No Regrets: The Very Best Of Tom Rush
Though not as celebrated as many of the artists he preceded and, indeed, introduced to the world, Tom Rush stands as one of the chief architects of the singer-songwriter boom of the early 1970s. Though he began recording in 1962 as a blues-influenced folkie, Rush came into his own later in the decade when he uncovered tunes by a slew of nascent songwriters, includingJackson Browne("Jamaica, Say You Will"). Rush came across an unknownJoni Mitchellin a Detroit nightclub and promptly included three of her songs on his popularThe Circle Gamerecord. The 17-songNo Regretsspans Rush's career, closing with a tasty 1999 recording featuringShawn Colvin. Rush handpicked the tracks for this retrospective and he's reestablished his signature tunes with a care that old fans and newcomers alike will appreciate.--Steven Stolder