The Band, Remasters Series, Music From Big Pink, The Band, Stage Fright, Cahoots

Capitol Records, bless their collective heart, have finally cleaned up and re-released the first four albums by The Band, plus their greatest hits album as well. In addition, each disc contains unreleased or alternate takes on songs most Band fans will be familiar with. Considering the poor sound quality of The Band's catalog up to this point, Capitol is to be congratulated for getting it right this time. And the music? Timeless American roots rock, folk, R&B and country, just the way you remember it. What more can be said about The Band? They are American music legends.

Various Artists, Blue Haze, Songs Of Jimi Hendrix, Ruf Records

The German-based Ruf label has done pretty well the last two years with their bluesy tribute albums to musicians more closely associated with rock, i.e. Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, etc. Their latest spotlights the material of Jimi Hendrix, and features artists like Eric Burdon (former lead singer of The Animals, and a Hendrix confidante), Taj Mahal, Walter Trout, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Bernard Allison, Eric Bibb, Vernon Reid, Buddy Miles & Double Trouble, Michelle Shocked and others. The results are predictably mixed. The Buddy Miles/Double Trouble version of "The Wind Cries Mary" is excellent, as is Taj Mahal's take on "All Along The Watchtower." On the losing end is the positively awful "Purple Haze" by Friend 'n Fellow, with its lame guitar work and synthesized percussion, and Michelle Shocked's attempt at "House Burning Down." If you're a die-hard Hendrix fan, you might find most cuts on Blue Haze enjoyable.

Stacie Collins, Stacie Collins, Rev Records

Stacie Collins plays harmonica and sings like a bird on her debut disc. Imbued with a strong sense of country music tradition, Collins is very impressive, her material, co-written with a gentleman named Allen Collins (presumably her husband), is first-rate, and her backing musicians never stray too close to that contemporary Nashville pop nonsense this writer loathes. In other words, Stacie Collins plays and sings REAL country music, without regard to prevailing trends. Good for her. Next time you want the genuine article, give Stacie Collins a shot.

Order your copy by writing to Rev Records, 2177 West 15th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113. After you hear Stacie, you'll dump your Shania, Shedaisy and Jo Dee records in the trash.

Johnny Cash, American III, Solitary Man, American/Columbia Records

Johnny Cash is a national treasure. In keeping with the concept of his last two releases, American III, Solitary Man continues the presentation of Cash as interpreter of what might be considered offbeat material, with minimal and often stark accompaniment. Never a highly prolific writer, Cash does manage four new original songs here, all of which hit home. Cash's versions of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down," U2's "One," Nick Cave's "The Mercy Seat" and the old folk standard "Wayfaring Stranger," are resplendent in their forthright and honest treatment. Merle Haggard, Tom Petty, guitarist Mike Campbell, Sheryl Crow, Randy Scruggs, Marty Stuart and June Carter Cash all make guest appearances.

Diesel Park West, Thought For Food, Hypertension Records

I championed the music of Brit-rockers Diesel Park West a couple years ago in this column. Since then, DPW has stripped down to a three piece, still spearheaded by the rhythm guitar, lead vocals and songs of John Butler, one of England's best unsung songwriters. Butler's material is influenced strongly by American 60's bands like Moby Grape, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and English rockers like The Rolling Stones and The Who. Thought For Food is slightly poppier than their previous release HIPReplacement, a bold, angry attack on the vagaries of the music business. Butler's melodic sense is well developed and there's no denying his rocking side as well. Thought For Food may not establish Diesel Park West in America, but who knows? It's available only as an import disc from Hypertension Records, St. Benedictstr. 5, D-20149, Hamburg, Germany, www.hypertension-music.de. My highest recommendation. Diesel Park West is a great rock band, a rare commodity these days, and it's well worth your time to special order Thought For Food.

Dash Crofts, Today, Nuance Records

Dash Crofts, formerly one half of the 70's folk/pop duo Seals & Crofts, is back with his first album in years, featuring new material written with Jim Seals (who does not appear on the album) and others. Produced by ace session guitarist Louie Shelton (he played on all The Monkees' hits way back when), Today has a strong bluegrass and country element running through it. It's light and breezy for the most part, and quite tastefully done. Not really my musical cup of tea, but for those who liked Seals & Crofts' earlier hits, this one will bring back memories.

The Library: Spinning Blues Into Gold: The Chess Brothers And The Legendary Chess Records, by Nadine Cohodas, is a very well written book that painstakingly documents the rise and fall of Leonard and Phil Chess, two Polish/Jewish immigrants who grew up amongst the black population of Chicago, and built a record company/radio station empire that changed the face of popular American music forever over a 20-year period, from 1949-69. With artists like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Etta James and others, the Chess brothers ran a seat-of-their-pants, though nonetheless highly successful operation, with little regard for accurate record keeping. Although the Chess brothers have been vilified over the years for supposedly ripping off their musicians, Cohodas makes a convincing case for the Chess's, claiming they were always fair and honest in their dealings... perhaps just a little disorganized. The complete story is here, fleshed out by extensive interviews with Marshall Chess, Leonard's son, who was very active in the label's latter days. If you love the sound of classic Chicago blues, Spinning Blues Into Gold is a fascinating look backward into the business end of that era.