... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Linda Ronstadt's album of jazz vocals – recorded with backings from Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Linda Ronstadt on fat-wheel roller skates – showcasing a whole new era in her music, but also giving a nod back to some older songs too – maybe a preface of her big band records to come! Titles include "Just One Look", "Back In The USA", "Ooh Baby Baby", "All That You Dream", "Mohammed's Radio", "Alison", and Love Me Tender". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

All three of Linda Ronstadt's albums of jazz vocals – with backings from Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra. CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Linda Ronstadt got her start in the Stone Poneys, but this third album from the group makes it clear that she's rising as a lead act on her own – and as the "friends" in the title indicates, Ronstadt's also beginning to have quite a reach within the California scene itself too! The album unfortunately doesn't list credits besides songwriting, but we're guessing there's some great talents in the studio – as the mix of solo vocals, group harmonies, and larger instrumental touches is really wonderful – way past simple Capitol 60s pop! The set's overflowing with great tunes – and titles include the cool "Fragments" medley – plus versions of Tim Buckley's "Aren't You The One", "Hobo", and "Wings", a version of Mike Nesmith's "Some Of Shelly's Blues", and a version of Laura Nyro's "Stoney End". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... 7-inch, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... CD

The last and lean effort from the legendary Ash Ra Tempel – a set that relies heavily on vocals from female singer Rosemarie Muller, who's pictured on the cover almost as some Teutonic take on Linda Ronstadt! And oddly, there might be a bit of Cali currents in the mix – as the guitar work of Manuel Gottsching, while as weird and wild as ever, does have these occasional moments of grounding – certainly not standard rock, but these tuneful snippets from time to time that are almost a surprise next to the darker, moodier vocals of Rosi! Dieter Dierks produced, and had a nice hand in the sound – and Rosi also plays a bit of vibes and a concert harp – although the swirling sound is much more electric and spacey than you might guess from those instruments. Titles include "Interplay Of Forces", "Laughter Loving", "Bring Me Up", "Cosmic Tango", "Schizo", and "Day Dream". LP, Vinyl record album

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". (Folk/Country, Rock) CD

Neil Young in largely acoustic mode after the louder, noisier Ragged Glory and subsequent tours in the preceding couple of years – and whether or not you'd considerate this an official sequel to the classic Harvest album, it's really a welcome return to a timeless folk rock sound and filled with some of his best songs in decades! Studio legends and Harvest veterans Jack Nitzsche, Kenney Buttrey, Tim Drummond, and even superstars like James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt return to chip in, but there's nothing showy or "all star" about it, it's all warmth and subtle beauty. Includes "Unknown Legend", "From Hank To Hendrix", "You And Me", "Harvest Moon", "War Of Man", "One Of These Days", "Dreamin' Man", "Natural Beauty" and more. LP, Vinyl record album

Live performances by Lou Reed, Linda Ronstadt, Argent, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, Rod Stewart, Leon Russell, and Allman Brothers Band. CD

The last and lean effort from the legendary Ash Ra Tempel – a set that relies heavily on vocals from female singer Rosemarie Muller, who's pictured on the cover almost as some Teutonic take on Linda Ronstadt! And oddly, there might be a bit of Cali currents in the mix – as the guitar work of Manuel Gottsching, while as weird and wild as ever, does have these occasional moments of grounding – certainly not standard rock, but these tuneful snippets from time to time that are almost a surprise next to the darker, moodier vocals of Rosi! Dieter Dierks produced, and had a nice hand in the sound – and Rosi also plays a bit of vibes and a concert harp – although the swirling sound is much more electric and spacey than you might guess from those instruments. Titles include "Interplay Of Forces", "Laughter Loving", "Bring Me Up", "Cosmic Tango", "Schizo", and "Day Dream". CD