Cee Lo Green “Run Rudolph Run” (2012)
‘Run Rudolph Run’¹ is a song recorded in 1958 by Chuck Berry (and melodically identical to a more famous one he’d release one year later, ‘Little Queenie’). Since then it’s been covered by a remarkable array of artists – from Keith Richards, Dave Edmunds, Sheryl Crow, Bryan Adams, Billy Idol, Reverend Horton Heat, Foghat, and...... Read More
Bruce Springsteen “Land Of Hope And Dreams” (2000)
This marks my 100th post for SoMuchGreatMusic.com and in the months since I started it I’ve consistently put off, over and over, writing on one of the favorite and most important artists in my life, Bruce Springsteen. Really, more than just put it off, I’ve been wholly intimidated to try to cover him. I mean,...... Read More
The White Buffalo “Modern Times” (2015)
Here’s my quick description of the video to follow: Burly, long-haired and bearded man dances frantically in front of a tattered, wood-paneled wall. That’s not exactly selling you? Please, give it two-and-a-half minutes, I’m confident you won’t be disappointed. This is Jake Smith, a singer/songwriter performing for roughly 16 years under the moniker The White...... Read More
Robert Cray “Smoking Gun” (1986)
Robert Cray has been around the block a few times. He’s been recording, and touring, and playing live shows as a Blues/Soul stalwart for nearing 40 years now – back to when his first album, Who’s Been Talkin’, came out on Tomato Records in 1980. I’m sure he’s played some crazy gigs. Yet, I’d still...... Read More
Brian Setzer “Let’s Shake” (2014)
You know who’s one of the most incredible, underappreciated guitarists/musicians of our time? Brian Setzer, that’s who. Besides being able to flat-out jump, jive and wail on his now signature model series of Gretsch hollow-body guitars, he’s a revivalist of two distinct, forgotten and historically significant musical genres: In two decades, first resurrecting Rockabilly, with...... Read More
Starbuck “Moonlight Feels Right” (1976)
The making of a good song requires all kinds of choices, with lyrics, with instrumentation, with production, and more. The solo break generally presents fewer options, guitar, of course, filling the vast majority, with piano or saxophone likely being next in line. Some notable exceptions, though, do exist. Midway through ‘Pictures Of Lily,’ one of...... Read More
Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real “Find Yourself” (2017)
I don’t get out to the movies much. That fact is not merely a matter of my laziness or the presence of Netflix. In truth, there are just very few occasions when a new movie comes out that excites or inspires me much, let alone motivates me to actually get to a theater. So the...... Read More
Phish “Kill Devil Falls” (2009)
I’m by no means a Phishhead. But over the years I have grown to respect the musical abilities of this unusual 4-piece out of Burlington, VT., and the incredible improvisation, range and versatility they exhibit as a band. Over last years “Baker’s Dozen” run of 13 shows at Madison Square Garden, they played a total...... Read More
Diner “Strip Joint Piano Scene” (1982)
Long before Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David created “A show about nothing,” a first-time director and seven utterly unknown actors made a movie about nothing. The year was 1982, and the film, without question my favorite one of all time, was Diner. It was directed by Barry Levinson, a resident of Baltimore, MD. where the...... Read More
Earth, Wind & Fire “Gratitude” (1975)
There have been plenty of songs over the years about giving thanks. The odd pairing of Led Zeppelin and Dido both had big songs named ‘Thank You,’ while ZZ Top and Bonnie Raitt personalized things with their versions of a tune entitled ‘I Thank You.’ Alanis Morissette left a couple letters off with her song...... Read More