Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Until recently, Lavette was one of the great lost soul divas, a victim of record company indifference in the early ’70s whose recordings were known only to a handful of collectors. Then came 2005’s I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise, which brought Lavette acclaim as a survivor and a powerhouse vocalist. This gritty followup, featuring backing by Southern rockers Drive-By Truckers, will continue to stoke the Lavette revival. Recorded at Muscle Shoals, Alabama, it bristles with astonishing emotional intensity. Sept. 25

Whiteley is a member of one of Canada’s most gifted musical families: like his brother Chris, Ken’s a master of blues, jazz, swing and other styles and plays about 20 instruments (Chris’ kids, Jenny and Dan, are rising stars themselves). Ken’s latest album showcases the depth and range of his talent. Along with cool originals like “Everybody Has the Blues,” featuring pianist Joe Sealy and guitarist Amos Garrett, he deftly tackles gospel, Caribbean folk and even some sizzling Latin music on the rumba-fied title track. Sept. 25

Blondie legend Debbie Harry has been enjoying a resurgence of late, with her presence on Cyndi Laupers’ True Colors Tour and receiving major props from Lily Allen. Harry’s first solo album since 1993’s Debravation is further cause for celebration. Dance-friendly tunes like “Two Times Blue” and her inspired tribute to jailed rapper Lil’ Kim (“Dirty and Deep”) are sure signs the pop icon is back. But it’s her work with Blondie’s Chris Stein, especially the thrilling, tribal-beat experimentalism of “Jen Jen,” that really shines. Sept. 25