Waitin' for George

One of the finest and most underrated rock & roll albums of the 1990s, the Freewheelers' first album for American Recordings marked this great, young band's mutation toward possessing what leader Luther Russell described as a "built-in Mad Dogs and Englishmen sound." A more apt description could never be suggested. When listening to this album, you may indeed think that you are experiencing an unreleased Joe Cocker album from the early '70s. Not that the Freewheelers lack originality -- Russell's songs go straight to the heart and they have a wonderful personal stamp. The band kicks up a storm as well, especially piano player Chris Joyner, who smokes on the solos and fills. An overall great record.