'American Gothic'

If you want something almost completely different from what you're listening to right now, I suggest David Ackles' American Gothic.

Without mincing words or attempting to paint some picture of what this album is like, consider this quote from a critic: "An unlikely clash of anachronistic show business and modern-day lyricism."

He wrote songs like Bruce Springsteen. The music was 3/5 vaudeville and old-time show business mixed with 1960s singer-songwriter. Throw in some dramatics, a pinch of folk and country.

Oddly, he became much more of a legend in England where some of his biggest fans (Phil Collins, Elvis Costello, Elton John) bemoaned Ackles' death in 1999 to lung cancer.

Ackles himself opened for John in 1972 when the British singer-songwriter was playing the Troubadour. American Gothic was produced by John's lyricist Bernie Taupin.

He released only four albums, his last in 1973. He still wrote songs; however, for other people and they were not used at all. In 1981, he was in a serious car accident that got him a steel hip and limited use of his arms. He ended his life teaching musical theatre at USC.