Rod McKuen - New BalladsNew Ballads by Rod McKuen Rod attained new artistic heights with his 1970 release New Ballads. It's a masterful collaboration with ace arranger Don Costa, whose subdued, sublime instrumentation sets the perfect tone for McKuen's intimate, romantic musical ruminations. Among the highlights is one of Rod's celebrated collaborations with Jacques Brel, 'I'm Not Afraid,' while 'As I Love My Own' is a signature McKuen exploration of the tension between love

Texas summer heat of 1988

Introspective ideas manifest into broader themes

Sona Ghazarian as Queen

" which was featured on later Arkestra albums

The songs relate through subjects such as hunting

and the 1979 'live aid' style charity single cover of Lesley's song Sing Children Sing with Pete Townshend

Kamitsumihara is a beautiful but mysterious place

Chamber Choir From Cuba/ Perez - Exaudi: Chamber Choir from Cuba

which gives a quietly searing view of a post-9/11 America that is struggling to live up to it's promise of tolerance and civil justice for all

and personal recollections of how Damage Control came (and how it almost didn't

maximum-blues-infused

Going back to School never looked so good