Pop album that has stood the test of time

@knownothing: If you like the Little Villager album, make sure to grab a copy of John Hiatt’s Bring The Family album (unless you already have it). John was given carte blanche to use any musicians he wanted on the album, and chose Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe, and Jim Keltner. John and those three guys of course comprise Little Village (the recording of that album was the genesis of Little Village), and I consider Bring The Family to be considerably superior to the s/t Little Village album (better songs). The members of LV had one ground rule they all agreed upon: the songs had to be written on the spot as the album was recorded, not ones already written and waiting to be recorded. Not a great way to make an album! Keltner’s a superb musician, but he’s no songwriter.

The lone Rockpile album is fantastic, a great blend of Power Pop and 50’s-style Rock ’n’ Roll. The members of Rockpile also comprise the band heard on a number of Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds solo albums, and are also fantastic.

Oops, Little Village, not Villager.

@bdp24 great tip on “Bring the Family”, I will check it out.  I got to see Rockpile in the late 70s and it was a terrific show.  I also got to see John Hiatt and Ry Cooder live on Cooder’s “Boarderline” tour in 1980 which was phenomenal.

kn

@knownothing: I too am fortunate in having seen Rockpile in 1980. Three nights in a row, at The Country Club in Reseda California. Tickets were ten bucks!

I also saw Little Village live, on a sound stage in North Hollywood at an industry-only event. Their performance that night of John Hiatt's "Lipstick Sunset" (found on the Bring The Family album) is hands-down the most transcendental experience I've had via live music. During Cooder's guitar solo in the song I had an out-of-body moment, which I had preciously experienced only once, when first hearing J.S. Bach's Concerto For Four Harpsichords. I haven't been the same since.