Is Two

Prayers for better weather answered for now, so you can find me on the corner again, wearing my Vote For Miles shirt. Still amazing after all these years, this is. And that fat bass - courtesy of Michael Henderson - is boss.
Miles Davis - One And One

Rasta Pon Top

"May the roads rise to meet you, and the wind be always at your backs..." Getting mighty desperate for some real summer ambiance, so let's try and soften up the weather gods with a tropical soundtrack of sorts. Which should be a roots reggae one of course, my brethren. Presenting yet another red, green, and gold ten pack. Take warning, but swing easy.
Twinkle Brothers - Barabas
Soul Vendors - Swing Easy
Ralph Haughton & The Ebony Sisters - Take Warning
Little Roy - Hardest Fighter
Bongo Gene - Skyjack
Pablo Moses - One People
Herman's Allstars - Nightmare
Jimmy Riley - Living In Fear
David Isaacs & The Upsetters - We Are Neighbours
Tetrack - I'm Not Satisfied

Don't Enslave Yourself

Hey, a piggy bank. That calls for ye olde Soft Machine methinks...
Soft Machine - Save Yourself
Soft Machine - Pig

In Stitches

"I am a racing horse, I am a grazing horse, I am your favorite horse..." Plain and simple brilliance from the Oldham stable.
Palace Brothers - No More Workhorse Blues

Armadillo Brillo

Have I ever told you how much I love this beauty? Leo's debut, from back in '69. Released on John Fahey's famed Takoma label, and for obvious reasons also known as the Armadillo album. Here's a taste of the magic of the 6 and 12 strings therein: a 'prayer for the demise of the canoe and the radar trap without which Federal prisons will have to be rebuilt to accommodate prepubescence', as the liner notes rightly claim.
Leo Kottke - Crow River Waltz

Be Merry

Merry Clayton sings Carole King. The one they called Baby Sister sure had soul to sell. Oh yes-sir-ree. Ballad time!
Merry Clayton - Same Old Story

Diminishing Returns

Secretly out now: charming new living room recordings by Shrimper Records head honcho Dennis Callaci and Omaha, Nebraska's finest Simon Joyner. Lofi never goes out of style I guess. "Cause when you're saving for the future, you might as well be living free..."
Dennis Callaci & Simon Joyner - The Frayed End Of The Rope
Dennis Callaci & Simon Joyner - San Antonio

Run Come Rally draft

Throw away your folly, as this is some righteous roots. Just go deh.
Freddie McGregor - Rastaman Camp

Cream And Pink

Looks sure can be deceiving sometimes. On the cover of last year's Añoranza album, Jésus Méndez doesn't resemble a full-blooded flamenco singer at all really. In his slick cream coloured suit, complete with pretty pink hanky in the left front pocket, you'd expect him too croon the lighter stuff and nothing but. The man from Jerez de la Frontera is the real deal alright though. Try him por bulerías to hear what I mean.
Jésus Méndez - La Luz De Tus Ojos Grises

Can't Stand It

Memphis scenester Jim Cole was such a cool guy apparently that even the mighty Oblivians were green with envy. So much soul...
Oblivians - Jim Cole

Hurt Me

"One foot, another foot..." Finally got my copy of the new HGM album, and I'm glad to say it's a stunner once again. Sweet as John Hurt indeed.
Hiss Golden Messenger - Sweet As John Hurt

And while we're on the subject, here's the blues master from Avalon himself.
Mississippi John Hurt - Stack O'Lee Blues

One more? Why not. Golden Gunn happens to be a limited edition, vinyl only collaboration between New York picker Steve Gunn and Hiss Golden Messenger's M.C. Taylor. Their lazy but oh-so-funky desert rock (imagine J.J. Cale writing the score for a spaghetti western) definitely deserves a wider audience.
Golden Gunn - The Sun Comes Up A Purple Diamond