Bill Kirchen, Hot Rod Lincoln – Live! (Hightone)

Jojo Reed, Not Your Baby’s Daddy (Zydeco Hound)

As one might guess, the title cut is a zydeco “Billie Jean”: JoJo’s ex asks him why he hasn’t been to see “his” baby, he asks her how old the […]

Various Artists, Chess Soul: A Decade of Chicago’s Finest (MCA/Chess)

Ry Cooder, et al, Buena Vista Social Club (World Circuit/Nonesuch), Afro-Cuban All Stars, A Toda Cuba le Gusta (World Circuit/Nonesuch), Ruben Gonzalez, Introducing…(World Circuit/Nonesuch)

J.J. Cale, Any Way the Wind Blows: The Anthology (Mercury Chronicles)

Bernard Purdie et al, Bernard Purdie’s Soul to Jazz II (ACT/Blue Jackal)

Irma Thomas, Marcia Ball and Tracy Nelson, Sing It! (Rounder)

There are voices, and then, there are voices. Two of the absolutely most spine-tingling, toe-curling, soul-caressing voices I know belong to Irma Thomas, the long-reigning Soul Queen of New Orleans, […]

Gary Hirstius and Day 7, Temporary Secret (Silent/Radionic)

Harry Connick, Jr., To See You (Columbia)

Fans of Harry Connick, Jr.’s crooner CDs will be pleased to know that Harry’s latest, To See You, abandons the funk experimentation of She and Star Turtle for a return […]

Al Hirt, The Al Hirt Collection (Razor and Tie)