Great Big Boy

There are too many great Leo Kottke albums to single one out, but this one seemed to me to be a signature stamp that Leo was comfortable in his voice. You knew he was going to knock you over with his guitar prowess (he can still play songs that you will swear 2 or 3 guitarists are playing, and it's just him), but this album is a great mix of styles and melodies. The title track "Great Big Boy" has a '60s hippie attitude and '60s beatnik cafe laid-back funk to it. "The Other Day (Near Santa Cruz)" is a crafty poke at the lazy California lifestyle. "Driver" has a beautiful melody, but peppered with Leo's, er, "unique" sense of humor. Same for "Pepe Hush" ... a dog-gone story that will make you smile. Margo Timmons and Lyle Lovett add their voices to a couple of tracks and fit right in. The closer, "I Still Miss Someone" is a slightly slower-paced re-do by Kottke; the beat, however, is strong and pounds home the message. Great album!