Posts by Doug Collette

Roy Rogers’ name isn’t often included on lists and rankings of best guitarists, slide or otherwise, but it should be. With a significant discography on his resume–including the accessible but authentic likes of 1996’s Rhythm & Groove and Slide of Hand three years prior–he can also take credit for productions including Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and John Lee Hooker (in […]

The shared manifestation of roots in folk, rock, blues, country, and gospel notwithstanding, Oliver Wood’s two solo albums stand distinctly apart from his work with his Brothers Chris and Jano. And the distinctions of Fat Cat Silhouette fully reaffirm those of  its 2021 predecessor Always Smilin’: while there’s little doubt about how carefully crafted this and the previous […]

It’s well to remember that the late poet Robert Hunter found his way into the Grateful Dead universe as a performer with his future songwriting partner Jerry Garcia. His esteemed position as lyricist for the iconic band left him little time to record or perform, but he did do so on more than one occasion […]

A woefully unsung but nonetheless stalwart practitioner of contemporary blues, Matt Schofield tours constantly and records regularly in ample demonstration of his loyalty to the genre. The British guitarist may seem to scour the European continent at the expense of North America sometimes. Still, ultimately, he makes sure he touches all the international bases as […]

With four and a half decades of hindsight, Communique (released 6/5/79) now more than ever stands as the great lost Dire Straits album. In part, that’s because, except for “Lady Writer,” the overly obvious evocation of the modern update of country blues that dominated its predecessor, the prevailing mood is one of abiding languor.  Consequently, […]

Unquestionably one of the premier bluesmen of our time, Taj Mahal has nevertheless refused to restrict himself to the elemental genre he had already mastered by the time he released his first two albums in 1968, the eponymous debut and The Natch’l Blues. In fact, the arc of his career has proven quite the contrary to any […]

Big Head Todd and the Monsters’ Her Way Out is the Colorado-based band’s first studio effort in seven years, and it’s a testament to how they’ve continued to nurture a niche for themselves over that time, not to mention a loyal audience: they’ve turned their thirty-five headlining appearances at Red Rocks into hometown shows. It was three decades ago, […]

Hearing Sly and the Family Stone’s Stand! With five and a half decades of hindsight, it reaffirms why the man born Sylvester Stewart had such an influence over other estimable artists of the time. Jimi Hendrix (Band of Gypsys), Miles Davis (Jack Johnson), and Herbie Hancock (Headhunters) all paid deserved tribute to the man, directly or indirectly, […]

Since a high-profile spot guesting with Phish early in his career (Worcester ’98), native Vermonter Seth Yacovone has transformed himself into something of a musical renaissance man. Not only does he lead two bands faithfully devoted to the estimable canon of the Grateful Dead, but in 2013, he began fronting a second trio under his own name. […]

Contractual fulfillment releases curated by record companies invariably ignore artistic concerns. Traffic’s Last Exit (released 5/22/69) is an exception to that rule, however, probably because Island Records’ founder/owner, Chris Blackwell, is a discerning music lover. As a result, this now fifty-five-year-old album accurately summarizes the British band’s work up to its May 1969 release. Not […]