It’s brutally impossible to fathom The Doors’ 1971 Elektra Records masterpiece, “L.A. Woman,” is the Los Angeles quartet’s sixth and final album with singer/poet/shaman Jim Morrison, not to mention sounding as fresh and amazing as anything that has come out since, by any band. What’s equally impossible is to hear an album you’ve heard millions of times in your life for the very first time, and yet, “Mr. Mojo Risin’: The Story of L.A. Woman” is a uniquely superb and insightful document chronicling the making-of the band’s storied swan song that allows you to experience this magnificent piece of work for what feels like the very first time (again.) Read the rest of this entry »

With the start of a new year at Classic Waxxx HQ there are large stacks of incredible vinyl to sort through that was obtained over the holidays. Rock n’ Roll, Jazz, Country, Bluegrass and the like all wait to be played and shared. It’s such a treat to discover new music by groups loved and practically unknown, and with another year come and gone it means there is just more music out there that needs some attention.

It was a difficult decision to pick the new year’s first record review, but Jimmy Reed’s “At Soul City” LP snuck in from left field for several reasons. First of all, I love blues records. Maybe more than most other records in the CW collection. I also love live recordings, and especially live blues records. But, I do have a little bone to pick with Vee-Jay Records for their release of “At Soul City.” Read the rest of this entry »

It’s hard to believe that another year is just about over, and the spirit of Christmas is already swirling in the air. All the department stores and specialty shops will no doubt be playing a bevy of Christmas music over the speaker system, but I can almost guarantee you they won’t be playing anything as cool as “The Ventures’ Christmas Album.”

The surf guitar quartet that made the original ‘Hawaii Five-O’ theme song popular (“Walk, Don’t Run”) trades in the beach and sand in favor of snow and mistletoe with their ever-awesome renditions of holiday classics. Read the rest of this entry »

Christmas is definitely one of my favorite times of the year, despite the crazy holiday shoppers, insane schedules to keep and the stress of travel the season brings with it. However, the thought of Loretta Lynn’s “Country Christmas” seems to make all those anxieties disappear.

I’ve always thought of Loretta Lynn as an awesomely warm and caring aunt, much like Rosalind Russell in the film “Auntie Mame.” She’s been there and done that, has all the great stories to tell from her experiences, and is definitely a hip lady you want to listen to. Read the rest of this entry »

As time goes by the albums that have already obtained classic status continue to become greater classics, nay, timeless. Of course, there is also room for more recent albums of late to obtain such status, but some become classics the day of their release, such as The Black Keys’ debut LP “The Big Come Up.”

I thought I take a moment to recognize a really great record from the last ten years into a new segment for Classic Waxxx. It was also an opportune moment to word play on “Black Friday” as well as celebrate the band’s first release, as they ready their seventh and latest LP “El Camino,” which is sure to be a great addition to the rest of their catalog. Read the rest of this entry »

Seems like most of the really important music to come out of the 20th Century was very topical in nature, songs that reflected what was happening in life and society at that time.

Take one of Bob Dylan’s early songs, “The Times They Are A-Changing”, Woody Guthrie’s “Dust Bowl Ballads” and The Weavers’ rendition of “What Side Are You On,” a song originally written for the United Mine Workers Union in Kentucky in the early 1930s, shifted slightly to bring attention to the growing fears of Communism and McCarthyism in the 1950s. All of these songs were powerful then and still very much are today, as well as being important documents of the American fabric of history, how the music has shaped our people as a country, and how change in our society has been brought through by the platform of music. The exact same can be said of John Lennon and his Plastic Ono Band’s “Power To The People” song, written and released in 1971. Read the rest of this entry »

Despite being a hardcore ‘Beatles’ enthusiast, and perhaps a bit of a purist, too, I’m always morbidly curious to hear a Beatles cover from time to time. Some are good, some are bad, and some are just downright awful. Surprisingly, Wilson Pickett’s version of “Hey Jude” has some teeth to it, a version I certainly don’t mind owning in my record collection. Read the rest of this entry »

I know there are several people out there like me who count down the days for new Ryan Adams music. Thankfully, the wait is over as Adams’ latest LP, “Ashes & Fire” is now on the streets.

“Ashes & Fire” is Adams’ first record of new material after a lengthy (according to Adams) two year hiatus, and one that is much more mellow that some of his previous solo efforts. That doesn’t go without saying that the material is second class or fluff, but perhaps the softer approach is Adams easing back into things after taking some time away from music. Read the rest of this entry »

Music has an uncanny effect on memory. It can direct a person to a specific place and time in their mind when a familiar song comes on the radio, when a nanosecond’s worth of a guitar lick is present in a television commercial, or when it’s heard in a movie. Music almost has same power as the sense of smell, triggering thoughts from so long ago.

In September 2001 I was just starting my sophomore year of college, not yet 20. I remember the weather in West Texas was pleasant; not too hot and not yet cool enough for a sweater. My roommate and I had just seen Crosby, Stills and Nash play a gig in Dallas the night of September 8, 2001, and like with most concerts it takes us several days to come off Cloud 9. I remember the fantastic greatest hits-like set from the show, and the big, burly roadie type gent three seats down from us that sat stoic for most of the show, until the opening licks of “Southern Cross” hit everyone’s ears, and this guy jumps out of his seat in excitement, as if his chair was electrified. I was still laughing about that moment the morning I rolled out of bed on September 11th. However, the moment I sat down to catch some tv before heading to class I was no longer laughing. Read the rest of this entry »