Bloggerhythms

Brinsley Schwarz was a band from way-back-when that even most classic rock fans won't recognize. They were a quintet from the first half of the 1970s that - like Van Halen - took its name from the lead guitarist. Despite winning the love of critics and a devoted cult following Brinsley Schwarz never made it to the big time, but it did matriculate one illustrious graduate - Nick Lowe. They broke up in 1975 after several albums tried but failed to win an audience.   The British pub-rockers were one of the progenitors of the sub-genre that has often been said to be a precursor to punk and those who knew about the group still look upon them fondly. As we all know, Lowe became a star. Rhythm guitarist Ian Gomm went on to have a solo career too but with less commercial success. Schwarz then became a longtime member of The Rumour, working with Graham Parker for many, many years. Schwarz self-released Unexpected in 2016. Now he is back on the scene with his second solo eff...

Trout Fishing In America  made several highly regarded CDs for children that received extensive radio airplay on the local, children's, radio program,  Kids Corner , that emanates every Monday through Thursday from 7 to 8 PM on WXPN, 88.5 FM   - the alternative, non-commercial, music station licensed to the University of Pennsylvania. The two men who are Trout Fishing happily built their strong reputation recording and playing live for kids and earned four Grammy nominations along the way.  As a result I took my daughter to see them twice when she was young.  What I didn't know for a long time is that Keith Grimwood and Ezra Idlet were never exclusively an act for pre-adolescents. They've also made records for adults and Safe House -   their twenty-fifth full length release in their forty-five years working together - is their latest. TFIA's slightly offbeat sense of humor can sometimes make them seem like a novelty act. Their music should appeal to fa...

The late Jamesetta Hawkins - known to the world as Etta James - was a lady who could belt out the blues like no other woman could. Her high octane vocal chords possessed a lot of horsepower, but she always added just the right amount of nuance, and that made her the perfect blueswoman. In 1992 James worked with legendary producer Jerry Wexler for the second time to make  The Right Time , an album that should be a classic. The sessions took place at Alabama's renowned Muscle Shoals Studios. The band Wexler and James assembled comported themselves as the all-stars they truly were. The lineup included Lucky Peterson, Jimmy Johnson and Stax's Steve Cropper on guitars. Alto saxman Hank Crawford anchored the horn section. The sax solos, probably by Crawford, are outstanding.  Steve Ferrone - famous for his work with Tom Petty and the Average White Band - manned the drums, and Willie Weeks handled the bass as part of the superb rhythm section.  James is not known as a songwrite...

The great Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys passed away twenty-four years ago today, in 1998, so it's time to re-post this tribute originally published here in 2009 with a couple of minor updates.   Carl Wilson, the youngest of the three Wilson brothers who formed the core of The Beach Boys, died of cancer in 1998 at age 51 effectively ending the group as its fans knew it. Even though there were times he too succumbed to the excesses of the rock 'n roll lifestyle, Carl was always considered the most level-headed of the brothers. It was primarily due to his efforts that the Beach Boys survived well into the 90's. Carl played a pivotal role in the the band's overall sound. His vocal range was almost as wide as Brian's but he sang with a more soulful voice. When the Beach Boys wanted a more R&B feel to their songs Carl, not Brian, sang lead. While not discounting Brian's vocal work, composing, arranging, and overall leadership of the group, I always preferred Carl...

Poco's new concert album,  One Night In Nashville, is not dedicated to long time member, Paul Cotton, or group co-founder, Rusty Young - the only member to participate in every Poco studio album - but it should be. Those two kept the band going for decades long after most of the other important members departed. Both passed away in 2021. There are some excellent performances on the sixteen song record, but buyers need to beware. The country-rock pioneers previously released this concert on CD back in 2007 with an accompanying DVD under the name Keeping The Legend Alive . It's now out of print and can only be purchased as an overpriced collector's item, so if you already own that disc there is no reason to purchase this new one. But, if you don't have it fans of the band should add this superb set to your collection. The show was recorded at Nashville's Belcourt Theater on May 20, 2004 and reunites most of Poco's "classic" lineup of Richie Furay , drumm...