My Top Music Of The Week 2/20

1. Afflatus - The Polyphonic Spree (2021) **3 weeks #1**

2. Love Songs - Carpenters (1999)

This is a compilation I've never owned but played on Spotify for Valentine's Day this week. It contains 20 tracks including two of the duo's #1 hits, (They Long To Be) Close To You and Top Of The World. There's also the 1977 outtake You're The One, previously released on Lovelines in 1989.

3. Retrospective 2002-2021 - The Polyphonic Spree (Home playlist)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnQBnNTT2mO6FTiUkZYjMH9JNJ7rsHRVj

4. 10 Best - Melissa Manchester (Home CD)

I derived the songs for this disc from Melissa's 1997 compilation, The Essence Of Melissa Manchester. It contains her Top 10 hits Midnight Blue and You Should Hear How She Talks About You as well as Lovers After All, a duet with Peabo Bryson.

5. Voyage - ABBA (2021)

6. Favorites - Juice Newton (Home playlist)

This is made up of mostly songs from Juice's breakthrough albums Juice (1981) and Quiet Lies (1982). Her Top 10 hits Angel Of The Morning, Queen Of Hearts, The Sweetest Thing, and Love's Been A Little Bit Hard On Me are present here. A few later releases round it out such as Both To Each Other (Friends And Lovers) with Eddie Rabbitt.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7AZRFzN56ut7eCHSgVtfuD

7. Together We're Heavy - The Polyphonic Spree (2004)

8. Love Songs - Heart (2006)

This is the other album I played on Valentine's Day. Live versions of the group's hits Magic Man, These Dreams, and Alone are included as well as a cover of Elton John's Love Song.

9. The Very Best Of Eve Graham & The New Seekers (Home CD)

10. Gold - Olivia Newton-John (2005)

This 2-CD set is probably the most comprehensive collection representing Olivia's career starting with If Not For You and ending with her 1998 version I Honestly Love You with Babyface.

11. Anthology - Kim Carnes (Home playlist)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnQBnNTT2mO5_-b0XT9LsyDUNGRQJ0Uih

12. Duets - Linda Ronstadt (2014)

Linda's hits Don't Know Much and All My Life (with Aaron Neville) and Somewhere Out There (with James Ingram) highlight this compilation. There are also two songs, The New Partner Waltz (with Carl Jackson) and Pretty Bird (with Laurie Lewis) which I'd never heard before.

My Top Music Of The Week 2/12

1. Afflatus - The Polyphonic Spree (2021) **2 weeks #1**

According to their video for The Spirit Of Radio (Rush cover), the group recorded this album in twelve hours.

2. Retrospective 2003-2021 - The Polyphonic Spree (NEW; Home playlist)

I decided to put together a career-spanning playlist for the group. It's made up of all of their singles, the full EP of Wait (2006), and all of their official videos from Afflatus.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnQBnNTT2mO6FTiUkZYjMH9JNJ7rsHRVj

3. The Best Of Roberta Flack 1971-1991 (Home CD)

This is my expanded version of The Best Of Roberta Flack from 1981. I added Making Love, Tonight I Celebrate My Love (with Peabo Bryson), and Set The Night To Music (with Maxi Priest).

4. Lush Life - Linda Ronstadt with Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra (1984)

Linda's second album with Riddle includes the singles Skylark and When I Fall In Love.

5. Panic Of Girls - Blondie (2011)

6. Voyage - ABBA (2021)

7. Together We're Heavy - The Polyphonic Spree (2004)

8. Nursery Cryme - Genesis (1971)

This was the group's first album with Phil Collins who sings lead on For Absent Friends. It was also the first with Steve Hackett on guitar until his departure in 1977.

9. A&M Gold Series - Captain & Tennille (1986)

10. We Too Are One - Eurythmics (1989)

Don't Ask Me Why, The King And Queen Of America, Angel, and Revival were the singles from the duo's last album for ten years.

My Top Music Of The Week 2/5

 

1. Afflatus - The Polyphonic Spree (2021) **1 week #1**

After coming in and stalling at #2 for five weeks, Afflatus has become my #1 album this week. This is a great album of covers and I thought it was time.

2. Archive 1967-75 - Genesis (1998)

This is a 4-CD box set chronicling the group's career with Peter Gabriel as lead singer. It's predominantly live recordings including the album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway in its entirety, though there are also demos and B-sides.

3. Best Of Berlin 1979-1988 (1988)

The group's Top 40 hits No More Words and Take My Breath Away are featured as well as the rare first single, Matter Of Time, and two bonus tracks, Blowin' Sky High and a re-recording of For All Tomorrows Lies.

4. Yes, It's True - The Polyphonic Spree (2013)

5. The Collection - Rita Coolidge (1995)

This import contains Rita's Top 10 hits (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher and We're All Alone as well as All Time High from the James Bond film Octopussy. The highlight for me is her 1971 rendition of Seven Bridges Road, later a hit for the Eagles.

6. Heart (1985)

Heart's only #1 album includes their first #1 single These Dreams as well as the Top 10 hits What About Love, Never, and Nothing At All.

7. Hello Big Man - Carly Simon (1983)

This was Carly's third (and last) album for Warner Brothers. It contains the single You Know What To Do. She explores a reggae sound with a cover of Bob Marley's Is This Love as well as the originals Such A Good Boy and Floundering.

8. Voyage - ABBA (2021)

9. Trespass - Genesis (1970)

The group's second album was their premiere foray into progressive rock. The Knife was a standard for them.

10. The Essential Collection 1965-1997 - Carpenters (2002)

11. Blondie 4(0) Ever: Greatest Hits Deluxe Redux/Ghosts Of Download (2014)

12. Keeping Our Love Warm - Captain & Tennille (1980)

This was the duo's second (and last) album for Casablanca. It includes the single This Is Not The First Time, a re-recording of Gentle Stranger, and covers of Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) and Since I Fell For You.

My Top Music Of The Week 1/29

1. Voyage - ABBA (2021) **12 weeks #1**

As of this week, ABBA have my second longest-running #1 since I started my list online in 2006. The 2007 issue of The Groop (first released in 1969) has been #1 longer at 24 weeks. Stay tuned.

2. Afflatus - The Polyphonic Spree (2021)

3. Audio CD - ABBA (Fan CD set)

4. Lovely - The Primitives (1988)

This was the group's debut album which contains the singles Out Of Reach, Way Behind Me, and Crash.

5. The Essential Collection 1965-1997 - Carpenters (2002)

This 4-CD collection is an expansion of the duo's 1991 box set From The Top.

6. What A Life! - Divinyls (1985)

Divinyls' second album includes the singles Casual Encounter, In My Life, Good Die Young, Sleeping Beauty, Pleasure and Pain, and Heart Telegraph.

7. 50 Words For Snow - Kate Bush (2011)

This was the second of two albums Kate released in 2011. It's a winter-themed album with appearances by Elton John, Stephen Fry, and Kate's son Albert McIntosh.

8. All Fired Up: The Very Best Of Pat Benatar (1994)

This 2-CD set covers Pat's career up to 1993. It contains single edits she and husband Neil Giraldo would later pan on Sychronistic Wanderings: Recorded Anthlogy 1979-1999.

9. The Essential 5th Dimension (2011)

This collection is almost identical the group's 1997 release Up-Up And Away: The Definitive Collection from 1997 with substitutions made on the first disc, covering their 60's work.

10. The Beginning Stages Of The Polyphonic Spree (2003)

Since the release of Afflatus last year, I've been back-tracking through the group's catalog. This, their debut album, is great with the exception of the last track A Long Day. It's nearly 40 minutes of psychedelic chords that I personally find hard to sit through, hence the low rank.

11. Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind - Linda Ronstadt featuring Aaron Neville (1989)

This album has Aaron singing with Linda on four of its twelve tracks including the singles Don't Know Much, All My Life, and When Something Is Wrong With My Baby.

12. Testify To Love: The Very Best Of Avalon (2003)

This was the first compilation released by the Contemporary Christian group. It contains personal favorites Give It Up, Take You At Your Word, Can't Live A Day, and the title track.

My Top Music Of The Week 1/22

1. Voyage - ABBA (2021) **11 weeks #1**

2. Afflatus - The Polyphonic Spree (2021)

3. Together We're Heavy - The Polyphonic Spree (2004)

4. One By One - The Free Design (2004)

This is an expanded issue of the group's 1971 album. Bonus tracks include five performances from a concert with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

5. Passionworks 2.0 - Heart (Home playlist)

My updated version of Heart's 1983 album includes re-recordings of Johnny Moon and Language Of Love from their 2016 album Beautiful Broken.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0eQvgi3LsNaLi6Pohtjcbp

6. Lionheart - Kate Bush (1978)

Kate's second album contains the singles Wow and Hammer Horror.

7. Longplay Album Volume II Remastered - Stars On 45 (1981)

8. Credo - The Human League (2011)

This is the group's last album to date. It includes the singles Night People, Sky, Never Let Me Go, and Egomaniac.

9. Blondie 4(0) Ever: Greatest Hits Deluxe Redux/Ghosts Of Download (2014)

10. Gold - Brotherhood Of Man (2019)

11. The Complete Collection - Boney M. (2000)

This 2-CD set is the most comprehensive compilation representing Boney M.'s career I've ever owned. The only downside is a poor edit of Rasputin. The album version is used but it fades early.

12. The Very Best Of Frida 1971-2021 (Home playlist)

I expanded this playlist to include ABBA's I Still Have Faith In You.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnQBnNTT2mO5flA2ef0Co-aW_a6BBaAmo

13. 50 Years: Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac (2018)

This 3-CD set covers the group's career from 1967 to 2013. It contains virtually all single mixes but is so detailed that I don't mind.

14. Favourites - Peters & Lee (1974)

The duo's fourth album includes mostly new songs but carries over a few previously released singles. Its sole single from it was Closer.

My Top Music Of The Week 1/15

1. Voyage - ABBA (2021) **10 weeks #1**

It was announced this week that Voyage was the #1 album in Germany and Sweden for 2021.

2. Afflatus - The Polyphonic Spree (2021)

An official video was made for the group's cover of the Rolling Stone's hit She's A Rainbow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVE8e-xbUQ8

3. Longplay Album Volume II Remastered - Stars On 45 (1981)

I was looking up the date for a Rolling Stones medley by Stars On 45 when I discovered the original LP of my #3 this week, originally titled "Stars On Long Play II Performed By Stars On 45." I found it under an alternate name and title on Spotify, The group places emphasis on the work of ABBA and the Supremes on this album. There's also a medley called "Introductions" featuring the openings of songs.

4. Yes It's True - The Polyphonic Spree (2013)

Ever since Afflatus was released, I've been going back back and playing all the other Polyphonic Spree albums. Yes It's True includes the singles What Would You Do, You Don't Know Me, Popular By Design, and Hold Yourself Up.

5. Audio CD  - ABBA (Fan CD)

This 2-CD set was put together by a fellow Yahoo group member. It's made up mostly of live recordings from bootleg discs but includes a few studio tracks.

6. The Ultimate Collection - Carpenters (2006)

The thing that sets this 3-CD collection apart from most Carpenters compilations is that it contains all original recordings rather than remixes. The third disc includes solo recordings by Karen and Richard.

7. The Divine Miss M - Bette Midler (1972)

Bette's debut album was the very first CD I ever purchased. It contains the hits Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Do You Want To Dance, Friends, and Chapel Of Love.

8. These Dreams: Heart's Greatest Hits (1997)

This CD includes the best from Heart's Capitol catalog such as Alone, All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You, and the title track.

9. I Don't Know How To Love Him/Helen Reddy - Helen Reddy (Home playlist)

I put this together on Spotify. It's Helen's first two albums from 1971 and 1972 respectively. The original recording of I Am Woman is included.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7ujBYsfIr7eQC2LGmRoGoL

10. The Very Best Of The Manhattan Transfer (1994)

This compilation features the hits Boy From New York City, Operator, Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone, and Spice Of Life.

My Top Music Of 2021

 

All albums #1 in 2021

1.      1969 to 1974 – Fleetwood Mac (2020)

2.      Voyage – ABBA (2021)

3.      I Still Have Faith In You/Don’t Shut Me Down – ABBA (Single, 2021)

4.      Gold – The New Seekers (2020)

5.      The Singles +  – Mouth & MacNeal (Home edit of 2007 compilation)

6.      Will You Be Staying After Sunday – The Peppermint Rainbow (Home edit of expanded 1969 album)

7.      The Best of Peters & Lee (1999 issue of 1991 album Through All The Years)

8.      Invitation – Peters & Lee (1976)

9.      Yesterday and Today – Peters & Lee (1982 LP set with duo's The Farewell Album and Unforgettable by Lennie Peters)

10.  Another Link In The Chain – Fleetwood Mac (1994 live bootleg)

11.  An Evening Of New York Songs And Stories – Suzanne Vega (2020)

12.  Women & Song – Fleetwood Mac (Home playlist of songs by Christine McVie, Stevie Nicks, and Bekka Bramlett)

13.  The Complete Studio Recordings – ABBA (2005)

14.  Beg, Steal Or Borrow – The New Seekers (2001 compilation)

15.  Time – Fleetwood Mac (Home edit of 1995 album)

16.  Just A Notion – ABBA (Single, 2021)

17.  Big Hits – Big Mouth (Home CD's with songs by Willem Duyn of Mouth & MacNeal and Big Mouth & Little Eve plus solo)

18.  Retro Gold – Donna Summer (Home edit of The Journey: The Very Best of Donna Summer from 2003)

19.  Retrospective 1968-1972 – Russell Morris (1978)

20.  Singing A Song/Good Fortune – Brotherhood Of Man (2019 expanded issue of 1979 and 1980 albums)