Car Tunes again...

More reflections on the soundtrack of my return trip from St. George:

Finally listened to the Neil young album Prairie Wind. It is really wonderful. Neil is just a great songwriter. I like it when he plays acoustic guitar. This one will not disappoint. Especially lovely are the songs featuring Emmylou Harris on harmony vocals.

Ask yourself: "How would the voice of Free, Bad Company, and the Firm sound singing the Freddy Mercury songs with Queen?" While at first it seems like a strange fit, the result works very well. It is wonderful to hear these great old songs again and Paul Rodgers brings new life and dimension to the songs. Rodgers' earlier hits "Feel Like Making Love and "All Right Now" are here as well. Brian May's guitar sounds as good as ever. Roger Taylor, the other voice of the mighty Queen, has never sounded better.

Need just an all around great album, perfect for traveling, for a gift, to play in the background or to turn up and play loud as you are burning through the Utah desert at 90 miles an hour? One of my top 2 favorite releases for last year is Jerry Douglas's The Best Kept Secret. Even though Jerry is known primarily for his work with Alison Krauss and Union Station, as well as his session work for practicly any artist featuring a bit of the slide guitar, this ain't no bluegrass album (though there is one fairly traditional bluegrass tune). Alison Krauss is featured on vocals on a great song "Back in Love Again." Immediately recognizable, this version is fresh and funky. John Fogerty turns up for a bluesy swing tune as well. The rest of the album is instrumentals not easily classified but very accessible and enjoyable.

Jerry just gets better and better. If you like the blues, if you like your guitar with an edge, if you like incredible slide, if you like your tunes with a little jazzy influence, or even if you just want something a little different...this CD will satisfy. It may just become one of your favorites as well.