The first band I loved!

            This may come as a surprise but Springsteen has not always been my guy.  Growing up in Western PA in the late 70’s we had our own Bruce – Michael Stanley.  Some of you may have never heard of the MSB but they were the first band I ever saw from the front row.  July 14, 1979 at the Warner Theater in Erie, PA with my brother and a few other friends. If you look at my vinyl collection the most albums are Bruce, the Beatles and the Michael Stanley Band.  NJ had Bruce, Indiana had Mellencamp, Detroit had Bob Seger and Northern OH and Western PA had the MSB.  This month brought about those feelings we all know are coming but dread.  On March 5, Michael passed away from lung cancer.  After the band broke up in the 80’s he became the color commentator for the Indians, did lots of solo albums and eventually became the afternoon DJ on Cleveland’s WNCX.  Next time you are streaming check out the live “Stagepass” album with my favorite song “Midwest Midnight” with the classic line “Do you write the words or lyrics first?”. Then listen to the “Heartland” album and the great song “Lover” featuring the late Clarence Clemons on saxophone. “Thank God for the man who put the white lines on the highway”.      

               In order to complete my entire MSB collection I added “You break it…You bought it” from 1975 and the follow-up album from 76 “Ladies Choice”.  It’s my first time using the “Discogs.com” website and I was able to get both albums for $10 or so including shipping.  A great way to fill in your vinyl library at bargain prices.  And both albums sound terrific considering they are 45 and 46 years old.  The highlight of You break it is the beautiful “Waste a little time on me.”  Ladies Choice features two staples from the live Stagepass album “Calcutta Auction” and “Strike Up the Band”.  Do yourself a favor and listen to some old time Midwestern rock and roll with the MSB!

             

   New Releases 2021 - Hanna Enlof, Lake Street Dive and Joe Pug

Hanna Enlof – Bare Bones Late in 2020 I signed up to be a Yep Roc completist.  For a flat fee completists get every Yep Roc Records new release for the year.  Nothing is guaranteed but I already own or buy a lot of Yep Roc records so I thought it would be a good way to find some new music.  Due to COVID early year releases have been delayed so Yep Roc sent us this Hanna Enlof record from one of their friends record companies in Europe.  I had heard the song “Follow You Down” a week or so before on a Spotify playlist.  It was a beautifully sounding song so I looked forward to the album.  Upon arrival I found the whole album carried the same sound.  This is a great album for reading at night as it’s relaxing and definitely calming.  Give Hanna a listen.

Lake Street Dive – obviously I have the 2018 release from LSD and enjoyed it so I was looking forward to this record – so much so that I apparently ordered it twice!  Quirky is the way I would describe this album.  Not really sure it is my cup of tea although they do get points for this lyric “Yeah we’re like baseball and hot dogs,… The E Street Band and the Boss” definitely some of my favorite things.  The single off the record is “Hypotheticals” which highlights lead singer Rachael Price’s spectacular voice.  It’s just a different sound that isn’t really me.

Joe Pug – The Diving Sun Joe is part of one of my all time favorite SXSW days.  In 2010 at the Hear Ya Day Party under a big tent I heard Joe play five songs and say “I’m just living the dream”.  You can see the whole commentary by looking back at the blog from that terrific day.  Since that day I’ve picked up a couple of Joe’s CD’s but most of my interaction has been with his excellent podcast “The Working Songwriter” where Joe and his guest dive into the songwriting concept.  Guests have included John Moreland, Todd Snider, Brandon Flowers from the Killers, Lucero, Dawes, etc. etc. It’s basically my playlist talking about their job, always a great listen.  Joe’s new album is an interesting concept – it’s only a 10” disc but it’s packed with great songs.  The opener “Crescent Bridge” is easily my favorite from the album but it’s followed by strong cuts “Wild Kind of Longing”, “Free Rider” and “Deep End”.  Just a stellar side A.  And interestingly Joe has only released Side A for streaming to begin with.  A benefit for those of us buying the album is we get it all now.  “The Diving Sun” holds down the #2 spot in my 2021 releases at this point.  Check out this new release as well as Joe’s podcast – you will be entertained.

               

    A Little More 2020 Cleanup – Steep Canyon Rangers, The Next Waltz

Steep Canyon Rangers – Arm in Arm Ever since I heard “Honey on My Tongue” I couldn’t wait to get this album. I swore it was Joe Ely singing lead vocals on that song and that is a voice we love.  It’s not Joe but it’s a damned fine song.  This is a fin album and I look forward to seeing these guys live when we get back to going to shows.

The Next Waltz – Volume Th3ee This is the third installment from Bruce Robison’s The Bunker in Lockhart, Texas.  If you don’t know Bruce you need to spend some more time in Texas.  He’s written hits for the Chicks and George Strait amongst others.  And married to one of the best voices- Kelly Willis.  All these songs are recorded with “no digital shenanigans.  It’s a literal who’s who of Texas Americana artists.  Jack Ingram, David Ramirez, Bruce & Kelly, Charley Crockett, Cody Canada and Robert Ellis.  Check out Crockett’s version of “I Can Help”.

              

      Getting Ready for a House Concert – Amy Speace

As you know from separate emails we are hosting Amy in a virtual House concert this weekend in advance of the release of her new album “There Used to be Horses here”.  Ever since I heard that song she is probably my most listened to on Spotify – well close with The Hold Steady.  To better know her entire catalog I picked up 2015’s That Kind of Girl and 2019’s acclaimed Me and the Ghost of Charlemagne.  The 2015 release is filled with great songs – “Nothing Good Can Come from This”, “Better than This”, the title track and of course “In Chicago”.  I don’t know how I hadn’t heard this album in the last six years but I have been making up for lost time.  The title song from “Charlemagne” won the award for UK Americana song of the year in 2019 and it’s a classic.  I wonder if she was sitting beside Jo and I on a flight one day with the appropriately titled “Ginger Ale and Lorna Doones” since those are our drinks and snacks on most flights anywhere in the world!

 

    A few other Additions

The Magnolia Record Store had a sale on slightly damaged albums so I added some quality albums that I can’t really see the damage on:

Robert Earl Keen - #2 Live Dinner – including most of the REK classics live

 Josh Ritter – Gathering – another album with a lot of words – see last month’s blog

Buddy Guy – Born to Play Guitar -still remember that line from Grohl’s Sonic Highways when Buddy said “I came to Chicago looking for a dime and I found a quarter” – it’s how I feel!

Rodney Crowell – Christmas Everywhere – who could pass on a Christmas album in March from Rodney.

I replaced my monthly Magnolia selection with Rhiannon Giddens Freedom Highway.  We saw Rhiannon in Austin when she was in the Carolina Chocolate Drops and this is one magnificent voice.  Now I have an album of just her work and look forward to a new album that is coming soon.

As part of the Yep Roc shipment that had Hanna in it they also included The Autumn Defense’s 2010 release “Once Around”.  I had never heard of this band but it ends up it’s Pat Sansone and John Stirrat of Wilco.  The funny thing is I like this album better than any Wilco album!

 

So a decent month – 15 new albums in the collection.  Look forward to more great music as 2021 develops. Hope everybody is doing well, getting vaccinated and prepared to see some live music soon!