Here are this week’s five songs worth listening to.

Maceo Parker–Right Place Wrong Time

Starting out this week with some funky soul from a new album by an old name. Maceo is a saxophonist known for his work with James Brown and Parliament. At 77-years-old, this is his first solo release in eight years. And this song does what every great funk song does…it walks. Horns over a fuzzy bass with playful lines. Other than the gravel in his voice now, this could have been 3 decades old, and in the good way.

Midnight River Choir–Whiplash

Listen, you start a song with “Well the moon the night we lost John Prine was big enough to crawl inside and go to the places he would go when he would write the songs that changed my life’s trajectory all though he was not next to me…” and you get featured in this here weekly column. That’s how this works. This whole song is the John Prine tribute song I wish I could write.

The Mystix ft. North Mississippi Allstars–Jumper on the Line

Back to some southern funk in supergroup form. The band has had many forms, but is centered around Jo Lily and Bobby B Keyes. This album has twin leads on guitar, with Duke Levine joining Keyes, and that sonic wall of thay dynamic oozes through on this one. Mix in some funky pedal steel and I’m in.

Neil Young–Looking’ For A Leader 2020

The original was released in 2006 and Mr. Young has updated this one for the next political plight of man, taking aim at the Orange One.

We got our election / but corruption has a chance / We got to have a big win / to regain confidence / America is beautiful / but she has an ugly side

Reckless Kelly–Grandpa Was A Jack Of All Trades

And we close out with one to punch you right in the nostalgia with a love song to the men who helped shape us, or at least hopefully did if you were lucky.

We’ll be back with five more next week. Until then, remember the immortal words…
“Songs are really just interesting things to be doing with the air.” Tom Waits