FEATURES

Detroit Retools
Manufacturing may have decelerated, but there’s no rust on this city’s music. Detroiter JASON SCHMITT examines Motor City’s storied past, groundbreaking present and high-tech future in the country’s toughest musical town

Better to give than receive
Whether you have $3,000,000 or $3.00 to spend on Mom or your honey, if they like music, we have suggestions. A holiday buyer’s guide like no other

DEPARTMENTS

Back on the Farm: How Nelson, Mellencamp, Young and Farm Aid helped save farms. Got food? Thank a farmer.

Opening Act: Snippets, some fun, some sad. Guess-the-covers test, mobsters, BBQ and fond goodbyes

Kickin’ in Your Stall: Carl Gustafson reminds tour managers to mind their manners

Influences: Sons of musicians make music with their kid brothers; Don Everly and Luther Dickinson draw on Dad’s influence and make it their own

On The Record: The North Mississippi Allstars pay tribute to their own guiding star, Jim Dickinson, father of two of the Allstars and guiding light to many a record career, with Keys to the Kingdom. Others are headed elsewhere, e.g., Popa Chubby Back To New York City, Mason Jennings to Minnesota; Chris Isaak catches a shuttle to Beyond the Sun, JJ Grey and Mofro head for Brighter Days, while the Parlor Mob goes to the Dogs. George Strait is only Here for a Good Time, but Patti Smith, predictably, goes Outside Society. Keep the faith, Patti!

 Re.Issues: Charles “Packy” Axton, sideman saxophonist, was virtually unknown outside Memphis, but a reissue may help spread the word. Elvis, Miles Davis and Paul McCartney need no boost, but return in better form. Blues pioneer Alberta Hunter’s reissue should produce new fans

Pet Sounds: Sunny summer songs for gloomy winter days

What’d I Say: Jim Hynes pinpoints game-changing albums for five rising artists

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning: John Kuroski goes inside the Wall of Sound

Also Appearing: Read Carl Gustafson’s wild tales of life as a bluesman in It Ain’t Just Blues, It’s Showtime, then hear audience-participation stories of the Felice Brothers, Beirut and the Mickey Hart Band

Collecting: The Detroit sound has distinct voices—Mitch Ryder pioneered one of them. Arnie Goodman spins essential Detroit Wheels

This Month’s Trivia