Al Wilson - Show and Tell: The Best Of Al Wilson

You can find it here.

He had the one big hit on the pop charts, 'Show and Tell', and it's a dandy. But get this and you won't be disappointed. Other standout songs include, 'La La La La Peace Song', 'Willoughby Brook Road', 'Queen Of The Ghetto', and a scorching version of the CCR hit 'Born On The Bayou'.

Wilson's voice is classic soul, evoking Sam Cooke in some parts and Lou Rawls in others. Everything is listenable and recommended.

I often wonder how this guy wasn't wildly famous like Al Green was.

5 out of 5 stars
Will I listen to it again? Yes. This is a normal selection of my music rotation.

Showdown! - Collins, Copeland, and Cray

Find it here: Showdown! - Collins, Copeland, and Cray

This might be the best thing on eMusic, and it's a recent release on the site. Blues fans or just fans of old-fashioned guitar music will love this. All three artists shine here, but Cray's contributions stand out. This was recorded in 1987, won a Grammy, and is still awesome today.

The standout songs are pretty much the entire album, but Copeland's 'Black Cat Bone', Collins' 'Blackjack', and Cray's 'The Dream' are the cream. The track 'T-Bone Shuffle' features all 3 guitarists with great results.

5 out of 5 stars
Will I listen to this again? I've owned this album for years, and it's still a go to listen. Actually, when I want to introduce someone to the blues, I play this and say, "Pretty awesome, huh?".

Nat King Cole Trio - Mid Fifties

You can find it here. This release is much better then 'Central Avenue Breakdown'. Cole's vocals are in fine form and the recording quality is good. He also shows off his always great jazz pianist chops, with great results.

But the reason to listen to this is the singing. There are few vocalists as instantly recognizable as Cole, and this release features 'Route 66', 'It Could Happen To You', 'I Was A Little Too Lonely', and 'Don't Let It Go To Your Head'. Everything here is worthwhile and enjoyable.

4 stars out of 5
Will I listen to it again? Definitely.

Nat King Cole - Central Avenue Breakdown

You can find it here. This is more jazzy than I expected. Nat King Cole was always a fine jazz pianist, and it shows here. The recording quality is not up to snuff, Cole's vocals get lost in the mix and frankly he sounds like a dozen other guys in these recordings.

2 stars out of 5
Will I listen to it again? Not likely.

Levon Helm and the RCO Allstars - Live at the Palladium in NYC, New Years '77

Welcome to my revised blog. I'm going to write about songs I get monthly from my download service, eMusic.com. eMusic is a place for independent artists, although there is a lot of mainstream stuff or more obscure releases from known artists. For instance, Levon Helm, better known as the drummer for The Band and he played Loretta Lynn's father in "Coal Miners Daughter".

Levon Helm and the RCO Allstars - Live at the Palladium in NYC, New Years '77.
You can find it here. This is a good release by Levon Helm (on drums and vocals), featuring Duck Dunn on bass, Lou Marini on sax, Dr. John (aka Mac Rebennack) on keyboards and vocals, Paul Butterfield on harp and vocals, and Steve Cropper and Fred Carter, Jr on guitar. All the songs are strong, although I'd be hard pressed to point to a standout. The pure genre is blues, but it sounds kind of funky like Memphis soul in a lot of parts. I find myself really enjoying the harp contributions from Butterfield.
4 stars out of 5.