Vintage Guitar: Hit List Reviews: Some Kinda Summer

Dan Forte

December 2025

When he began work on his latest solo album, Richard Bennett had a tough act to follow - namely, himself. His seven prior efforts were all outstanding, but 2021's global/Americana Tall Tale lunes absolutely crackled. Some Kinda Summer upholds the highest standards set by himself and

generations of guitar greats. As impressive as his solo work is, Bennett is best known as an accompanist, having toured and recorded for decades with Mark Knopfler and Neil Diamond. In addition to sessions with Glen Campbell, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel, the Four Tops, and a dozen with Rodney Crowell, he has produced Steve

Earle, Marty Stuart, and Emmylou Harris. Bennett's solo albums showcase his beau- tiful instrumental compositions. On Sum- mer, he summons mentor Al Casey and close friend Duane Eddy, but also shows he sadept at country, jazz, and steel. For "Kava Keen," he grabs an acoustic four-string Del Vecchio cavaquinho, and on the serene "Beauty and the Beatnik," his heavily tremolo'd Gretsch

6120 trades solos with a Crown gut-string. Richard's tasteful playing is masterful without resorting to chops, and his wordless compositions invite listeners to envision their own screenplays. Phil Spector called the records he produced "littlesymphonies."

Bennett's songs are little movies.