‘Hidden Shame,’ heard here in demo form as included on Elvis Costello’s reissue of the 1996 album All This Useless Beauty, was originally written by Costello for Johnny Cash. Costello wrote a few songs for Cash, including ‘Complicated Shadows,’ one of Beauty‘s main tracks.
Cash never recorded ‘Complicated Shadows’ but he did record this one, on a 1990 album titled Boom Chicka Boom. That album — his 76th! — also included a cover of Harry Chapin’s ‘Cat’s in the Cradle.’
Thank you, Random iTunes Fairy, for a trip back in time to early 1993, when Sting dropped his fourth solo album, Ten Summoner’s Tales. For my money, this record remains the greatest thing he ever did as a solo artist.
Buoyed by two hit singles, ‘Fields of Gold’ and ‘If I Ever Lose My Faith in You’ (today’s SOTD), the album reached #2 on both the British and U.S. charts and achieved multi-platinum status in multiple countries.
My Favorite 2022 Albums
#1 – Palomino – Miranda Lambert
A day after my 50th birthday, I’m not about to change my entire personality and not name a new album by my favorite artist as my favorite album of the year.
I’ve sung Miranda Lambert’s praises many times on this blog, and she keeps giving me new reasons to sing. The latest is Palomino, her ninth solo album and yet another stellar country collection.
My Favorite 2022 Albums
#2 – Going Places – Josh Rouse
One of this year’s biggest treats was new material from singer-songwriter Josh Rouse, one of my very favorite artists.
Going Places is his 14th full-length release and first since a 2019 Christmas album. The four-year span between this record and his last proper studio album, 2018’s Love in the Modern Age, was the longest of his career.
My Favorite 2022 Albums
#3 – Harry’s House – Harry Styles
Has a boy band ever produced a better solo career than that of Harry Styles? Set aside the Jackson Five and The Beatles — those aren’t the sort of boy bands I’m envisioning. I guess an argument can be made for Justin Timberlake, who has released a handful of platinum-selling albums following his NSYNC days. But I’m not much of a fan.
Styles, on the other hands, has consistently impressed me as a solo artist.
Meet Me In Montauk 