The College Crowd Digs Me

"To bring your woman back home after she's left you for another... You've got to be a man." ~ Derek & The Dominos ~ Derek , of course, was Eric Clapton . And The Dominos consisted of outstanding musicians in their own right. Awesome slide and lead guitarist, Duane Allman , pushes Eric to reach what many have found to be his crowning achievement. And Bobby Whitlock 's presence, on keys, piano, and vocals...can't even be measured. But he was certainly the rock...who kept Eric going. Add legendary Jim Gordon drumming and Carl Radle rolling the bass and you have captured lightening in a bottle. This is passion at its finest. The plea for unrequited love. Lost Gem:-->   "Anyday" ...Eric & Bobby hold nothing back with some heart stopping vocals. And the stinging guitar solo from Duane is tits. Jim Gordon's drumming is outstanding. Have you heard this one? You were talking and I thought I heard you say Please leave me alo...

" Here's to money in my hand and where it went. " ~ Steve Forbert ~  Steve Forbert , as I've referred to him on many occasions...is the bruised-knuckled optimist with a camera eye. The singer who..."makes it all so real." With his unique stutter-step vocals , he delivers his timeless songs with an ageless wisdom. The good stuff. The bad stuff.   Steve is an observer of life and reports what he has learned. "Alive On Arrival" (1978) was this Americana troubadour's debut and thirty years later he is still sharing his thoughtful observations . Me, Steve & the coffee pot in Kansas Lost Gem:-->   "Steve Forbert's Midsummer Night's Toast"   ...immediately strikes the..."we've got a lot in common"...chord in all of us. This catchy declaration will easily have new ears nodding heads in familiar understanding.  A great introduction to an underrated songwriter. Have you heard this one? ...

"Time to strike while the iron is hot." ~ Todd Rundgren ~ With RnR creds a mile long and over 40 years wide... Todd Rundgren has been top-of-the-line cutting edge in absolutely all facets of the music business. Rundgren also has a reputation of having a... "my way or the highway attitude" (as most geniuses do)...and letting record sales be damned.  Which has caused many a fan to wade into his musical catalog...at the very least...cautiously. But, as Yoda might say... "pleasantly surprised, I was" . Rundgren ...the creative chameleon ...brings it to the front... rocking it hard.  Hard I say!  And it's a crime we aren't hearing cuts from "Arena" ...and this underrated wizard all over the radio. Lost Gem:-->   "Strike" ...People forget how guitar friendly the ol' man is.   Soft or shred...makes no diff.   This fun little jamble is classic hard rock & what many have wanted him to do 20 years ago. And c...

"Pools of light surround the night. Chased away by dawns new day. ~ Nutz ~ Hailing from Liverpool, England, Nutz was a talented four member band that deserved better than the RnR Gods allowed. Serving up helpings of driving rock ... Nutz should have taken off. But their debut album didn't drop when planned...and left the band touring with acts like Queen and Black Sabbath with nothing to promote. Led by a refreshingly creative guitarist... Mick Devonport ...and the charismatic singer Dave Lloyd ... Nutz was boogie with a dose of prog-Zep. And had a distinctive sound many bands later would find success with. It was tasty rock made for FM. Lost Gem:-->   "As Far As The Eye Can See" ...is filled with catchy guitar spank from Davenport meant to crank. And uncomplicated Lloyd vocals that joyously delivers the time over a solid drum/bass rhythm train.   This band was talented....but f ickle blows the winds of fortune. Have you heard this one? Pools o...

"Shouldn't have took  more than you gave. Wouldn't be in this mess today." ~ Dave Mason ~ Co-founder of Traffic , Dave Mason  released his solo debut... "Alone Together" in 1970.  A nicely produced LP that leaves the jazzy-tingle of Traffic for a more folk-flavored rock vibe . Singer/songwriter, Mason , has always been revered as a great guitarist...and has done mucho session work ...sitting in with the likes of George Harrison ... The Rolling Stones ... Fleetwood Mac and, most notably, Jimi Hendrix for whom he played acoustic guitar on the Dylan-penned “All Along The Watchtower.” This restless troubadour, for most of his career, has fluttered from one project to another...losing interest quickly...but always leaving his best efforts behind. Lost Gem:-->   "Shouldn't Have Took More Than You Gave" ...is an awesome display of the beautifully restrained   wah-pedal  at its finest...and should be required listening for young aspirin...

"Then I'm gonna kiss your tummy. Then I'm gonna kiss your pineapple. ~ B-52's ~ The B-52's are an American surf-punk-new wave band that hail from...Athens, Georgia? Yea...and they encapsulate all the best parts of the genre that make for a real good time. "Wild Planet" (1980) was the B-52's sophomore effort and it doesn't disappoint.  Mystery. Camp.  Future-Chill.   Sexyback.   It's all here.  This is left-field goodness at its wacky finest. Fred Schneider is the spastic prince that conducts this cacaphony of catchy kool with his nasal talk-sing voice...while great drumming and guitar spank create simple grooves that simply will not go away. And of course, the B-52 babes ... Cindy Wilson & Kate Pierso n ...have adapted well since leaving their own planet...The one I like to refer to as... 'Yum-Yum'. Finally, do not mistake silly, for sloppy . The B-52's are skilled. Lost Gem:-->   "Strobe L...

"You make me feel so good... bringing me the cider whiskey." ~ Mountain ~ This four-piece New York band, Mountain ...formed in 1969... was one of the first bands marked with the tag... heavy metal. Lead by jumbo Leslie West (guitar, vocals) aka... "The Fattest Fingers In Rock N' Roll " and featuring classically trained... Felix Pappalardi (bass, piano)... "Climbing" (1970) is a must-own CD filled with sledgehammer blues rock and a coup of hippie psych. And for their first three albums, the members of Mountain were inspired and wall-breaking musicians. Kowtowing to no one. The band also earned a "must-see-live" rep ...capable of taking their album jams...and bringing it hard to the stage.. .times-two. In other words... Mountain was a tough act to follow. TOUGH!!! Felix Pappalardi & Leslie West It's sadly amazing, FM radio...for the most part...has relegated this hard working howitzer to one-hit wonder status. (y...