Posts From Sam Sutherland
‘Countdown to Ecstasy’: Musical Adventures From Steely Dan
If the songcraft displayed on the first album reflected their Brill Building apprenticeship, the new material proved more open-ended—and more sophisticated.
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The Souther Hillman Furay Band’s Debut LP: Less Than the Sum of its Parts
The SHF Band accomplished its commercial mission and displayed the stylistic DNA of the Byrds, Poco and, yes, the Eagles.
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‘John Barleycorn’: From Winwood Solo Project to Traffic Reunion
The 1970 album morphed into a full-blown Traffic reunion with the addition of Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood to the fold.
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‘Before the Flood’—Memorializing Dylan and The Band’s ‘Tour ’74’
More than seven years after his shocking motorcycle accident, Dylan returned to live performance in style, along with his favorite musicians.
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‘Evangeline’—Emmylou Harris’ Gourmet Leftovers
The song list tapped familiar writers like Rodney Crowell and the late Gram Parsons, her mentor and musical soulmate, along with rock and folk tunesmiths including John Fogerty, James Taylor, Robbie Robertson, and Little Feat’s Bill Payne.
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Los Lobos’ ‘Kiko’: A Hallucinatory Masterpiece
The early ’90s release was rightly acclaimed as the band’s studio pinnacle for its thematic breadth and sonic innovation.
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Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s Debut: Of Rivers and Cowgirls
The 1969 album’s streamlined band sound offered a direct connection to his emerging power as a live musician, and launched a career-long partnership.
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Steely Dan ‘The Royal Scam’: Rock on a Grand Scale
The 1976 LP proved divisive, augmenting the leaner ensemble core of prior albums with more aggressive ensemble arrangements.
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Dr. John’s ‘Gumbo’: A New Orleans Master’s Thesis
For the sessions, instead of his own new material, he breathed authentic life into lively new versions of hometown classics.
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Bonnie Raitt Rebounds in the ‘Nick of Time’
Just when her career needed a boost, Raitt switched labels and came up with her biggest hit album, which took her all the way to number one
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