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The extensive liner notes that accompany last year’s reissue of his 1970 debut, Cold Fact (from Seattle’s Light in the Attic label), make it clear that Rodriguez suffered from a combination of bad luck and a self-destructive tendency to shrug off music-biz protocol–he often performed with his back to audiences, casually associated with underworld types, and made frequent drug references in his often depressing lyrics.
Rodriguez enrolled at Wayne State University (in the early 80s he earned a BA in philosophy) and supported his family with renovation and restoration work. During the 70s he tried to enter city politics but failed. He carried on working day to day, unaware that in Australia and New Zealand he’d become a minor star, with sales of his albums (either licensed and bootlegged) far outstripping the U.S. numbers. In 1979 he accepted an invite to tour in Australia, and he returned again in 1981 with Midnight Oil as his backing band.
Johnny Osbourne, Truths and Rights (Heartbeat)Erdmann, Westergaard & Rohrer, Sleeping With the Enemy (Jazzwerkstatt)Various Artists, An England Story (Soul Jazz)Monareta, Picotero (Nacional)Lucas Niggli Drum Quartet, Beat Bag Bohemia (Intakt)
