Rick Roberts - Windmills (1972) Vinyl Rip

Guitarist and singer Rick Roberts' time in the spotlight was rather brief, but he made consistently strong recordings. Following the breakup of the Flying Burrito Brothers in 1972, Roberts made two solo albums for A&M, of which Windmills is the first. Roberts' "In My Own Small Way" was recorded by the Flying Burrito Brothers but wasn't issued in the U.S. prior to the band's demise; this tune leans more toward bluegrass than the rock heard on the rest of the release, and it includes ex-Burrito Bernie Leadon on banjo and harmony vocals. His "Sail Away" is rather long by comparison to most rock ballads at over seven minutes, but this catchy composition doesn't drag at all. His low-key ballad "Jenny's Blues" has minimal accompaniment. The album's supporting cast and guests also include Don Henley, Jackson Browne, Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Al Perkins, and Byron Berline. Although some of this music has appeared on a 1979 compilation, the original LP will likely be difficult to find.