The Hot Dogs were Ardent label mates with Big Star. But when I bought this in my teens from a used record bin, I hadn’t yet heard of Big Star, so I thought the album might sound like a lesser Brewer and Shipley. It ended up winning me over from the start with its opening title track – an epic pop rock ballad that you’d swear features some of the strings and woodwinds the liner notes credit to Memphis State University, even though the track doesn’t.

The Hot Dogs – “Say What You Mean” (1973)

From the Sun Ra archives.

“There Was a Pig Went Out to Dig”

“Time was when the harmonica was something the Tom Sawyers of America carried around in their pockets, along with a jackknife and rabbit’s foot. Nothing much has happened to jackknives and rabbits’ feet, but the harmonica has come a long, long way.” (liner notes)

The Mulcays – “Til Then”

Oscar Brand has recorded some 1,700,000 folk albums about all manner of subjects. Better check the catalog because he’s probably recorded one about you. Happy Thanksgiving.

Oscar Brand – “Henry Martin”