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)