Artist:     Steve Goodman

Album:     Santa Ana Winds

Label:     Omnivore Recordings

Release Date:     8.9.19

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July was certainly Steve Goodman month around here. With the release of reissues of his first two Red Pajamas albums, Artistic Hair and Affordable Art, reviewed here and now two more expanded reissues that arrived on July 25th, which would have been his 71st birthday.

Santa Ana Winds was Goodman’s last go-round in the studio, as he raced against an hourglass that was rapidly running out on him. It’s a polished jewel, yet hard to believe it was completed in just five days. Helping out are some my-T fine musicians like, George Marinelli, Steve Fishell, Jethro Burns and Chuck Fiore, It did not get released until after Steve Goodman was gone, at the far too young age of 36. This reissue now contains eight additional tracks, of which a half dozen have never been released. The liner notes provide many anecdotes and memories from those who were involved not only in this album, but were there with him throughout his prolific career. Most succinctly is a comment from Kris Kristofferson, who was there at the start. At the end of “Queen of the Road “ you will hear Kris say, “Now this is art.”

Although he was reaching for a broader audience than just his faithful folkie followers, both song and production-wise, he remains true to himself. He was a triple threat musician, songwriter, and entertainer, with a voice that always had hope and smile in it. He perfectly closes the show with a three-Kleenex standard that remains at the top of my list of Steve’s songs. Along with some melodic variations and just his tasteful guitar playing. He asks her one last time, “Did you ever get to buy that Yellow Coat?”

—Ken Spooner