JB

1982, heard Jackson Browne's top ten single off the Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack "Somebody's Baby" on the hippest radio station of my generation - 99.5 RT.

1983, Lawyers in Love was released. Purchased the cassette tape of JB's seventh offering at the then fledgling JB Music Store. When I asked a sales lady if they have Jackson Browne's latest album in stock, all the clueless young lass could utter was "You mean, Jackson Five?"

I lived and breathed Lawyers in Love in the past. It was my coming of age album. I played it to death, wore out a couple of copies, memorized every cut, air guitared to "For a Rocker," sang along to "Downtown" and at one time, believed every line of "Knock on Any Door," "Cut It Away" and "Tender is the Night" as gospel truth. 

Those days man, those days...

Cuba Libre

In 1997, guitar player extraordinaire and genre chameleon Ry Cooder flew all the way to Cuba to round-up and record an album with surviving musicians of the pre-Castro Havana club scene

The end result - Buena Vista Social Club - garnered rave reviews upon its release.

But an album sung entirely in Spanish? That's the big question mark. Well, for me at least.

Not anymore.

If I can listen to the ethereal world music of Enya and to the bossa nova of Antonio Carlos Jobim, then why not to some son, bolero and guajira?

I believe now that music has this unique way of touching the inner core of a listener regardless of genre, age and of course, language. 

So, what are you waiting for? Fix your favorite Cuban concoction, sit back, relax and enjoy the music!