Music » Root Rock Music

Chris Isaak's Baja Sessions was inspired by a surfing trip the singer took with his band to the Baja California section of Mexico. As the salt in their hair dried in the sun, the four musicians sat around with acoustic guitars and a small drum set, and played some tunes from Isaak's previous albums, some of his unrecorded originals, and some of his favorite old songs by the likes of Roy Orbison, Gene Autry, and Arthur Lyman. The quartet so enjoyed the laid-back, mostly acoustic, Spanish-tinged flavor of these vacation jams that when they got home to the Bay Area, they recreated them in the studio. Baja Sessions is like an Unplugged album, except the sun-drenched, south-of-the-border mood gives these remakes a far fresher twist than most such projects. --Geoffrey Himes

Chris Isaak managed to turn his videogenic visage and brooding masculinity to his advantage in a big way, becoming a sort of MTV-era cross between James Dean and Elvis. Heady stuff, but don't hate him because he's beautiful. In fact, Isaak had been plying his trademark latter-day rockabilly sound for some years before the inclusion of "Wicked Game" in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart jolted sales of Heart Shaped World. (But the stylish Herb Ritts video certainly didn't hurt, either.) Still, the album is a moody gem, featuring the pensive title track, the smoldering "Blue Spanish Sky," and, of course, "Wicked Game." If you still doubt Isaak's good intentions, though, check out the album's rockin' finale, a fine version of Bo Diddley's "Diddley Daddy." --Daniel Durchholz

Release Date: 1989-09-20, Audio CD, Sony

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Treat Her Right, the unique Boston quartet that operated without a bass and with only a minimalist "cocktail drum" set, grew from playing packed Thursday nights at a neighborhood bar in Cambridge to doing national tours with everyone from the Replacements to Bonnie Raitt. Their third album (and the only one on Rounder) is their rawest and bluesiest. Includes their quirky originals, covers of classic blues and Dylan's "From a Buick 6" and more.

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2 CD set recorded live on April 3rd, 1976 at The Beacon Theater in New York City, featuring Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. Released by King Biscuit Flower Hour. 22 tracks in all.

A godsend for devotees of gritty 1980s rock & roll that straddled the great divide between the decade's commercial radio rock (best exemplified by Bruce Springsteen) and its post-punk college-radio antagonists, Get Tough salvages the six-year career of one of the era's superior club acts. The Del-Lords were masterminded by ex-Dictator Scott Kempner, who explored his less sardonic side with his second recording outfit. The Lords leaned hard toward concrete-solid rhythms, classic guitar lines, and street-smart songs delivered with no-nonsense fortitude by Kempner, second guitarist Eric Ambel, and, occasionally, bassist Manny Caiati and drummer Frank Funaro. This overdue anthology includes 16 selections culled from the East Coast rockers' four studio albums and tosses in a couple of previously unreleased tracks (including a cover of "Folsom Prison Blues") for good measure. Tough stuff. --Steven Stolder

Release Date: 1992-02-18, Audio CD, Reprise / Wea

Originally released in 1974, this live album (recorded in front of a very loud New York City audience) was a top seller in the U.S. The British blues combo led by Peter Haycock became one of the favorite bands for FM radio. Original artwork.

Just before all commercial hell broke loose for Chris Isaak, he made another record drenched in reverb, salty tears (he'll have you believe his heart is forever being broken), and the scent of lust. Ignoring the wave of pop and punk-inspired rock that was gaining notice in the late '80s, Isaak continued in his adoration for artists like Roy Orbison and Elvis (uh, Presley), and wailed on "Cryin'," "Lie to Me," and "You Owe Me Some Kind of Love." Isaak's bad-boy tease is irresistible on "Lover's Game," and he exudes a hopeful, endearing optimism on "This Love Will Last." His classic "Blue Hotel" steals the show (he should have earned his fame on this track instead of "Wicked Game"), and his cover of "Heart Full of Soul" (originally done by the Yardbirds) is faithful and passionate. --Lorry Fleming