Gerald McCabe, founder of the famed McCabe's Guitar Shop has died at the age of 82.  He began the rustic guitar shop located in Santa Monica, CA, as a place to repair instruments.  What it grew into from that became a legendary artists' stop and intimate performance location.  His shop personifies the folk music scene in a warm environment that encourages growth.  McCabe's Guitar Shop is a one of a kind establishment that speaks volumes about our music in an exclusive kind of way.  In it's own way, it resembles the uniqueness of CBGBs, the hungry i, Max's Kansas City, and other like them.  While we'll miss the hovering spirit of Mr McCabe, we're thankful that the shop remains.

On January 22, the world lost a founding member, Robert Lester, of the great Chicago soul group, The Chi-lites.  His tenor voice in the band contributed to enduring songs like "Have You Seen Her?" and "Oh, Girl." With over 50 years in the band, Lester, affectionately referred to as Squirrel, succumbed to the ravages of cancer at the age of 67.  Not only will we miss him greatly, but we'll be in constant reminder of him by way of their great songs.  What a voice he adds to the Great Band.

I must offer apologies. On Saturday, I upgraded the OS on my PC and it required far more time than I wanted to provide. By the time I got the PC even basically running with the first install, the program with which I use to publish MusicTAP, well, the amount of email received on this Poll seemed a little daunting. I promise to work hard over the week to bring this animal into captivity. The good news (for stragglers) is that if you haven't contributed yet to the Poll, then here's your final chance. Following is the original post:

Let's start this week with something fun and worthy of discussion,  On Friday while I was driving in to work, I heard a Journey song on the radio.  I've always considered the lead guitar lines played by Neal Schon on their "Who's Crying Now" to be memorable and well-crafted.  I'm even more fixated by his guitar work on the greatly under-appreciated "When You Love a Woman." All of this led me to wondering why you never really hear all THAT much about Neal Schon as a great guitar player of significant note.  Of course there are those will list him in a long list of guitarists but, by and large, he's relegated to the bottom of most lists if he even appears at all.

This led me into deeper thought (I know, how do you concentrate enough to drive, right?).  I began to think of Bill Nelson (BeBop Deluxe), Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash), Rory Gallagher, Roy Buchanon, and a myriad of other extraordinary guitar players that absolutely no one knows nor acknowledges.

For today, and for the rest of the week, let's concentrate on underrated guitarists.  Send me your one guitarist that just does not get any attention (although they should).  They don't have to be virtuoso, just underrated.  One of my choices is Ronnie Wood.  Compare his Faces guitar work with his 30+ years of Rolling Stones guitar work and you'll easily hear 30+ years of suppression.  Ronnie Wood is very underrated as a guitarist.

We live in a world largely fixated by the accepted kings (Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Howe, Eric Clapton, etc), and some of them are overrated (yes, some of them are.  I won't say who I think are overrated out of respect and for the stream of emails I'd receive afterwards).  It's time we gave honorable mention to whom honorable mention is due, don't you think?

Send your selections to this email link and let's get it started.

I can tell you this: Lots of Alex Lifeson, Rik Emmett, and some other interesting names. I had one for myself: Danny Heines. Danny Heines employs some unique techniques in his playing. He has produced five, very good jazz/world albums that many of you would enjoy, I'm sure. My favourite? Every Island. But I love them all.

Finally, we're following the charitable benefits for Orange County musician, Michael Ubaldini, who is suffering a rare infection surrounding his heart valve. He has been hospitalized and that means high bills, which has been mounting since Thanksgiving of last year. On January 31 at Tumbleweeds Saloon in Huntington Beach. Click here for the flyer, and here for more info on how to contribute if you feel it in your heart.

Check back with us on Wednesday.

Robert Metcalf has turned in a review of The Underfall Yard by Big Big Train. We hope that you'll take the time to check the review out and then the band and their album, especially if you're not familiar with them.

We'll see you back here on Wednesday with the Poll work-out (I hope!). Hang in there.

I have a music-related app idea that I'm fleshing out but, surprise, I can't code for it. If anyone out there can write iPhone/iPod apps, and would like to do a collaboration for a 50/50 revenue split, let me know.

The expected LP and 3CD 20th Anniversary Edition of Disintegration by The Cure has slipped further back into calendarland, now scheduling for April 6 from Elektra Records. Make your notes.

The 2LP, 180g Manassas LP by Stephen Stills is now listed for March 30, while Rhino lists the 2LP, 180g set of Pieces by Manassas for the same date.

Mute Records will reissue Delay 1968 (1981), and Unlimited Edition (1976) by Can on March 9.

Mute Records will also release multiple versions of Sisterworld by Liars on March 9. There will be a standard CD issue, a Limited Deluxe Edition CD, and an LP for the title.

Labrador will release the vinyl LP version of Islands by The Mary Onettes on March 9. I like this retro-influenced band.

Bridge 9 Records will release CD and vinyl LP versions of I Was Trying To Describe You... by Crime in Stereo on February 23.

Century Media plan the release of a Deluxe Version of 2009 issue, Shallow Life, by Lacuna Coil. It's scheduled for February 23.

Varese Sarabande will assemble a Live 'best of' for Ambrosia called The Biggest Part of Me - Greatest Hits Live planning to release the CD on March 9.

Hip-O Select will reissue City of Angels by The Miracles, releasing in DD and CD versions. Reissue date is pegged at April 20.

Hip-O Select will also release a 'best of' for The Runaways called The Mercury Albums Anthology on March 16.

Caroline Records has a Be Bop Deluxe Live DD (Digital Download) album on the calendar for February 16 called BBC In Concert. Cool!!

Mute Records has Possessed coming from Balanescu Orchestra on February 16 in DD.

Virgin Records will release the DD versions of Eternity/The Road to Mandalay by Megadeth on February 16.

Mute Records has scheduled Mix-Up from Cabaret Voltaire as a DD issue on February 16.