Mackey Feary - "Back to Back"

Mackey Feary was a member of Kalapana and thus was one of Hawaii's most popular musicians of the 1970s. Feary and Malani Bilyeu were the main songwriters for the group creating a Lennon/McCartney feel. Feary was more introspective and experimental while Bilyeu was more pop and melody oriented. Together they wrote some excellent music. Feary was more intriguing because he was quiet and aside from music he seemed like a shy individual. He also was the youngest of the band just turning 18 when the group made it big. Feary left Kalapana for a solo career after the release of the band's successful second album. he later returned in 1980s.

Feary released a number of solo albums which are hard to come by now (except as Japanese imports) and thus have become like collectors items. "Back to Back" is really a compilation released in 1995 and picking tracks from Feary's 80s albums "Touch Sensitive" and "Nite Life." The tracks have been remixed they are very dated, products of the 80s and early 90s Hawaiian music scene. Some of Feary's lyrics are good but this music pales in comparison to his work with Kalapana. Overall works as driving music.

Feary's tale is a sad one as he battled with drug addiction for most of his life and found himself in and out of rehabilitation and brief stays in prisons. I feel the drugs took away his musical muse and hurt his singing voice. He eventually committed suicide in 1999 at the young age of 44 after being sentenced to a rather long prison term due to drug problems.

Hawaii lost one of its great voices at least we will always have the music.

Frank Delima - "Babooze!"

Released in 1995 during his heyday this is another of Delima's musical parody albums. As with many of his other recordings these are not so much a series of jokes or stand up, but he instead takes familiar songs and writes new humorous lyrics to them. For example "Hawaii Sleeps Tonight" is a fun version of "the Lion Sleeps Tonight."

Delima made a name for himself as one of Hawaii's most popular comedians mixing a brand of "ethnic" humor with a number of zany characters and parody songs. Some of his most famous characters are Tita Turner, the Blalah, Abdullah Fatai and the Babooze. Some of his more popular songs are "Babooze," "Lucille" and "Black Dogs Roasting on an Open Fire." One of his most popular albums is "Don't Sneeze When You Eat Saimin." (very good advice)

During the early 1990s he started his yearly visits to nearly every Hawaii public elementary school entertaining children and speaking to them about the importance of reading and school in general. Around 1995 he also did several successful stage runs in Diamond Head Theater's Hawaii-ized version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, playing a funny Scrooge.

Delima's popularity diminished in the late 90's as did his visibility. He has continued his yearly visits to the schools and he does still release parody songs, usually in response to some current event. Most recently he responded to all the idiotic people concerned with Obama's birthplace by changing the lyrics to "Born in the USA" to reflect our President was "Born in Hawaii Nei." He has also written parody songs about the Furlough Friday situation, football coach June Jones leaving right after taking Hawaii to its first BCS bowl game and the false Tsunami warning earlier this year.

Delima is a very talented comedian and ranks among Hawaii's funniest people. His humor is very specific to Hawaii and may not appeal to those who have never lived in the Aloha State but for those of us who are blessed to live in this Island Chain he is a comedy treasure.

Bob Dylan - "The Essential Bob Dylan"

Bob Dylan is one of the most talked about and influential musicians of the last 50 years he has made so many albums, written so many songs, and gone through so many styles that there is no real compilation that can capture Dylan completely (possible exception is his excellent box set "Biograph"which itself is really short at only three discs).

This compilation from the well done "Essentials" series is inevitably missing quite a bit of music but it does collect the majority of his most famous songs from "Blowin' in the Wind" to his Oscar winning "Things Have Changes" from the film "Wonder Boys."

This comp contains 30 tracks spread evenly over two discs. Disc one focuses on Dylan's heyday of the 1960s, disc two is 70s-2000 so there are far more overlooked songs on disc two. Basically this is designed for the newcomer for those who want a single compilation to represent a large career. There are no liner notes except some pictures. Basically a strong compilation. I own this because I was low on money, space, and wanted a Dylan career overview. All his most familiar songs are here those who want to dig deeper may be better suited with his three individual greatest hits albums (which cover four discs).

Bob Dylan - "Blood on the Tracks"

"Dylan made more influential albums that this, but he never made one better" - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

This is Dylan's best album, followed by "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" and "Highway 61 Revisited," this is my favorite Dylan album.

"Blood on the Tracks" was released in 1975, when Dylan had somewhat disappeared from the popular mindset with a series of lackluster and/or unpopular releases ("Dylan" "Self Portrait") but this album returned him to prominence along with its Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Dylan has abandoned the screaming vocals he adopted for 1974's "Before the Flood" and he has dropped the sweet croon of "Nashville Skyline." Dylan has kind of returned to the folk sounds of his early albums and he has returned to the acoustic guitar.

He is not alone with his guitar he is backed by a quartet of fine musicians that add flavor and body to his excellent batch of songs but they are always backup they let the songs speak for themselves. Now to the songs, all the songs are excellent and some of the finest of Dylan's catalogue they feel like confessional singer songwriter tunes but Dylan wraps the confessions in riddles and stories that may obscure the true reality of them but he never hides the feelings and emotion. The songs all deal with relationships, mostly crumbling ones. Yet the songs are hopeful, melancholy and poignant all at the same time. This is a glimpse into Dylan's guarded soul one of the few glimpse we will ever get. This is the one Dylan album that every MUSIC fan (not just Dylan fans) should have and listen to often.

Derek and the Dominos - "Live at the Fillmore"

To support their only album Eric Clapton, Carl Radle, Bobby Whitlock and Jim Gordon aka Derek and the Dominos went on a erratic tour of the USA. This live album is compiled from two of the shows at New York's Fillmore East auditorium in October 1970.

The Dominos were always Clapton's finest group, "Layla," their one album together, is Clapton's finest studio album and no surprise this is his finest live album. This would be the first time Clapton was the official leader of a group. He had been famous for years by this point and he was in great turmoil in love with Patti Boyd the wife of his best friend. These factors could account for his powerful performances.

Being the insecure guy that he was Clapton is uncertain of his singing and leadership ability thus he tries to cover up his insecurities with some killer guitar playing. He has never sounded as fierce or as inventive as he does here. His singing is perfectly good as well. The powerful "Have you ever loved a woman" blows the excellent album version away. The nearly twenty minute "Let it Rain" is jaw dropping with a killer drum solo by Gordon. This is also the only place, until the new 40th anniversary "Layla" album came out last month, to get the song "Got to Get Better in a Little While."

The songs are long, five of them run over ten minutes, but if you are a Clapton fan these are great great treasures. It is a shame that this album is not mention more often in Clapton's catalogue, I guess that makes it something of a great discovery for the Clapton fan. I personally was hesitant to buy this album because of the long songs; after all sometimes longer does not mean better. I finally picked this album up and am so happy, this is the finest live performance Clapton has ever released and one of the best live albums I have ever heard. If you want more from the Dominos this is the only place for it. Doesn't get better than this.

Derek and the Dominos - "Layla and other assorted love songs"

I believe I missed a week, sorry about that. Here is the triumphant return with my favorite album of all time. Derek and the Dominos lone studio album is not only one of the finest examples of rock music, it is also a testament to the creative power of love; whether it be euphoric or heartbreaking.

As it has been widely told before Eric Clapton was madly in love with his best friend's, George Harrison, wife Patti Boyd. Clapton had been working as a side man, with Delaney and Bonnie as well as on Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" album, to escape the spotlight of superstardom. Clapton joined forces with Bobby Whitlock, Jim Gordon and Carl Radle to form Derek and the Dominos. During the recording sessions Duane Allman joined the group as well.

The Dominos are Clapton's finest group able to adeptly support him but also work as a unit creating a true band sound. The title cut is a prime example of their great teamwork: halfway through the song all the blistering guitars fade to a whisper and the rest of the tune is a beautiful piano solo by Whitlock. This is truly a great band and it truly is a pity that they were not able to record more albums.

None the less their one album is a shining achievement. Clapton has never been better, he throws out blistering guitar parts that are among the best of his career. Some are fast straight ahead jaw droppers other are intricate quiet tunes. He uses the blues and rock equally to get his point across. Clapton has never before or since sounded as passionate or interested in his music as he does here.

The songs emit all Clapton's yearning, aching, depression and excitement that comes from being in love. Despite his turmoil the songs are often up tempo but there are a fine share of blues songs in there as well. The songs encompass everything that one feels when love is out of reach. There is also some hope though, in reality Clapton eventually married Patti Boyd largely in part due to this soul bearing album.

I could go on and on for days about the greatness of this album and how much I enjoy it but I shall stop soon. I believe one of the main reasons this is my favorite album is that I have more times than I want to admit been in the exact same place as Clapton, in love with someone who does not love me. I have never been as talented as Mr. Clapton and I can play only a few notes on the guitar; the only outlet I have is writing and listening to music. This is the music that connects us to each other, we as humans are consumed by emotion at all times and "Layla" reflects that. That is what this album does for me, not only is it great music; "Layla" reminds me that love conquers all and that in the end even a guitar god like Clapton is just as human as I am.

John Denver - "The Wildlife Concert"

In celebration of Earth Day 2011 (today April 22, which also is Good Friday) I shall write about the last John Denver album that I own. Mr. Denver loved the Earth more than most and it is only fitting I honor him and the planet we all love on this Earth Day.

This album was one of the last releases of Denver's career as he sadly passed away two years after its recording and release. It was recorded before a studio audience on two rainy nights in February 1995 to raise money for the Wildlife Conservation Society. The concert captured on this two CD set was the beginning of a resurgence in popularity for Denver after the 1980s, he was also embarking on his 25th anniversary tour and he had penned a bestselling autobiography.

He is in strong (matured) voice and he had returned to the top of his talent. He spreads his big hits throughout the two disc set but he also focuses on lesser known songs and later career highlights such as, "Dreamland Express," "Eagles and Horses" and "Amazon." The beautiful piano ballad "For You" is also only available on this album. The rendition of "Rocky Mountain High" that opens the set is spectacular.

The liner notes are excellent (as is the case with all Legacy Releases) and if you are a big fan of John Denver this is a must.

So on this Earth Day I praise John Denver and the beautiful planet we call home. Conserve your electricity, pick up some trash, recycle, plant some plants, help each other. In the words of John Denver, "Celebrate Earth Day, Everyday. Celebrate Land and Sea, Celebrate You and Me. Celebrate Earth Day Everyday."