ALBUMS

• SUZANNE VEGA: SUZANNE VEGA: 1985: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: I didn’t ‘discover’ Suzanne Vega until her second album and Luka. I was impressed with that- and went and got this-her first album- Marlene On The Wall, Cracking, Small Blue Thing, Straight Lines my favorites on this. Surprising to see she has released only nine albums in 33 years.

• ROBERT PALMER- DOUBLE FUN: 1978: 3 1/2 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Underrated singer- he could sing about any style of music. Every Kind Of People #16 in the US was his first US hit- and I think my favorite Palmer single. Died far too young at 54 in 2003.

• GORDON LIGHTFOOT: ENDLESS WIRE: 3 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: 1977: Lightfoot had a pretty good run of success in the 1970’s and this album would be the end of the commercial success “The Circle Is Small” was hit final Top 40 hit in the US #33.  The album peaked at #22 he’d never get this high again. Bob Dylan had an interesting comment about Gordon-  “I can’t think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don’t like. Everytime I hear a song of his, it’s like I wish it would last forever…. Lightfoot became a mentor for a long time. I think he probably still is to this day”

• JOHN DENVER: GREATEST HITS: 1973: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: A friend of mine years ago worked security during the summer at one of the outdoor music sheds. John Denver played there. Hours before the show Denver left the area and went for a run. When he came back the security guy at the gate who was a real stickler wouldn’t let him in because he didn’t have identification with him. He didn’t know who John Denver was. My friend went over and told the fella to let him in- it is John Denver. Denver got a big kick out of the security guy not knowing who he was.