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Tommy James has sold over 100 million records, and his impressive string of hits continue to live on in movies, TV shows and commercials - "Hanky Panky," "Mony, Mony," "I Think We're Alone Now," "Crimson & Clover," "Crystal Blue Persuasion," and many more. His excellent autobiography, "Me, the Mob and the Music" is one of the greatest music books ever written, and is in preproduction to be turned into a major Hollywood movie and Broadway musical. James was our very first guest on Icon Fetch back in April of 2010. In our new conversation, he gives us updates on the movie, book and musical. Plus, he talks about unearthing his very first recording, "Long Pony Tail," that even predates "Hanky Panky" by two years. He also discusses recently recording songs by the Beatles and Supremes. He also discusses his weekly radio show, "Gettin' Together with Tommy James" on Sirius/XM. Tommy James is currently on the road - tour dates and more information can be found at tommyjames.com

Marshall Chess has a long history in the blues. His father, Leonard, was one of the co-founders of Chess Records, the influential record label responsible for exposing the music of artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Sonny Boy Williamson to larger audience. Marshall produced the trailblazing Electric Mud from Muddy Waters, and the Howlin’ Wolf Album, both were attempts to reinterpret the blues to then current psychedelic rock era. He was the first president of Rolling Stones Records, and worked on several films, including Cadillac Records, which was based on his family’s record label. Now comes New Moves - The Chess Project, several decades in the making. Once again, Marshall is reinterpreting the music his family helped nurture, this time for the modern age. With Keith LeBlanc producing, they’ve assembled a top-notch collection of musicians, reimagining songs by Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter and more. Marshall also has a YouTube Channel celebrating the Chess history, and a podcast, where he tells many of the great stories of his life.

Tom Rush pretty much pioneered the folk movement of the early Sixties, issuing his debut album in 1962. He’s also credited with putting compositions by Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor on album for the first time, with his LP The Circle Game in 1968. We talked with Tom back in 2018 when he issued his album Voices. Well, he’s back with his first new record in five years out called Gardens Old, Flowers New. He talks about how he unearthed one of the songs on the new album from a live recording from 50 years ago. Also, how he wrote a song for his daughter when she was young (now she's grown up), and how he never intended that one to be on an album. He also talks about Rockport Sundays, a program he started during Covid, where he invites many of his musical friends to play and tell stories.

Memphis musician Van Duren was the subject of a recent documentary called Waiting: the Van Duren Story, available to rent at most streaming services. Omnivore Recordings released an excellent summation of Duren’s career in the form of the documentary soundtrack, then issued his first two solo albums in 2020. Next up is Cartwheeling: Live in Memphis, showcasing Duren and his underrated band, Good Question, recorded in an intimate setting amongst friends and family back in 1992. Duren talks about events leading to the concert and why the tapes lay dormant for over 30 years. There's a lot of humor in many of the songs. He also reveals why they chose to cover "Got To Get You Into My Life." Duren also tells a great story about having Ringo Starr show up at one of his gigs.

The Cowsills are the original family band - formed in 1965, they hit pay dirt with their smash, “The Rain, the Park and Other Things” in 1967. Other hits followed, including “Indian Lake,” “We Can Fly” and “Hair.” They even were the basis for the hit TV show The Partridge Family. After some time apart, the group reformed in the early 90’s and has been playing and recording ever since. They’ve been a fixture on the Happy Together tour for almost a decade, and they just released a brand new album called Rhythm of the World last year. Now, comes A Christmas Offering from the Cowsills. Two of the songs date back to 1992, “Christmastime (Song For Marissa)” and “Some Good Years.” These two songs are joined with a brand-new, acapella version of “Winter Wonderland” - and the EP is now available digitally from Omnivore Recordings. We chat with Susan Cowsill about how Christmas is the favorite holiday of the Cowsill family, the origins of these "lost" holiday tunes, and the prospects of new Cowsill material in 2024.

In her early twenties, Canadian-born Sue Foley trekked down to Austin, Texas and quickly immersed herself in the fertile blues scene there. Since then, she’s released 15 albums, garnered tons of awards, including Traditional Blues Female Artist from the Blues Foundation - an award she’s taken home three years now. Her latest record is a homecoming of sorts - Live in Austin Volume One takes her back to her roots, recorded at the legendary Continental Club, now out on Guitar Woman Records. We talk about how she went high quality for the recording of this live album, digging back into her roots for some of the songs she chose, and the prospects of a Volume Two coming soon.

Paul Reed Smith is a name synonymous with guitarists worldwide. His PRS line began in the mid Eighties, and ever since then, has produced 1,000’s of high-quality instruments. If you’ve ever played one, you just know. Well, what you might not know is that Smith is also a musician in his own right, who’s played with the likes of Santana and the Doobie Brothers. Smith has assembled a group of highly-respected musicians into Eightlock. Featuring three drummers, three guitarists, a bassist, and powerhouse vocalist, Mia Simone Davis, they’re issuing their debut album called Lions Roaring in Quicksand, on Steele Records. We talk to Paul about how he assembled this unique lineup of high-caliber musicians, the challenges in recording and playing live with three drummers, and why they chose to cover "War" by Edwin Starr. He also talks about what got him into playing guitar as a young teen.

Danny O’Keefe’s best known song is “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues,” which cracked the Top Ten in 1972. Jackson Browne put O’Keefe’s song, “The Road,” on his hugely-successful Running on Empty album. O’Keefe’s compositions have been covered by a wide range of artists, from Elvis Presley to Miranda Lambert, from Andy Williams to Ben Harper. His new album, Circular Turns, now out on Sunset Boulevard Records, covers the period from 1999-2017, which saw O’Keefe collaborate with the likes of Bob Dylan, Michael McDonald, Bill Braun, and Fred Knoblach. He also reimagines some of his best songs of the past, like “Angel Spread Your Wings” and “Magdelena.” In addition, there's a second disc featuring an intimate live performance recorded in 2016. O'Keefe talks about what led to this new compilation, and the stories behind some of the songs, including a "collaboration" with Bob Dylan. He also touches on growing up in Washington state and learning from producer Arif Mardin.

Roaring out of New York City comes Popa Chubby with his unique blend of blues, rock and soul. Born Ted Horowitz, he cut his teeth on the late Seventies' NY punk scene, even joining Richard Hell & the Voidoids for awhile. He issued his first album in 1994, and he’s never looked back - 38 albums to his credit. For his latest album, Live at G. Bluey’s Juke Joint NYC, Chubby took an unique approach: do a live record in a studio, and invite only 50 friends. The result feels like you're onstage with the musicians. Chubby decided to let those friends help pick some of the songs, resulting in an eclectic mix of hits and rarities, some he hadn't played live in years. No overdubs, just Popa Chubby and band, as it happened. We chat with the guitar slinger, who was in the middle of touring Germany during our talk, about stretching out on some of the songs, interacting with the great musicians, and how he feels about rap music and its lineage to the blues.

Formed in 1974 in Boulder, Colorado, Firefall had several big hits on AM radio in the 1970’s with “You Are the Woman,” “Just Remember I Love You,” and “Strange Way,” but also were known for their excellent musicianship, which got them played on FM radio, with tracks like "Cinderella," and "Mexico." The band’s latest project, Friends and Family, puts a unique twist on the tribute album. Firefall’s former and current members have played with many other bands over the years - so you get songs by the Byrds, Spirit, Heart and the Flying Burrito Brothers. They also tackle songs by bands that they toured with, like the Doobie Brothers and Poco. Ultimately, these versions were recorded with the idea of adding something different to the arrangements, turning these familiar tunes into Firefall classics. We talk again to founding member, Jock Bartley, about the care that went into choosing each song and why they were chosen. He also reveals that a Friends and Family 2 is already in the works.

From New Jersey comes the Cucumbers, who had a college radio hit with “My Boyfriend” in the mid-Eighties. The band was part of the Hoboken music scene, which included bands like the Bongos and the dB’s. The two constants in the band are the husband and wife team of Jon Fried and Deena Shoshkes, and they have a brand new album out called Old Shoes, and what I love about it is that what made them so great 40 years ago, that quirkiness, is still thankfully intact. We chat how they were able to pull in the services of their son, Jamie, to play drums, but they had to do it quickly. Shoshkes also talks about how her husband decided to play banjo on the album. She also tells us a great story about how she was gifted a guitar from producer Nile Rodgers.

Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88’s have been playing their unique brand of “rock a boogie” for some 40 years now. Back in 2017, Woods issued a career-defining album, Friends Along the Way, featuring a stellar lineup of guests, including Van Morrison, Taj Mahal, Ruthie Foster, Maria Muldaur, Elvin Bishop and many others. Problem was, his record label at the time had just decided to focus only on videos, leaving this great album without an audience. Now, he’s regained the master recordings and has reissued the album and added five bonus tracks. He and his Rocket 88’s are out on the road promoting the reissue. We chat with Woods about how the project got rolling with a "yes" from Van Morrison, plus how he took up residency at the piano bar during the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise

Nashville transplant Maia Sharp has written songs for folks like Cher and Tricia Yearwood, and produced the likes of Art Garfunkel. Her last album, Mercy Rising, was one of our favorite albums. In our review, we called it the “best thing she’s ever done.” So, here we are with the followup, her 9th solo album, entitled Reckless Thoughts. She talks about how much fun it was to co-write her catchy, new single, “Kind,” with Dean Fields and Melinda Leigh Smith. How she adds some of the tasty “extras” to her songs in her home studio. She also tells us about how she got involved with Songwriting With Soldiers, where she meets with a veteran or family member, and writes a song about their story.

One of the most recognizable figures in all of rock music, Ian Anderson has led Jethro Tull since it’s inception in 1967. With over 30 albums to their credit, selling upwards of 60 million, the band is in rare company. The band just issued a brand-new album, called Rock Flute, and now Anderson is readying the 7 Decades tour, coming to a city near you. Ian talks about how he gets ready for a tour, how he assembles a setlist in each town, and how, surprisingly, he actually books the travel himself. He touches on the creation of his band’s latest album, as well as his opinion of AI technology. He also reveals the three Jethro Tull songs he feels he needs to play at every show.

From St. Louis comes Beth Bombara, who’s been releasing her own music for about 15 years now. Her latest album, It All Goes Up, is her strongest to date, full of sonic textures and infectious melodies. In her own words, the new project is an attempt to bring in “more light, more hope.” The songs range from the infectious "Everything I Wanted," to the heavy rocker "Give Me a Reason." The album was assembled with her longtime collaborator, Kit Hamon, and features frenetic guitar playing from Sam Golden, as well as a guest appearance by John Calvin Abney.

You may not know the name Raymond Scott, but you’ve probably heard his music. Many of his compositions have been used, over and over, in the Warner Brothers' Looney Tunes cartoons over the years. Raymond Scott Reimagined is a collaboration between the Quartet San Francisco, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, and the acapella group, Take Six. Gordon Goodwin did new arrangements of Scott classics like “Powerhouse,” and “Toy Trumpet.” In addition, with the help of the Raymond Scott estate, an unfinished composition, “Cutey and the Dragon,” was completed by Goodwin, and included on this set. Goodwin has won four Grammy’s, including Best Instrumental Arrangement for Disney’s The Incredibles. He talks about how he went about retooling these great compositions for the modern age, working with all the great musicians. We also chat about a recent collaboration with Patti Austin on For Ella 2, and a forthcoming piano duets album where Goodwin plays both parts himself.

Bill Payne, along with Lowell George, formed Little Feat in the early 70’s, blending elements of rock, country, blues and New Orleans funk, into an immediately recognizable sound. The band’s second album, Sailin’ Shoes and their third, Dixie Chicken, have recently been given the deluxe treatment - expanding to triple album sets, including the remastered album, bonus tracks and outtakes, and revelatory live footage. Payne is currently on the road with Little Feat, who later on in the fall will be doing The Albums Tour, choosing one of those two albums and playing them in their entirety each night. Bill has also played with the Doobie Brothers, members of the Grateful Dead and Leftover Salmon. He also talks about writing his memoir, which he hopes to have completed by next year.

Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriting Demos (out now from Stax/Craft Recordings) is a treasure trove of lost soul & R&B recordings from the 60’s and early 70’s, many of which have never been heard before. Cheryl Pawelski personally had to comb through literally hundreds of hours of recordings in search of these hidden gems. It’s a project two decades in the making. The result is a 7-disc set full of surprises - you get nascent versions of songs we know, like “Respect Yourself” and “(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right.” But the real thrill is the set’s final three discs: 66 songs that were never released by anyone. Pawelski was working for Concord Music when she began this endeavor. That was 17 years ago. She now runs Omnivore Recordings. We discuss the detective work that went into the project. How she managed to wade through the massive amount of random recordings in search of these soul nuggets. She also talks about attending the box set premiere in Memphis with many of the surviving artists on this collection. Pawelski also give us insight into upcoming releases from Omnivore.

Multi Platinum, Grammy-award winning producer-guitarist Pete Anderson is probably best known as Dwight Yoakam’s guitarist from 1986 to 2003. During that time, the duo helped reshape the face of country music. Anderson’s worked with a variety of artists, from Lucinda Williams and Michelle Shocked to the Meat Puppets and Roy Orbison. He’s taken a lifetime of musical knowledge and experiences, and distilled it into a new book, How To Produce a Record: A Player’s Philosophy For Making a Great Recording - out now from Jessee Lee Music. Anderson gives tips that can be applied whether you're in a large studio, or your bedroom.

Like a lot of us, Peter Case found himself with lots of time on his hands during the pandemic. A piano in his living room beckoned him and he started to write songs, a throwback to the rhythm & blues, and boogie woogie he heard as a kid. The result is Doctor Moan, 11-songs, stripped down, without drums, mostly led by his pounding piano. Case was part of the seminal punk band the Nerves in the late 70’s, before forming the Plimsouls, who had an MTV hit with “A Million Miles Away,” and a spot in the 80’s teen classic, Valley Girl. Since the mid-80’s, Case has led an eclectic solo career that’s seen him garner three Grammy nominations and lots of accolades. All of his past seeps into the pores of this new, sparse offering, available from Sunset Blvd Records. We chat with Case about how playing the piano during lockdown took him back to his roots as a kid. He also talks about a new documentary about him that should see widespread release soon.