I first found out about Artful Dodger after my dad had told me that the singer of his band L.A. Trash was into Artful Dodger.

I remember being with my dad and going record shopping and he told me and I wanted to check them out, and I got to hear them on my friend Chris’ radio show!

I knew about them by name for a long time but I finally checked them out after I got a copy of their album “Honor Among Thieves”  for $1 and I listened to it and I remember liking it, but not loving it.

It took me time to appreciate this album, but I decided to relisten to it another day when I was in a different mood and I loved it!!

It’s such a great album. Artful Dodger is one of many bands that weren’t commercially popular, but they were great because they were different.

Artful Dodger proves that originality matters more than popularity does.

Essential Tracks: Honor Among Thieves, Remember, Good Fun

Listen Here: Honor Among Thieves

I’ve always known about Rex Smith, but I didn’t know until I did some research, that his first two albums are actually rock albums!

The world knows him as a teen idol, but he wasn’t always one.

Rex has a brother named Michael who is the lead singer of Starz. Rex has a  fellow in his band named Orville Davis. Orville Davis eventually became the bass player for Starz during the era of “Coliseum Rock”.

It’s something that not too many people know unless you dig a little deeper into Rex Smith.

I actually got two copies of this album, both are promos, but one is a regular label and the other is a white label promo. I couldn’t say no to white label promo for just a dollar.

One day, I looked it up online and I really liked it! More than I initially expected because I wasn’t sure it was going to be like.

I think music sounds better on vinyl because there’s something about putting the needle down on a record and listening to it. It’s really easy to look an album up on a streaming platform, but there’s no better way to hear music. There’s something about taking an album out of the inner sleeve and putting it on the turntable.

All I can say is that it’s cool and you’ll have to listen to it to understand why.

Essential Tracks: Trouble, Violent Playground, Feeling Better

Listen on Spotify: Rex

I was turned on to this album by a good friend of mine!

I recall seeing it in the used vinyl section a long time ago, but I only saw it once!

After it was recommended to me, I wanted to take the proper time to listen to it.

This album is awesome.

It has these 1970s rock vibes, but there’s a certain complexity that allows these songs to be more than just typical rock songs, they are really original tunes with rock and even blues elements!

It has such a cool style, but you’ll have to listen to it to understand.

Essential Tracks: It’s Not What You Say It’s What You Do, Lover Boy, Power

Listen here: Dirty Diamonds