ALBUMS

• EMMYLOU HARRIS: ROSES IN THE SNOW: 1980: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS:  A bluegrass album- which went to #2 on the country album charts and had two country hits-Wayfaring Stranger #7 and a cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s The Boxer- #13. She covers some Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, Louvin Brothers, Ralph Stanley and Simon and Garfunkel along with some traditional country songs.

• CHEAP TRICK: HEAVEN TONIGHT: 1978: 5 STARS: Like many I was first turned on to Cheap Trick with their Live At Budakon album-  liked that and then back tracked to their previous ones. This is my favorite Cheap Trick-Surrender is my favorite song of theirs, also on this-On Top Of The World, Heaven Tonight, High Roller, California Man and Auf Wiedersehen.  A hook filled power pop album.

• JERRY LEE LEWIS- ORIGINAL GOLDEN HITS-VOLUME 1: 1969: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: The Killer. There are better best of packages out there now but this was my first Jerry Lee Lewis album- Great Balls of Fire, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On-two of the all time great rock and roll songs. This is a Sun re-issue- great stuff but leaves you wanting more- only 11 songs. The Last Man Standing…he may be eighty- three but he still scares me.

• ARLO GUTHRIE: ALICE’S RESTAURANT: 1967: 4 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: A Thanksgiving Day classic. The first song on the first album by the great Woody Guthrie’s son- the 18:34 long talking blues takes up the first side. What a great song. Side two is an afterthought.

• NEIL YOUNG: ON THE BEACH: 1974: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Rolling Stone [back in the day when they were a music magazine] called this ‘one of despairing albums of the decade.” Indeed it is but it is an excellent one. The follow up to Harvest- fans were not expecting this turn. Walk On, Revolution Blues, For The Turnstiles, On The Beach and Ambulance Blues are among the highlights.

also listened to hour 1 of this weeks Neon Beat on Radio George with host John Christopher.