LEON RUSSELL-ON A DISTANT SHORE

I have a fascination with the final albums of great artists-for example, Warren Zevon’s The Wind, Johnny Cash’s Ain’t No Grave, Bowie’s Blackstar and Leonard Cohen’s You Want it Darker. Something about the strength of the songwriting (if not the performance) when the artist knows time is short is compelling to me.

On the growing list of farewell albums by dying rockers, Leon Russell's contribution – recorded months before his November 2016 passing – may be the most unflinching yet.

Russell seemed to know he was on borrowed time when writing the album that would prove to be his last ("Sounds like a funeral for some person here/And I might be the one").

Paradoxically, though, the soul-rock icon hasn't sounded so alive in years as he poignantly circles his musical bases one last time.

Thankfully, Russell’s career had recently been resurrected by his 2010 collaboration with Elton John, which gave him exposure in his final years.

Most fans should find this disc to be a necessary addition to their collection.

TODD RUNDGREN-SEER

Did you know Todd Rundgren envisioned our current media landscape -- in 1978? 

In a backstage interview from the late '70s, the legendary guitarist and producer held court on the tectonic shifts of industry that computers would eventually bring.

"Computer technology and storage is moving at such a revolutionary pace," Rundgren said, "The people behind computers know that computers are a happening thing, and are going to be applicable in all areas. Computers are coming on so heavy that nobody's going to bother with this intermediate technology," he continued, referencing cable television.

"The economic structure will shift itself. You'll no longer go out and buy permanently recorded things, because, eventually, they do one of two things -- they wear out, or you wear out. You get tired of them and don't want them anymore."

While Rundgren may have gotten it backwards -- "I don't think people who make records have as much to worry about as people who run television networks" -- he was still spot-on about the future of the music industry (and Netflix), 37 years ago.

ANOTHER LOOK: RANDY JACKSON'S CHINA RAIN

Fans of the hard rock band Zebra may have missed this release from frontman Randy Jackson, featuring songs co-written with Mark Slaughter and Jack Ponti.

The sound is a lot more 80's "hair metal" than the Zebra debut, but it is a solid effort, and sadly, since this came out right around the time that Seattle turned the music biz on it's ear, it went unnoticed.

Now out of print and hard to find, I thought the disc warranted another listen.

I have a copy of this rare title for sale HERE

RIP TOM PETTY

One of my personal favorite musicians, Tom Petty, the rocker best known as the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is dead at 66.

The legendary musician suffered a full cardiac arrest and was found unconscious and not breathing in his Malibu home Sunday night. He was taken to UCLA Santa Monica Hospital and put on life support.

Petty rose to fame in the 1970s with his band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The group put out several hits, including "American Girl," "Free Fallin'," "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," "Breakdown," "Listen to Her Heart" and more. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Though Petty and his band debuted their first self-titled record in 1976, they continued to perform over the past four decades. Petty played his last show last Monday, performing three sold-out shows at the Hollywood Bowl to conclude their 40th anniversary tour. The band wrote on their website that the tour included 53 shows in 24 states.