Back in the early ‘70s, Emitt Rhodes was four albums into a promising solo career, lauded as America’s answer to Paul McCartney, when it all suddenly went to pieces. Under mounting pressure from the oppressive demands of a bad contract, he caved inward, making ends meet as a producer for a few years before finally dropping out of sight. But the interest in his music never waned; a favorite of the Bangles, film auteur Wes Anderson and many more, Rhodes had tapped a poignant nerve that only recently stirred him to write again. Thanks, in no small part, to multi-instrumentalist and producer Chris Price, Rainbow Ends glistens with the compact, well-wrought love (and anti-love) songs that carved a niche for Rhodes, with an unmistakably late ‘70s vibe reminiscent of Steely Dan and Michael McDonald-era Doobie Brothers. It might come across as too much of a throwback if it weren’t for the guest list: The mid-tempo opener “Dog on A Chain” features Aimee Mann on harmonies and Jon Brion on lead guitar, while Susanna Hoffs brings her stellar backing chops to “Someone Else” and the bouncy “Put Some Rhythm to It.” Plenty more join the party, and Rhodes himself sounds sure and steady throughout—a triumph in and of itself, for someone who’s been through so much.