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!
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….
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.
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.
