James Lee Stanley is chicken soup for my pandemic weary soul. I’m talking Grandma Katz’s soup, the most flavorful, soothing, healing, and delicious. I was having a kinda funky day, an hour and a half in James’ good company… hearing his stories, listening and watching him play, was just what the doctor ordered.

There’s a reason this man has opened for everyone from Bonnie Raitt, Art Garfunkle, Bill Cosby (before we knew), Robin Williams, Dionne Warwick, and Robin Trower, to name just some. His 50+ years friendship and musical partnership with Peter Tork was covered from start to bottom when Peter was felled by rare cancer under his tongue. Shockingly, James survived his own bout of tongue cancer months later, when his beloved wife Evelina suggested an endoscopy, without cause. James recounted the discovery, cause, treatment, and his miraculous, speedy recovery to health, singing at a gig a mere few months post-surgery. He detailed the diet to boost his immune system and, from which he lost 35 pounds, and has kept it off for two years. That alone makes this worth the listen. But there’s so much more from this man who opened for Steven Wright for three years at the height of his fame, great story there, has released 35 albums, so many stories there, wrote a musical, appeared on Star Trek Deep Space 9 for five years, we didn’t even get to that.

James treated us to a haunting new one, Heart in Amber, nothing like hearing the origin of a song, Moonlight Ride, from his All Wood And Doors, and a Stanley classic, When Love Comes Knocking Around, which I can’t stop singing. Happens every time I hear it.

We talked about his upcoming album, All Wood And Led with Dan Navarro, and the Gary J. Katz (who made docs on Badfinger, Humble Pie, Steve Marriott, Manassas) documentary, The Extraordinary Journey of James Lee Stanley, making festival rounds currently and soon to drop.

The man could always play, sing and entertain the crap out of us, he’s looking and sounding better than ever. Looks like the year and half forced hiatus served in its fashion.

I feel so damn good in the wake of this time with James. Two thumbs and all other digits way up.

A treasured friend and a gem of an artist, you can find all of James’ music at JamesLeeStanley.com - I for one, after hearing him again want more, more, more.

James Lee Stanley Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 9/22/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/2Wa0yus

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular people, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt