Tim Hardin Tim Hardin 2 (Lilith reissue)
A 1967 (via ’64) masterpiece. Beautiful. You want needle-damaged ache? Or compare this to Dylan at the time. Wait. There’s no comparison.
Karen Dalton In My Own Time (Light in the Attic reissue)
A 1971 maas -terrr-peeece, chief! You want ache? Sometimes she’s a female Tim Hardin.
Colin Hare March Hare (Hanky Panky reissue)
We raved about Colin Hare’s late ’60s UK band Honeybus on a Smoke Break once. (Note that Honeybus is the best pop band you’ve never heard of. Ever. Period.) Well, Hare actually saw said Smoke Break and sent us a nice thank you letter. He also sent this 1971, hard-to-find gem (which, funny enough, I’d been hunting for), a summer-y singsong spin of pure county-rock pop glory, like Buck Owens in an unkempt mop, floppy fringe and Beatle manners.
New Riders of the Purple Sage Gypsy Cowboy (BGO Import reissue)
Country rock and drone? The title track’s like Eno in dust and spurs. Dig “Sutter’s Mill” and how John Dawson’s hillbilly croon is tooth-rot sweet. You’ve gotta love a band whose unironic use of snortin’ coke and whiskey abuse in its lyrics was years ahead of its time.
Wayne Shorter Super Nova (Blue Note reissue)
Plus, a John Mclaughlin headfuck! Thanks, Kim.
Jesse Malin Glitter in the Gutter (Adeline/East West)
Wanted to hate it. Just couldn’t. He shoulda covered “Wichita Lineman” tho.
Betty Wright Hard to Stop (Water reissue)
Nineteen seventy-two funk-soul outta Florida (??!!) that coulda been Memphis. Like her first two ablums, her third's a pro-pussy stunner. Her “I Am Woman” smokes. She smokes. All Water’s reissues smoke too.
