The Blue Highways

The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast is a concept album and subsequent live rock opera appearing in 1974 and 1975 respectively, based on the children's poem of a similar title. The album cover design is from Alan Aldridge's design for a 1973 book based on the poem. The work was originally conceived as a solo vehicle for Jon Lord to be produced by Roger Glover who had recently left Deep Purple. However, Lord proved too busy with Deep Purple and Glover took up the reins on his own. Using his connections, Glover recruited a large cast of noted rock musicians to perform on it, with a different vocalist for each character, including David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes. The single "Love Is All", with vocals from Ronnie James Dio, made a minor impression in the UK but reached number one in The Netherlands.

The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and John Densmore on drums. The band got its name, at Morrison's suggestion from the title of Aldous Huxley's book The Doors of Perception, which itself was a reference to a quote made by William Blake, "If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite." They were unique and among the most controversial and influential rock acts of the 1960s, mostly because of Morrison's lyrics and charismatic but unpredictable stage persona…

One Flew South is almost disarmingly old-fashioned: not old-timey, or even a throwback to classic country, but rather a revival of the harmony-heavy, mellow country-rock of the '70s. All through their 2008 debut, Last of the Good Guys, the trio of Royal Reed, Chris Roberts, and Eddie Bush harmonize like the sons of Crosby, Stills & Nash, Poco, and the Eagles, so it shouldn't come as a great surprise that this sound caught the ear of J.D. Souther, running mate and songwriter for the Eagles…

Of all the multitudinous highways and byways down which the enterprising Deep Purple collector can travel, none, perhaps, is so surprising as The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast, Purple bassist Roger Glover's first "solo" album, and – almost incidentally – one of the most delightful children's records ever made. Yes, a children's record. In 1973, Glover was approached about creating a musical adaptation of artist Alan Aldridge and poet William Plomer's book of the same name – a commission that surprised him, but which he nevertheless accepted…

On his seventh offering, and his first since 2001's Texoma, Okie beatnik cum Austin songwriter Jimmy LaFave listens deeply to the tender whispers of his Muse and lets flow with his most personal offering to date. LaFave has always given us song pictures of an America that has either disappeared or is on the verge; he has celebrated its highways, its people, and its heart. He has also given us some choice love songs. But on Blue Nightfall he has gone deep into the latter theme and has come up with a beauty. It's not that he's ignored his other concerns; there are road songs and topical tunes as well. But it's in LaFave's love songs that listeners get to hear a depth and vastness that feel new. LaFave's voice is his greatest asset and he uses it to great effect here, and his production is spot-on throughout. The title track, "Revival," "Sweet Sweet Love," "When You Were Mine," and "Rain Falling Down" are all broken-hearted ballads, colored in woven and textured acoustic and electric guitars accented by Radoslav Lorkovik's accordions, pianos, and organs, and supported by a taut yet subtle rhythm section in bassist Will Landin and drummer Wally Doggett.

A Canadian artist known for his fusion of blues, rock, and swing, Colin James rose to prominence in 1988 when his eponymous debut effort became the fastest-selling album in his country's history. A scintillating blues guitarist with plenty of rock appeal, James notched further hits like the Juno Award-winning "Just Came Back" before kicking off the '90s swing boom with a series of acclaimed albums leading his Little Big Band. Over the subsequent years, his recording output remained steady with a mix of blues, rock, and acoustic releases, and some touring. Since arriving on the international stage, James has played with an array of musical icons ranging from Stevie Ray Vaughan and Keith Richards to Buddy Guy, Albert King, and Little Feat. He experienced a career resurgence when 2016's Blue Highways topped the Roots Music Report's Blues Chart and he followed it with similarly acclaimed albums like 2018's Miles to Go and 2021's Open Road.