Danny O'Keefe - Danny O'Keefe (1971/2005) Lossless

Danny O'Keefe's first album is a tentative affair, stylistically diverse and unfocused with a handful of strong songs. One of the latter, "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues," appears in a markedly inferior early arrangement (O'Keefe would re-record the song and enjoy a Top Ten hit the following year). Combining elements of country, blues, folk, and jazz with Bob Dylan-inflected vocals and songwriting, Danny O'Keefe is more promising than effective. "Steel Guitar" and "Covered Wagon" are strong country-rock efforts, while "Rev. Stone" is strange, artsy, and intense. Fans of O'Keefe's later work may be interested in this formative and uneven effort, but newbies are advised to begin with Breezy Stories or another of his later albums.