Thoughts From Music Row

By Alan Rhody

Flash! One of Louisville's hottest exports is returning this month. That is, he is re-locating in Louisville from Nashville and making his hometown base of operations once again. I'm speaking of ace guitarist and singer-songwriter Tim Krekel, who hails from Louisville's West End.

Tim's career to this point is one to be envied by fellow musicians and songwriters alike. He was known in the mid-seventies as the lead guitarist in Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, which he left for a while to work on his solo career, recording his his first major album for Capricorn Records in 1979. It was also around that time that he scored big as a writer with the Crystal Gayle smash "Turning Away." Along the way Tim has had his songs recorded by the likes of Jason and The Scorchers, Joe Sirnon, Dr. Feelgood, Vern Gosdin and Terry Gibbs. He and his hot, hot band, The Sluggers, made an album for Arista in 1987; the Sluggers consisting of Tom Comet on bass and Willis Bailey on drums. Between then and now Tim and The Sluggers joined forces with rocker-poet Mark Germino for the acclaimed Radar Town on BMG's Zoo label. Radar Town was well received by critics but, unfortunately, didn't sell enough for the deal to hold up. Personally, I think it's a great collection of adept lyric and hard-hitting rock' 'n' roll. Mark Germino and the Sluggers, as they were called, also made an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, along with some extensive touring.

Tim is working on his solo adventures again with a European release on Italy's Appaloosa Records and will be going across the pond in January for a month's worth of dates. Joining him to promote his Out of the Corner CD will be Will Owens on guitar, Bob Kommersmith on bass and "maybe" Frankie Robbins on drums. Tim has also been working with country singer Dennis Robbins on occasion. To quote the title of Tim and the Sluggers' release, here's hoping you put a few "Over the Fence" boys! And welcome back to Louisville to one of its more notable native sons.

Elsewhere in Music City, there are Hollywood-type happenings going on in the form of a major motion picture about struggling songwriters.

Tentatively called "The Thing Called Love," this Paramount picture is accepting material submitted by selected writers, including yours truly and is already having "on-again-off again" problems as to who will actually direct. My buddy and co-writer of "The Mother Road," Kevin Welch, has done a screen test for one of the roles — a womanizing Austin rocker. Good luck, Kevin! Nice hair!

As for Rhody, he's been on the road: Omaha, Nebraska, Walnut, Iowa, Louisville, Kentucky (back at the end of August), Chicago, Toronto and this month finds me in New York City and Birmingham, Alabama, as well as Frankfort, Kentucky (Rick' s City Cafe on the 16th). I've also been having a blast at the Bluebird Cafe here in Nashville every month or two with a great in-the-round group consisting of Marshall Chapman, Tom Kimmel, Richard Leigh and myself. Look for us there again in December. Also look for the Texas Rubies and me at Douglas Comer in Nashville on November l2.

My new CD, Dreamer's World, was released on September 15 in Europe on Taxim Records of Germany. I plan to be traveling over there in the coming year.

Make the short drive to Frankfort to Rick's City Cafe on October 16. I promise you'll have a good time. It's right in downtown Frankfort, directly across the railroad tracks from the old capitol in the St. Clair Mall. See you there!

Adios for now.