Capo Plaza Richard Mille (feat. Lil Tjay)

Lil Ed Williams and Dave Weld have complementary styles. The pair of blues singer-guitarists learned slide guitar from J.B. Hutto (Williams' uncle) and they are equally skilled playing acoustic and electric blues. In fact, with the exception of the pop ballad "Too Late Baby" which is from 1944 and utilizes different personnel than the rest of the CD, this set mostly alternates acoustic and electric numbers by the Imperial Flames, a quintet. The co-leaders split the vocals and the guitar solos equally and are not only strong soloists but adept at backing each other. Due to impressive variety and high musicianship, the often-exuberant set is highly recommended to blues fans.

Perhaps realizing that Down on the Farm wasn't the proper swan song for Little Feat, the group persuaded Warner Brothers to release a compilation of rarities and overlooked tracks as a swan song and farewell to fans. Filled with live performances, obscurities, album tracks, and a new song apiece from Bill Payne and Paul Barrere, Hoy Hoy is a bit scattered, a bit incoherent, a little bewildering, and wholly delightful – a perfect summation of a group filled with quirks, character, and funk, traits which were as much a blessing as they were a curse. Hoy Hoy is one of those rare albums that may be designed for diehards – who else really needs radio performances, early recordings from before the band was signed, and outtakes, especially if they're surrounded by early album tracks? – but still is a great introduction for novices. That doesn't mean it's as good as such masterpieces as Sailin' Shoes, Dixie Chicken, or Waiting for Columbus, but it does capture the group's careening, freewheeling spirit, humor, and musical versatility, arguably better than any single album.