Jethro Tull's 11th studio album, Heavy Horses, is one of their prettier records, a veritable celebration of English folk music chock-full of gorgeous melodies, briskly played acoustic guitars and mandolins, and Ian Anderson's lilting flute backed by the group in top form. This record is a fairly close cousin to 1977's Songs from the Wood – and was ultimately the hinge-piece and first of an ecologically themed trilogy which concluded with 1979's Stormwatch – except that its songs are decidedly more passionate, delivered with a rough, robust energy that much of Tull's work since Thick as a Brick had been missing. In its lustiness it arguably surpasses even Aqualung. "No Lullaby" is the signature heavy riff song, a concert version of which opened Bursting Out: Jethro Tull Live recorded that same year. Anderson sings it – and everything else here – with tremendous intensity, as though these might be the last lines he ever gets to voice.

These two albums are part of a clutch of albums Michael made when he was between record companies and which he recorded for his own production company Rural Retreat Records. Rural Retreat West Virginia, on the old Virgin Creeper Line, was the subject of one of O.Winston Link's famous "train" pics of whom MC is a huge fan. We made the pilgrimage on one of our US road trips hence the name. 2xCD + Booklet in 6 panel Digipack with sleeve notes by Andru Chapman.

US underground heavy rock sensations Poobah released this very fine sophomore effort U.S. Rock back in 1976, and the folks at Ripple Music are making it available once again, remastered and with 4 bonus tracks, lyrics, and photos. If you haven't heard of this band or discovered their kick ass proto-metal sound, this is as good a place to start as any.

The Perpetual Diet, the body representing the imperial estates of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, held its sessions in Regensburg from 1663 to 1806. Since the princes hardly continued to appear in person but instead sent representatives, this assembly became what was in very large measure a congress of envoys. Festive music not only constantly formed part of the ceremonial accompanying the diet but also quite naturally played a role at social functions and in the theater. Beginning in 1748 the court chapel of the Prince of Thurn and Taxis was responsible for the presentation of the musical program.

Johannes Schenk (1660-1712) was one of the most prominent gamba virtuosos of the 17th century. He was born in Amsterdam around 1660 and lived in his hometown for about 40 years. From 1696 he worked in Düsseldorf at the court of Elector Johann Willem I. Nothing is known about his teachers, but given the techniques he used he was probably influenced by English examples. His early works were written in the German and Dutch baroque tradition. Later works also reveal Italian influences. The ensemble Capriccio Stravagante released a CD with works by Schenk, taken from the "Scherzi musicali" opus 6, the "Nymphe di Rheno" opus 8 and "L 'écho du Danube" opus 9.

Much Latin American music occupies a unique space between popular and "classical," rarely going to either extreme. On this recital of Latin American works mostly arranged for cello and piano (or guitar), the most formal work is the Sonata for cello and piano in G minor of Manuel Ponce, who also wrote the pop classic Estrellita, which is also included. It is mostly players from the region who record this music, but Louisianan John-Henry Crawford delivers a fine sense of enthusiasm at meeting the tradition for the first time.

One of the benefits wrought by the CD era was the recording of composers and repertoire that the big international labels would never even consider in the LP era. Many small Cd labels did very well with early music, composers of national or regional repertoire and minor composers of all eras some of whom were major composers in their day. This is the case with the three composers on this disc, all of whom had reputations throughout Europe.