Rolling Stones "Exile On Main Street"

The world's greatest Rock And Roll Band is at it again. The big news is that the Rolling Stones are reissuing the landmark 1972 CD Exile On Main Street. What an amazing album, and what an amazing marketing campaign- look for the blitz in print, and on web, radio, and TV, among other places! Exile's street date is May 18, and there will be different levels of configuration available, including CD, DVD and vinyl.

I fondly remember when the album first came out, as I was a rock jock in Pittsburgh then and it was speaking my language. But in the even earlier Stones vs. Beatles debate of the 60s The Stones were IT for me from the beginning - pop craft versus roots exploration. I think you know which one I chose. In fact, my very first concert was the 1964 Rolling Stones date at the Academy Of Music in NYC. It was sheer screaming-girl-city. Hot stuff, indeed.

The Stones acted as a kind of a personal musical guide, pre-web gatekeepers. I got turned onto the blues through their first two albums, which set me on a path of exploration that resonates to this day. I softened to the sounds of country through tunes like  "Dear Doctor" and "Country Honk." Ironically, Keith coveted my Smithsonian Collection of Country Music Box Set when he came to my apartment on 58th Street in New York in 1984.

The Rolling Stones are a lifelong commitment for me, from the weaving through musical eras, to the countless tours, to the many writings about them. I especially recommend Under Their Thumb, from a buddy of mine, Bill German, the originator of the official Rolling Stones newsletter Beggars Banquet, and Exile On Main Street-A Season In Hell With The Rolling Stones by Robert Greenfield, that chronicles this difficult yet defining period. Let's not forget that these were the Gram Parsons hang out years too. I can only wonder as to the affect that Gram and Keith had on each other. The coming compilation features 10 newly uncovered Exile era tracks, all of which have undergone a unique evolution while staying true to the spirit, among them, "Dancing In The Light," "Following The River," "Pass The Wine" and the first single being released, "Plundered My Soul," Also, as a complement to the release of Exile on Main Street, look for the documentary "Stones In Exile," on NBC on May 14 featuring rare, never before seen footage from the era. Here is some now. Check out the video for "Plundered" here.

-Jessie

Will Kimbrough Takes Flight

New record Wings is a less-is-more triumph.

by Tommy Womack

Two decades ago, Will Kimbrough first captivated me - the old-fashioned way too, from hearing him on the radio. The song was “Typical World," a delicious late ‘80s jangle pop record if ever there was one. I hadn’t met him yet. Well, maybe once in Alabama, when Will and the Bushmen were playing the back outdoor stage of a club and Government Cheese was playing inside. Who knew a few years would pass and then I’d be in a band with him (the bis-quits), and 20-odd years later I’d be in a band with him again now (Daddy).

An uncommonly good guitarist even back in olden times, Will has since metamorphosed into the Alien, as fans call him. On thousands of stages, Will has amazed audiences with his scary fret board mastery (hence the nickname) and his impassioned and versatile voice. A fantastically natural and fluid musician, Will has gone on to become not just a marvelous songwriter with many eminently listenable solo CDs to his credit, but also one of the most in-demand session players in Nashville, a sought-out producer, and a road gig mainstay for the likes of Rodney Crowell, Todd Snider, and Jimmy Buffett.

Will now brings us his fifth solo record Wings, an understated, acoustic-based reflection on love and life. He continues the streamlining of his sound that began with his last release EP in 2008, coloring things (as he did then) with trace elements: some banjo here, a taste of slide guitar there, some female harmony, a tremolo six-string bass or distant keyboard, even horns once.

By turns Appalachian and Memphis soulful, the record reveals its gifts over time. The title track and “Three Angels” soar, abetted by Will’s diffident finger picking and the sweet harmonies of Lisa Oliver Gray from my own solo band (the best damn singer in Nashville and Will you can’t have her, she’s mine) “It Ain’t Cool” carries the warm wood-burning aroma of all the J.J. Cale listening Will’s been doing. Stalwarts in Will’s touring band Paul Griffith (another member of Daddy) and Tim Marks (often a member of Daddy) hold down the drums and bass respectively, taking gentle rein on the easygoing vibe of this record.

Will Kimbrough’s defining achievement as a musician is that he’s capable of playing literally anything on the guitar, but has always had the good sense not to – on his records at least. Rocks beat scissors, paper beats rock, and good songs beat hot-dogging.

Wings drops on February 23rd. For more information on how to purchase this puppy go to Will's Reverb Nation page, where you can listen to several of the songs, or directly to his website, where you can pre-order Wings and other cool things too. And of course there will be copies available via iTunes, Amazon, emusic, CD Baby and other online outlets.

I’m not sure sure an Aerosmith pun is the logical way to end this piece. But I’m going to go for it because Will deserves my best and most daring homage to gonzo prose, so here it is…

Will Kimbrough...Don’t you think it’s time to...Get Your “Wings?"

-Tommy

(The author is an incredibly interesting person currently living in Nashville, Tennessee.)