The High Tone Anthology: Rockin From the Roots

Founded by Larry Sloven and Bruce Bromberg in 1983, HighTone Records' initial releases were blues sets, but the label soon branched out into a full roots imprint offering new material from country, rock, rockabilly, jazz, R&B and even reggae artists. This two-disc sampler offers highlights from various HighTone album releases, including Dick Dale's monstrous interpretation of "Ghostriders in the Sky," Robert Cray's "Phone Booth," Randy Weeks' (of the Lonesome Strangers) spunky "Can't Let Go," Tom Russell's brilliant "When Sinatra Played Juarez" and P.F. Sloan's "Soul of the Woman" from his 2006 comeback album. HighTone has become a sort of last refuge for top-notch American roots artists whose music often gets lost in the money first and last approach that drives the major record labels. For this Sloven and Bromberg should be lauded. What other label would take a chance on P.F. Sloan in this day and age? Bless HighTone. ~ Steve Leggett|