In the early 70's he was quite a role model - people tried to look like him.. Songs like Rocky Mountain High showed off not only his way with words, but his technical facility at singing high notes with great strength and confidence. He was a helluva singer and guitarist, but his albums got slated regularly by the critics - I remember Sunshine on my shoulder makes me happy being singled out for particular venom - the lyrics seemed to them saccharine and trivial.

I admired him , but he was a hard man to like thoroughly - even now its a strong stomach that sits all the way through the floor singers favourite ,Grandma's feather bed without throwing up. the way he guyed mopping his brow on the line, I even kissed Aunt Lou! - ooh! was thoroughly parodied and ridiculed in the recent film A Mighty Wind.

Some of his later work seemed lacking in structure. he knew just strumming and singing was a pretty nice noise, so he was content not to observe the normal structures of songwriting. fine if you have some artistic point to make - but one suspected at the time he simply couldn't be arsed to hammer out the verses and choruses and middle 8's.

One thing I liked about him he always used to sing Its sin to Tell a Lie, because it was his Mothers favourite song. it was my mothers favourite song too, and nowadays I always include it in my set for the same reason.

all the best

Big Al