Lee Zimmerman is an accomplished writer, blogger and reviewer. He contributes to several publications, but remains most proud of his work with American Songwriter. His book — Americana Music: Voices, Visionaries and Pioneers of an Honest Sound — is published by Texas A&M University Press and he is currently working on his second book, one which will detail the career of famed producer/engineer Jim Gaines. In addition, he does a popular podcast called “My Backstage Pass” with his esteemed collaborator, Billy Hubbard. Lee began his record industry career working in promotion for the late, great ABC Records and followed that with a lengthy stint at Capitol Records. As a result, he’s had opportunity to work with a number of artists over the course of his career, including Tom Petty, Bob Seger, Jimmy Buffett, and Steve Forbert, among many others. An obsessive music collector, he owns too many albums to count at this point and a variety of musical instruments he’s yet to learn how to play. His work can also be found at his personal website, https://www.storiesbeyondthemusic.com.
A look at some select releases that may be found well below the radar, but likely won’t be confined there for long. Videos by American Songwriter Brinsley SchwarzShouting At the Moon(Fretsore Records) The namesake of the storied pub rock band that brought Nick Lowe to his particular prominence early on, Brinsley Schwarz can claim a More
There’s no single artist who has been more responsible for initiating the brand that is now referred to as Americana than Chris Hillman. From his early beginnings as a teenager in the bluegrass bands The Scotsville Squirrel Barkers and the Hillmen, to his role as a co-founder of the Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and More
RATING CHART:1 note – Pass1.5 notes – Mediocre2 notes – Average2.5 notes – Above Average3 notes – Good3.5 notes – Great4 notes – Excellent4.5 notes – Exceptional5 notes – Classic Videos by American Songwriter THE WAR & TREATYPLUS ONE(UMG) 🎵🎵🎵🎵 1/2 Popular music is littered with dynamic duos connected in ways that are both personal More
RATING CHART:1 note – Pass1.5 notes – Mediocre2 notes – Average2.5 notes – Above Average3 notes – Good3.5 notes – Great4 notes – Excellent4.5 notes – Exceptional5 notes – Classic Videos by American Songwriter VAN MORRISONNEW ARRANGEMENTS AND DUETS(Virgin/Exile) 🎵🎵🎵1/2 While the title itself heralds the fact that the indomitable Mr. Morrison is offering something new, More
RATING CHART:1 note – Pass1.5 notes – Mediocre2 notes – Average2.5 notes – Above Average3 notes – Good3.5 notes – Great4 notes – Excellent4.5 notes – Exceptional5 notes – Classic Videos by American Songwriter PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGSONE HAND CLAPPING(Capitol/UME)🎵🎵🎵🎵 Often bootlegged but unavailable commercially until now, One Hand Clapping originally served as the soundtrack More
RATING CHART:1 note – Pass1.5 notes – Mediocre2 notes – Average2.5 notes – Above Average3 notes – Good3.5 notes – Great4 notes – Excellent4.5 notes – Exceptional5 notes – Classic Videos by American Songwriter PHISHEVOLVE🎵🎵🎵🎵 Long known as one of the leading lights within the post-Grateful Dead wave of jam bands and populist pundits, Phish More
The songs that resonate with us the longest are those that tend to combine passion, poignancy, and personal reflection. All three of those elements are well represented in the song “Abraham, Martin and John.” Written by Dick Holler in the aftermath of the successive assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert More
Lance CowanSo Far, So GoodindependentFour Out of Five Stars Lance Cowan knows the ins and outs of the music biz, and though he’s mostly known to industry insiders as a publicist par excellence, it’s clear now, courtesy of the aptly named So Far, So Good, that he’s a remarkably talented singer/songwriter as well, one who’s More
Martin ZellarHead WestOwen Lee RecordingsFour Out of Five Stars Though he can hardly be considered a household name, Martin Zellar does possess a storied history nonetheless. For example, there are those that have fond memories of his stint as lead singer and chief songwriter in the Minneapolis-based band Gear Daddies, a pioneering Americana outfit that More
Videos by American Songwriter Bedsit PoetsAll Roads Lead Me BackThink Like A Key MusicFour Out of Five Stars While their handle might imply an otherwise twee attitude, the title of this reunion of sorts between the band’s power pop principals Edward Rogers and Amanda Thorpe, with help from multi-instrumentalist, producer and man-on-call Don Piper, guitarist More
Videos by American Songwriter VARIOUS ARTISTSLET’S GO DANCING: A COMPILATION CELEBRATING THE SONGS OF KEVN KINNEY(Tasty Good Records) **** At first glance, Kevn Kinney, the erstwhile leader of the band Drivin’ n Cryin’, might seem an unlikely subject for a tribute album… or more precisely, eventual four tribute albums. After all, by most measures, he’s More
BEHERE(New Garden) **** Videos by American Songwriter When your band is named Be, and you dub your new album Here, it’s immediately apparent that cleverness counts. Fortunately, that only hints at all band leader David Hawkins has to offer on his first offering in seven years. His third outing overall, Here is an ambitious, adventurous, More
