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.

MY TOP MUSIC OF THE WEEK (9-12)

All titles issued in the US except where noted.

1.  The Best Of TRACEY ULLMAN **3 weeks #1**
     (Rhino - 1992)



2.  My Colouring Book - AGNETHA FALTSKOG
     (WEA - 2004) Sweden

3.  Tapestry - CAROLE KING
     (Epic - 1971)

4.  Reality Effect (US issue) - THE TOURISTS
     (American Beat - 2007) Recorded in 1979
     Different tracklisting from the original UK issue

5.  BLONDIE
     (Chrysalis - 2001) Expanded edition of 1976 album

6.  The Collection - RITA COOLIDGE
     (Spectrum - 1995) UK

7.  Tina! - TINA TURNER
     (Capitol - 2008)

8.  The Very Best Of KIKI DEE
     (Polygram - 1994) UK

9.  Go: The Very Best Of MOBY
     (Mute - 2006) Europe

10.  KAREN CARPENTER
       (A&M - 1996) Recorded in 1979

MY TOP MUSIC OF THE WEEK (9-5)

All titles issued in the US except where noted.

1.  The Best Of TRACEY ULLMAN **2 weeks #1**
     (Rhino - 1992)



Tracey finds herself at #1 on my weekly list for the first time since December 2007.  It's one of my favorites yet with all the other music in my collection I put her on the backburner several times.  Her music style was inspired by the girl groups of the 60's.  She was a one-hit wonder in 1984 when They Don't Know made Billboard's Hot 100 reaching #8 (it missed the Adult Contemporary Top 10 by one notch).  The Best Of Tracey Ullman is made up of her entire first album You Broke My Heart In 17 Places (1983), five songs from her second effort You Caught Me Out (1984), and 4 non-album A-sides.  I broke it out after starting rehearsals for a local production of Beehive, a musical devoted to the evolution of 60's music by top female artists.  This disc has some of the catchiest tunes and covers I've ever heard and I'm inclined to make it more prominent in my listening.

2.  Panic Of Girls - BLONDIE
     (EMI - 2011) UK

3.  Voulez-Vous: Deluxe Edition - ABBA
     (Polar - 2010) Europe
     Expanded edition of 1979 album

4.  Greatest Hits (And More) - HELEN REDDY
     (Capitol - 1987)

*5.  Winter Light - LINDA RONSTADT
     (Elektra - 1993)

*6.  My Colouring Book - AGNETHA FALTSKOG
     (WEA - 2004) Sweden

7.  Will You Be Staying After Sunday? - THE PEPPERMINT RAINBOW
     (Rev-Ola - 2008) UK; Expanded edition of 1969 album

8.  These Dreams: HEART's Greatest Hits
     (Capitol - 1997)

9.  Summer Dream - SWEET PEOPLE
     (Spectrum - 1990) Germany

10.  Relish - JOAN OSBORNE
       (Mercury - 1996)

* Also inspired by my participation in Beehive with its 60's covers.

MY TOP MUSIC OF THE WEEK (8-29)

All titles issued in the US except where noted.

1.  Stars/Time/Bubbles/Love - THE FREE DESIGN **2 weeks #1**
     (Light In The Attic - 2004) Expanded edition of 1970 album

2.  The Best Of TRACEY ULLMAN
     (Rhino - 1992)
     This disc is made up of Tracey's first album You Broke My Heart In 17 Places (1983), 5 songs
     from her second album You Caught Me Out (1984), and 4 non-album A-sides.

3.  Pure - THE PRIMITIVES
     (RCA - 1989)

4.  The Singles 1969-1973 - CARPENTERS
     (A&M - 1973) Japan

5.  Perfect Harmony - THE NEW SEEKERS
     (Spectrum - 1993) Germany

6.  25 Years: The Chain - FLEETWOOD MAC
     (Warner Bros. - 1992)

7.  THE GROOP
     (Sundazed - 2007) Expanded edition of 1969 album

8.  Bubbles - THE FREE DESIGN
     (Siesta) Spain
     Compilation of songs from the group's first six albums, 1967-1971.  Date of release unlisted.

9.  Most Of All: The Best Of DEBORAH HARRY
     (Chrysalis - 1999) UK

10.  My Colouring Book - AGNETHA FALTSKOG
       (WEA - 2004) Sweden

MY TOP MUSIC OF THE WEEK (8-22)

All titles issued in the US except where noted.

1.  Stars-Time-Bubbles-Love - THE FREE DESIGN **1 week #1**
     (Light In The Attic - 2004) Expanded edition of 1970 album



2.  Back To Basics: The Essential Collection 1971-1992 - OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
     (Geffen - 1992)
     4 of 17 songs are previously unreleased

3.  The Ultimate 5TH DIMENSION
     (Arista/BMG Heritage - 2004)
     Includes a rendition of Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye, a previously unreleased song from
     1973

4.  Greatest Hits - THE TOURISTS
     (Camden - 1997) UK
     Pre-Eurythmics band with Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart.  The CD is made up of 18 songs from
     the group's 3 albums and 2 from a single-only release.

5.  The Definitive Collection - ABBA
     (Polar/UTV - 2001)

6.  Say You Will - FLEETWOOD MAC
     (Reprise - 2003)

7.  The Very Best Of CHER
     (Warner Bros./MCA/Geffen - 2003)

8.  MARILYN MARTIN
     (Wounded Bird - 2005) Recorded in 1986

8.  Greatest - GO-GO'S
     (IRS - 1990)

10.  Reproduction - THE HUMAN LEAGUE
       (Caroline - 2003) Expanded edition of 1979 album

MY TOP MUSIC OF THE WEEK (8-15)

All titles issued in the US except where noted.

1.  Greatest Hits - ABBA **2 weeks #1**
     (Atlantic - 1976)



2.  A Song For You - CARPENTERS
     (A&M - 1972)

3.  The Complete Picture: The Very Best Of DEBORAH HARRY & BLONDIE
     (Chrysalis - 1991) UK

4.  Rumours - FLEETWOOD MAC
     (Warner Bros. - 2004) Expanded edition of 1977 album

5.  Bubbles - THE FREE DESIGN
     (Siesta) Spain

6.  My Colouring Book - AGNETHA FALTSKOG
     (WEA - 2004) Sweden

7.  Feels Like Home - LINDA RONSTADT
     (Elektra - 1995)

8.  Come Upstairs - CARLY SIMON
     (Warner Archives - 1980)

9.  Beg, Steal Or Borrow - THE NEW SEEKERS
     (Rotation - 2001) Holland

10.  Jackpot!: The Best Bette - BETTE MIDLER
       (Rhino - 2008)

11.  Certified Hits - CRYSTAL GAYLE
       (Capitol - 2001)

12.  Goodbye Earl - DIXIE CHICKS
       (Monument - 2000) CD single

13.  No Angel - DIDO
       (Arista - 1999)

MY TOP MUSIC OF THE WEEK (8-1)

All titles issued in the US except where noted.

1.  The DONNA SUMMER Anthology **3 weeks #1**
     (Casablanca/Chronicles - 1993)

2.  Nightflight To Venus - BONEY M.
     (Sony/BMG - 2007) UK
     Expanded edition of their 1978 album

3.  OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN's Greatest Hits
     (MCA - 1976)

4.  The Best Of LINDA RONSTADT 1991-2006
     (Home compilation)
     I put this together using songs from Linda's catalog beginning with Dreams To Dream from
     An American Tail 2: Feivel Goes West in 1991, then tracks from her discs all the way up to
     her last release with Ann Savoy, Adieu False Heart, in 2006.

5.  Diamond Life - SADE
     (Portrait - 1985)
     The single version of Your Love Is King was released on the CD issue of this album.  Not
     caring for that inclusion, I played my LP copy.

6.  THE GROOP
     (Sundazed - 2007)
     Expanded edition of their 1969 album

7.  KooKoo - DEBBIE HARRY
     (Razor & Tie - 1999)
     1981 album with one bonus track, a dance mix of Backfired

8.  Mystery To Me - FLEETWOOD MAC
     (Reprise - 1973)

9.  Most Of All: The Best Of DEBORAH HARRY
     (Chrysalis - 1999) UK
     Includes two remixes of I Want That Man along with the original

10.  14 Hits - FRIDA
       (Universal - 1998) Import, country not listed