Jesse Winchester

A Memphis boy who now resides in Canada for the usual reasons draftables reside in Canada, Winchester shares with his Southern-identified Canadian producer Robbie Robertson a knack for renewing the traditional in songs that rock and yet are (a title) "quiet about it." The clincher is "Yankee Lady," the most dangerous gotta-hit-the-road-now-babe song ever because it makes male chauvinism seem emotionally responsible--you really feel that fate has betrayed the bread-baking and winning paragon of the title, not her gentle love slave Jesse. (Grade: A-)