Along with Buck Owens - with whom he shared a musical history and a wife - Merle Haggard (1937-2016) defined The Bakersfield Sound of country music: authentic, raw, rooted in honky-tonks. But unlike the Texas-born and Arizona-raised Owens, Haggard was actually born in Bakersfield and raised just across the river from that California town. "Hag," […]
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Gary Louris was already a hero of the folk-rock revival when he released his first solo effort, Vagabonds. He's been a member of The Jayhawks since the release of their debut in 1986. With a knack for tight harmonies, honest and often melancholic songwriting, and deft instrumental skills, Louris and The Jayhawks have been among […]
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Thirty years ago to the day (May 22, 1989), Tin Machine released its first LP. While the band's charismatic frontman was pictured alongside his nattily-dressed bandmates Reeves Gabrels (guitar), Tony Sales (bass), and Hunt Sales (drums), the name of David Bowie was nowhere in sight on the album's front cover. For two albums and two […]
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Today we're looking at a pair of recent releases from Cherry Red's Esoteric Recordings imprint featuring some heavy sounds! With a résumé including Cream, Blind Faith, Blues Incorporated, The Graham Bond Organisation, and Fela Kuti's group, Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker has long been recognized as one of rock's greatest - and most volatile - drummers. […]
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Varese Sarabande is setting sail with a wide CD release of Dave Grusin's score to The Goonies this summer! Recently a staple of Varese's vinyl catalog, it's the first time the music's been put on CD since a limited release in 2010. A movie this offbeat - a gang of misfit kids in Oregon follow […]
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Rhino is about to shower the people with the first-ever box set from James Taylor. Between 1970 and 1976, the quintessential troubadour released six albums on Warner Bros. Records that laid the groundwork for his remarkable career which continues to this day. At Warner Bros., Taylor introduced signature songs like "Fire and Rain," "Sweet Baby […]
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January 23, 2019 would have marked the 100th birthday of comedy legend Ernie Kovacs. While the pioneering comedian, actor, television personality, and writer tragically died at age 42 in 1962, his influential, off-the-wall brand of comedy endures to this day. The Kovacs centennial is hitting record stores this summer with the July 5 reissue on […]
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Few have made such a profound impact on the country music landscape as Hank Williams, whose singular talents, enduring songs, and inimitable vocal style continue to influence scores of up-and-coming talents. In 1949, though, Hank wasn't quite the star he wanted to be, nor the star we remember him as. He'd had some popular songs […]
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It's time for another Run Out Groove vote! The vinyl specialist label recently announced that a 2-LP Deluxe Edition of singer-songwriter Josh Rouse's debut Dressed Up Like Nebraska will be its next title. This expanded edition adds four bonus tracks - three demos ("Suburban Sweetheart," "Flair," "Cannot Talk") and a live track ("Late Night Conversation"), […]
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San Francisco's Wire Train made a big splash late in 1983 with In a Chamber. Released by Columbia Records as distributor for local indie 415 Records, the LP was an auspicious debut for the new wave foursome of Kevin Hunter, Kurt Herr, Anders Rundblad, and Federico Gil-Sola. It's recently made its standalone debut on CD […]
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