Led Zeppelin > I Can’t Quit You Baby
Composed by Otis Rush

I’m not sure that a Led Zep Otis Rush cover would qualify to anyone else as a ballad or even a classic rock power ballad. But, it’s my blog, and I’ll cry if I want to.

Ballads Week #4
Legends of Rock #14 
Legends of the Guitar #12
Ballad #33 
Cover #48 

Mike Auldridge > Dobro Island

This album was originally released on Adelphi Records, and I heard it when I was involved in the indie record scene of the 70s. Not being too much of a folkie, my partner played a resonator guitar so I paid attention to Mike, and I could never shake this beautiful ballad out of my head.

Ballads Week #3
Legends of the Guitar #11
Ballad #32 

…::::Update: Mike’s website says this LP was originally released on Takoma. Shows what age can do to a memory.:::…

Jimmy Smith >Li’l Darlin’
Composed by Neal Hefti

I’ve posted a Basie original (I think) version of this tune, and I’ve posted a Jimmy during his peak period. But so what, ya know?

Ballads Week #2
Legends of the Organ #2
Ballad #31 
Cover #47

Duke Ellington > Solitude
Composed by Duke Ellington, Eddie DeLange & Irving Mills

Not being particularly a big band fan, and stereotyping much too easily without enough information, I never gave Ellington a tumble. Until I got older and wanted quieter music in my diet. This whole album turned around my Duke-ness.

(By the way, I realize it’s ridiculous to characterize Ellington as merely a Legend of Swing, but I couldn’t figure out anything else that would be more appropriate, except maybe Legend of Jazz. And almost every jazzbo here would qualify for that too.)

Ballads Week #1
Legends of Swing #3 
Ballad #31