Van Dyke Parks has collaborated, over the years, with the likes of Randy Newman, Ringo Starr, the Byrds, Harry Nilsson, Ry Cooder, and others. More recently, he has been issuing a series of seven-inch vinyl singles, the most recent of which was “Sassafrass”/”The All Golden.”

A new 5-CD set will focus on Frank Zappa’s pre-Mothers of Invention era, with many tracks making their debut on compact disc. Paul Buff Presents Highlights From The Pal And Original Sound Studio Archives is due on May 28, 2012 from Crossfire Publications.

American Anthem plays it straight to start, deftly recreating both the lithe riff and trembling sense of uncool desire for your best friend’s girl that’s long been associated with the original Rick Springfield track.

With Song of Love, Berkeley-based singer-songwriter Steven Emerson’s long-awaited second solo release, you hear the somber quietude of Nick Drake, the acoustic alchemy of Iron and Wine, the soulful accumen of Van Morrison

Like a great poem, a great song can take a series of connected ideas, perhaps as complex as a life, and distill it to its essence. In “The River,” we have lives that were full of dreams, interrupted by the realities of life.

With album art that gives new meaning to the term “cock rock,” Tenacious D rises again from the ashes. With Rize of the Fenix, they’re destined to rule the rock world like the cocks of the walk.

Looks like somebody’s got a case of the Mondays. Time to dig into some new music, then!

Not at all associated with the contemporary Australian band of the same name, these fellows came from London, England and got together in 1974.

Imagine if in the mountainous region of Albania or southern Yugoslavia during the Communist ruled days of the 1970s, the sons of sheep herders clandestinely tuned in to rock radio from the other side of the Iron Curtain