My Top Music Of The Week 7/31

1.  Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie **3 weeks #1**
(EastWest - 2017)

From this album I'm posting what I believe to be the most beautiful song Christine has ever written and recorded, Game Of Pretend.  The video was recorded live in Raliegh, North Carolina on June 24th.

2.  Someting To Tell You - HAIM
(Columbia - 2017)

3.  Feels Like Home - Linda Ronstadt
(Elektra - 1995)

Feels Like Home had Linda returning to her country-rock roots after several years.  It was supposed to be the second album by her with Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton but scheduling conflicts prevented it (five songs were reworked with Dolly for Trio II in 1999).  The Blue Train became a chart hit on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart while Walk On was a minor hit on the Country list. The highlight for me is her cover of Neil Young's After The Gold Rush recorded with Emmylou and Valerie Carter.

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

This 2-CD set commemorated Blondie's 40th anniversary in music.  The first disc is comprised of remakes of previous hits (with the exception of Maria which is the original single mix).  The second disc was the fourth studio album by the group since their 1999 return.  Ghosts Of Download is more dance-oriented than previous Blondie albums.  Deborah Harry explored the genre at length as a solo artist.  There are hints of rock with Winter and reggae with Euphoria and Backroom (reminiscent of The Tide Is High). One of the most notable songs is an innovative cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax.  It starts you guessing as it begins as a ballad but then hits you with a techno, space-aged feel.

5.  Lionheart - Kate Bush
(EMI - 1978)

Kate's second album is pretty much a continuation of her first, The Kick Inside (1978), with more pop and light rock selections.  It does give a glimpse into things to come with the rock-edged Don't Push Your Foot On The Heart Brake and the haunting Hammer Horror.  One song that tends to stay in my head is Coffee Homeground where Kate sports a German accent.  Wow was the album's big single.

6.  Come On World - The New Seekers
(Home compilation)

I became a fan of The New Seekers in 1993.  One of the things that has endeared me to them is their ability to combine inspirational and secular themes.  It was the inspirational part that was the idea behind my #6 this week.  Come On World is actually the third collection I've put together with such themes.  Previous titles were Day By Day and The World I Wish For You.  The biggest hit by The New Seekers, I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, is included.  There are also covers of such classics as Morning Has Broken and Blowin' In The Wind.

7.  Barking At Airplanes - Kim Carnes
(One Way - 2001) Expanded edition of 1985 album

8.  Rita Coolidge/Nice Feelin' - Rita Coolidge
(Beat Goes On - 1998) UK

I always felt like Rita should have been as big as Linda Ronstadt and Olivia Newton-John with her AOR style but it never really happened.  This disc consists of Rita's first two albums, both released in 1971.  The only single came from the first one, a cover of Neil Young's I Believe In You.  Born Under A Bad Sign and Only You And I Know are other gems that later appeared on compilations by Rita. The standout track for me is her rendition of Seven Bridges Road, recorded as a ballad (unlike the Eagles' version) and highlighted with brass and strings.

9.  The Other Side Of The Mirror - Stevie Nicks
(Modern - 1989)

This is my favorite album by Stevie.  She herself referred to it as her "magic" album as it was recorded in a castle she bought.  The lyrics, the music, and the vocals all possess a certain elegance she hasn't conveyed before or since.  Rooms On Fire was the biggest hit from the album.  Covers of Cry Wolf and I Still Miss Someone are also present.  Additionally, there are appearances by Bruce Hornsby and Kenny G.

10.  Gold: 35th Anniversary Collection - Carpenters
(A&M - 2004)

Highlights from this 2-CD set include the rare recordings of Leave Yesterday Behind, The Rainbow Connection, and California Dreamin'.  It also contains the single mix of Solitaire.

11.  Voyeur - Berlin
(iMusic - 2002)

12.  My Colouring Book - Agnetha Faltskog
(WEA - 2004) Sweden

13.  Greatest Hits - Heart
(Epic/Legacy - 1998)

This compilation is rather unique as it covers Heart's beginnings from 1976 to 1983.  It has the bonus of one new song, Strong Strong Wind.  The top ten hits Magic Man and Tell It Like It Is are included. The one left-field track is the reprise version of Dreamboat Annie.  It is the longest studio version which I'd say was the motive.

14.  The Rumour - Olivia Newton-John
(Festival - 1998) Australia

Olivia's final album for MCA in the US was probably her most socially-conscious. The songs covered such topics as safe sex (Love And Let Live), environmental awareness (Let's Talk About Tomorrow), divorce (It's Not Heaven), and female bread-winners (Get Out).  The title track was co-written by Elton John who also sang backup and played keyboards.  An early version, and my favorite, of Can't We Talk It Over In Bed is also included. Grayson Hugh had a hit with it as Talk It Over. My copy of the disc is an import with the bonus track It's Always Australia For Me.

15.  90's Mix - Various Artists
(Home compilation)

16.  Then He Kissed Me/Blame It On Love - Rachel Sweet
(Collectables - 2005)

This disc is made up of Rachel's last two albums from 1981 and 1982, respectively.  Then He Kissed Me generated Rachel's only top 40 single, Everlasting Love, with Rex Smith.  It also contains her original recording of Shadows Of The Night, a later hit for Pat Benatar.  Rachel left music after Blame It On Love to become a television producer.

My Top Music Of The Week 7/24

1.  Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie **2 weeks #1**
(EastWest - 2017)

Lindsey and Christine took a backseat to Blondie, Mac & Katie Kissoon, and Prelude after their first week at #1 on my list but made their way back!  I listed the recording label in error since posting here again.  EastWest is a division of Atlantic, what I previously credited.

2.  How Do You Do - Mouth & MacNeal
(Rotation - 1999) Holland

The title track was this Dutch duo's one-hit wonder in the US (#8, Billboard, 1972).  My #2 is a compilation of 16 songs.  Another US entry Hey You Love is included.  It also contains the English version of I See A Star which came in third in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 (ABBA came in first with Waterloo).

3.  Something To Tell You - HAIM (NEW)
(Columbia - 2017)

Admittedly, I'm not big on today's music.  The last current artist I took an interest in was Adele. However, I read a review of the new album by HAIM in my local paper and it piqued my curiosity. The group consists of sisters Este, Alana, and Danielle Haim. The review mentioned their sound as being inspired by the 70s. I listened to Something To Tell You last night and love it.  Their blend of pop and psychadelia is quite refreshing. I've posted the video for the single Want You Back below which has an element of greatness of its own.

4.  Anthology - Mac & Katie Kissoon
(Home compilation)

5.  Playlist - Brotherhood Of Man
(Home compilation)

Brotherhood of Man started out as pop vocal group whose themes were more geared toward "flower child" and "peace-love-dove" elements.  They had a US hit in 1970 with United We Stand (#13, Billboard).  After two albums, they disbanded and founder Tony Burrows (Edison Lighthouse) reformed them as a sort of ABBA knock-off.  It's worked ever since as they perform live to this day. My #5 this week is part of an anthology I put together combining everything I had by the group on CD. Save Your Kisses For Me (#27, Billboard, 1976) is among the tracks.

6.  The Very Best Of Fleetwood Mac
(Reprise - 2002)

I think this is the perfect capsule of the Lindsey Buckingham-Stevie Nicks era of the group.  The 2-CD set covers their work from 1975 to 1997. Bonus tracks from 1988's Greatest Hits, As Long As You Follow and No Questions Asked, are included as well as Skies The Limit from Behind The Mask and Paper Doll from 25 Years: The Chain (all post-Lindsey recordings).  One rare gem is a live version of Lindsey's Go Insane, an outtake from 1997's The Dance.

7.  The Essential Collection - ABBA
(Polydor - 2012)

One would say there are too many compilations out there by ABBA, and they might be right. However, my #7 this week is done up like one should be.  It covers the group's career from 1972 to 1982 without the crowding of bonus remixes as with The Definitive Collection.  There are also a few non-singles inserted making it more interesting.

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

This was the first CD I ever bought by the group.  I read a review in Goldmine where it talked about their being a combined rock band, orchestra, and choir.  It also mentioned their costuming of white robes and I was intrigued.  It's all an amazing concept.  Together We're Heavy has come to be my favorite album by The Polyphonic Spree.  It takes on a progressive rock approach with it's lengthy epic recordings and a couple of "blink and you miss it" tracks.  They haven't released an album like it before or since which is kind of a shame. Singles include Hold Me Now and Two Thousand Places.

9.  Archive Series - Prelude
(Rialto - 1997)

10.  Lighthouse - Kim Carnes
(EMI-America - 1986)

After a few albums highlighting the 80's synthesizer sound, Kim returned to a folk-rock feel with Lighthouse.  Divided Hearts and I'd Lie To You For Your Love (my favorite on the album) were the two singles released from it.

11.  The Essential Helen Reddy Collection: I Am Woman
(Razor & Tie - 1998)

This compilation covers Helen's career from 1971 to 1981.  All of the key singles are present including Delta Dawn, Angie Baby, You And Me Against The World, and the title track.  It also contains a recording of the Beatles' Fool On The Hill from the 1976 movie All This And World War II as well as Never Say Goodbye from the 1980 movie Continental Divide.

12.  Little Queen - Heart
(Epic/Legacy - 2004)

Bonus tracks on this reissue of Heart's 1977 album include a demo version of Love Alive entitled Too Long A Time as well as a live version of Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven.  Singles from the original album are Barracuda, Kick It Out, and the title track.

13.  After The Goldrush: The Dawn/Pye Anthology 1973-1977 - Prelude
(Sanctuary - 2006)

14.  90's Mix - Various Artists
(Home compilation)

I put this mix together on YouTube consisting of 82 songs by artists either currently or formerly in my personal music collection.  If you'd like to check it out, just go to this link:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnQBnNTT2mO75x2cAUu8R6KHnhZ5oFVcA

15.  Almighty presents We Love ABBA: The Mamma Mia Dance Collection, Vol. 1 - AbbaCadabra
(Almighty - 2008)

AbbaCadabra is the only ABBA tribute group I've ever taken an active interest in. I've always liked how they could take a song and turn it into a house music delight.  Though it's available on CD, I listen to the digital version on Spotify.  It includes a 20-track megamix as a second playlist.

My Top Music Of The Week 7/17

1.  After The Goldrush: The Dawn/Pye Anthology 1973-1977 - Prelude **2 weeks #1**
(Sanctuary - 2006)

2.  Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie
(Atlantic - 2017)

Mitchell Froom serves as the "fifth member" of Fleetwood Mac on Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie's new album. He co-produced it with Lindsey and is the only other musician on it besides Lindsey, Christine, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie. He was a member of Gamma in the 80s with future Heart drummer Denny Carmassi. He was also married to Suzanne Vega and produced two of her albums in the 90s (based on that I can hear his influence on Lindsey and Christine's disc).

3.  Pollinator - Blondie
(Noble ID - 2017)

4.  Box Set - Linda Ronstadt
(Elektra - 1999)

This career-spanning retrospective includes two discs of singles and album tracks, a disc of collaborations, and a disc of rarities.  It is missing one key hit (It's So Easy), but it's an otherwise stellar look at Linda's elaborate body of work including recordings with Nelson Riddle and Spanish offerings.

5.  Mad Love - Linda Ronstadt
(Asylum - 1980)

Mad Love was the first album I ever bought by Linda.  It was also a departure from her country-rock style as she explored a more new wave approach (three Elvis Costello compositions, no less).  The album's singles were the top ten How Do I Make You and Hurt So Bad as well as I Can't Let Go.

6.  Tear Time - Dave & Sugar
(RCA - 1978)

This was one of two 8-tracks my parents owned and played frequently on summer trips when I was growing up.  As an adult, I went on to collect the trio's entire catalog on LP as well as one disc.  Tear Time produced two Country chart singles, the #1 title track and Gotta Quit Lookin' At You Baby.  A third single, a cover of Bonnie Tyler's It's A Heartache, would be released from the 1981 Greatest Hits album.

7.  The Complete Collection - Boney M.
(BMG Heritage - 2000) Denmark

Boney M. were an internationally successful disco group who would only have one hit in the US, Rivers Of Babylon (#30, Billboard, 1978).  As with most obscurities in my collection, I went on to find a wealth of great music by the group.  The Complete Collection is probably the best representation of their career.  It does exclude their debut single Baby Do You Wanna Bump, but it's not really a major highlight.  The one misstep is an odd edit of the hit Rasputin, but this set is one I sought out most of their collections.

8.  Voyeur - Berlin
(iMusic - 2002)

This was the group's first studio album since Count Three And Pray in 1986.  Lead singer Terri Nunn formed a new incarnation with a sound most comparable to Garbage.  It worked for me and I hail Voyeur as my favorite Berlin album.

9.  Bare Trees - Fleetwood Mac
(Reprise - 1972)

Bare Trees was the second album to include Bob Welch as a guitarist and vocalist.  It contains an early version of Sentimental Lady which went on to be a successful solo hit for Bob.  Another major highlight is Christine McVie's Spare Me A Little Of Your Love.  It became the last album with guitarist-vocalist Danny Kirwan.

10.  Made In America - Carpenters
(A&M - 1981)

This became the final studio album Karen recorded with Richard before her death two years later.  It generated the duo's last top twenty single, Touch Me When We're Dancing.  Other singles include (Want You) Back In My Life Again, Those Good Old Dreams, and Beechwood 4-5789.

11.  Barking At Airplanes - Kim Carnes
(One Way - 2001)

For my money, Kim is one of the most underrated artists of the last thirty-plus years.  I especially think she recorded some of the best pop albums of the 80s.  My #11 this week is an expanded edition of Kim's 1985 album which produced the top fifteen hit Crazy In The Night (Barking At Airplanes).  Bonus tracks include I Am A Camera, Forever, and a solo version of Make No Mistake, He's Mine.

12.  My Colouring Book - Agnetha Faltskog
(WEA - 2004) Sweden

At the time of its release, this was the first album by the ABBA singer since 1987.  It was a collection of covers of songs by artists she'd always admired including Sealed With A Kiss and The End Of The World.

13.  Retrospective: The Best Of Suzanne Vega
(A&M - 2003) 

Suzanne is another underrated artist whose talents went largely ignored past Luka, though Tom's Diner with DNA kept her from being a one-hit wonder.  Retrospective contains 21 folk-laced gems including a live version of The Queen And The Soldier and Woman On The Tier (I'll See You Through) from the Dead Man Walking soundtrack.

14.  Essential Collection - The Motels
(Capitol - 2002)

This disc contains 15 songs from the group's career such as the top ten hits Only The Lonely and Suddenly Last Summer.

My Top Music Of The Week 7/10

1.  After The Goldrush: The Dawn/Pye Anthology 1973-1977 - Prelude (NEW) **1 week #1**
(Sanctuary - 2006)
I discovered Prelude on an online radio station called Pop Goes The 70's.  They had played the group's only US pop hit, an a cappella cover of Neil Young's After The Goldrush.  I was already a fan of Linda Ronstadt's version recorded in 1995.  I'm not a fan of Neil's, but even his original is good.  I went on to buy one Prelude CD and one LP.  However, I'd put them on the back-burner until I found this anthology on Spotify.  They remind me a little of Crosby, Stills & Nash with their harmonies. This collection is comprised of Prelude's first four albums How Long Is Forever? (released as After The Goldrush in the US), Dutch Courage, Owlcreek Incident (which I have), and Back Into The Light.

2.  Anthology - Mac & Katie Kissoon
(Home compilation)

3.  Archive Series - Prelude
(Rialto - 1997)
This is the CD I purchased by Prelude several years ago.  I came to find out this week that it's comprised of the group's work after 1977.  This includes a re-recording of After The Goldrush. Additionally it contains the UK hit Platinum Blonde.

4.  Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie
(Atlantic - 2017)

5.  Portrait - The 5th Dimension
(Buddha - 2000)
This is a reissue of the group's 1970 album featuring the hits One Less Bell To Answer, Puppet Man, and Save The Country.  The highlight for me is the medley of The Declaration, A Change Is Gonna Come, and People Got To Be Free.  The single On The Beach (In The Summertime) is included as a bonus track.

6.  Greatest Hits - Human League
(A&M - 1988)
Greatest Hits is the first official compilation by the group.  It features the #1 hits Don't You Want Me and Human as well as the top ten (Keep Feeling) Fascination.  An early single by the original lineup, Being Boiled (1978), made its US debut on this disc.

7.  Tonight - Blondie (NEW - Track)
(2017)
This song is a bonus track on some copies of the group's current album Pollinator.  It was added on YouTube this week where I played it.

8.  Pollinator - Blondie
(Noble ID - 2017)
Blondie's current album finds them back to a more rock sound after the dance-oriented Ghosts Of Download (2014). It includes appearances by Joan Jett and John Roberts (Bob's Burgers).  It's my top album of the year being #1 for six week so far.

9.  Private Audition - Heart
(Epic - 1982)
This includes the top forty single This Man Is Mine as well as the rock hit City's Burning.  It became the first album to feature more than one song by Nancy Wilson, The Situation and One Word.

10.  The Best Of Linda Ronstadt 1991-2006
(Home compilation)
I intended for this to be something that picked up where The Very Best Of Linda Ronstadt left off. I put this it together blending singles, covers, and collaborations with Valerie Carter, Emmylou Harris, Aaron Neville, Bernie Leadon, Dolly Parton, and Ann Savoy.

11.  Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Eurythmics
(RCA - 2005)
This is an expanded  version of the duo's 1982 album.  It features the singles Love Is A Stranger and the #1 title track.  Bonus songs include Home Is Where The Heart Is, Monkey Monkey, Baby's Gone Blue, Satellite Of Love, and remixes of the two singles.

12.  A Day Without Rain - Enya
(Reprise - 2000)
A Day Without Rain is Enya's most successful album to date reaching #2 in the US.  It features the singles Only Time and Wild Child.

13.  Gold: Greatest Hits - ABBA
(Polydor - 2008)
This is a reissue of the 1992 compilation by the group.  The full versions of Voulez-Vous and The Name Of The Game are used this time around.

14.  Knock On Wood: The Anthology (Edit) - Amii Stewart
(Home compilation)
The official release of this came out last year.  There are numerous versions of a few songs so I made a playlist on Spotify that narrows it down to one of each.  Singles include the #1 title track as well as Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven, The Letter, and Jealousy.

15.  One Voice - Barbra Streisand
(Columbia - 1987)
This live album is derived from Barbra's HBO special.  Barry Gibb is a guest on Guilty and What Kind Of Fool.



Prelude, "After The Goldrush" (US #22, Billboard, 1974):

My Top Music Of The Week 7/3

1.  Anthology - Mac & Katie Kissoon **1 week #1**
(NEW - Home compilation)
I gave an overview of this original collection here on July 1.

2.  Divinyls
(Virgin - 1990)
This was the duo's most successful album featuring the hit single "I Touch Myself."

3.  Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie
(Atlantic - 2017)
The new "Fleetwood Mac" album doesn't disappoint even with the absence of Stevie Nicks.  It reminds me a little of "Tango In The Night." My favorite song on it is Christine's "Game Of Pretend."

4.  These Dreams: Heart's Greatest Hits
(Capitol - 1997)
This is a clever combining of singles from all of Heart's albums from 1985 to 1995 as well as their Mushroom singles and live versions of CBS singles (licensed by Capitol).

5.  The Groop 2.0
(Home compilation)
The Groop gained notoriety after having two of their songs on the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack in 1969. They released their only album (self-titled) afterward.  It was reissued with bonus tracks in 2007.  I made my own expanded edition with the Midnight Cowboy tracks.

6.  The Singles 1976-2014 - Blondie
(Home compilation)
I put this together on Spotify using all of the group's singles up to their Ghosts Of Download album.

7.  I See A Star: The Mouth & MacNeal Anthology
(Home compilation)
I compiled this using songs from the duo's CDs The Singles +, How Do You Do (Dutch compilation), and the LP Pocketful Of Hits.  It includes an English and Dutch version of the title track.

8.  The Very Best Of Linda Ronstadt
(Elektra - 2002)
This collection covers Linda's career from 1967 to 1993.

9.  Frida
(Universal - 2002) Sweden
This album is actually called 14 Hits.  However, I played it on Spotify and it's identified as self-titled. It's a collection of solo tracks by the ABBA singer from 1975 to 1984.

10.  The Swinging Soul Of Mac & Katie Kissoon...Plus
(G5 - 1989) France
This was the first CD I bought by the duo.  It's one of two I used to put together my #1 this week.

11.  Dancing In Berlin: The Collection - Berlin
(Home compilation)
I compiled this using songs from the group's albums from 1982 to 2002.  It includes two songs from lead singer Terri Nunn's only solo album Moment Of Truth.

12.  One Of Us - Joan Osborne
(Artemis Nashville - 2005)
This collection is made up of mostly covers but includes Joan's worldwide hit of the same name.

New Home Compilation: "Anthology," by MAC & KATIE KISSOON

This is my first post for Blogspot in five years.  After experimenting with other forums, I decided to come back.

Mac & Katie Kissoon are a brother-sister duo from Trinidad.  They were a one-hit wonder in the US with the song "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep."  I discovered them in a rather unusual way for me.  I first heard the fore-mentioned song played on Comcast's Music Choice 70s channel.  I went on to purchase the 45 plus two import compilation CDs.  I decided most recently to sell the CDs for extra money but not before ripping them to my computer and making a large compilation out them.  The result is a total of 36 tracks over two playlists.

I liken Mac and Katie's sound to that of Donny & Marie Osmond.  They also fit in with my love of such European artists as The New Seekers, Mouth & MacNeal, Brotherhood Of Man, and Middle Of The Road who originally recorded Chripy Chirpy Cheep Cheep but only charted abroad with it. Unlike the latter artists listed, I hadn't played much of the Kissoons and am working on changing that.

Highlights of my original anthology include an early version of Love Will Keep Us Together (a #12 hit for them in the Netherlands, 1973), covers of It's All Over Now (Bobby Womack) and Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) (Edison Lighthouse), and two Mouth & MacNeal songs, Hey You Love (#1 in Switzerland) and Sing Along.  My favorite of all the songs included is one called Otis, Janis, Jimi And Me.  It's a tribute to Redding, Joplin, and Hendrix and has a catchy rhythm that blends R&B with a country feel.

Mac and Katie released a comeback CD in 1997 called From Now On which I hope to get a copy of eventually.  Katie has also had a stellar career as a background vocalist singing with such artists as The Human League and Pink Floyd.

"Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" (Billboard #20, US, 1971):

A detailed discography can be found at https://www.discogs.com/artist/388339-Mac-And-Katie-Kissoon.