MP3 At 3PM: Joe Henry

Cursed with being a songwriter's songwriter, Joe Henry is revered among tunesmiths and critics for both his music (11th album Blood From The Stars is due August 18) and production work (Aimee Mann, Solomon Burke, Betty LaVette). He's basked in the L.A. Largo-scene sun and he's walked in the shadow of Tom Waits (the two share a label, Anti-, a sideman in guitarist Marc Ribot and a gift for writing American characters). With Blood From The Stars, Henry sings the blues, and on album track "The Man I Keep Hid" (premiered below), he does it with Randy Newman-esque showman style. Fun Fact: Henry has long been married to Madonna's sister, Melanie Ciccone. "The Man I Keep Hid" (download): [audio:TheManIKeepHid.mp3]