Music Reviews of the Great 50th Birthday Bash.

LOBO-A Cowboy Afraid Of Horses (Big Tree 1975) In terms of singer songwriters Kent LaVoie should be up there with James Taylor or Dan Fogleberg but you don't hear him that much. This was his final album for Big Tree, which really doesn't sound much different than the previous. Rocks a little here, tries for the big folk statement on The War To End All Wars and falls flat on his face. Had a minor hit with Don't Tell Me Goodnight. B

Aldo Nova-(Portrait 1981) Mullet rock before Bon Jovi did it better, Nova was a pretty good guitar player and had a big hit with Fantasy but the rest of the album falls somewhere that Loverboy was doing at the time. The ballads foretell the coming of Richard Marx. Maybe Aldo was ahead of his time. B-

Dave Brubeck-The Last Set At Newport (Atlantic 1972) Sounds more like a jam session than jazz and his rhythm section of Jack Six and Alan Dawson might be even better than the better known Joe Morello and Eugene Wright, judging from what I have heard from the Atlantic sides. Another good version of Take Five and Gerry Mulligan does a wonderful job. But we all know Paul Desmond was the secret weapon and he's missing. The side long Blues At Newport and Open The Gates prove that Brubeck sense of time and melody remain second to none. A-

Let's Active-Every Dog Has Its Day (IRS 1988) Needing a bit more muscle, Mitch Easter turns to John Leckie (XTC, Be Bop Deluxe) for a better sound and gets it. Musically, it's pretty good and the title track turned out to be a minor hit. But Easter's vocals still remain a tuneless acquired taste. Sometimes I can over look that. B

Neil Young-Prairie Wind (Reprise 2005) I think this was the followup to Harvest than Harvest Moon. Harvest Moon was more likable and when Prairie Wind came out I call it perhaps his less interesting album in years. A 2nd listen a few years later proved that time has made this a bit more listenable and The Painter & Falling Off The Face Of The Earth remain the highlights. I guess I can forgive him for the goofy I Knew The King eh? Original Grade C+ Upgraded to B+

Ian Hunter-Live In London (Great American Music Co. 2009) Taken from a 2004 concert that has Mick Ralphs joining in on guitar it showcases sometimes sloppy and at times Hunter tosses off lyrics as an afterthought. He doesn't even attempt the high notes of Standing In My Light. Brian May and Joe Eliott pop in on the sloppy All The Way From Memphis. Two versions of All The Young Dudes, the best one is the acoustic. Overall: you had to be there. B-

David Bowie (Rebound 1997) The early years when he was on Deram/London and comes as a cross between Anthony Newley and Syd Barrett and not in a good way. Love You Till Tuesday flopped as an single. C

Willie Nelson-Who Will Buy My Memories The IRS Tapes (CMG 1992) Just Willie and his guitar, singing some of his old better known originals. Too bad Sony Music didn't reissue this as the Original Naked Willie a couple years ago. Not exactly I would play every day but it's a curio that best to hear a couple times. I think I perfer his version It's Not Supposed To Be This Way on this than the others. B+

The Judybats-Native Son (Sire/WB 1991) Spotty debut. Their best song was a cover of the 13th Floor Elevators She Lives In A Time Of Her Own to which their record label forced upon them to record for a Roky Erickson tribute album. They never did topped that. C+