"For Sal": A New Tribute To Sal Maida From The John Sally Ride

 

 

 

From Roxy Music and Sparks to Milk 'N' Cookies, bassist Sal Maida lived at the crossroads of art rock, glam and New York power pop. After his unexpected passing, simply replacing him in The John Sally Ride was unthinkable. Instead, the band created one final album in his honor: ten hook-filled, funny and heartfelt songs drawn from stories in Maida's memoir, "Four Strings, Phony Proof, and 300 45s."

"For Sal" follows his journey from Little Italy and London record shops to touring Roxy Music's "Stranded," Los Angeles sessions, Sparks and the cult legend of Milk 'N' Cookies. 

The remarkable guest cast brings that history directly into the music: Phil Manzanera plays guitar on the Roxy chapter, former Sparks bassist Martin Gordon takes the bass chair for the Sparks story, and Justin Strauss and Julian Maile help recount Milk 'N' Cookies. Steve Wynn, Dennis Diken of The Smithereens, Artie Lamonica of The Shirts, Mike Fornatale and Derek Davidson also join this warm, witty celebration of a beloved musician and a life spent in rock and roll. Digipak CD with a 12-page booklet. 

Here is the first single, "Mott & Broome" featuring John Dunbar on vocals, guitar and keyboards, Joe Pampel on guitar and vocals, Sal Nunziato on drums and special guest Artie Lamonica of The Shirts on bass.

 

Pre-Order Links:

https://shop.thinklikeakey.com/release/the-john-sally-ride-for-sal/

Amazon

And also on your favorite streaming site. 

 

It's De-Lovely

From 2013's "Memphis Circa 3AM," a record that was in my Top 10 of that year, please give a few minutes to John Paul Keith and his absolutely gorgeous "If You Catch Me Staring."

I hadn't thought about this record in some time, but JPK appears on the new Nicole Atkins record "Drama," and has been Atkins' guitarist for a number of years now. That was the kickstart I needed to revisit this gem. 

This is what I said about "Memphis Circa 3AM" back then, "Can't decide which of your idols you want to emulate? Emulate them all! Elvis, Roy, Johnny, and of course, John, Paul and Keith all make spiritual appearances on this killer collection of tunes, with one song catchier than the next. This one swings and rocks from top to bottom, and it has a sweetness to it, too! Really not a bad track in the lot."

I stand by that, and I think "If You Catch Me Staring" is the stand out. 

"I'm hypnotized, your face is all I see, I'd look away, but it's not up to me."

I wish I had written that line. 

 

Bill Bruford Alert!

Pete Roth is a German guitarist who prior to a few months ago, was off my radar. I became interested rather quickly when I saw that he brought Bill Bruford, one of my Top 5 drummers, out of retirement for a few live gigs in Europe. Now, a CD titled "Group Chat" has been released featuring performances from that short tour.

Bruford hasn't recorded new music in almost 20 years, and it has been 13 years since he's performed at any length in public. "Group Chat" was worth the wait.

I guess most would call the music on this record jazz fusion, or maybe just plain and simply "jazz." While Pete Roth's playing is front and center, I paid closer attention to Bill. It has been some time since I heard the distinct playing style of one of the greats and the numbers are telling. Bruford was younger than I am now when he retired from playing and recording, and is now just two and a half years short of turning 80 as he sets the groove and tone of his first new music in years.

Bruford's playing is undeniably fantastic. Does he show his age? Not in any way that matters. His fills and brief solos sound less like his prog rock heyday with Yes & King Crimson and more like his Earthworks period, though Roth's guitar playing does get occasionally Fripp like.

If you're a fan of Bill Bruford, I think you need to hear this record. And with all respect to Pete Roth, a very fine guitarist, I don't think I'd have cared as much about "Group Chat" if the trio had a different drummer.

(h/t ASH & IDHAS for the post title.)

 

Slow Day At The Office

My Facebook memories tell me that on this Columbus Day in 2009, Joe Piscopo and Maria Bartiromo closed out the parade with a duet of "New York, New York."

Proud to be Italian.

 

 

Songs Of The Week, 2026: 10/3-10/9

 

 

Faster- George Harrison
Mexican Candy- The Iguanas
Keep It Dark- Genesis
Man Of Peace- Bob Dylan
Candy's Going Bad- Golden Earring
Love Untold- Paul Westerberg
Hey Diddle Diddle- Marvin Gaye

It's HERE
 

BW's Saturday #90

 

The Rifles Are Coming! The Rifles Are Coming!

 

 

Next month will bring us a 20th anniversary, first time vinyl reissue of The Rifles' debut album "No Love Lost." If you are unfamiliar with "No Love Lost," let me say this, it is the best album The Jam never made. This is an all killer, no filler collection of mod rockers which you can now own on vinyl for under $30. I for one, am thrilled.

Or, if owning the record isn't your thing, you can stream it right now.