Icon Fetch

Memphis native Van Duren has a gift for creating melodic rock with an unique edge.  His 1978 album, Are You Serious? is perhaps the greatest album you’ve never heard.  He played with members of the legendary band, Big Star, and formed his own great group, Good Question.  More recently, he’s issued some fine albums with Vickie Loveland, under the Loveland Duren moniker.  And, he was the subject of the documentary, Waiting: The Van Duren Story, which is available to stream now on Amazon Prime. Van Duren’s latest offering is a live concert, broadcast over the radio, entitled Chemical Fire: Van Duren Live 1978 - available digitally for the first time at Duren's Bandcamp site: vanduren.bandcamp.comWe chat the odd circumstances surrounding this recording.  For instance, the fact that the audience was in one room and the band was in another!  There were also no fixes, this is Duren and band, live as it happened on the radio.  

Peter Case’s 5-decade career in music has had many twists and turns, starting with the influential band the Nerves in the late Seventies, then the Plimsouls, who had an early eighties MTV hit with “A Million Miles Away.”  Peter’s first, self-titled solo album from 1986 helped jump start the roots movement of the mid-80’s.13 solo albums and now My Life to Live, from Sunset Blvd Records -  Case's first, full-length live album, recorded at a familiar venue, McCabe’s Guitar Shop.We chat about the unique venue, plus how he rearranged a couple of his classic Plimsouls' songs for this album.  

Singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Doug Kistner has played with Trans Siberian Orchestra, John Waite, and even Blood, Sweat and Tears.  But, his new project assembles an impressive list of ace musicians into Studio D’Lux and their first album is titled, appropriately, The Allstar Project.These all stars include Liberty Devitto, Billy Joel’s original drummer; several members of Chicago, including horn player Lee Loughnane and guitarist Keith Howland; plus legendary bassist Leland Sklar, and Eliott Randall and Jon Herrington, who’ve both played with Steely Dan.  The result is an album that harkens back to the late Seventies / early Eighties, yet still sounds fresh.  

Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon are stalwarts of the folk music scene, and they’ve both issued successful Children’s records.  Now, during the Pandemic, the two friends decided to “meet up” the only way they could, over Zoom - every Monday at 2pm.  This virtual partnership produced over a hundred songs, with the first batch being issued in 2023 as Together. Now comes, appropriately titled, Together Again, 14 more collaborations that play on both men’s strengths as storytellers.  

Ted Neeley played the lead role in both the stage performance and the film adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar. His piercing, multi-octave range and golden locks made for something we hadn’t seen before: a hunky rock n’ roll Messiah.  Also starring the smoldering Yvonne Elliman, as Mary Magdalene, and the soulful, gut wrenching performance of Carl Anderson as Judas.  Neeley was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards for his spellbinding portrayal. Now, you get to see that iconic film on the big screen once again as the Little Art Theater in Yellow Springs will do a run of Jesus Christ Superstar on the big screen, March 27th, 28th and 29th.  And, flying in for the festivities is Ted Neeley himself.  To talk about it, we welcome Ted, alongside tour manager, Frank Munoz.Ted talks screening the film over 400 times.  Unfortunately, the ending never changes.  This upcoming run at the Little Art Theater will be the final appearance in southern Ohio.  You can purchase tickets and VIP passes at tedneeley.com

You could say Maria Muldaur has done it all - blues, country, folk, rock, jazz, jug band, even kids music.  She’s also garnered many awards, including being nominated six times for Grammys. Her latest project is a true labor of love.  One Hour Mama: The Blues of Victoria Spivey, out now on Nola Blue Records, gives Muldaur a chance to honor one of her mentors.  While Victoria Spivey is not a household name, she certainly paved the way for the freedom that female artists have today. Muldaur is also joined by a couple of old friends, Elvin Bishop and Taj Mahal.  Muldaur reveals how Spivey helped get her her first big break in the music business, and what words of wisdom she was given along the way.  

New England singer/songwriter Dar Williams has been putting out music for 35 years.  She’s also written several books, including What I Found in a Thousand Towns: A Traveling Musician's Guide to Rebuilding America's Communities – One Coffee Shop, Dog Run, & Open-Mic Night at a Time. Her latest album, Hummingbird Highway, is a true, tour de force, covering everything from jangly folk, to breezy jazz, and bluegrass, and it’s out now on Righteous Babe Records.She talks about the wild diversity of inspiration that influenced the songs on the new record, including everything from olive trees of democracy to, of all things, drunken Santas!

The Cowsills, an entire family of talented musicians, first hit the charts in 1967 with “The Rain, the Park & Other Things.”  Then came “We Can Fly,” “Indian Lake” and “Hair.”  The group was the inspiration for the hit TV series, The Partridge Family, then many years later, was the subject of their own documentary called Family Band. Omnivore Recordings issued the groups excellent reunion album, Rhythm of the World in 2022, then dug back into the archives, issuing Global, an album that was originally supposed to come out in the mid 90’s. But wait, there’s more. The “Cocaine Drain” Album, a long-bootlegged series of recordings done in the late 1970’s under the tutelage of famed producer Chuck Plotkin, but never officially released, until now.  The newly restored album also contains five additional bonus tracks.  The album is further proof that, although their hits dried up, the Cowsills continued to grow and create excellent music.We chat again with leader Bob Cowsill about the circumstances leading up to these recordings, working with Plotkin, who was pulled away from the sessions by Bruce Springsteen, and why, ultimately, these songs were never issued - until now.  

California native and Nashville transplant Maia Sharp has written songs for Cher and Tricia Yearwood and produced Art Garfunkel.  She’s held songwriting workshops as well.She’s also released a string of fantastic solo albums, and she seems to get better with every release.  Her 10th album, Tomboy, might be her most relaxed record to date.  

North Carolina singer & harmonica player Tad Robinson has been nominated 10 times for the Blues Music Awards, especially in the category of Soul Blues.  He’s been a frequent guest on this show, and he’s back with his first new record in six years called Soul in Blue on the famed Delmark Records out of Chicago.Among the ten songs on the new record are two obscure numbers, one by Wilson Pickett, and another by Arthur Adams.

North Carolina native Chris Stamey has spent his life in music, which includes playing in the seminal band the Sneakers with famed producer, Mitch Easter, before forming the critically-acclaimed power pop quartet, the dB’s.  He’s issued several solo albums and duo projects with bandmate Peter Holsapple. Starting in 2010, he was the musical director for a series of concerts honoring the music of Big Star’s Third, More recently, he’s teamed up with the Fellow Travelers to focus on mid-century music and the alternative supergroup, the Salt Collective. Chris Stamey’s latest album, Anything is Possible is an homage to the music of his childhood, out now from Label 51 Recordings.  The album contains ten originals, and one timely cover, Brian Wilson’s “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder). the album is full of guests, including members of the Lemon Twigs, Marshall Crenshaw and the aforementioned Mitch Easter.

Davina & the Vagabonds take early 20th century jazz and blues as the foundation - then add soulful vocals, pop sensibilities and a touch of sassiness to come up with a sound uniquely their own.  Led by powerhouse Davina Sowers, the band has been wowing audiences with their fantastic live shows for two decades now. They’ve also issued some fine studio albums - most recently, Shoot For the Moon, which came out in 2024.  The album stretches the boundaries of what the group had previously done - adding layered vocals, interesting percussion, and some clever covers to the mix. The band is currently on the road, with stops in the Midwest, and even overseas.

Firefall formed in 1974 in Boulder, Colorado - scoring hit songs with “You Are the Woman,” “Just Remember I Love You,” and “Strange Way.”  The band paid tribute to some of their favorite artists  with the release of Friends & Family in 2023. Now, Firefall is back with Friends & Family 2, using the same blueprint - grabbing songs that some of the Firefall members played on, including the Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, and Dan Fogelberg.  In addition, they pick songs from bands that they toured with back in the day, including Fleetwood Mac, Pure Prairie League, America, Eddie Money, and others.  The group is joined by some very special guests, including Wynonna Judd and Richie Furay of Poco and Buffalo Springfield. What we get is a dozen classic tunes done with a Firefall twist - with great guitar solos and harmonies.  We welcome back founding member, Jock Bartley.

Peter Holsapple was a founding member of the influential power pop band, the dB’s, whose quirky, hook-laden songs garnered critical acclaim, but little commercial success.  Yet, now the band’s albums are considered classics.  Holsapple also spent time in the alternative supergroup, the Continental Drifters, and was a touring musician for both R.E.M. and Hootie & the Blowfish during their 90’s heydays. Lately, he’s been playing lead guitar in The Paranoid Style - and perhaps as a result, his latest solo album is the most rockin’ thing he’s ever done - The Face of 68 sees Holsapple fronting a power trio, with Robert Sledge of Ben Folds Five on bass, and Rob Ladd of the Connells on drums.  He’s also joined by old friend Don Dixon, who produced the album.  

Why the Worry, the 12th album from Seth Walker, arrives at a time rife with political and economic uncertainty - it seems like daily all we do IS worry.  Add to it the fact that Walker’s hometown of Asheville, North Carolina was recently devastated by Hurricane Helene.  What gave him hope was a quote from Willie Nelson - “I’ve never seen worry accomplish anything… so I decided not to do it.” Hanging on to that, Walker has crafted an album that’s a mix of originals and reinterpreted covers, all wrapped in that signature, Seth Walker groove.  He’s heading on the road to support the new record as well.We chat the stories behind his originals, and the reason he chose songs by Bill Withers, JJ Cale, and Al Green.  

The Josh Joplin Group, fronted by its namesake, had a #1 hit on Triple A radio with “Camera One” in 2001. Another one of Joplin’s songs, “Blue Skies Again,” was recorded by Jessica Lea Mayfield on her critically-acclaimed album, Tell Me.  Joplin has released several solo albums and films as well. His new record, GpYr (pronounced Gap Year), is his first under his own moniker since 2013.  Among the many highlights is "Before the Light Takes Us," which features Joplin's daughter on guitar and vocals.We also talk about his time away from touring as a stay at home dad, and how that pausing his career helped give a new perspective for this next chapter.

Resilient is the best word that describes the Cowsills.  The six sibling band hit in 1967 with "The Rain, the Park and Other Things," then with "Hair" in 1969.  But, their career quickly derailed (chronciled in the excellent documentary Family Band).  The group triumphantly returned with the excellent Rhythm of the World album in 2022.  But, there's more to the story.  The group recorded an album in 1992 that never saw a proper release.  Part of the reason....involves the FBI!Now, over 30 years later, Omnivore Recordings has issued the album, Global, and it's fantastic.  A power pop masterpiece.  If you're a fan of artists like Matthew Sweet or the Gin Blossoms, you will definitely dig it.We chat once again with Susan Cowsill, who talks about the crazy circumstances surrounding Global.  Plus, she reveals plans for new Cowsill projects, and the annual Happy Together tour, coming to a city near you in the summer of 2025.

Iain Matthews fronted the influential British band, Fairport Convention for their first three albums before embarking on a solo career that’s lasted almost 60 years. With Matthews Southern Comfort he scored a hit cover version of Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock” in 1970, had a solo hit in 1979 with “Shake It,” and the Eagles’ borrowed his arrangement of the Steve Young song, “Seven Bridges Road” for their live album. After saying he was done making solo albums, here he is with How Much is Enough, on Sunset Boulevard Records.  Whether this is his last, who knows?  But it’s damn good to hear him again.

The dB’s, originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, issued a pair of albums in the early Eighties that were at times both jangly and melodic, and quirky and inventive. Unfortunately, neither album saw a release in America at the time - instead getting issued by the UK label Albion. Now, over 40 years later, they’re issuing the dB’s debut record, Stands for Decibels, on Propeller Sound Recordings, streaming, CD, and for the first time ever in the US, vinyl. From the band, we chat with singer/guitarist Peter Holsapple, who talks about what went into reissuing this lost classic, recorded on a shoe-string budget over 4 decades ago, and the clever packaging of the CD. He also reveals plans for their second album, Repercussion, to get reissued as well.Holsapple toured with R.E.M. as a multi instrumentalist in the 1990's. He talks about watching the band's interview on CBS Sunday Morning, commemorating their induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

The Fabulous Thunderbirds are an American treasure, formed in Austin, Texas in 1974, the band developed an infectious blend of blues and rock that hit pay dirt with songs like “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap it Up” from 1986. The group is celebrating their 50th anniversary with the release of Struck Down, their first new material in eight years.  The record features contributions from big name artists like Billy Gibbons, Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo, Taj Mahal and Elvin Bishop.  The one constant over the 50 years has been powerhouse vocalist Kim Wilson. He tells us why he thinks this is the band's best album to date, plus how he hooked up with the famous guests on the album.

Tommy James has sold over 100 million records, and his impressive string of hits continue to live on in movies, TV shows and commercials - "Hanky Panky," "Mony, Mony," "I Think We're Alone Now," "Crimson & Clover," "Crystal Blue Persuasion," and many more.  His excellent autobiography, "Me, the Mob and the Music" is one of the greatest music books ever written, and is in preproduction to be turned into a major Hollywood movie and Broadway musical.James was our very first guest on Icon Fetch back in April of 2010.  In our new conversation, he gives us updates on the movie, book and musical.  Plus, he talks about unearthing his very first recording, "Long Pony Tail," that even predates "Hanky Panky" by two years.  He also discusses recently recording songs by the Beatles and Supremes.He also discusses his weekly radio show, "Gettin' Together with Tommy James" on Sirius/XM.Tommy James is currently on the road - tour dates and more information can be found at tommyjames.com 

Marshall Chess has a long history in the blues.  His father, Leonard, was one of the co-founders of Chess Records, the influential record label responsible for exposing the music of artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Sonny Boy Williamson to larger audience.  Marshall produced the trailblazing Electric Mud from Muddy Waters, and the Howlin’ Wolf Album, both were attempts to reinterpret the blues to then current psychedelic rock era.  He was the first president of Rolling Stones Records, and worked on several films, including Cadillac Records, which was based on his family’s record label. Now comes New Moves - The Chess Project, several decades in the making.  Once again, Marshall is reinterpreting the music his family helped nurture, this time for the modern age.  With Keith LeBlanc producing, they’ve assembled a top-notch collection of musicians, reimagining songs by Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter and more. Marshall also has a YouTube Channel celebrating the Chess history, and a podcast, where he tells many of the great stories of his life. 

Tom Rush pretty much pioneered the folk movement of the early Sixties, issuing his debut album in 1962.  He’s also credited with putting compositions by Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor on album for the first time, with his LP The Circle Game in 1968.  We talked with Tom back in 2018 when he issued his album Voices. Well, he’s back with his first new record in five years out called Gardens Old, Flowers New.  He talks about how he unearthed one of the songs on the new album from a live recording from 50 years ago. Also, how he wrote a song for his daughter when she was young (now she's grown up), and how he never intended that one to be on an album. He also talks about Rockport Sundays, a program he started during Covid, where he invites many of his musical friends to play and tell stories.

Memphis musician Van Duren was the subject of a recent documentary called Waiting: the Van Duren Story, available to rent at most streaming services.  Omnivore Recordings released an excellent summation of Duren’s career in the form of the documentary soundtrack, then issued his first two solo albums in 2020. Next up is Cartwheeling: Live in Memphis, showcasing Duren and his underrated band, Good Question, recorded in an intimate setting amongst friends and family back in 1992.Duren talks about events leading to the concert and why the tapes lay dormant for over 30 years. There's a lot of humor in many of the songs.  He also reveals why they chose to cover "Got To Get You Into My Life."Duren also tells a great story about having Ringo Starr show up at one of his gigs.

The Cowsills are the original family band - formed in 1965, they hit pay dirt with their smash, “The Rain, the Park and Other Things” in 1967. Other hits followed, including “Indian Lake,” “We Can Fly” and “Hair.” They even were the basis for the hit TV show The Partridge Family. After some time apart, the group reformed in the early 90’s and has been playing and recording ever since. They’ve been a fixture on the Happy Together tour for almost a decade, and they just released a brand new album called Rhythm of the World last year. Now, comes A Christmas Offering from the Cowsills. Two of the songs date back to 1992, “Christmastime (Song For Marissa)” and “Some Good Years.” These two songs are joined with a brand-new, acapella version of “Winter Wonderland” - and the EP is now available digitally from Omnivore Recordings. We chat with Susan Cowsill about how Christmas is the favorite holiday of the Cowsill family, the origins of these "lost" holiday tunes, and the prospects of new Cowsill material in 2024.

In her early twenties, Canadian-born Sue Foley trekked down to Austin, Texas and quickly immersed herself in the fertile blues scene there. Since then, she’s released 15 albums, garnered tons of awards, including Traditional Blues Female Artist from the Blues Foundation - an award she’s taken home three years now.Her latest record is a homecoming of sorts - Live in Austin Volume One takes her back to her roots, recorded at the legendary Continental Club, now out on Guitar Woman Records.We talk about how she went high quality for the recording of this live album, digging back into her roots for some of the songs she chose, and the prospects of a Volume Two coming soon.

Paul Reed Smith is a name synonymous with guitarists worldwide. His PRS line began in the mid Eighties, and ever since then, has produced 1,000’s of high-quality instruments. If you’ve ever played one, you just know. Well, what you might not know is that Smith is also a musician in his own right, who’s played with the likes of Santana and the Doobie Brothers. Smith has assembled a group of highly-respected musicians into Eightlock. Featuring three drummers, three guitarists, a bassist, and powerhouse vocalist, Mia Simone Davis, they’re issuing their debut album called Lions Roaring in Quicksand, on Steele Records. We talk to Paul about how he assembled this unique lineup of high-caliber musicians, the challenges in recording and playing live with three drummers, and why they chose to cover "War" by Edwin Starr.He also talks about what got him into playing guitar as a young teen.

Danny O’Keefe’s best known song is “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues,” which cracked the Top Ten in 1972. Jackson Browne put O’Keefe’s song, “The Road,” on his hugely-successful Running on Empty album. O’Keefe’s compositions have been covered by a wide range of artists, from Elvis Presley to Miranda Lambert, from Andy Williams to Ben Harper. His new album, Circular Turns, now out on Sunset Boulevard Records, covers the period from 1999-2017, which saw O’Keefe collaborate with the likes of Bob Dylan, Michael McDonald, Bill Braun, and Fred Knoblach. He also reimagines some of his best songs of the past, like “Angel Spread Your Wings” and “Magdelena.” In addition, there's a second disc featuring an intimate live performance recorded in 2016. O'Keefe talks about what led to this new compilation, and the stories behind some of the songs, including a "collaboration" with Bob Dylan. He also touches on growing up in Washington state and learning from producer Arif Mardin.

Roaring out of New York City comes Popa Chubby with his unique blend of blues, rock and soul. Born Ted Horowitz, he cut his teeth on the late Seventies' NY punk scene, even joining Richard Hell & the Voidoids for awhile. He issued his first album in 1994, and he’s never looked back - 38 albums to his credit. For his latest album, Live at G. Bluey’s Juke Joint NYC, Chubby took an unique approach: do a live record in a studio, and invite only 50 friends. The result feels like you're onstage with the musicians. Chubby decided to let those friends help pick some of the songs, resulting in an eclectic mix of hits and rarities, some he hadn't played live in years.No overdubs, just Popa Chubby and band, as it happened. We chat with the guitar slinger, who was in the middle of touring Germany during our talk, about stretching out on some of the songs, interacting with the great musicians, and how he feels about rap music and its lineage to the blues.

Formed in 1974 in Boulder, Colorado, Firefall had several big hits on AM radio in the 1970’s with “You Are the Woman,” “Just Remember I Love You,” and “Strange Way,” but also were known for their excellent musicianship, which got them played on FM radio, with tracks like "Cinderella," and "Mexico." The band’s latest project, Friends and Family, puts a unique twist on the tribute album. Firefall’s former and current members have played with many other bands over the years - so you get songs by the Byrds, Spirit, Heart and the Flying Burrito Brothers. They also tackle songs by bands that they toured with, like the Doobie Brothers and Poco. Ultimately, these versions were recorded with the idea of adding something different to the arrangements, turning these familiar tunes into Firefall classics. We talk again to founding member, Jock Bartley, about the care that went into choosing each song and why they were chosen. He also reveals that a Friends and Family 2 is already in the works.

From New Jersey comes the Cucumbers, who had a college radio hit with “My Boyfriend” in the mid-Eighties. The band was part of the Hoboken music scene, which included bands like the Bongos and the dB’s. The two constants in the band are the husband and wife team of Jon Fried and Deena Shoshkes, and they have a brand new album out called Old Shoes, and what I love about it is that what made them so great 40 years ago, that quirkiness, is still thankfully intact.We chat how they were able to pull in the services of their son, Jamie, to play drums, but they had to do it quickly. Shoshkes also talks about how her husband decided to play banjo on the album. She also tells us a great story about how she was gifted a guitar from producer Nile Rodgers.

Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88’s have been playing their unique brand of “rock a boogie” for some 40 years now. Back in 2017, Woods issued a career-defining album, Friends Along the Way, featuring a stellar lineup of guests, including Van Morrison, Taj Mahal, Ruthie Foster, Maria Muldaur, Elvin Bishop and many others. Problem was, his record label at the time had just decided to focus only on videos, leaving this great album without an audience. Now, he’s regained the master recordings and has reissued the album and added five bonus tracks. He and his Rocket 88’s are out on the road promoting the reissue.We chat with Woods about how the project got rolling with a "yes" from Van Morrison, plus how he took up residency at the piano bar during the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise

Nashville transplant Maia Sharp has written songs for folks like Cher and Tricia Yearwood, and produced the likes of Art Garfunkel. Her last album, Mercy Rising, was one of our favorite albums. In our review, we called it the “best thing she’s ever done.” So, here we are with the followup, her 9th solo album, entitled Reckless Thoughts.She talks about how much fun it was to co-write her catchy, new single, “Kind,” with Dean Fields and Melinda Leigh Smith. How she adds some of the tasty “extras” to her songs in her home studio.She also tells us about how she got involved with Songwriting With Soldiers, where she meets with a veteran or family member, and writes a song about their story.

One of the most recognizable figures in all of rock music, Ian Anderson has led Jethro Tull since it’s inception in 1967. With over 30 albums to their credit, selling upwards of 60 million, the band is in rare company. The band just issued a brand-new album, called Rock Flute, and now Anderson is readying the 7 Decades tour, coming to a city near you. Ian talks about how he gets ready for a tour, how he assembles a setlist in each town, and how, surprisingly, he actually books the travel himself. He touches on the creation of his band’s latest album, as well as his opinion of AI technology. He also reveals the three Jethro Tull songs he feels he needs to play at every show.

From St. Louis comes Beth Bombara, who’s been releasing her own music for about 15 years now. Her latest album, It All Goes Up, is her strongest to date, full of sonic textures and infectious melodies. In her own words, the new project is an attempt to bring in “more light, more hope.” The songs range from the infectious "Everything I Wanted," to the heavy rocker "Give Me a Reason." The album was assembled with her longtime collaborator, Kit Hamon, and features frenetic guitar playing from Sam Golden, as well as a guest appearance by John Calvin Abney.

You may not know the name Raymond Scott, but you’ve probably heard his music. Many of his compositions have been used, over and over, in the Warner Brothers' Looney Tunes cartoons over the years. Raymond Scott Reimagined is a collaboration between the Quartet San Francisco, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, and the acapella group, Take Six.Gordon Goodwin did new arrangements of Scott classics like “Powerhouse,” and “Toy Trumpet.” In addition, with the help of the Raymond Scott estate, an unfinished composition, “Cutey and the Dragon,” was completed by Goodwin, and included on this set. Goodwin has won four Grammy’s, including Best Instrumental Arrangement for Disney’s The Incredibles.He talks about how he went about retooling these great compositions for the modern age, working with all the great musicians. We also chat about a recent collaboration with Patti Austin on For Ella 2, and a forthcoming piano duets album where Goodwin plays both parts himself.

Bill Payne, along with Lowell George, formed Little Feat in the early 70’s, blending elements of rock, country, blues and New Orleans funk, into an immediately recognizable sound. The band’s second album, Sailin’ Shoes and their third, Dixie Chicken, have recently been given the deluxe treatment - expanding to triple album sets, including the remastered album, bonus tracks and outtakes, and revelatory live footage. Payne is currently on the road with Little Feat, who later on in the fall will be doing The Albums Tour, choosing one of those two albums and playing them in their entirety each night. Bill has also played with the Doobie Brothers, members of the Grateful Dead and Leftover Salmon.He also talks about writing his memoir, which he hopes to have completed by next year.

Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriting Demos (out now from Stax/Craft Recordings) is a treasure trove of lost soul & R&B recordings from the 60’s and early 70’s, many of which have never been heard before. Cheryl Pawelski personally had to comb through literally hundreds of hours of recordings in search of these hidden gems. It’s a project two decades in the making. The result is a 7-disc set full of surprises - you get nascent versions of songs we know, like “Respect Yourself” and “(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right.”But the real thrill is the set’s final three discs: 66 songs that were never released by anyone. Pawelski was working for Concord Music when she began this endeavor. That was 17 years ago. She now runs Omnivore Recordings.We discuss the detective work that went into the project. How she managed to wade through the massive amount of random recordings in search of these soul nuggets. She also talks about attending the box set premiere in Memphis with many of the surviving artists on this collection. Pawelski also give us insight into upcoming releases from Omnivore.

Multi Platinum, Grammy-award winning producer-guitarist Pete Anderson is probably best known as Dwight Yoakam’s guitarist from 1986 to 2003. During that time, the duo helped reshape the face of country music. Anderson’s worked with a variety of artists, from Lucinda Williams and Michelle Shocked to the Meat Puppets and Roy Orbison. He’s taken a lifetime of musical knowledge and experiences, and distilled it into a new book, How To Produce a Record: A Player’s Philosophy For Making a Great Recording - out now from Jessee Lee Music.Anderson gives tips that can be applied whether you're in a large studio, or your bedroom.

Like a lot of us, Peter Case found himself with lots of time on his hands during the pandemic. A piano in his living room beckoned him and he started to write songs, a throwback to the rhythm & blues, and boogie woogie he heard as a kid. The result is Doctor Moan, 11-songs, stripped down, without drums, mostly led by his pounding piano.Case was part of the seminal punk band the Nerves in the late 70’s, before forming the Plimsouls, who had an MTV hit with “A Million Miles Away,” and a spot in the 80’s teen classic, Valley Girl. Since the mid-80’s, Case has led an eclectic solo career that’s seen him garner three Grammy nominations and lots of accolades. All of his past seeps into the pores of this new, sparse offering, available from Sunset Blvd Records.We chat with Case about how playing the piano during lockdown took him back to his roots as a kid. He also talks about a new documentary about him that should see widespread release soon.

Savoy Brown was one of the longest-running bands of the British blues rock movement. Formed in 1965 by guitarist Kim Simmonds, the band enjoyed sold-out shows, and hit albums on the Billboard charts. The lineup changed, but Simmonds remained constant for 57 years, until his passing in December of 2022. At the time of his death, he had just completed his 42nd album, called Blues All Around. Now, that final word from Savoy Brown is being released through Quarto Valley Records. We welcome in the two remaining members of Savoy Brown, Pat DeSalvo on bass and Garnet Grimm on drums.They talk about working with Simmonds while he was undergoing treatment; he was still giving instructions on how he wanted things to sound from the hospital. They also talk about how he had to adapt his way of playing guitar to accommodate his declining health. Pat and Garnet also reveal possible plans for even more unreleased Savoy Brown material.

Robin McAuley’s career has spanned five decades - Grand Prix, Far Corporation, MSG, Survivor, solo records and more recently, the excellent supergroup Black Swan. In fact, the last few years have been some of his most productive to date. He’s back with a brand new solo album called appropriately, Alive. He tells us why this album rocks a little harder than the last, and also why there’s push and pull between songs like “Alive” and “Dead as a Bone.” He also recently celebrated a big birthday, and reveals plans for the next Black Swan album. Alive comes out Feburary 17 from Frontiers Music

Dar Williams first garnered attention with her song, “When I Was a Boy,” from her album, The Honesty Room, almost 30 years ago. Since then, she’s issued nine more studio albums, collaborated with many artists, and written several books. Her latest is How to Write a Song That Matters from Hachette Books, to which fellow songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter says “The wisdom and the lessons she shares will illuminate not only the world of songwriters but anyone who seeks the sustenance of a creative life and practice.”Williams tells us how she went from writing her own songs to teaching others how to write their songs. She reveals that, even if you don't play an instrument, you can still compose a song. She also discusses ways to positively critique other songs, and how to start an open mic.

Doug "Cosmo" Clifford was the drummer for legendary rockers Creedence Clearwater Revival. He and bassist Stu Cook formed Creedence Clearwater Revisited, and helped keep that great music alive on the concert circuit. Since recently retiring, he's continuing to go through his "Cosmos Vault," releasing tapes that he made over the years with his musical buddies.His latest release is California Gold, a collaboration with Derek and the Dominoes' vocalist Bobby Whitlock. The tracks also feature the great Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass.Clifford talks about how he and Whitlock came together, and how, unfortunately, the project never took off. He also give details on the newly released Live at the Royal Albert Hall concert movie from CCR, which is available now to stream on Netflix.

The Cowsills are the original family band. Formed in Rhode Island, the group started out with a trio of brothers: Bill, Bob & Barry, but eventually grew to include brothers John and Paul, sister Susan and mother Barbara. They had big hits with “The Rain, the Park and Other Things,” “Indian Lake,” and “Hair.” The Cowsills were the inspiration for the hit TV series The Partridge Family. Then, years later, the group got their own documentary, “Family Band,” which is available on streaming services.At a time when division is at an all-time high, we need some of that familial harmony once again to bring us together. The Cowsills have regrouped for their first new studio album in almost 30 years, called Rhythm of the World, from Omnivore Recordings.We talk with founding member Bob Cowsill on how he, brother Paul and sister Susan, put this new album project together, with the trio of them writing the bulk of the songs. He reveals how one song was inspired by a saying from Howard Kaylan of the Turtles, another was written about how Hurricane Katrina affected their family.

The Smithereens, formed in 1980, with their unique brand of back-to-basics rock n’ roll, seemed the polar opposite of what was being embraced by radio and MTV at the time. Yet, the band became quite popular on both college radio and the fledgling video network, scoring hits with “Behind the Wall of Sleep,” “Only a Memory,” “A Girl Like You” and others. At the dawn of the Nineties, several bands, including Nirvana, began to cite the Smithereens as a major influence on the burgeoning grunge scene. Ironically, Capitol Records dropped the band because they wanted to focus more on grunge bands. In 1993, the band entered the studio without a label, self producing for the first time in many years, laying down a bunch of tracks that were shelved when they signed a new record contract with RCA, eventually issuing A Date With the Smithereens. Now, almost 30 years later, these recordings get a proper release as The Lost Album, from Sunset Blvd Records.We talk with guitarist Jim Babjak about sifting through these 30-year old recordings, and also what's next for the Smithereens.

Omnivore Recordings has become a music fan’s dream reissue label. They’ve done archival releases from the likes of the Beach Boys, Big Star, Raspberries, Jellyfish, Laura Nyro, and NRBQ, just to name a few. Their latest batch of fall releases is diverse: Bakersfield Gold - a two-disc set featuring every Buck Owens’ song to hit the Top Ten; Dean Torrence & Friends - The Teammates, tracing the history of the other half of Jan & Dean; and Rhythm of the World - the first new studio album in 30 years from the Cowsills.We chat with label co-heads Cheryl Pawelski and Brad Rosenberger and get insight into how these releases originated, plus what formats they’ll be available on. In addition, they give some details on what the label is cooking up next.

If Elvis Presley and the Beatles had a baby it would be Dwight Twilley - that’s how one writer described the Tulsa, Oklahoma native, who had top 20 hits with 1975’s “I’m on Fire,” and 1984’s “Girls.” Twilley has made a career out of making great melodic rock which some call “power pop.” His music continues to be used in popular culture, like his song, “Looking For the Magic,” which was featured prominently in the 2011 horror film You’re Next. Sandwiched among those successes is the album Wild Dogs from 1986. Produced by Val Garay, who helmed big albums from the Motels and Linda Ronstadt, the record contains some of Twilley’s strongest material of his whole career. But, things got derailed when the head of his record label got indicted on payola charges. Now, Iconoclassic Records has finally put this underappreciated album back in print, including bonus tracks. Twilley talks about working with Kim Carnes on the song, "Hold On, and teaming with partner Phil Seymour one last time for "Shooting Stars." He also tells us how soon we should expect new material from him.

They were the first white group signed to Atlantic Records, the Rascals blazed a trail with what became known as “blue-eyed soul,” with legendary hits like “Good Lovin,” “Groovin,” and “How Can I Be Sure,” but also created songs like “People Gotta Be Free,” which are still socially relevant more than 50 years after they were written. At the heart of the band was singer and organist Felix Cavaliere, who has just written a book - Memoir of a Rascal: From Pelham, NY to the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. He talks about his early days in Joey Dee & the Starlighters, how the Rascals got signed to Atlantic Records, and how they found "Mustang Sally" before Wilson Pickett.

At the very peak of the Hippie movement, here comes Sha Na Na to remind everyone that “Rock n’ Roll is Here to Stay.” They were the second to last performers at Woodstock, opening for their friend (and fan of the band) Jimi Hendrix. After that prime slot, the band went on to high-profile gigs at the Fillmore, best-selling albums, and even a hit TV show in the mid-Seventies. Sha Na Na ushered in a rock revival that continued with the films American Graffiti, Grease (which they were featured in), and the long-running TV show Happy Days. 20 years after their Woodstock performance, Sha Na Na, along with other performers of the original festival, gathered in California for a reunion concert. For the first time, that historic event has been put on DVD as Sha Na Na’s Woodstock: 20 Years After from Liberation Hall. It’s also available on CD and download.We talk with founding member, drummer & vocalist, Jocko, from the the band. He walks us through the crazy path Sha Na Na took from college vocal group to the Woodstock stage in just a few short months. He also gives his memories of that crazy festival, and the reunion concert that followed.