Franklin aretha

The late Tom Dowd's influence on music is legendary. As an engineer, he invented the eight-track recorder. As Atlantic Records' in-house producer, he worked with Dizzy Gillespie and Ornette Coleman before helping Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, The Allman Brothers and Ray Charles. His life is traced here through interviews with Dowd himself, Charles, Franklin, Ahmet Ertegun and Eric Clapton, and through fine archive footage and recordings, Inspiring.

Two late-'60s psych-country masterpieces on one disc

The seemingly ageless Chrissie Hynde storms her way through 26 songs on Pretenders Loose in LA EAGLE VISION , recorded at the Wiltern Theater in February this year. The run-in is particularly impressive as she turns the clock back almost a quarter of a century to the band's spectacular debut album with a sequence that includes "Tattooed Love Boys", "Precious", "Mystery Achievement" and the mighty "Brass In Pocket".

Jason Pierce and co blast back with album recorded in three weeks

Erstwhile record store assistant's debut gives country blues a modern, British twist

Excellent introduction to gospel music

Black artists reinterpret the Fabs

Covers album finds "One Of Us"hit-maker moving into Bonnie Raitt territory