My Top Music Of The Week 8/14

1.  Something To Tell You - HAIM **2 weeks #1**
(Columbia - 2017)

2.  Pollinator - Blondie
(Noble ID - 2017)

3.  The Love Songs - ABBA
(Pickwick - 1989) UK

This disc was the last of four in a series by Pickwick Music.  The three previous ones were The Hits, The Hits Vol. 2, and The Hits 3.  The last release was titled The Love Songs as there were only two singles yet to be included, So Long and Under Attack.

4.  The Very Best Of Eve Graham & The New Seekers
(Home compilation)

I put this disc together using 16 songs by the New Seekers with Eve Graham on lead vocals.  These include the singles Look What They've Done To My Song Ma, Beautiful People, The Nickel Song, The Greatest Song I Ever Heard, and I Wanna Go Back.  I tagged three duet singles with former New Seekers member (and Eve's husband), Kevin Finn, at the end.

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

6.  Anthology - Dave & Sugar
(Renaissance - 1998)

This disc is made up of 23 singles and album tracks.  It includes their three #1 US Country hits The Door Is Always Open, Tear Time, and Golden Tears.

7.  Favorites - Juice Newton
(Home compilation)

I put this together on Spotify.  It's mainly inspired by both the original and expanded versions of Juice's Greatest Hits album on Capitol from 1984.  The only difference is the inclusion of three later RCA singles A Little Love, Can't Wait All Night, and Both To Each Other (Friends And Lovers), a country version of Carl Anderson and Gloria Loring's hit Juice recorded with Eddie Rabbitt.

8.  Gold - Olivia Newton-John
(Hip-O - 2005)

For my money, this 2-CD set is the piece de resistance of compilations by Olivia.  It has practically every single she ever released including two versions of I Honestly Love You (the original and 1998 remake).  One bonus track is thrown in, Fool Country.  It was recorded for Xanadu but previously only available at the B-side of Magic in 1980.

9.  The Very Best Of Frida 1967-1996
(Home compilation)

I put this disc together combining the ABBA singer's solo and group work.  This includes the original Swedish version of Fernando and an a capella version of Dancing Queen with The Real Group.

10.  Ta-Dah - Scissor Sisters
(Universal/Motown - 2006)

Today is member Ana Matronic's 43rd birthday so I played my two favorites from this disc, I Don't Feel Like Dancin' and Kiss You Off.  The former was co-written by Elton John who also played keyboards on it.

My Top Music Of The Week 8/7

1.  Something To Tell You - HAIM **1 week #1**
(Columbia - 2017)

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

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

4.  Hotcakes - Carly Simon
(Elektra - 1974)

Hotcakes was the second album by Carly to go Top Ten.  It produced the singles Mockingbird (with James Taylor) and Haven't Got Time For The Pain.

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

6.  Fuaim - Clannad
(Tara - 1982)

This was the group's fifth studio album and the second of two to include Enya as a member. She even has a solo on the song An Tull.  This would be the final album by Clannad to gear toward traditional Irish influences for years as they found themselves delving into new age and even rock in the 80's.

7.  Ticket To Ride - Carpenters
(A&M - 1972)

Ticket To Ride is actually the Carpenters' debut album Offering from 1969.  After the first release failed to muster interest, it was reissued with a new title and reached #150 (Billboard, 1972).  The title track did manage to reach #54 on the pop chart in 1970.  This album is one of my favorites by the duo.  The engineering makes the songs come off rather dark, save the peppy What's The Use and All I Can Do.  A cover of Buffalo Springfield's Get Together is included.  The standout track for me is Richard's Your Wonderful Parade.

8.  Romantic? - The Human League
(A&M - 1990)

I've always felt The Human League was vastly underrated.  Romantic? was one of only two albums they released in the 90's.  They returned to their trademark synth-pop sound following the R&B-influenced Crash in 1986.  This album marked the first time one of the female vocalists (Susan Ann Sulley) sang lead on tracks (two, to be exact: A Doorway (?) and Rebound).  Though it failed to chart, Romantic? did generate one top forty single, Heart Like A Wheel (#32, Billboard).

9.  Anthology - Brotherhood Of Man
(Home compilation)

I put three playlists together from everything I had on CD by Brotherhood Of Man.  One list is made up of original songs while the other two consist of covers.

10.  Voulez-Vous: Deluxe Edition - ABBA
(Polar - 2010) Sweden

This is a reissue of ABBA's 1979 album featuring the singles Does Your Mother Know, Chiquitita, and the double A-side of Angeleyes and the title track.  Bonus tracks include the original long version of Summer Night City, Lovelight (the B-side of Chiquitita), Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight), Dream World (an outtake), and the US 12" promo version of Voulez-Vous.  The deluxe edition comes with a DVD that contains music videos, television promos, and ABBA's TV special ABBA In Switzerland that features Kate Bush and Roxy Music as guests.

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

12.  Dulaman - Clannad
(Shanachie - 2005)

This is a reissue of the third album by Clannad recorded in 1975.  During this time the group recorded traditional Irish folk songs as well as originals with a similar influence.