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.