ALBUMS

• WOODY GUTHRIE: DUST BOWL BALLADS: 1940: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The Beatles addiction led me to Bob Dylan- and reading about Dylan led me down the old dusty road to Woody Guthrie. This is the first Guthrie album I bought and it’s still my favorite. Can’t go wrong with any of these songs- makes me think of “The Grapes Of Wrath” -it could be the soundtrack for the movie. A great read by the way is the Woody bio by Joe Klein “Woody Guthrie: A Life”

• BOB DYLAN: EMPIRE BURLESQUE: 1985: 3 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: In the past week I’ve talked about a couple albums here and there where the production is just awful and this is one of those albums. I think there are some very good songs on here but the production stands out. Odd, Dylan spent 8-9 months making this album which is odd for him. Dylan produced it. The best song is the closer and the final song that was recorded- and it isn’t mired by the studio- Dark Eyes. With the criticism it is a much debated album and an interesting one. The critics have been all over the place with Empire Burlesque.

• VAN MORRISON: HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON: 1995: 3 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Recorded live-without an audience- with Georgie Fame and friends- at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London. The album features mostly jazz covers with a few Van songs including a reworking of Moondance. Not an essential Van album to have but a good sounding entertaining album.

• THE BEATLES: HELP! 1965: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Was writing about the album- thought I’d play it as I was writing.

Listened to the replay of American Top 40 from the week of August 11, 1973.

Listened to all 3 hours of this weeks Neon Beat on Radio George.