Good lovin'

Here's one out of the blue: Felix Cavaliere, the voice and genius behind The (Young) Rascals, is back at age 65. He has a new album out with Steve Cropper, the 66-year-old Memphis guitarist who co-wrote "In The Midnight Hour" and other gems -- and, perhaps more importantly, played sweet guitar on all of them, too. "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" anyone?

The CD is called "Nudge It Up A Notch," and if you're a person who still plays a vinyl record every now and then, the cover alone is worth the price. But this is killer stuff -- and it revives the long-defunct Stax label. Like "Lonely Too Long" and "People Just Got To Be Free"? Cue up "If It Wasn't for Loving You" or "Impossible," and you're time-traveling back to AM radio circa 1966-67.

In honor of the late great Isaac Hayes, grab Felix's and Steve's new CD -- and a copy of "Hot Buttered Soul" if they have one.

 

On the turntable this week

The Dave Clark Five -- Finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month, the Fab Five gave the Beatles quite a run for their money in 1964 and '65. These guys were a lot more than "Glad All Over." Personal favorite: the "Having A Wild Weekend" soundtrack from the DC5's only film which marked John Boorman's debut as a director. It's a noirish classic of sorts, look it up, AKA "Catch Us If You Can." And don't miss Tom Hanks' induction speech for the band: He really captures what it was like to be a kid in the '60s.

Early Belle and Sebastian -- Scotland's greatest band?

Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire and Let's Live for Today by the Grassroots -- Two great albums that share the same producer/songwriter in P.F. Sloan, and as result many of the same songs. But what a difference a few voices make.

Jackie Gleason presents Music, Martinis and Memories -- Hey, it's always Happy Hour some place in the world, isn't it?

Thanks to Steve and Andrea for the Grand Funk T-shirt. That's one band I don't play too often, but out of sight, out of mind.