Why is this man smiling? Because he won rock back pages best album of 2012 by an artist over 50! And I am sure he would like to thank the little people.
Rock's Back Pages, we've written about before, it is the archive for rock writers also of a certain age such as myself, with one of my favorite rock journalists, Barney Hoskyns as editorial director.
I gave my list of faves my the over 50s, which I will repost here, along with RBP's voted on by 80 writers, and just for taste, Barney Hoskyns:
RBPs:
1. Bob Dylan: Tempest
2 Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Psychedelic Pill
3 Leonard Cohen: Old Ideas
4. Dr. John: Locked Down
5 Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball
6 Donald Fagen: Sunken Condos
7 (tie) Patti Smith: Banga
7 (tie) Bonnie Raitt: Slipstream
9 Bobby Womack: The Bravest Man in the Universe
10 Aimee Mann: Charmer
Barney Hoskyns
1 ZZ Top: La Futura
2 Aimee Mann: Charmer
3 Bobby Womack: The Bravest Man in the Universe
4 Willie Nelson: Heroes
5 Penny Nichols: Colors of the Sun
6 Donald Fagen: Sunken Condos
7 Neil Young and Crazy Horse: Psychedelic Pill
8 Iris DeMent: Sing the Delta
9 Dr. John: Locked Down
10 Beach Boys: That's Why God Made the Radio
Archival:
1 Various: Country Soul Sisters: Women in Country Music, 1952-78
2 Carole King: The Legendary Demos
3 Alex Chilton: Free Again: The "1970" Sessions
4 Van Dyke Parks: Song Cycle
5 Paul and Linda McCartney: Ram
Me
1 Public Enemy: Most Of My Heroes Still Don't Appear On No Stamps
2 Van Halen: A Different Kind Of Truth
3 Aimee Mann: Charmer
4 Public Image Ltd.: This Is PIL
5 Neil Young: Americana
6 Lambchop: Mr. M
7 Bob Mould: Silver Age
8 Paul Weller: Sonik Kicks
9 Iris DeMent: Sing the Delta
10 Ian Hunter: When I'm President
Best reissue: Satchmo at the National Press Club: Red Beans and Rice-ly Yours.