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Ah. Another powerpop “classic,” another holy grail rescued from the mists of time and obscurity. Among aficionados, Memphis multiinstrumentalist Van Duren has long been ranked alongside Todd Rundgren, Big Star, Badfinger and fellow cult artist Emitt Rhodes; at one point he even played with Big Star’s Chris Bell and Jody Stephens. Success eluded him, of course, as it eluded so many other similarly-inclined post-Beatles popsters. Two albums, and he was outta here. But now you can see what all the fuss was all about. All those namechecks apply, in spades, on his Jon Tiven-produced ’78 debut: Rhodes/McCartney on the thumping “Yellow Light; Todd on the piano torch ballad “Waiting”; Badfinger on the anthemic “Oh Babe”; and Big Star, Big Star, everywhere, from rockers to folkier moments. Hell, do a blindfold test: you’ll swear this is the missing middle LP between 1 Record and Radio City. Copious liner notes about Duren and the late ‘70s Memphis milieu, courtesy pop archivist Kent Benjamin, round things out. Classic? Are you serious?

Standout Tracks: “New Year’s Eve,” “Yellow Light” FRED MILLS