Kevin Bryan reviews the latest music releases.

J D Souther: Natural History ***

THE name of John David Souther may not mean too much to the average record-buyer these days, but this gifted singer-songwriter has had a hand in penning numerous country-rock classics over the years, including a string of hits for his old friends The Eagles.

Natural History finds Souther investing the cream of his illustrious back catalogue with poignancy and grace as he serves up tasteful new renditions of golden oldies such as New Kid In Town, Best of My Love and You're Only Lonely.

Out now (EOM-CD-2138: £9.99)

Aaron Copland : Fanfare for America ***

THIS absorbing film by Andreas Skipis was first shown on German television ten years ago, and explores the life and career of one of one of the last century's finest classical composers as it alternates between historic archive footage and some much more recent performances of his work.

Copland's creations were often influenced by elements of folk music and jazz, and this innate eclecticism gave his writing a much broader popular appeal than many of his contemporaries could ever have hoped to emulate, with pieces such as Rodeo, Billy The Kid and Appalachian Spring testifying to the New Yorker's rare qualities as a composer of distinctively American orchestral music.

Out now (Arthaus 101573: £13.19)

Spirit: The Original Potato Land ****

AN INTERESTING 2-CD set culled from the late Randy California's extensive tape archives, delivering an expanded version of the quirky concept album that the guitarist recorded in tandem with drummer Ed Cassidy during the early 70s.

The finished product was rejected by their American record company at the time and had to wait until 1981 to be released on this side of the Atlantic, where it rather surprisingly gave this excellent outfit their only Top 40 placing.

To describe Potatoland as patchy would be something of an understatement, but when California was good he was very very good and devotees of his unique brand of tuneful psychedelia would be well advised to lend an ear to stand-out tracks such as Fish Fry Road, Turn To The Right and My Friend.

Out now (Retroworld FLOATM 6080: £7.49)

Jackie Leven and Michael Cosgrave: Wayside Shrines and the Code of the Travelling Man ****

I VERY much doubt Fife-born Leven has ever looked on music-making as a career in the conventional sense of the word, but the former Doll by Doll frontman has been delighting his devoted coterie of fans for more than three decades now and his latest Cooking Vinyl offering is a deliciously sombre and understated collaboration with the multi talented Michael Cosgrave.

Jackie's eclectic fusion of art-rock and Celtic soul is captured in a series of songs penned in hotel rooms during his many tours of Germany, including gems such as Swine Flu Fever Blues and Beware Soul Brother.

Released on September 15 (Cooking Vinyl COOKCD 547: £9.50)

Joan Enric Lluna: Mozart - Clarinet Concerto, Clarinet Quintet ****

THIS splendid offering from Joan Enric Lluna first saw the light of day in 1993 and found the Valencia born clarinettist in typically sparkling form as he tackled two of the most beguiling works in the entire Mozart repertoire.

The Clarinet Concerto was performed with the support of Antony Pay and the English Chamber Orchestra, and the much more subtle and intimate Clarinet Quintet drew on the collective expertise of the highly regarded Brodsky Quartet to underpin Lluna's virtuosic flights of fancy.

Out now (Cala-United CACD 88010: £11.69)