Kenny Rankin – First seven recordings reissued – (Sly Dog / Mack Avenue)

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Kenny Rankin, who just passed away last year, was an American jazz and pop singer/guitarist who was extremely popular for the way his delicate, yet powerful voice could reinterpret standards as well as modern classic songs.

Johnny Carson, who invited Rankin onto The Tonight Show some twenty times during his long run as host, once said of Rankin, “he’s a fine musician with an original style and unquestionable taste.”  His calming fusion of soul, bossa nova, folk and jazz provided a different sound from much of what was being recorded in the late 60’s through the 1970’s. These seven digitally remastered CDs of his releases from 1967 – 1980, which were overseen by the Rankin family, can’t help but make you agree with the late night legend’s sentiments.

Though all seven of these albums are gems in their own right, one may want to start off with 1970′s Family, which proved that Rankin was probably the only musician at that time who could properly pull off back-to-back covers of The Beatles’ “Dear Prudence,” Bert Jansch’s “Needle of Death” and Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay” without a hitch. 1972′s Like A Seed serves as the finest showcase for Rankin’s magnificent fretwork, especially his rare electric moment, “Bad Times Make You Strong,” and 1974′s Silver Morning contains a version of “Blackbird” that so impressed Paul McCartney he asked Rankin to perform the song during Sir Paul and John Lennon’s induction into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. The Kenny Rankin Album, originally released in 1976, paired the performer with Frank Sinatra arranger Don Costa and created a romantic album that also maintains mellow vibes of pop. Mind Dusters, Inside, and After the Roses round out this set of reissues.

At times inspiring, and other times sublime, these reissues will bring Rankin’s music to a new audience, and showcase a talent that will be sorely missed.

Kenny Rankin performed at The Main Point on seven different occasions between 1968 – 1977. Much of that music is represented in these reissues.