It’s hard to remember it now, but in the early 80s, Paul Simon’s career and personal life had hit a low. His 1983 Hearts and Bones didn’t sell well and his marriage fell apart. A bootleg cassette of South African township music would ultimately lift him out of his depression and right his career. The […]

Welcome to Grace, the only studio album ever recorded by Jeff Buckley. Recorded at Bearsville in Woodstock, New York, and released on Columbia Records August 23rd, 1994, Grace has attained legendary status since Buckley drowned in 1997. It was a bold debut from the son of folk singer Tim Buckley, full of involved arrangements and […]

In the spring of 1962 America was still deep in the throes of segregation. Country music was an exclusively white man’s game; R&B music was black, and never the twain shall meet. But in April of that year, Ray Charles released Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music and tore down a number of those […]

Welcome to the quiet grace of Nick Drake, English singer-songwriter who suffered from major bouts of depression and died of an apparent suicide at age 26. In his all-too short life, he released three stunning albums, the final of which we present tonight. Pink Moon was released on Island Records on February 25 1972. Clocking […]

Every once in a while, we at the Collective present an album that needs no introduction. Most of us likely have our own experiences with and stories to tell about Rubber Soul, The Beatles’ tenth studio album, released at the end of 1965. That’s part of what led us to this bluegrass retelling, to shine […]

Welcome to Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder’s 1976 release on Motown Records. This double LP, his 18th release, is the bestselling album in his massive catalog. Wonder had a lot to live up to when working on this collection – he won the Grammy for best album in 1974 and 1975. Still, […]

Released in 1967, Songs of Leonard Cohen is the debut album from the Canadian poet turned songwriter. Produced by John Simon, after original producer and Cohen champion John Hammond took ill, the ten tracks contain more elaborate arrangements (strings, horns, background vocals, etc.) than Cohen had wanted (he argued for just vocals and guitar). Still […]

Brown, who died on December 25, 2006, recorded three Christmas-themed albums during his creative peak: 1966’s James Brown Sings Christmas Songs, 1968’s A Soulful Christmas and 1970’s Hey America It’s Christmas. The best tracks from each are collected on this fantastic set. The Godfather was re-inventing rock & roll in his own funk-revolutionary image throughout […]

Every once in a while, we at the Collective present an album that needs no introduction. Most of us likely have our own experiences with and stories to tell about Rubber Soul, The Beatles’ tenth studio album, released at the end of 1965. That’s part of what led us to this bluegrass retelling, to shine […]