Rodriguez: Cold Fact

Released in 1970, this is one of those "lost classics" type albums that vinyl collectors freak over and I wait for reissues of. Rodriguez was/is a tough-ass, who comes off like an angry, African-American version of Bob Dylan - and does it well. But the reason I'd send our readers to this album is the production, by sometimes Motown guitarist Dennis Coffey and disco producer Mike Theodore, because this record sounds totally wack. Not only will the acoustic guitar occasionally pan back and forth between the speakers during a song, sometimes the whole song will descend into plate reverb wash. If that's not enough, check out the gnarly fuzz guitar and ultra-midrangey bass, the sparse horns and strings or a wobbly synth line. A real unique and compelling find. (www.sugarman.org, www.lightintheattic.net) -LC