HERE YOU'LL FIND REVIEWS OF THE LATEST RELEASES BY YOUR FAVORITE "TROP-ROCK" MUSICIANS, OUR TAKE ON SOME OLDER CDs YOU MAY HAVE MISSED ..... AND PERHAPS A GREAT BOOK OR TWO !!

"CITY STREETS" ..... Roger Bartlett & Hell's Kitchen This CD by former Coral Reefer Roger Bartlett & Hell�s Kitchen is a pure blues primer and it ROCKS!!�It�s what happens when Dr. John meets The Blues Brothers�.It�s a tour up Ole Man River, starting with some Swamp Blues from Nawlins, stopping in Clarksdale, MS for a batch of traditional Delta, King Biscuit kinda licks, on up the river for a heapin� helpin� of Memphis Blues and ending up with some New Blues in Chicago. The CD features 10 original tunes by singer/songwriter Roger Bartlett who has done a masterful job melding bits and pieces of such legends as Albert King, Little Milton, Dr. John, Memphis Slim, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lightnin� Hopkins, Willie Dixon and Howlin� Wolf into a truly enjoyable listening experience. Hell�s Kitchen has a tight, lush horn section and Bartlett proves he can still play the guitar as well as anyone, but the amazing manner in which his voice lends itself to the blues is a side I haven�t heard from Bartlett before, but is truly a treat to behold, particularly on cuts like �Goin� To New York,� �Bad Reputation� and the title cut, �City Streets.� Rick Ulfik does a yeoman�s job on keyboards, Bart McLaughlin is smooth on percussion, but one of the highlight�s of the CD is the chillingly soulful work of Mr. Don Brooks on the harp. In the tradition of Little Walter and Paul Butterfield thru Charlie Musselwhite and �Fingers� Taylor, this man can flat play a harmonica!! All in all, a stunning effort by Roger Bartlett & the band. This CD has earned a permanent spot in my CD carousel & I�ll bet it won�t leave yours often, either. Stroll over to our ParrotHead Shopping Mall & buy this CD from Amazon.Com today!

"SONGS FOR SAIL" ..... Eric Stone A wonderful, tropical, sailing-themed CD by Nashville based singer/songwriter Eric Stone. This initial effort by the immensely-talented Stone is a MUST for any Parrothead's music library and includes nine original Stone compositions, excellent covers of "Southern Cross" and "Jamaica Farewell" and the most stirring rendition of Keith Sykes' "Coast Of Marseilles" that we've ever heard. In fact, every single cut on this CD is excellent....I highly recommend it to any Parrothead!! If clear blue ocean water, white sandy beaches and a soft tropical breeze is something you enjoy. then let Eric and his music take you there. You may also want a pina colada to go along with it. Buy this CD today at: http://boatsongs.com

"NAKED IN THE GARDEN" ..... Deborah McColl After listening to this solo debut from L.A.-based songwriter Deborah McColl, one's reaction is likely to be, "Why did she wait so long?" A 20+ year veteran of the music industry, McColl has shared the stage with the likes of Cat Stevens, Tom Waits and Hoyt Axton, but is probably best known as "The Original Reeferette" with Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefers. "Naked In The Garden" marks McColl's return to music after a long sabbatical...and what a return it is!! Accompanied by roots-oriented instrumentation and her own acoustic guitar, McColl excels at creating textured balladry and mid-tempo folk-part centered on sturdy melodies and beautifully crafted arrangements. A gifted singer as well, McColl often brings to mind such songbirds as Patty Larkin, Joni Mitchell and Margo Timmins. Perhaps best of all, "Naked In The Garden" demonstrates the way in which "subtle" can translate to "substantial." Deborah McColl's songs flow straight from the heart---sweet & strong, gentle & bold, and she is certainly a new voice with plenty of promise!! Order this super CD at: www.jbirdrecords.com

"ADVANCED MEDICATION FOR THE BLUES" ..... Keith Sykes Keith Sykes� ninth solo album, "Advanced Medication For The Blues," is a self-produced rock record and the debut release for Memphis-based Syren Records. "Advanced Medication For The Blues" rocks full tilt from the opening track and never lets up. Highlights include �I Know An Angel,� a loving testament to youthful innocence he wrote for his grandchild, Kelsey; �The Whole 9 Yards,� a modern-day outlaw tale; and �One World,� which takes a sitar-like riff and infuses it with a swamp groove worthy of Dire Straits. The CD was produced, recorded and mixed at The Woodshed--Memphis by Keith Sykes. Check out what the media has to say about Keith Sykes and "Advanced Medication for the Blues:" "Keith is an unsung hero of Memphis� singer-songwriter tradition. Check out the despairing �One Up One Down� for a passionate example of his craft..." G. Brown/The Denver Post "Keith Sykes make records far too infrequently; a fine collection of tracks..." Jason Ankeny/All-Music Guide "Six years after his last album, roots rocker Sykes returns with a barn burner. Sykes writes like a maniac unleashed..." Alanna Nash/ Entertainment Weekly "Jimmy Buffett, Jerry Jeff Walker and John Prine have all covered his songs. He comes up with a winner in �I Know an Angel�..." Bill Ellis/The Commercial Appeal "Part swamp, part blues, and certainly pop induced, he offers well-crafted, guitar-driven three-minute pop snapshots. What separates Sykes from the herd are catchy melodies coated with lyrics that are self-deprecating and full of wit. These are not philosophical musings of the big picture, but pinpricks of the local Joe just trying to make life work..." Dirty Linen Order this dramatic new CD from former Coral Reefer Keith Sykes at: www.syrenrecords.com

"SUNDAY AT SUNRISE" ..... Mango Mango If you don't buy this CD for any other reason, buy it for "Parrothead Holiday," which is rapidly becoming the anthem for Parrotheads everywhere! Fortunately, there are other GREAT reasons to buy this CD..... 13 of 'em to be exact!! That's right, "Sunday At Sunrise" contains 14 excellent tracks...top to bottom, not a bad one to be found. This initial release by Mango Mango showcases the ultra-talented Alonzo McLean on pans & vocals on several of his own rockin' compositions and Paul Schuster on one of our old favorites, "Two Pina Coladas." The arrangements are solid and the trumpet of the incomparable Harvey Cherlin is stirring, especially on the McLean tune "Gimme Some," which will have you dancin' around your living room like Tom Cruise in "Risky Business!" In addition to excellent renditions of "The Big Bamboo" and "Jeff The Muff Diver," there are also several favorites from that Cayman troubadour, The Barefoot Man. Finally, the jewel of the album is a McLean collaboration, "Sunday At Sunrise," a beautiful, plaintive ballad that harkens me back to the days of Spanky & Our Gang. In short, this CD defines the genre of "Trop Rock" and it ROCKS with island flavor from start to finish!! Definitely one of the best of the indie island bands we've heard. Order "Sunday At Sunrise" today from Mango Mango at www.islandband.com We GUARANTEE you'll love this one !!!!!!!!!

"FIFTY DOLLAR TREASURE MAP" ..... Joe Bennett Reggae, TropRock, Gulf & Western, Gumbo Rock and a bit of Country....steel drums to twangy guitar to jazz clarinet....This debut CD by the enigmatic New Orleans singer/songwriter Joe Bennett has it all....different ingredients all combined like a big pot of gumbo to produce a delicious offering. Backed by the tight arrangements of his Pirates Of The Vieux Carre, Bennett at times sounds like Jimmy Buffett, Dr. John, Jerry Jeff Walker and even Harry Connick, Jr. All in all, this CD is a delightful mix of musical styles that really show the range of Joe Bennett's smokey voice. God, I LOVE this CD!!!! He's a regular at Ms. Pam Fortner's Tropical Isle in the French Quarter and I guarantee that this album will be a regular in your CD player!! Order this terrific CD directly from Joe Bennett at: [email protected] or call 504/441-6778

"THE BEST OF JESSE WINCHESTER" ..... Jesse Winchester This compilation attempts to cover the career of this outstanding singer/songwriter from Memphis and a fine job it does. Though it's impossible to compress eight albums into a single disc without shorting some favorites, all three of Jesse Winchester's main characters---the exile longing for the South, the immigrant building a family in his new country, and the showman---all get a turn at the microphone in this CD from one of the great singer/songwriters of our time. For those unfamiliar with Jesse Winchester, check out what some others have said about his work: ** Bob Dylan said of Winchester, "You can't talk about the best songwriters and not include him," ** Don Henley once called Winchester "the new Stephen Foster," ** Elvis Costello commented that, "He's really one of the greats," ** The legendary Bernie Taupin told Rolling Stone that "he dreamed of one day writing a song as perfect as "Yankee Lady." Winchester has written three songs covered by Jimmy Buffett, "Biloxi," "Defying Gravity" and "L'Air De La Louisiane" and a host of other tunes covered by various artists. Stroll over to our ParrotHead Mall and order this CD at AMAZON.COM....a real treat from one of the truly great singer/songwriters you've never heard!

"HOTEL MAIDS, HIGHWAYS & HONKYTONKS" ..... Greg "Fingers" Taylor To music lovers worldwide, the names Jimmy Buffett and "Fingers" Taylor go hand in hand. Taylor, a Jackson, Mississippi native, first met Buffett at the University of Southern Mississippi in 1970, and thus became the very first member of Buffett's now famous Coral Reefer Band. He's been on board ever since, and, in the interim, became a part of music history - one of the key contributors to Buffett's carefree, Caribbean sound. In recent years, "Fingers" Taylor has begun to establish himself as a solo artist in his own right. In this release, "Fingers" showcases some of the hottest rockin' blues licks around. Order this fantastic new CD from "Fingers" at: www.monkeybeatrecords.com

"ANOTHER ISLAND" ..... Rick Steffen This latest release by journeyman troubadour Rick Steffen is not a concert CD. This is the type of album that takes you back to Key West, sitting under the fans at Sloppy Joe's on a warm afternoon, sipping a cold one while the guy onstage plys his trade. Steffen shows his versatility throughout "Another Island," by including Soca, Ska, Pop, Reggae, Calypso, Jazz & even a Ballad on this effort. With a strong adaptive voice, he moves effortlessly from one genre to another without a glitch in sight. Rick Steffen sings about the things we love: Key West, the Caribbean, palm trees, coconuts and even hurricanes.....and he does it very well with solid vocals and tight backup. As Rick says, "I plan to continue my work here making visitors and locals forget about their corporate or private quests and, with my songs, promote the pursuit of happiness and a more casual lifestyle - after all life is too short for anything else." This CD has earned a spot in my CD carousel and I'll bet it deserves a spot in yours. Check it out at http://members.nbci.com/ricksteffen/ It'll take ya back to the Keys!!!

"BILOXI SUNSET" ..... The Tropical Steal Band If the sound of steel drums takes you to the islands, you'll LOVE this 2nd release from the Tropical Steel Band, featuring the incomparable David Waugh on steel drums and vocals. While he's not a Greenidge yet, Waugh is a very accomplished pan player with a dynamite voice, whose talents are showcased throughout the album, most notably on "Indian Soca," a Robert Greenidge composition. The CD also features an excellent cover of "Big Bamboo" and two original Waugh compositions, "Biloxi Sunset" and the catchy "Pirates Of The Northern Caribbean," the official theme song of the Coastal Alabama Parrothead Club. Don't miss the steel drums on "Biloxi Sunset"..... order your copy today at www.tropical-steal.com

"TROPICAL TEMPTATIONS" ..... Gail "Pud" Johnson Undoubtedly one of the finest cookbooks in its genre to come down the pike in a long time!! "Tropical Temptations" is a dogeared favorite in our massive cookbook collection here at Tropical Dreams...We use it regularly!!! A collection of spirited recipes for those who long for the islands. Favorites like: Loblolly Bay Lobster Chowder, Bomba's Jerk Chicken, Calypso Rice, Margarita Salsa, Tavernier Key Lime Pie, and favorite Cocktails and Concoctions. Not only will these recipes bring the flavor of the tropics into your home, the notations of Gail's travels will take you through the lands of origin. Tropical Temptations is 160 pages with full color illustrations and complete with Gail's personal photo scrapbook from her travels. For order information see the order form at Island Times. www.islandtimes.net

"JIMMYDOTCOM" ..... Jackson "Bubbafreak" Quigley While quietly making noise in the early 70�s, no one, least of all Jimmy Buffett, had the slightest inkling of the sub-culture his fans would become. His following didn�t even have a name until 1985, when he and Timothy B. Schmit coined the term "Parrot Head," looking out on a Cincinnati crowd. And the name stuck! When tales of the pre-concert fun leaked out, the corporate types couldn�t resist joining in. The original Parrotheads started dressing even more outlandishly, adorning themselves with more and more parrotphanalia in an effort to put some distance between themselves and this new "Alligator Shirt Wearing" crowd. All hell broke loose in 1993 when the Internet and computers started to band this group together. It was like throwing gasoline on an open flame. Jackson Quigley and his Parrothead friends show the world for the first time, what a fun-loving and creative group they are in "JimmyDOTcom." Known as "Deadheads with a 401K Plan," Parrotheads from all over the world shared over 5,000 of their prized photographs with Quigley, and he was somehow able to whittle them down to the 1,500 that best represented his friends. As the Parrotheads, and even Jimmy Buffett himself, have been overheard to say, "Every picture tells a story, just ask a cameraman." This is a book "about" Parrotheads, "by" Parrotheads; for only they could tell such a story. Jackson "Bubbafreak" Quigley has spent the last twenty-four years of his life with Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band supplying his background music, and was among the original online Parrotheads. He has witnessed this phenomenon from the inside and in true Parrothead fashion, quit the corporate management life to live on "Island Time." He currently lives in southern California as a "Left Coast" Parrothead. This 250-Page, Full Color, Coffee Table Book can be ordered online at the "JimmyDOTcom" Web Site @ www.jimmydotcom.com

"GUMBO LIMBO" ..... Tom Corcoran Late August, Key West, the off-season, the dog days. Alex Rutledge, freelance and part-time crime scene photographer, awakes to his first vacation day in months. Suddenly, an odd call from his old Navy friend, Zack Cahill, now a successful Chicago banker. Zack's drunk in Sloppy Joe's, demanding that Rutledge join him. Alex shows up eight minutes later. Cahill is gone. The day continues downhill. A high-noon murder in the tourist district, the ransacked apartment of a local bartender, and the chance encounter of Abby Womack, Cahill's ex-mistress, combine to convince Alex that Zack Cahill's disappearance may be linked to all of these events. An overnight fire and a drive-by shooting the next morning amplify the strangeness and danger. Within forty-eight hours, Rutledge will be tested for courage, smarts, and loyalty. To define the threat-and attempt to end it-Rutledge must risk his business allegiance to Key West Detective Fred "Chicken Neck" Lishka, his fresh interest in Teresa Barga, the police department's new press liaison officer, and his longterm friendship with Zack and his wife, Claire Cahill. By calling in favors from a crew of Key West characters, stepping aside of law enforcement, and traveling to New Orleans in an attempt to help his friend, Rutledge will fall deep into a mysterious range war, a fight for the profits from a twenty-year-old smuggling deal. In this follow-up to the popular "Mango Opera," Tom Corcoran provides a deftly plotted and gripping mystery with all of the flavor and intrigue that Key West has to offer. Stroll on over to Amazon.com in our ParrotHead Mall and order "Gumbo Limbo" today!!

 

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