The KUDZOO Playlist!

 

The KUDZOO Playlist for the Week Ending April 11, 2021 Here at the palatial offices of KUDZOO Magazine and the KUDZOO Radio Hour (And the Ambassador of Southern Rock You Tube channel, for that matter) we hear an awful lot of great music. We don’t receive as many CDs for review in the US Mail as we did, say back in the hey-day of GRITZ Magazine, when an average week’s take was 60-70 discs) but between CD’s and direct download links sent to us, we still average 25-35 albums and usually 15-20 DVDs. That being said, this weekly list is culled from ALL of the music blaring out through our Bose speakers during a given week, whether it be a new release, and older classic, a legit release, an advance release or yes, even a bootleg. Sometimes it’s a single track that strikes our fancy, sometimes an entire album. Now, re realize that these are just our opinion, and that along with one thin dime might buy you a piece of bubblegum. To give away my age, I have been using that “bubblegum” analogy since I was a kid, but it was “our opinion and two cents will buy you a piece of bubblegum. I’ll go one better. As a kid, Bazooka bubblegum was a penny. Yep. Is ANYTHING a penny anymore? But I digress. So here, without further delay, is our list of music we feel like you should check out. (When possible, we have linked to the song on You Tube) 

 John Prine & Iris Demint “In Spite of Ourselves” John was one of the greatest songwriters who ever lived. Still hard to believe he’s gone. 

 Billy Gibbons “West Coast Junkie” from the upcoming June release “Hardware.” Video note: Who doesn’t love go-go dancers in the desert at Joshua Tree? 

Billy Eli “Anejo Nights” Billy’s catchy new single about, what else, tequila! 

 Jason & the Scorchers “Broken Whiskey Glass”  

Maria McKee “Only Once” The former lead singer of Lone Justice is one of the greatest singers in the history of recorded music, with the band or solo…. 

Gram Parsons (with Emmylou Harris) “Return of the Grievous Angel” 

 Joy Holden “Broken to Beautiful” The title track from the latest contemporary Christian album from fellow Spartanburg, SC resident whom I have been listening to since the early 80’s during her “hair band” rock years! This is her finest work yet. 

 The New Standards – A Minneapolis trio consisting of piano, dog house bass and vibes, totally unique and cool. They play cover songs, but make them totally their own. Everything from Lucinda Williams to Cheap Trick, as heard here. (Thanks to Michael from Happy Hour for the tipo.)  Also see a short film that interviews the band members.

Marshall Chapman “A Mystery to Me” Love Marshall. This song means a LOT to me.  

Big Star “In the Street” Alex Chilton and his amazing band. Yes, it was the theme song for “The 70’s Show.” 

Jason Ringenberg “I Rode with Crazy Horse” Yep. Jason from the Scorchers. From his excellent new album Rhinestoned. 

Bruce Springsteen “Letter to You“ His latest and one of his best yet. 

David Allan Coe “Tanya Montana”  

Dickey Betts & Great Southern ”Atlanta’s Burnin’ Down”  

Lone Justice “Ways to be Wicked” One of the best bands EVER.  

Dwight Yoakam “I Sang Dixie”. A true Southern classic. 

Bobby Bare “Rosalie’s Good Eats Café” from his classic album Lullabys, Legends and Lies written by the incomparable Shel Silverstein 

 Marshall Tucker Band “Stay in the Country” A great Top 40 hit from the 1990’s era version of the band with Rusty Milner, Ace Allen, the late Stuart Swanlund and Tim Lawter, who wrote the tune…. 

Linda Ronstadt“ Long Long Time” Going back a few years. My first “crush.” Everyone was in love with Linda 

Billy Joe Shaver “Live Forever” How much do we miss this man and his extraordinary writing? (Great seeing his late son Eddy picking as well) 

Hayes Carll “Another Like You”. Brilliant (Thanks to Rebyll for the heads up) 

Nanci Griffith “Once in a Very Blue Moon” From her album “One Fair Summer Evening.” A favorite song since Clark Nicholson turned me onto it in the 80’s. 

Lynyrd Skynyrd "When You Got Good Friends". Much like Charlie Daniels’ “roll call” of ‘The South’s Gonna Do it Again,” Ronnie Van Zant name drops all of his county and Southern Rock friends and heroes/ Classic. 

Johnny Cash “Hurt” An amazing rendition of a song by Trent Reznor. One of the greatest videos ever as well. 

Charlie Daniels Band “Saddle Tramp“ A CDB classic. Timeless. 

Guy Clark “Arizona Star“ One of the great songwriters of our generation. Such a great story song. 

Marshall and the Moonwoman

 

Today is one of my favorite anniversaries. Way back in 1991 THIRTY YEARS AGO (Wow!) I met Jill McLane Greene. She had recently come to work for James Irwin and I and our EDGE Magazine as our ad sales rep. She was going through a divorce. I was smitten with her from day one and fell in love fast and hard. By January 1992, I got up the nerve to ask her to go with me to see Johnny Winter in Clemson. There’s a whole story that goes with that special event, but I will save that for another time.

 This anniversary melded with my thoughts of my dear friend and she-ro Marshall Chapman, the great singer songwriter from Nashville who was originally from my home town of Spartanburg, SC. Jill and I were married in 1996, and I had a ball turning her onto music she had never heard. One weekend I recall in particular, I was pulling out LP’s one after another. I had just played her Jessie Winchester’s “Gentleman of Leisure.” When the song “I Wave Bye Bye” played, she broke down crying. She loved it. Before long, I added it to my set list. Nearly every show I did, she asked for that song. That and Don Dixon’s “Givin Up the Ghost” and anything by John Prine. Then I broke out Marshall Chapman’s “It’s About Time,” recorded live at the women’s correctional facility. Jill loved that one, especially Marshall’s rap between songs and the part where she recalled a night when wrote one of her songs. She told the captive audience, “I was ovulating that night.” Jill loved “Goodbye Little Rock and Roller.” 

But there was one song by Marshall on another album that particularly resonated with us both. The song was “A Mystery to Me.” That song hit both of us squarely in the heart. Just a great song about two lovers who are completely different, but somehow come together. Sounded like us. In the song, the guy works on his computer all day and the girl plays guitar and writes songs. With us, I was on the computer writing or out playing gigs, while her whole world revolved around teaching kids to swim and being a professional astrologer. So, the one line in the song that made us smile, and these days can bring me to tears, is ‘While he sits and stares at his screen saver, she stares at the stars.” And it goes on to say “How these two lovers ever got together remains a mystery to me.” 

 One day I told Jill that Marshall was scheduled to do a book signing (and play a few tunes) for her excellent book Goodbye Little Rock and Roller at the Open Book in Greenville, so we made a plan to be there A couple of weeks before at that very same store I had just introduced her to another of my favorites, Pat Conroy. He even had his father The Great Santini in tow. Dang, I miss The Open Book!

 Jill was tickled to death to meet Marshall, and Marshall’s overwhelming kindness and wit cemented Jill’s love for the artist. For a brief period, I found myself without a car. Jill had a brand spanking new Saturn. When I told her that I had a chance to drive to Nashville to meet with Charlie Daniels one day and Marshall Chapman the next, she insisted I take her brand new car, although it meant that she would be stuck at home the entire weekend. That road trip was very special in many ways, not the least of which was sharing lunch with Marshall at the old Vandyland Restaurant, spending a few hours with Charlie Daniels in his log cabin office, and meeting Vince Gill by accident at the Nashville Deli. 

 But I digress. My main point, and I really do have one, is that there are a handful of songs that I keep close to my heart. Songs that remind me of my late love. Sitting high atop that list is “A Mystery to Me,” from the album Love Slave by Marshall Chapman. Happy dating anniversary Jill. I still think of you every day with love. Always…

-Michael

In Memory of Sylvain X2

 

  

    Sylvain Sylvain One of the true innovators of punk rock has died. Sylvain Sylvain (real name Sylvain Mizrahi) passed away on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at the age of 69 after a nearly three-year battle with cancer. Syl was born in Cairo, Egypt before emigrating to New York with his family as a child. 

    He was a member of the New York Dolls (the group took their name from the toy repair shop, New York Doll Hospital) which formed in New York City in 1971, and set the stage for the upcoming punk movement that followed. The band worked hard and built a large cult following through their many show s at CBGB’s and Max’s Kansas City in New York. The Dolls were self-made legends, with their androgynous clothing and makeup and stacked heels, performing rowdy garage band music that was part Rolling Stones, part Iggy & the Stooges with a bit of Bowie and a dash of MC5. They bridged the gap between punk and glam rock. The band broke up in 1977 but reformed in 2004, splitting up again in 2011. The group’s self-titled 1973 debut album remains a landmark in rock music, with Rolling Stone naming it to the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. “Glammed-out punkers the New York Dolls snatched riffs from Chuck Berry and Fats Domino and fattened them with loads of attitude and reverb,” Rolling Stone wrote at the time. “Produced by Todd Rundgren, songs like ‘Personality Crisis’ and ‘Bad Girl’ drip with sleaze and style.… It’s hard to imagine the Ramones or the Replacements or a thousand other trash-junky bands without them.” 

     And certainly there would have never been a KISS. 

     New York Dolls front man David Johansen, now the only surviving member of the band's original lineup, said on Instagram: "My best friend for so many years, I can still remember the first time I saw him bop into the rehearsal space/bicycle shop with his carpetbag and guitar straight from the plane after having been deported from Amsterdam, I instantly loved him. "I'm gonna miss you old pal. I'll keep the home fires burning. au revoir Syl mon vieux copain." 

     Sylvain lived in Nashville but will be buried in New York. 

    If I may, I’d like to wax nostalgic (as I so often do) for a moment. I’ve written it many time before, but it bears repeating. My “coming of age” in rock and roll peaked during my High School years. 1972-76. In those pre-internet days, when our television set only got three channels, most of my rock education came via monthly issues of Creem, Circus, Rock Scene and sometimes Rolling Stone and Crawdaddy magazines. Those periodicals changed my life. Combined with my weekly dates with late-night TV, In Concert followed by The Midnight Special on Friday and Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert on Saturday, they were my only exposure to the great rock bands of Great Britain and yes, New York City. I can still remember seeing the Dolls for the first time on The Midnight Special. By then I had read all about them in the magazines, so I was ready to hear what they sounded like. I loved it. The Dolls were one of the handful of bands that helped me to bond with my father. Dad was a career “produce man” at

the Community Cash grocery store, who also studied to become a Baptist minister. He was always working, so we had very little time together other than our vacations, many of which took us across the country by car to visit his family in San Jose, California. I always left my rock magazines that I was currently reading in the bathroom, and Dad started reading them. Then he started asking me about the bands. I ended up playing him records by Alice Cooper, David Bowie and yes, the New York Dolls. Sure, it was a bit surreal, but he truly appreciated my exposing him to new music. It’s one of my happiest memories of Daddy. So, when I heard of Sylvain’s passing, my thoughts hurled straight back through time to my Dad and I, listening to Too Much Too Soon on the 8-track player in the station wagon, in between tapes by Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash. 

    The power of music never ceases to amaze me. It can bridge cultural gaps. It can bridge generation gaps. It can be “I Walk the Line” or “Personality Crisis.” No wonder I love it so much. Rest in peace, Syl. 

 -Michael Buffalo Smith

SOUTHERN ROCK HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2020 ANNOUNCED

 

The people have spoken! Below are the 2020 inductees into the Southern Rock Hall of Fame, along with their fellow inductees from our first two years. 

BANDS 

The Allman Brothers Band (2018) 

Lynyrd Skynyrd (2018) 

The Outlaws (2018) 

The Marshall Tucker Band (2018) 

The Charlie Daniels Band (2018) 

38 Special (2019) 

Wet Willie (2019) 

Molly Hatchet (2019) 

Sea Level (2020) 

Blackberry Smoke (2020) 

Blackfoot (2020) 

Gov’t Mule (2020)

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMERS 

Otis Redding (2018) 

Elvis Presley (2018) 

Charlie Daniels (2018) 

Stevie Ray Vaughan (2018) 

Toy Caldwell (2019) 

Tom Petty (2019) 

Bonnie Bramlett (2020) 

 Duane Allman (2020) 

Ronnie Van Zant (2020) 

Danny Joe Brown (2020) 

SIDEMEN 

Duane Allman (2018) 

The Swampers (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section) (2018) 

The Honkettes (Lynyrd Skynyrd; JoJo Billingsley, Cassie Gaines, Leslie Hawkins) (2018) 

Memphis Horns (2019) 

Pete Carr (2019) 

Barry Lee Harwood (2020) 

Eddie Hinton (2020) 

Spooner Oldham (2020) 

INDUSTRY 

Tom Dowd (2018) 

Phil Walden (2018) 

Bill Graham (2018) 

Paul Hornsby (2019) 

Frank Fenter (2019) 

Jimmy Johnson (2019) 

Rick Hall (2020) 

Jerry Wexler (2020) 

Col. Tom Parker (2020) 

RECORDINGS 

(2018) 

At Fillmore East - Allman Brothers Band 

Pronounced - Lynyrd Skynyrd 

Where We All Belong Marshall Tucker Band 

Laid Back - Gregg Allman 

Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs - Derek & the Dominos 

The Outlaws - (Debut) 

Strikes - Blackfoot 

Brothers & Sisters - the Allman Brothers Band 

Second Helping - Lynyrd Skynyrd 

Molly Hatchet- (Debut) 

 (2019) 

One More from the Road – Lynyrd Skynyrd 

Fire On the Mountain – Charlie Daniels Band 

5’ll Getcha Ten – Cowboy 

 (2020) 

Eat a Peach – Allman Brothers Band 

Marshall Tucker Band – (Debut) 

Dose – Gov’t Mule 

 Congratulations to our inductees, and THANK YOU to all who voted.

The Best Album Releases of 2020

 

by Michael Buffalo Smith

Let’s face it. For the most part, 2020 was the hardest year most of us have ever experienced. When future generations go digging for something, anything of redeeming grace that happened in this year, they may cite the list of great albums that dropped during the year of Covid-19. Those few, yet bright rays of sunlight that helped us ease the pain of a crippling year. What follows is my list of the twenty essential releases – twenty for twenty. Bear in mind the old adage that remains true, “opinions are like assholes.” Everybody has one. Some people are one, etc. Without further delay, I humbly sketch out my twenty favorites- new, reissues, box sets, downloads, EP’s. I’m not going to start at number twenty. I’m starting with number one. After all, isn’t that what everyone looks at first? What did the old fat man say was the best album of the year? Easy. It’s by two sisters from Atlanta, Georgia who have got it going on on all levels, in all gears. The only gear they are missing is reverse, and that’s a good thing. 

 1. Larkin Poe – Self Made Man An absolutely stunning fifth studio album catapulted these distant relatives of Edgar Alan Poe to the top of the charts with the title track, the hard rocking “Holy Ghost Fire” and the new Southern Anthem “Way Down South.” Excellent slide guitar and power-soaked vocals. Y’all get you some! 

2. Bruce Springsteen – Letter to You This may be the finest Springsteen album since “The River.” At the tender age of 71, Bruce proves he’s still The Boss with an amazing collection of tunes that reflect on life, death, faith and love. There are a few songs here that he wrote back in his 20s, songs that I first heard on demos 40 years ago, great songs like “If I Was the Priest” and “Song for the Orphans” and the title track is all heart.

 3. Dan Penn – Living On Mercy One of the greatest songwriters of the 20th-21st century and also one of the most soulful voice. Dan Penn released his third solo album, and the absolutely perfect crowning jewel on his career. 

4. The Outlaws – Dixie Highway Henry Paul and the gang win for “Best Southern Rock Album” of the year. Hands down, the sound is Outlaws all the way, guitar jams., brilliant songs. An instant classic. 

5. The Boxmasters – Light Rays Don’t judge the band because their drummer/singer is Billy Bob Thornton. Just listen to them. Dig the well written songs Billy co-wrote with J.D. Andrew. Listen to the ‘60’s vibe. Yes, Bud is an actor. A damned good one. But he is also a serious musician. 

 6. The Allman Betts Band – Bless Your Heart The sophomore album from the second generation of Allmans, Gregg’s son, Dickey’s son and Berry’s son, plus friends, shines like new money. The old saying “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” has never been truer. Betts not only writes like his dad, he sings like him. The band is thrilling Allman Brothers fans while also managing to forge their own unique identity. Very cool. 

7. Blackberry Smoke – Live from Capricorn Sound Studios Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em. One awesome EP by one awesome band paying tribute to the artists of one awesome record label. Smoke covers the Allmans, Marshall Tucker, Wet Willie and Little Richard. Have Mercy! Jimmy Hall even joins in his own self! 

8. The Georgia Thunderbolts (EP) The hottest new Southern Rock band is from Rome, Georgia. These guys can do no wrong. One hot slab of wax. 

9. Patty Smyth – It’s About Time After thirty years away from the recording studio, the former Scandal sing returns with perhaps her finest, most musically mature album ever. Outstanding vocals and writing. A true treat. 

 10. Bobby Bare Sings Shel Silverstein Plus A massive, 8-CD box with a gorgeous hard cover book, this is every single Silverstein song ever recorded by the enigmatic Bobby Bare. The finest box set of the year, maybe of the decade. 

11. Marshall Chapman – Songs I Can’t Live Without The 14th album by fellow Spartanburger turned Nashvillian Marshall Chapman, this is the only album ever of songs written by others. Just songs she always wanted to record. A treat. 

12. Randall Bramblett – Pine Needle Fire Another guy you can find in the dictionary under “musical genius.” The sax and keyboard master is an amazing singer and songwriter who consistently delivers great music. This time he brought in Tommy Talton on Duane Allman’s slide guitar. Yeah. That’s what I’m talking about! 

13. Bob Dylan – Rough & Rowdy Ways Dylan. How does he do it? After 60 years he is still topping himself. Brilliant, image filled lyrics, as always. 

14. Marcus King – El Dorado Young Marcus from Greenville, SC is one of the hottest guitarists of our day, and a super soulful singer too. Makes me proud of my state! 

15. Bonnie Bishop – The Walk Bonnie has the voice of an angel. I am a fan, and this may be her finest work yet. 

 16. Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite – 100 Years of Blues Combine their years of experience in music and it’ over 100 years. Hence forth the title. Elvin is always fun, but pairing him with the harp of blues man Musselwhite created something very special. 

17. Marshall Tucker Band – New Year’s Eve in New Orleans, Rollup 78 and Light Up 79 Taken from a live New Year’s Eve radio broadcast, the Marshall Tucker Band is presented at the absolute pinnacle of their success. Tight arrangements and smoking Southern Rock. 

18. The Mark May Band – Deep Dark Demon Texan Mark May first came to my attention as a member of the Dickey Betts Band. Since then, he has cemented his name in the Book of the Blues as one of the genre’s hottest guitarists. His latest album is one of the greatest electric blues albums of the decade. 

 19. Little Richard – The Rill Thing Several of the 1970’s albums by Little Richard have been reissued lately, but none shine brighter than this Muscle Shoals joint that finds Richard playing and singing at the very top of his game. 

20. Neil Young – Homegrown Well, it took while, but we finally got to hear the album Neil originally planned as a follow up to his legendary Harvest. So good.

New Video Interview with Shaun Murphy Posted

 

We are pleased to welcome to the Ambassador of Southern Rock show blues singer Shaun Murphy. Shaun has enjoyed a long career playing with some of the greatest artists in music history and shows no signs of slowing down! From her early recording as a duo with Meat Loaf to her many albums and tours with Eric Clapton, Bob Seger and as a member of Little Feat, Shaun has always brought it 110 percent with a powerful voice and an amazing work ethic. We talk about her career and her great solo albums, including her latest, "Flame Still Burns."

https://tinyurl.com/ASR-ShaunMurphyBlues

Vote! Southern Rock Hall of Fame 2020

 

SOUTHERN ROCK HALL OF FAME VOTE 2020 SOUTHERN ROCK HALL OF FAME 

Hi gang. It’s time to add to our inductees into the Southern Rock Hall of Fame and we need YOUR

VOTE! Please follow the simple rules to make your votes count! Randomly selected voters who

follow all of the rules will be eligible to win one of several very cool PRIZES.

To Vote.

1. Choose from our list of 2020 nominees. Type out your choices clearly.

2. Be sure to take note of who and what albums are already inducted from the past two years.

Once they are in, they are in. They no longer need your vote.

3. Be sure we have your REAL name and your email address. Each reader can vote only once.

Duplicate voting will disqualify.

4. ONLY VOTES received at our email address will count, not Facebook posts, Twitter, etc. Send

your votes to mailto:kudzoomag@yahoo.com In the subject line write “Vote.”

Thanks for voting!

SOUTHERN ROCK HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES THUS FAR

BANDS

The Allman Brothers Band (2018)

Lynyrd Skynyrd (2018)

The Outlaws (2018)

The Marshall Tucker Band (2018)

The Charlie Daniels Band (2018)

38 Special (2019)

Wet Willie (2019)

Molly Hatchet (2019)

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMERS

Otis Redding (2018)

Elvis Presley (2018)

Charlie Daniels (2018)

Stevie Ray Vaughan (2018)

Toy Caldwell (2019)

Tom Petty (2019)

SIDEMEN

Duane Allman (2018)

The Swampers (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section)

(2018)

The Honkettes (Lynyrd Skynyrd; JoJo Billingsley,

Cassie Gaines, Leslie Hawkins) (2018)

Memphis Horns (2019)

Pete Carr (2019)

INDUSTRY

Tom Dowd (2018)

Phil Walden (2018)

Bill Graham (2018)

Paul Hornsby (2019)

Frank Fenter (2019)

Jimmy Johnson (2019)

RECORDINGS

(2018)

At Fillmore East - Allman Brothers Band

Pronounced - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Where We All Belong Marshall Tucker Band

Laid Back - Gregg Allman

Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs - Derek & the

Dominos

The Outlaws - (Debut)

Strikes - Blackfoot

Brothers & Sisters - the Allman Brothers Band

Second Helping - Lynyrd Skynyrd

Molly Hatchet- (Debut)

(2019)

One More from the Road – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Fire On the Mountain – Charlie Daniels Band

5’ll Getcha Ten – Cowboy

NOMINEEES 2020 (BELOW)

BANDS (Vote for Four) 

Sea Level 

Blackberry Smoke 

Blackfoot 

Gov’t Mule 

Doc Holiday 

Skinny Molly 

Black Oak Arkansas 

Point Blank 

Winters Brothers Band 

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMERS (Vote for Four) 

Bonnie Bramlett

Duane Allman 

Ronnie Van Zant 

Danny Joe Brown 

Tommy Caldwell 

Hughie Thomasson 

Chuck Leavell 

Gregg Allman 

Charlie Starr 

SIDEMEN (Vote for Three) 

Barry Lee Harwood 

Eddie Hinton 

Spooner Oldham 

Paul Hornsby 

The Williettes 

The Black Bettys 

Bobby Whitlock 

INDUSTRY (Vote for Three) 

Rick Hall 

Jerry Wexler 

Col. Tom Parker 

Willie Perkins 

Alan Walden 

Pat Armstrong 

RECORDINGS (Vote for Three) 

Eat a Peach – Allman Brothers Band 

Marshall Tucker Band – (Debut) 

Dose – Gov’t Mule 

Hurry Sundown –Outlaws 

Murmur-REM 

Rock Your Socks Off-Bobby Whitlock 

Dog Eat Dog-Chris Hicks 

Idlewild South – Allman Brothers 

Eye of the Storm-Outlaws 

Leave a Scar Live-Blackberry Smoke 

Flirtin with Disaster 

SIAGO- Blackfoot 

Let it Flow-Elvin Bishop 

Saddle Tramp-Charlie Daniels Band 

Black Oak Arkansas (Self titled) 

You must vote in every category and the required number of votes in order to be counted.