![\"\"](\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/gene_rains.jpg\")
<\/center>\nGene Rains \u2013 <\/strong>Far Away Lands: The Exotic Music of Gene Rains<\/strong><\/em>
\nExotica \u2013 that early 60s genre featuring wide-panned stereo, vibes, \u201cjungle\u201d percussion and all manner of whoops, bird calls and such \u2013 was a big seller; the genre’s two primary exponents were Martin Denny<\/strong> and Arthur Lyman<\/strong>. The lesser-known Gene Rains<\/strong> cut three albums that are in the same league; all are long out of print and rare. This new compilation from Real Gone Music<\/strong> collects the best from those LPs, and adds an excellent new liner note essay from Randy Poe<\/strong> (and a lovely cheesecake cover featuring MeduSirena<\/strong>). This disc should be considered essential for fans of the genre.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/pete_seeger.jpg\")
<\/center>\nPete Seeger \u2013 <\/strong>Sing Out America! The Best of Pete Seeger<\/strong><\/em>
\nThere seem to have been at least sixty compilations that have attempted to provide some sort of overview to the musical legacy of folk master and American treasure Pete Seeger<\/strong>. Some are long out of print; other remain available. Well, here’s another one. Sing Out America!<\/em> features fifty tracks, variously credited to The Almanac Singers<\/strong> (an aggregation that also included Woody Guthrie<\/strong>), The Weavers<\/strong>, and Seeger solo. One can’t assail the quality of the music herein, but lack of liner notes and\/or discographical info (recording date?) means that this set is a great listen, but unsatisfying as a historical document.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/peggy_lipton.jpg\")
<\/center>\nPeggy Lipton \u2013 <\/strong>The Complete Ode Recordings<\/strong><\/em>
\nThose of a certain age remember Peggy Lipton<\/strong> as a star of TV’s The Mod Squad<\/em> (\u201cOne black, one white…one blonde<\/em>!\u201d). But they may well be surprised to learn Lipton had a recording career. And unlike some artists-turned-singers (see: Clint Eastwood<\/strong>), the recordings Lipton released on her self-titled 1968 LP and a handful of later singles show her to be a commanding vocalist. The nineteen tasteful Lou Adler<\/strong>-produced sides (including four previously-unreleased songs) owe a lot to the Laura Nyro<\/strong> school. Lipton composed a number of the tunes, and they hold up nicely alongside readings of classics like \u201cStoney End.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/clapton_sun.jpg\")
<\/center>\nEric Clapton \u2013 <\/strong>Behind the Sun<\/strong><\/em>
\nSome insist that Eric Clapton<\/strong> should have hung up his guitar after 1970’s Layla and Assorted Other Love Songs<\/em>. Clapton didn’t often rock very hard after that (the brief Cream<\/strong> reunion notwithstanding). This 1985 album \u2013 newly reissued on SACD \u2013 has its rocking moments, though it more often veers toward breezy, easy listening. Behind the Sun<\/em> is easily identified as a product of its era: Simmons drum sounds abound; prominent synthesizer sounds are equally dated. In places it’s reminiscent of Roger Waters<\/strong>‘ 1984 The Pro and Cons of Hitchhiking<\/em> (on which Clapton played). Not bad, but definitely not great.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/chicago_bound.jpg\")
<\/center>\nVarious Artists \u2013 <\/strong>Chicago Bound: Chess Blues, R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll<\/strong><\/em>
\nEngland-based Fantastic Voyage has carved an excellent niche in the world of compilation albums. Their thoughtful collections have provided tidy surveys of long-lost music, more often than not from the USA. The legendary Chess label was home to a staggering list of classic artists, and this 3CD set brings together some of the best sides from artists including Sonny Boy Williamson<\/strong>, Chuck Berry<\/strong>, and Muddy Waters<\/strong>. It also highlights the work of lesser-known acts including J. B. Lenoir<\/strong> (\u201cEisenhower Blues\u201d) and Bobby Saxton<\/strong> (\u201cTrying to Make a Living\u201d). Chicago Bound<\/em> is up to Fantastic Voyage’s typical high level of quality.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/icon_twitter_small.jpg\"){kind=icon}
Twitter<\/a> and get notified