Searching for Sugar Man by Rodriguez

Over the last couple of months perhaps the biggest story in music has been the reemergence of the Detroit singer songwriter Rodriguez. When we say reemergence we really mean it in this case.

In 1970 and 71 the singer released two folk rock, singer-songwriter, albums that, while expected to prove he would be the next big thing, fell flat. Soon he was released from his record label and to almost everyone fell into obscurity. What has precipitated this return. Well the truth is stranger than fiction. He never really went away. In the late seventies and eighties by one of those strange instances that no one can explain the music of Rodriguez caught fire in South Africa where he became incredibly popular. Slowly an acknowledgment of his music filtered back to the United States. While this happened incredibly an urban myth came about that he was dead, some said that he had even died on stage.

This summer a documentary movie, of which this is the soundtrack, was released to stunning reviews. Roger Ebert for one called it mesmerizing. The story of one fan that loved his music the first time around and his desire to find out what happened to Rodriguez. I have not seen the movie, it has not been in my area. I do look forward to seeing it however.

I saw the singer on The David Letterman Show and the man is interesting. Looking like a weathered Carlos Santana and at least 70 years old, the man still can hold an audience spellbound. He can sing and his songs are as fresh and clean today as they were 40 years ago.

At the time he was called the new Dylan, what a curse that was for many, but the truth is his music is spellbinding and it is fresh, unlike most of the music of that era it has not been played to the point of wishing you never heard it again. When listening to Rodriguez I hear a mixture of Cat Stevens and Bob Dylan. The voice similar to Stevens but the lyrics much more like Dylan's.

When listening to this soundtrack you do not have to go far without just shaking your head with a silent Wow. How does this happen. How does someone who write songs this good, sing this movingly, stay obscure for forty years. It is something it is hard to comprehend.

The whole album is strong. The title cut stars the album well but the songs that will astound you are Crucify Your Mind and Cause. The rest of the album is strong, I Wonder and Like Janis makes it a plethora of riches but those two songs are all you need to know that sometimes great talents is never recognized. Fortunately for us Rodriguez is still with us and as he is giving concerts in small halls around the country the general consensus is that we are lucky to have found him before it is too late.

This album will be on all The Top Ten Lists at the end of the year, except the billboard of course. That in itself might signify how something like this happens.