Somehow, someway, Bob Dylan and Columbia Records can keep returning to the well of unreleased material – and draw jaw droppingly brilliant recordings that are mostly unheard to the general population of non Dylan diehard archaeologists! Here lies the fabled Witmark Demos – early recordings of treasured Dylan classics and rarities alike recorded raw and unencumbered, just Dylan's voice, guitar and occasional harmonica or piano – recorded in 1962 for Leeds Music (a few) and M. Witmark & Sons (most of 'em) in the early-to-mid 60s. Dylan was one of the first wave of 60s folk songwriters brought into the Tin Pan Alley machinations, a pretty amazing moment considering that this gruff, nasal voiced figure was soon to revolutionize popular music and there's no way Witmark could have known it. Hey, maybe this kid will make us a few bucks in the urban folk racket, eh? Wow. Of course many of these songs would be recorded by a who's who of 60s & 70s singers of all stripes, but it's always great to here Dylan's own early, raw sketches. Some of the performances come somewhat close to the way Dylan would cut them for his own landmark albums with just a bit more polish, others are close(ish) to how they sounded in earlier Dylan "bootlegs" (officially and not so official), and most of it has never been officially released commercially. Columbia continues the terrific Official Bootleg Series with a thick booklet of rare photos and notes by Colin Escott. Includes versions of "Hard Times In New York Town", "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall", "Ballad Of Hollis Brown, "Long Time Gone", "Farewell", "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright", "Girl From North Country", "Only A Hobo", "Guess I'm Doing Fine", "Mr Tamborine Man", "I'll Keep It With Mine" and many more. 47 tracks on 2 CDs. (Rock, Folk/Country) CD

One of the great early moments from Kinky Friedman – and a record that ranks right up there with some of the more groundbreaking early 70s work from artists like Steve Young, Guy Clark, or even Willie Nelson! Nelson actually produced a few tracks – and the record features some work by him, Waylon Jennings, and Tompall Glaser – on titles that include a great version of "They Ain't Makin Jews Like Jesus Anymore", plus "Something's Wrong With The Beaver", "Rapid City South Dakota", "Popeye The Sailor Man", "Homo Erectus", and "Before All Hell Breaks Loose". LP, Vinyl record album

A nicely subtle album from the Incredible String Band – a set that maybe doesn't have the same sort of fanfare as their earliest albums, but which also has the group really honing their sound! Make no mistake, there's nothing commercial or pop-oriented going on – it's just that Mike Heron and crew have really found a way to make a lot with a little – using acoustic guitar, violin, dulcimer, and bits of other instrumentation in these ways that have the relaxed nature of a folk group, but with more far-reaching power that befits their role in the British scene of the time. Heron's vocals are always wonderful – and Robin Williamson sings as well, as does Licorice McKechnie – and titles include "Black Jack Davy", "The Letter", "This Moment", and "Fair As You". LP, Vinyl record album

The fantastic first Verve album from Tim Hardin – a record that's almost a genre unto itself, given the very unique approach that Tim brings to his music! The set might be one of the first times that the world of folk was able to reach out and really find a home in so many other styles too – as there's a blend of jazz-inflected instrumentation and vocals that helped lift Hardin and these songs way past the pop folk moment of the mid 60s – so much so, there's arguably an influence here that just keeps going on over the decades! Gary Burton provides some great vibes, John Sebastian blows a bit of harmonica, and Artie Butler creates these gentle arrangements that are perfect – still making you feel like you're meeting Tim Hardin on his own, but with secret subtle support. Nearly every song's a classic – and titles include "Don't Make Promises", "It'll Never Happen Again", "Reason To Believe", "How Can We Hang On To A Dream", and "Misty Roses". CD features five bonus tracks! (Rock, Folk/Country) CD

The fantastic first Verve album from Tim Hardin – a record that's almost a genre unto itself, given the very unique approach that Tim brings to his music! The set might be one of the first times that the world of folk was able to reach out and really find a home in so many other styles too – as there's a blend of jazz-inflected instrumentation and vocals that helped lift Hardin and these songs way past the pop folk moment of the mid 60s – so much so, there's arguably an influence here that just keeps going on over the decades! Gary Burton provides some great vibes, John Sebastian blows a bit of harmonica, and Artie Butler creates these gentle arrangements that are perfect – still making you feel like you're meeting Tim Hardin on his own, but with secret subtle support. Nearly every song's a classic – and titles include "Don't Make Promises", "It'll Never Happen Again", "Reason To Believe", "How Can We Hang On To A Dream", and "Misty Roses". (Rock, Folk/Country) CD

The fantastic first Verve album from Tim Hardin – a record that's almost a genre unto itself, given the very unique approach that Tim brings to his music! The set might be one of the first times that the world of folk was able to reach out and really find a home in so many other styles too – as there's a blend of jazz-inflected instrumentation and vocals that helped lift Hardin and these songs way past the pop folk moment of the mid 60s – so much so, there's arguably an influence here that just keeps going on over the decades! Gary Burton provides some great vibes, John Sebastian blows a bit of harmonica, and Artie Butler creates these gentle arrangements that are perfect – still making you feel like you're meeting Tim Hardin on his own, but with secret subtle support. Nearly every song's a classic – and titles include "Don't Make Promises", "It'll Never Happen Again", "Reason To Believe", "How Can We Hang On To A Dream", and "Misty Roses". (Rock, Folk/Country) LP, Vinyl record album

The mighty Imperial Records was home to a fair bit of pop, blues, and R&B in the postwar years – but the label also had a slightly secret history as a hotbed for raw rock and hard-edged singles during the same stretch of time! Imperial was an indie, and one that kept an ear to the ground for new sounds far beyond its home in LA – a legacy that certainly comes through in the R&B they recorded, and the paths they forged in hillbilly music too – and which also really shows in this great mix of rare singles from back in the day! A few artists are are ones you'll know from other musical moments in their lives, and most of the rest are pretty darn obscure – yet, as always, Bear Family does a great job of telling their stories and sharing the music in the CD's very big booklet of notes, label scans, and other vintage images. 35 tracks in all – with tracks from Gloria Jean Pitts, Merle Kilgore, Bob Luman, Jackie Walker, Slick Slavin, Burnette Brothers, Tommy Lomonte, The Sidewinders, Nick Venet, Ronnie Smith, Dennis Herrold, Dub Dickerson, Jackie Walker, and others. (Rock, Folk/Country) CD

Johnny Cash's early 60s Christmas LP – a mix of originals by Johnny, June and others, and a few popular Christmas tunes, all the more wonderful for Cash's faithful and true approach! Includes some spoken word narrative moments with sweet chorus backing, to the trademark boom-chicka-boom style, to others that are all about the voice. Great stuff, no country star did Christmas better! Titles include "The Christmas Spirit", "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day", "The Gifts They Gave". "Silent Night"., "The Ballad OF The Harp Weaver" and more. (Holiday Music, Folk/Country) CD

Four albums that show the continuing evolution of Earl Scruggs in the 70s – with a sound that's very different than his earlier music, and maybe even sharper instrumentation overall! First up is I Saw The Light – a record made after the famous banjo pioneer split with Lester Flatt, and was very popular with a young rock crowd – as evidenced by help he gets here from Linda Ronstadt and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – not to mention Gary and Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements, and Norman Blake! The mix of famous names and the growing Scruggs Review sound is great – and the record is an unlikely but important entry in the rise of country rock during the early 70s, with a very different quality than some of Earl's earlier work. We might well thank the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – as the vibe is similar at times to their shifting music of the period – mixed with some Mike Nesmith inspiration, as a few of his tunes are included. Titles include "Lonesome & A Long Way From Home", "Silver Wings", "Never Ending Song Of Love", "Rock Sant & Nails", "Some Of Shelly's Blues", "It's A Picture From Life's Other Side", and "Propinquity". Features bonus tracks "The Cure", "I Saw The Light", "Fireball Mail", and "Tramp On The Street". On Live From Austin City Limits, the great Earl Scruggs takes on the growing Austin scene – which turns out to be a perfect fit for his Revue's blend of new country modes and older styles of instrumentation! Earl leads off the set with stunning work on banjo – maybe even sharper than earlier years – and the group lead off with some Dylan material at the start, showcasing some of their rock leanings – but soon bringing on other songs of their own, and making for this beautiful mix of key instrumental moments and lyrical passages. Lead vocals are from Gary Scruggs, and Randy and Steve Scruggs are in the group too – on titles that include "Nashville Skyline Rag", "I Shall Be Released", "Tall Texas Woman", "I Just Can't Seem To Change", "Black Mountain Blues", "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven", and "The Swimming Song". Strike Anywhere is a mighty nice album from the great Earl Scruggs – recorded with his boys' Revue group, and a sound that really helps keep Earl's instrumentation fresh for the 70s! Years back, we never would have thought that mixing the legendary Scruggs banjo sound with keyboards would have worked – but the change here is a great one, as Earl makes the shift that a few of his traditional instrumental contemporaries were doing at the time – such as Vassar Clements or Bashful Brother Oswald – finding a new setting for the instruments that still shine out in the lead at all the best moments. Titles include a great remake of "Mandolin Wind" – plus "Muhammad Ali", "Bring It On Home To Me", "You Really Got A Hold On Me", "I Think Of You", and "Dreaming As One". On Bold & New, the great Chips Moman produced and recorded the record – a set that shows that move that Earl had made into country rock during the decade, delivered in the best possible hands! Vocals are from some of Earl's sons, and the man himself still gets gets in plenty of banjo solos too – as the group mix their own material with a few from Bobby Emmons, who plays organ, electric piano, and clavinet on the set. Titles include "The Cabin", "Our Love Is Home Grown", "That's Alright Mama", "Found Myself A New Love", "Games People Play", "Take The Time To Fall In Love", and "Louisiana Lady". CD