Constant Dead Links

"…And All The kings Men" was first released in 1994. After four years of constant touring, the album crowned a particular era of Jump's history, receiving high praise in diverse areas of the music media…

Much more of a collaboration here than on their previous effort, John and Beverley Martyn continue on their way through the British folk-jazz of the '70s. Flowing with a subtle improvisation that incorporated a greater ethnic feeling, Road to Ruin makes for enjoyable listening indeed. Good singing and playing make this a great album to sit back and reflect upon.

For Stormbringer!, John and Beverley Martyn went to Woodstock, NY, and recorded with several local musicians, including session hands Paul Harris and Harvey Brooks, as well as the Band's Levon Helm. Very much in the mold of the electric Fairport Convention of this period, Stormbringer! sizzles with acoustic interplay and an almost jazzy feel. Highlights include "Woodstock" (not the Joni Mitchell tune) and the title track. ~ James Chrispell

Rod Stewart, with simple backing from friends, drawing magic from his own songs as well as some of his favorite songwriters. Folksy, brash, vulnerable and raw, this is vintage Rod Stewart - understated, uncomplicated, unsurpassed.

Seemingly an improvement over his previous solo effort, the average consumer obviously did not think so. Though the album contained what is probably his best solo recording Let’s Work, it did not translate into a chart hit [failing to reach the top-30], something the album was just barely able to do itself. The album’s opener Throwaway, appearing to be just that, became his lowest charting single ever. Fans will however be comforted by Mick’s easily recognizable voice and occasional flashes of past glories. He opted to work with the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart for the album that would be followed by a small far-east tour which included gigs in Australia and Japan.

Even though veteran West Coast bassist Johnny Ace contributed to Cathy Lemons' 1997 solo release and the two have been frequent collaborators for some time, this is the first album where they share co-billing. Ace, not to be confused with the '50s R&B star, has supported dozens of classic blues and R&B musicians through the years to little acclaim, but has found a perfect partner with husky, sassy vocalist Lemons. The duo's debut effort is a rousing, rollicking affair that shifts from gutsy garage rocking to rugged, torchy blues……

It's not easy being Asia, when you've the millstone of those early albums potentially sinking anything new. Whatever the band do these days will almost inevitably pale by comparison to those first three great records from the 1980s.
So, what do the quartet do? They ignore the past, pretend they're new to all of this and go their own way. The result is surprisingly impressive, a smoothly melodic ride that feels like a birth, or a rebirth…

Brownie McGhee's death in 1996 represents an enormous and irreplaceable loss in the blues field. Although he had been semi-retired and suffering from stomach cancer, the guitarist was still the leading Piedmont-style bluesman on the planet, venerated worldwide for his prolific activities both on his own and with his longtime partner, the blind harpist Sonny Terry.Together, McGhee and Terry worked for decades in an acoustic folk-blues bag, singing ancient ditties like "John Henry" and "Pick a Bale of Cotton" for appreciative audiences worldwide. But McGhee was capable of a great deal more. Throughout the immediate postwar era, he cut electric blues and R&B on the New York scene, even enjoying a huge R&B hit in 1948 with "My Fault" for Savoy (Hal "Cornbread" Singer handled tenor sax duties on the 78).