My Top Music Of The Week 4/18

1. Bat Out Of Hell - Meat Loaf (NEW, 1977) **1 week #1**

I've always enjoyed the music of Meat Loaf as well as Jim Steinman's writing and production. However, I'd never disciplined myself enough to play an ML album until this week. I did own the CD Hits Out Of Hell but sold it for need of money. Even then, I didn't play it enough to appreciate it. It's amazing what an artist's death can do.

2. Get Up With Brotherhood Of Man (NEW, 2013)

Around roughly 1997, Brotherhood Of Man recorded a slew of new versions of their hits as well as new cover songs. Many independent albums were released with the material and my #2 is one of them. Among the ones I'd never heard are Love Grows (Edison Lighthouse) and a medley of You're The One That I Want and Summer Nights (John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John).

3. Early Works 1972-1976 - ABBA (Home CD)

I put this together using the group's singles, selected album tracks, and B-sides. Hits include Waterloo, Honey Honey, SOS, I Do I Do I Do I Do I Do, Mamma Mia, Fernando

4. The Very Best Of Guys 'N Dolls (Home playlist)

This is my condensed version of the group's compilation There's A Whole Lot Of Love: The Greatest Hits. The title track was their biggest hit.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4AxtumLEO3p6VzCVIJGrjW

5. The Very Best Of Ellen Foley (1992)

Inspired by my Meat Loaf exploration, I played this collection which includes Ellen's #1 Dutch single, We Belong To The Night.

6. Dead Ringer - Meat Loaf (NEW, 1981)

Meat Loaf's second album came after a bout with losing his voice. You can tell a dramatic difference here, but to me he sounds like a classical tenor doing rock. Dead Ringer contains his original version of Read 'Em And Weep (a hit for Barry Manilow) and the chart single I'm Gonna Love Her For Both Of Us. Cher teams up with him on Dead Ringer For Love. 

7. The Albums 1970-73 - The New Seekers (2019)

This week I played the first disc of this set which includes the group's first two albums The New Seekers and Keith Potger & The New Seekers, both released in 1970 (Keith was a member of The Seekers who formed the new group). The singles were Meet My Lord and Look What They've Done To My Song Ma (the latter became their first US Top 40 hit). There are two bonus tracks from a single Keith released in 1969, The World Would Never Turn Again and Santa Maria.

8. Spoiled Girl - Carly Simon (1985)

Carly's only album for Epic Records contains the singles Tired Of Being Blonde and My New Boyfriend. A bonus track, Black Honeymoon, is included on the reissue.

9. Anthology - Katrina & The Waves (1995)

The title of this compilation is a bit overstated. It's merely made up of the group's self-titled 1985 album and four songs from their 1986 follow-up Waves. The singles were Walking On Sunshine, Do You Want Crying, Que Te Quiero, Is That It?, and Sun Street.

10. The Best Of Jane Olivor (1990)

Jane's biggest hit on this album was the adult contemporary single The Last Time I Felt Like This with Johnny Mathis. There's also her two charting pop songs, He's So Fine and Some Enchanted Evening.

11. 70's Mix - Various Artists (Home playlist)

I added the Eagles (Take It To The Limit) and Don Francisco (He's Alive) this week.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnQBnNTT2mO59DCNnbLPh01oA0KKsgGYG

12. The Hunter - Blondie (1982)

Blondie's last album for 17 years contains the singles Island Of Lost Souls and War Child.

My Top Music Of The Week 4/9

1. 50 Years: Don't Stop - Fleetwood Mac (2018) **5 weeks #1**

Christine McVie is releasing a new solo album in June entitled Songbird. I'm getting geared up for it.

2. Dedicated To The One I Love - Linda Ronstadt (1996)

Linda recorded this album of covers as lullabies. The vocals are mostly handled by Linda with Valerie Carter on harmony. Aaron Neville appears in a duet on Brahms Lullaby.

3. Carpenters (1971)

The duo's third album includes the singles Rainy Days And Mondays, Superstar, and For All We Know.

4. Pleasure Victim - Berlin (1982)

Berlin's breakthrough album contains such techno staples as Sex (I'm A...), The Metro, and Masquerade.

5. The Albums 1970-73 - The New Seekers (2018)

I selected the second disc of the box set featuring the albums Beautiful People and New Colours, both released in 1971. Singles include Beautiful People, Never Ending Song Of Love, When There's No Love Left, Good Old Fashioned Music, and Tonight.

6. Plastic Letters - Blondie (2001)

This is a reissue of the group's second album from 1977 featuring Denis and (I'm Always Touched By Your Presence, Dear. Bonus tracks include Once I Had A Love (aka The Disco Song, an early version of Heart Of Glass), Scenery, Poet's Problem, and a live version of Detroit 442.

7. Voyage - ABBA (2021)

ABBA lost Record of the Year to Silk Sonic at the Grammy awards this year. On the plus side, Dancing Queen was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016.

8. The Kick Inside - Kate Bush (1978)

Kate's debut album includes Wuthering Heights and The Man With The Child In His Eyes.

9. Anytime...Anywhere/Love Me Again - Rita Coolidge (2008)

This is a pairing of Rita's 1977 and 1978 albums, respectively. It contains such singles as (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher, We're All Alone, The Way You Do The Things You Do, and You.

10. The Groop 2.0 (Home playlist)

The Groop gained notoriety for having two songs in the film Midnight Cowboy, A Famous Myth and Tears And Joys, both of which I added to the 2007 reissue of their only album from 1969.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2oBxwM1BCETjJWyp5OFEti

My Top Music Of The Week 4/2

1. Voyage - ABBA (2021) **14 weeks #1**

ABBA has received their first-ever Grammy nomination for Record of the Year (I Still Have Faith In You). The awards are being televised tomorrow night. Fingers crossed!

2. Chain Reaction: The Very Best Of Diana Ross (Home playlist)

I put this together using 15 of Diana's solo singles. The title track is the only one not to make the Top 40 but is my favorite by her.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1i4UIB2Oada2bHnDQVkjbx

3. Afflatus - The Polyphonic Spree (2021)

4. The Collection - Rita Coolidge (Import, 1995)

5. Come Upstairs - Carly Simon (1980)

Carly's first album for Warner Bros. includes the singles Jesse,Take Me As I Am, and the title track.

6. 4 Play - Berlin (2005)

The Polyphonic Spree's current album has me revisiting other covers albums I've loved over the years. Berlin's contains nine songs including favorites The Dope Show (Marilyn Manson) and For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield). No More Words from VH-1's Bands Reunited is also present.

7. Dave & Sugar (1976)

The trio's debut album includes the #1 country hit The Door Is Always Open as well as the singles I'm Gonna Love You and Queen Of The Silver Dollar.

8. Welcome Home: The Collection - Peters & Lee (2014)

9. Stars/Time/Bubbles/Love - The Free Design (2004)

This is a reissue of the group's 1970 album. It contains a cover of Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head. Bonus tracks include the previously unreleased To A Black Boy and the single mix of Butterflies Are Free.

10. Panic Of Girls - Blondie (2011)