYRO & EILEEN SILVER-LILYWHITE
1. Angel In The Dark
2. Triple Goddess Twilight
3. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
4. He Was Too Good To Me
5. Sweet Dream Fade
6. Serious Playground
7. Be Aware
8. Let It Be Me
9. Gardenia Talk
10. Ooh Baby, Baby
11. Embraceable You
12. La La Means I Love You
13. Walk On By
14. Animal Grace
15. Don’t Hurt Child
16. Coda
Unquestionably one of the single most important voices and writers of the twentieth century. Laura Nyro’s life and career ended way too soon, but what she was able to accomplish was simply amazing. Her first five albums came out in the five year period between 1967 and 1971, each one loaded with great songs sung by that voice. After 1971, Nyro’s career suddenly slowed to a crawl. After a pair of late seventies albums, she released just one in the eighties and one in the nineties. She shied away from stardom, and took time when she needed to in order to live her life. In 1994, she began recording new material for an album that was never finished. She had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was working in between chemotherapy sessions. Nyro died in 1997 at the age of 49, the same age as her mother had been when she died.
That unfinished album is Angel In The Dark. It was released in 2001, to very little fanfare and unfortunately minimal sales. But the songs don’t sound unfinished, and her voice is still a powerful instrument. The album is split down the middle between covers and her own material. She knew that these were likely her final recordings, and she made the most of it. The songs are a fitting farewell, and the record as a whole is a throwback to her most important and prolific early days. Her perfect songwriting is all over this, particularly on the lovely “Triple Goddess Twilight”. The covers are songs by those she had long admired (Goffin & King, Bacharach & David), and her takes are original and beautiful. Even in parting, Laura Nyro did it the right way. Massively underrated, and a perfect farewell, as only Laura Nyro could have done it.
STEELEYE SPAN
PARCEL OF ROGUES
1973 – CHRYSALIS
Produced By STEELEYE SPAN & JERRY BOYS
1. One Misty Moisty Morning
2. Alison Gross
3. The Bold Poachers
4. The Ups And Downs
5. Robbery With Violins
6. The Wee, Wee Man
7. The Weaver And The Factory Maid
8. Rogues In A Nation
9. Cam Ye O’er Frae France
10. Hares On The Mountain
Steeleye Span was formed in 1969 by Maddy Prior, Tim Hart and Ashley Hutchins, the last of whom had been a founding member of Fairport Convention. Unlike other bands from the British folk revival of the early seventies, Steeleye Span has made it their life’s work to focus on traditional music. Parcel Of Rogues is their fifth album, and it remains their most famous. Hutchins had already left the band, and despite their move towards more of a rock sound, the songs are all traditional pieces except for “Rogues In A Nation”, which was written by the eighteenth century poet Robert Burns. The lead vocals are split between Prior and guitarist Bob Johnson, with one by Hart and one instrumental song. They also added drums here, which would become a regular part of their sound on future records.
Parcel Of Rogues had no singles, and no hits. But it’s a very important album in the career of Steeleye Span. The contrast between acoustic driven songs like “Hares On The Mountain” and “The Ups And Downs” and the electric guitar distortion of “Robbery With Violins” is remarkable. These songs are all old, and therefore, so are the themes, which gives the record a lot of its charm. You may not hear about them at all these days, but Prior continues to lead Steeleye Span to this day, although it has been five years since their last album. But they are still out there, 24 albums later. Parcel Of Rogues remains maybe their finest work, where they did their best balancing act between the modern and traditional music they have always lived with. A highly recommended album by one of Britain’s best.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
PHIL COLLINS
FACE VALUE
1981 – ATLANTIC
Produced By PHIL COLLINS & HUGH PADGHAM
1. In The Air Tonight
2. This Must Be Love
3. Behind The Lines
4. The Roof Is Leaking
5. Droned
6. Hand In Hand
7. I Missed Again
8. You Know What I Mean
9. Thunder And Lightning
10. I’m Not Moving
11. If Leaving Me Is Easy
12. Tomorrow Never Knows
Some of the best albums are ones that are part of a breakup, and this is one of those. Phil Collins had been a member of Genesis for a decade, and they were on the verge of a major commercial breakthrough. But Collins was told by his wife that if he went on tour, she would leave him. Collins and Genesis went on tour, made it big, and his wife did leave him. Most of the songs on his debut solo album, Face Value, came from that breakup. And nothing puts forth that frustration of losing a relationship, or the sudden outburst of playing air drums, quite like “In The Air Tonight”. This song alone made Collins’ solo career an instant success, made his band even bigger, and insured that this accountant looking drummer was suddenly one of the biggest pop stars of the eighties.
Face Value is so much more than just “In The Air Tonight”. It may be his best solo album, his most personal work, and his least annoying record. “Behind The Lines” had also been on the Genesis album Duke. “The Roof Is Leaking” and “If Leaving Me Is Easy” are perfect heart on your sleeve examples of songwriting. And closing with The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” is a strange move that does not fail. This is before the days of annoying Collins tracks like “Sussudio” and “You Can’t Hurry Love”, which makes this his most likeable disc. This is as dark as Collins has ever gotten, and it’s a really good thing. The closest he ever got to the dark majesty of “In The Air Tonight” would be the opener of his next effort, “I Don’t Care Anymore”. Face Value is a very good, less than perfect album that’s definitely worth revisiting.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
FischmanRockMonster, JazzMeister, Bluesboy,ClassicalMasterProfile Land of Enchantment
PHIL COLLINS
FACE VALUE
1981 – ATLANTIC
Produced By PHIL COLLINS & HUGH PADGHAM
1. In The Air Tonight
2. This Must Be Love
3. Behind The Lines
4. The Roof Is Leaking
5. Droned
6. Hand In Hand
7. I Missed Again
8. You Know What I Mean
9. Thunder And Lightning
10. I’m Not Moving
11. If Leaving Me Is Easy
12. Tomorrow Never Knows
Some of the best albums are ones that are part of a breakup, and this is one of those. Phil Collins had been a member of Genesis for a decade, and they were on the verge of a major commercial breakthrough. But Collins was told by his wife that if he went on tour, she would leave him. Collins and Genesis went on tour, made it big, and his wife did leave him. Most of the songs on his debut solo album, Face Value, came from that breakup. And nothing puts forth that frustration of losing a relationship, or the sudden outburst of playing air drums, quite like “In The Air Tonight”. This song alone made Collins’ solo career an instant success, made his band even bigger, and insured that this accountant looking drummer was suddenly one of the biggest pop stars of the eighties.
Face Value is so much more than just “In The Air Tonight”. It may be his best solo album, his most personal work, and his least annoying record. “Behind The Lines” had also been on the Genesis album Duke. “The Roof Is Leaking” and “If Leaving Me Is Easy” are perfect heart on your sleeve examples of songwriting. And closing with The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” is a strange move that does not fail. This is before the days of annoying Collins tracks like “Sussudio” and “You Can’t Hurry Love”, which makes this his most likeable disc. This is as dark as Collins has ever gotten, and it’s a really good thing. The closest he ever got to the dark majesty of “In The Air Tonight” would be the opener of his next effort, “I Don’t Care Anymore”. Face Value is a very good, less than perfect album that’s definitely worth revisiting.
STEVEN WILSON
GRACE FOR DROWNING
2011 – KSCOPE
Produced By STEVEN WILSON
1. Grace For Drowning
2. Sectarian
3. Deform To Form A Star
4. No Part Of Me
5. Postcard
6. Raider Prelude
7. Remainder The Black Dog
1. Belle De Jour
2. Index
3. Track One
4. Raider II
5. Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye
If you’re a fan of the English band Porcupine Tree, then this will make you happy. Steven Wilson is the man mind behind that project, and when he put the band on the shelf for what would be a decade, one of the first things he did was to record and release Grace For Drowning. His second solo album, this is a sprawling two disc work that incorporates fusion and experimental rock into his progressive style. It’s hard not to compare Wilson’s solo work to that of Porcupine Tree or Bass Communion. He’s made his mark in every vehicle he’s driven, and while his solo career has gotten much better as it has gone on, there are plenty of positives here. This may be a bit long for some (83 minutes), but if you’ve got the patience for it, there are plenty of rewards.
There’s a pop side to this album. “Postcard” was the single, and it’s surprisingly accessible. “Deform To Form A Star” and “Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye” are pretty terrific. The 23 minute centerpiece, “Raider II” is based on the disturbing story of Dennis Rader, a notorious American serial killer. Wilson is not just prolific…he’s able to do so without sacrificing quality of songs for quantity. He’s recorded with many different bands and under many different names…it’s hard to keep track of all he’s done in his career. But he’s also an artist worth tracking down, and Grace For Drowning is no exception. This is not a perfect album, and it’s not for everyone, but it is worth checking out. And if you are a fan of his, you’re sure to love this.
My Rating: ****
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
TRUCKSTOP HONEYMOON
HOMEMADE HAIRCUT
2010 – SQUIRREL
No Production Credit
1. Homemade Haircut
2. Accidentally
3. Cape Canaveral
4. Latch Key Kid Recipe Book
5. Childhood Memories
6. Burlington Northern Santa Fe
7. Widow
8. Seahorses
9. Bargain Hunting
10. When You Look At Me Now
11. Romantic Conversations
12. Kansas In The Spring
13. Inconsolable Child
14. Daddy Don’t Play
Truckstop Honeymoon is a sort of vagabond husband and wife duo who, according to their website, roam around the world in their trailer full of kids playing music. Mike and Katie West started out in New Orleans, then headed west in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina to the musical center of the universe, Lawrence, Kansas. Katie plays upright bass, and Mike wields a banjo. They twang, they rock, and they do everything in between. What a glorious way to live life! They’ve released nine studio albums since 2003, with Homemade Haircut being their fifth effort from 2010. Their songs ring of personal truth. They can be hilarious, and they can bring a tear to your eye. And everything in between. They’ve never been stars, which seems to suit their lifestyle just fine.
Ever wonder what it’s like living in Kansas? Truckstop Honeymoon has got you covered. “Kansas In The Spring” gets you as close as you’ll ever want to be to a cold windy day in Lawrence. “Homemade Haircut” can be seen as a cautionary tale. Songs like “Accidentally” and “Cape Canaveral” are definitely worth hearing. The West’s are better known for their stage performances, but their albums do have merit. They appear to have slowed down in the 2020’s, with only one album released four years ago and a not so full schedule of live shows. But they’re out there. They’re a bit crazy and unpredictable, so you never know when they will strike next. Homemade Haircut is a good introduction to this hard working and always interesting duo. Worth taking for a spin!
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
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