I've been an avid collector of music since 1977 and created this blog to share my personal tastes. I'll feature a weekly list of what I listen as well as reviews of new purchases and old favorites. Enjoy!
7. Rainbow - Peters & Lee (1974)
Don't Stay Away Too Long (#3 UK)
8. We Can Make It - Peters & Lee (1973)
Welcome Home (#1 UK)
9. Favourites - Peters & Lee (1974) (NEW)
10. Smile - Peters & Lee (1977) (NEW)
11. 80's Mix (Home compilation) - Various Artists
Available on YouTube
12. Gold: 35th Anniversary Edition - Carpenters (2004)
(They Long To Be) Close To You (#1 US)
13. Desire Walks On - Heart (2004 issue of 1993 album)
Will You Be There (In The Morning) (#39 US)
Bonus tracks include the Spanish versions of The Woman In Me and Will You Be There
Key chart singles listed where applicable. 1. Rainbow - Peters & Lee (1974) (NEW) **1 week #1** Don't Stay Away Too Long, #3 UK
2. Pollinator - Blondie (2017)
3. Peters & Lee (1989)
4. Top Tracks - Mac & Katie Kissoon (YouTube edit) (NEW)
Chripy Chirpy Cheep Cheep, #20 US
Not all of the tracks on this playlist are available for US patrons.
5. Spy - Carly Simon (1979)
Vengeance, #46 US
6. Magazine 2.0 (Home compilation) - Heart
Heartless, #24 US
I put this together adding one live track and two demos from the Strange Euphoria box set.
7. We Can Make It - Peters & Lee (1973) (NEW)
Welcome Home, #1 UK
8. Gold - Kiki Dee (2019) (Spotify edit) (NEW)
Same story as #4.
9. In The Heat Of The Night - Pat Benatar (1979)
Heartbreaker, #23 US
10. Welcome Home - Peters & Lee (2011)
11. The Alternate Fleetwood Mac (2019) (NEW)
Alternate version of 1975 album with demos and early takes
12. Album Anthology 1983-2013 (Home compilation) - Agnetha Faltskog
Can't Shake Loose, #29 US
I put this together using all of Agnetha's singles from her English albums.
13. The Other Sides - Kate Bush (2018)
4-CD set of 12" singles, B-sides, remixes, and covers
14. The Albums 1970-73 - The New Seekers (2018)
15. 80's Mix (Home compilation) - Various Artists
Available on YouTube.
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.
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.
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.
From this album I'm posting what I believe to be the most beautiful song Christine has ever written and recorded, Game Of Pretend. The video was recorded live in Raliegh, North Carolina on June 24th.
2. Someting To Tell You - HAIM
(Columbia - 2017)
3. Feels Like Home - Linda Ronstadt
(Elektra - 1995)
Feels Like Home had Linda returning to her country-rock roots after several years. It was supposed to be the second album by her with Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton but scheduling conflicts prevented it (five songs were reworked with Dolly for Trio II in 1999). The Blue Train became a chart hit on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart while Walk On was a minor hit on the Country list. The highlight for me is her cover of Neil Young's After The Gold Rush recorded with Emmylou and Valerie Carter.
4. Blondie 4(0) Ever: Greatest Hits Deluxe Redux/Ghosts Of Download - Blondie
(Noble ID - 2014)
This 2-CD set commemorated Blondie's 40th anniversary in music. The first disc is comprised of remakes of previous hits (with the exception of Maria which is the original single mix). The second disc was the fourth studio album by the group since their 1999 return. Ghosts Of Download is more dance-oriented than previous Blondie albums. Deborah Harry explored the genre at length as a solo artist. There are hints of rock with Winter and reggae with Euphoria and Backroom (reminiscent of The Tide Is High). One of the most notable songs is an innovative cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax. It starts you guessing as it begins as a ballad but then hits you with a techno, space-aged feel.
5. Lionheart - Kate Bush
(EMI - 1978)
Kate's second album is pretty much a continuation of her first, The Kick Inside (1978), with more pop and light rock selections. It does give a glimpse into things to come with the rock-edged Don't Push Your Foot On The Heart Brake and the haunting Hammer Horror. One song that tends to stay in my head is Coffee Homeground where Kate sports a German accent. Wow was the album's big single.
6. Come On World - The New Seekers
(Home compilation)
I became a fan of The New Seekers in 1993. One of the things that has endeared me to them is their ability to combine inspirational and secular themes. It was the inspirational part that was the idea behind my #6 this week. Come On World is actually the third collection I've put together with such themes. Previous titles were Day By Day and The World I Wish For You. The biggest hit by The New Seekers, I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, is included. There are also covers of such classics as Morning Has Broken and Blowin' In The Wind.
7. Barking At Airplanes - Kim Carnes
(One Way - 2001) Expanded edition of 1985 album
8. Rita Coolidge/Nice Feelin' - Rita Coolidge
(Beat Goes On - 1998) UK
I always felt like Rita should have been as big as Linda Ronstadt and Olivia Newton-John with her AOR style but it never really happened. This disc consists of Rita's first two albums, both released in 1971. The only single came from the first one, a cover of Neil Young's I Believe In You. Born Under A Bad Sign and Only You And I Know are other gems that later appeared on compilations by Rita. The standout track for me is her rendition of Seven Bridges Road, recorded as a ballad (unlike the Eagles' version) and highlighted with brass and strings.
9. The Other Side Of The Mirror - Stevie Nicks
(Modern - 1989)
This is my favorite album by Stevie. She herself referred to it as her "magic" album as it was recorded in a castle she bought. The lyrics, the music, and the vocals all possess a certain elegance she hasn't conveyed before or since. Rooms On Fire was the biggest hit from the album. Covers of Cry Wolf and I Still Miss Someone are also present. Additionally, there are appearances by Bruce Hornsby and Kenny G.
Highlights from this 2-CD set include the rare recordings of Leave Yesterday Behind, The Rainbow Connection, and California Dreamin'. It also contains the single mix of Solitaire.
11. Voyeur - Berlin
(iMusic - 2002)
12. My Colouring Book - Agnetha Faltskog
(WEA - 2004) Sweden
13. Greatest Hits - Heart
(Epic/Legacy - 1998)
This compilation is rather unique as it covers Heart's beginnings from 1976 to 1983. It has the bonus of one new song, Strong Strong Wind. The top ten hits Magic Man and Tell It Like It Is are included. The one left-field track is the reprise version of Dreamboat Annie. It is the longest studio version which I'd say was the motive.
14. The Rumour - Olivia Newton-John
(Festival - 1998) Australia
Olivia's final album for MCA in the US was probably her most socially-conscious. The songs covered such topics as safe sex (Love And Let Live), environmental awareness (Let's Talk About Tomorrow), divorce (It's Not Heaven), and female bread-winners (Get Out). The title track was co-written by Elton John who also sang backup and played keyboards. An early version, and my favorite, of Can't We Talk It Over In Bed is also included. Grayson Hugh had a hit with it as Talk It Over. My copy of the disc is an import with the bonus track It's Always Australia For Me.
15. 90's Mix - Various Artists
(Home compilation)
16. Then He Kissed Me/Blame It On Love - Rachel Sweet
(Collectables - 2005)
This disc is made up of Rachel's last two albums from 1981 and 1982, respectively. Then He Kissed Me generated Rachel's only top 40 single, Everlasting Love, with Rex Smith. It also contains her original recording of Shadows Of The Night, a later hit for Pat Benatar. Rachel left music after Blame It On Love to become a television producer.
Lindsey and Christine took a backseat to Blondie, Mac & Katie Kissoon, and Prelude after their first week at #1 on my list but made their way back! I listed the recording label in error since posting here again. EastWest is a division of Atlantic, what I previously credited.
2. How Do You Do - Mouth & MacNeal
(Rotation - 1999) Holland
The title track was this Dutch duo's one-hit wonder in the US (#8, Billboard, 1972). My #2 is a compilation of 16 songs. Another US entry Hey You Love is included. It also contains the English version of I See A Star which came in third in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 (ABBA came in first with Waterloo).
3. Something To Tell You - HAIM (NEW)
(Columbia - 2017)
Admittedly, I'm not big on today's music. The last current artist I took an interest in was Adele. However, I read a review of the new album by HAIM in my local paper and it piqued my curiosity. The group consists of sisters Este, Alana, and Danielle Haim. The review mentioned their sound as being inspired by the 70s. I listened to Something To Tell You last night and love it. Their blend of pop and psychadelia is quite refreshing. I've posted the video for the single Want You Back below which has an element of greatness of its own.
4. Anthology - Mac & Katie Kissoon
(Home compilation)
5. Playlist - Brotherhood Of Man
(Home compilation)
Brotherhood of Man started out as pop vocal group whose themes were more geared toward "flower child" and "peace-love-dove" elements. They had a US hit in 1970 with United We Stand (#13, Billboard). After two albums, they disbanded and founder Tony Burrows (Edison Lighthouse) reformed them as a sort of ABBA knock-off. It's worked ever since as they perform live to this day. My #5 this week is part of an anthology I put together combining everything I had by the group on CD. Save Your Kisses For Me (#27, Billboard, 1976) is among the tracks.
6. The Very Best Of Fleetwood Mac
(Reprise - 2002)
I think this is the perfect capsule of the Lindsey Buckingham-Stevie Nicks era of the group. The 2-CD set covers their work from 1975 to 1997. Bonus tracks from 1988's Greatest Hits, As Long As You Follow and No Questions Asked, are included as well as Skies The Limit from Behind The Mask and Paper Doll from 25 Years: The Chain (all post-Lindsey recordings). One rare gem is a live version of Lindsey's Go Insane, an outtake from 1997's The Dance.
7. The Essential Collection - ABBA
(Polydor - 2012)
One would say there are too many compilations out there by ABBA, and they might be right. However, my #7 this week is done up like one should be. It covers the group's career from 1972 to 1982 without the crowding of bonus remixes as with The Definitive Collection. There are also a few non-singles inserted making it more interesting.
8. Together We're Heavy - The Polyphonic Spree
(Hollywood - 2004)
This was the first CD I ever bought by the group. I read a review in Goldmine where it talked about their being a combined rock band, orchestra, and choir. It also mentioned their costuming of white robes and I was intrigued. It's all an amazing concept. Together We're Heavy has come to be my favorite album by The Polyphonic Spree. It takes on a progressive rock approach with it's lengthy epic recordings and a couple of "blink and you miss it" tracks. They haven't released an album like it before or since which is kind of a shame. Singles include Hold Me Now and Two Thousand Places.
9. Archive Series - Prelude
(Rialto - 1997)
10. Lighthouse - Kim Carnes
(EMI-America - 1986)
After a few albums highlighting the 80's synthesizer sound, Kim returned to a folk-rock feel with Lighthouse. Divided Hearts and I'd Lie To You For Your Love (my favorite on the album) were the two singles released from it.
11. The Essential Helen Reddy Collection: I Am Woman
(Razor & Tie - 1998)
This compilation covers Helen's career from 1971 to 1981. All of the key singles are present including Delta Dawn, Angie Baby, You And Me Against The World, and the title track. It also contains a recording of the Beatles' Fool On The Hill from the 1976 movie All This And World War II as well as Never Say Goodbye from the 1980 movie Continental Divide.
12. Little Queen - Heart
(Epic/Legacy - 2004)
Bonus tracks on this reissue of Heart's 1977 album include a demo version of Love Alive entitled Too Long A Time as well as a live version of Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven. Singles from the original album are Barracuda, Kick It Out, and the title track.
13. After The Goldrush: The Dawn/Pye Anthology 1973-1977 - Prelude
(Sanctuary - 2006)
14. 90's Mix - Various Artists
(Home compilation)
I put this mix together on YouTube consisting of 82 songs by artists either currently or formerly in my personal music collection. If you'd like to check it out, just go to this link:
15. Almighty presents We Love ABBA: The Mamma Mia Dance Collection, Vol. 1 - AbbaCadabra
(Almighty - 2008)
AbbaCadabra is the only ABBA tribute group I've ever taken an active interest in. I've always liked how they could take a song and turn it into a house music delight. Though it's available on CD, I listen to the digital version on Spotify. It includes a 20-track megamix as a second playlist.
