The Memphis Horns:

Horns For Everything:(1972)

Get Up & Dance:(1977)

On more than one occasion, I sat and ate hamburgers with Wayne Jackson, and listened to him tell stories of his life in music. I think I own records from just about every period of Wayne's career, from STAX to Elvis to U2 to Neil Young to my own album he played on. But, these are the two Memphis Horns records I have. Wayne and Andrew stepping up to front their own albums. These two produced a sound that no one else had. I always meant to have these autographed when I would stop in Memphis for a visit, but each time I would get ready to bring them, it felt weird. Possibly like I was impinging on the friendship, so I always left them at home. I miss those visits. At least there's the music, and what music it is. 

John Mellencamp:

Uh-Huh:(1983)

The Lonesome Jubilee:(1987)

Say what you will about John Mellencamp, and some of it is probably true, but I stand by that he is an underrated songwriter. I'm not sure it's ever been cool to like Mellencamp, but records have been sold, and people know the lyrics. Now, as much as I dig the hits on these earlier albums, I've got to say, the stuff he's been putting out in recent years is some of his all time best. Go check out No Better Than This, and Plain Spoken. Anyway, these are the two pieces of Mellencamp vinyl I own. Now, maybe I'm wrong, but these represent the man at the height of his popularity, so I'm sure you know the songs. 

A concert promoter that used to book me once said, that he figured the work of John Mellencamp would be in much higher estimation in about twenty or thirty years when people look back, and realize how honestly and unpretentiously he wrote about middle America. 

Melanie:

Leftover Wine:(1970)

This was a record in my Mom's collection. And, I can tell that she never listened to it a lot, because it's fairly clean. And now, I don't listen to it very much, but I kept it because I thought it was interesting. Oddly enough, I hear a ton of women singing with voices similar to Melanie's these days. If they were influenced or not, would be an interesting question. Hmm... 

 

Blind Willie McTell:

Atlanta Twelve String:(1972)

A unique, and sophisticated purveyor of the twelve string guitar with a strong voice that carried the ghosts of his time, is one way to describe Blind Willie McTell. Another, is to say he was a polished entertainer who catered to his audience. Either way you're talking about a giant. I found out about McTell through Bob Dylan when I was about fourteen. Now growing up in a rural area in the pre-internet civilization of America, it was hard to find some old Blues records. So I carried the name, Blind Willie McTell, in my mind through countless record shops until I came across this collection of songs in Santa Cruz, CA. 

Now listen to some Blind Willie McTell.

Don McLean:

American Pie:(1971)

You're already singing THE song from this album in your head, aren't you? A classic song to lost innocence. The other "hit" song on this record, Vincent, is a song that, to me, feels like it's a bout a week long. I'm not a fan of that song. The rest of the album I find to be a bit of a flatline. But, so it goes.

Bobby McFerrin:

Simple Pleasures:(1988)

I'm sure you can guess the exact reason I own this record. Now, sure, this album contained a top ten hit with, Don't Worry Be Happy. And, never mind that Bobby McFerrin has won ten Grammy Awards. I dig that he has attained the mythical status of "Urban Legend". It must have been around the time I was in eighth grade when the story circulated that the man who sang Don't Worry Be Happy had committed suicide. A darkly humorous bit of fiction. I remember being in an English class when I heard the "news". Our teach butted in, and asked what we were talking about. He laughed out loud when we told him. Then he told us that it was a funny story, but couldn't true because his mother had just seen McFerrin the night before in concert in Florida. And as it stands in March of 2017, the Jazz vocalist known as Bobby McFerrin is still very much alive.

Mississippi Fred McDowell:

I Do Not Play No Rock'n'Roll:(1969)

"...just the straight natural Blues, I do not play no Rock'n'Roll," are the words that greet you on this record, the seventh by Mississippi Fred McDowell. It's worth noting, because Fred always did, that he was actually from Tennessee. In any case, a more adept bottleneck slide player you will not find. To be fair, his style is rooted in the North Mississippi hill country tradition, which is very rhythmic. I think I first learned about McDowell through the Rolling Stones, who covered the song, You Gotta Move, on the album Sticky Fingers. In addition to the Stones, Bonnie Raitt has always sited McDowell as an influence, and his style can be heard in her playing. That said, the most directly connected, and influenced person might be R.L. Burnside. Burnside was a neighbor of McDowell's from the time he was young, and learned the craft of guitar playing at McDowell's feet. There is a sexiness in the rhythmic repetitiveness of the hill country style, it's almost trance like. Put this record on, and feel it.