Ozark Mountain Daredevils - It'll Shine When It Shines - 1974

I learned about this band from a review of their first album by my favorite music writer during formative years, Steve Simels of Stereo Review magazine.  Once I'd heard the album, I wrote my own glowing report for my column in the UW-Superior newspaper.

This songwriting collective in Springfield, Missouri, could sound like the Young Rascals when performing Larry Lee's jazz/pop compositions, the Eagles on Randall Chowning's country and folk-drenched songs, or Buffalo Springfield on the joint writings of Steve Cash and John Dillon.  Any of their albums, from the 1973 self-titled to last year's "Off the Beaten Path," are worth listening.

I think of this, their second album, as their best group effort.  It has the hit, of course, "Jackie Blue," a song that is unique in their catalog.  Chowning's "Look Away" is one of those you think must have always existed, a timeless rock song.  The duet of John Dillon and then-wife, Elizabeth Anderson, on "It Couldn't Be Better" is just touching.  Then the title track, a piece of folk philosophy worth always remembering. 

My deep fear is that these unique, quality compositions will be someday forgotten.  Somehow, OMD hasn't gotten the same attention in Americana music circles as have their contemporaries.  More people should know, listen to, and play the songs of the Daredevils.

I've seen them in a gymnasium at Bemidji State in 1977, closing the Mole Lake Bluegrass Festival in 1979,  at Fitger's in Duluth in the early 1990s, on a rainy night at the Wisconsin State Fair in the late 1990s, and at a venue in DePere, WI in the mid 2000s.  While only two original members are still with them, guitarist John Dillon and bassist Michael "Supe" Granda,  I hope to see them if they play as scheduled at Big Top Chautauqua in the summer of 2020.

The Modern Lovers - recorded 1971, released 1976

One-two-three-four-five-six! I discovered “Roadrunner” on the Beserkley Chartbusters! compilation album in the WVSS-FM studios while in grad school at UW-Stout in 1975.  Jonathan Richman’s back-to-the-garage approach stuck out like a sore thumb in the pop-produced, discofied mid 1970s.  How could you not love it?  I was gratified when PBS featured Jonathan in its 1995 “Rock and Roll” documentary series, as a prime inspirer of punk music.  But this is much more than punk; it was no accident members of the Talking Heads and the Cars were graduates of his band. I saw Jonathan do a memorable solo show at a Madison venue in the early 2000s.

BoDeans - Black and White - 1991

We've seen the BoDeans more times than any other band.  There's just something about the heartfelt lyrics, Bobby Fuller-meets-Rolling Stones-meets-Los Lobos backing, and incredible two-part harmonies.  And the fact they've been one of the biggest bands to come out of Wisconsin in our time has helped draw our attention.

Any of their albums up through 2011 are worth hearing.  I chose this one because I remember my colleague Cheryl Schoenhaar bringing it along on the drive from UWS to a meeting at LCO College.  Cheryl knew Sam Llanas and Kurt Neumann, the two musicians at the heart of the BoDeans, when they all were in high school in the Waukesha area.  We had a long talk about the band.

This album is also of interest because it was recorded at Paisley Park Studios in the Twin Cities with producer David Z, one of Prince's associates.  It's a little more produced and electronic than most of the others, but the quality of the songwriting here is outstanding.  And...those harmonies.  Many BoDeans listeners, though, will tell you the best records are the several produced by T-Bone Burnett and with Kenny Aronoff on drums.

While I'm not certain, I think the album was titled when the band members realized three songs feature the phrase "black and white."  There is an undercurrent of interracial relations here, something a little different from their other works.

Sadly, in 2011 Sam Llanas left in 2011 due to longstanding "differences of opinion."  The band that continues, while called the BoDeans, is really the Kurt Neumann Band, and we stopped listening at that time.  Find the records instead, and appreciate what they once created.

Stanley Turrentine - Don't Mess With Mr. T - 1973

While I knew a lot of big band jazz and Dixieland - the music my parents loved - and heard jazz-rock with the Buckinghams, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, and Chase, Stanley Turrentine was my introduction to post-bop jazz.  He was from Pittsburgh, but is known for playing in the “Texas tenor” style - bold and smooth.   The title track, written by Marvin Gaye, is the standout on this album.  Incidentally, this album came out in 1973 - years before the actor “Mr. T” came on the scene.  Maybe he got his name here.