Linda Ronstadt - Greatest Hits Volume II More great songs from a great singer. It's so easy, Hurt so bad, How do I make you, Ooh baby baby, Tumbling dice, I can't let go, Blue Bayou. Not many can cover songs that were hits for legendary artists and make them their own....But Linda made a career of doing so.
Michelle Branch - The Spirit Room 2001 debut from one of my favorite girls. I kept hearing a couple of these songs back when they came out and really liked them. Soon after I heard her with Santana(Game of love) and as a member of the country duo The Wreckers. Everything Michelle has been involved with always sounds good to me. Everywhere, You got me, All you wanted, You set me free, Sweet misery.
Rick Braun - Sings With Strings Smooth Jazz Trumpeteer released this Cd featuring his vocal work on some classics from the American Standards songbook. Saw him in concert w/Dave Koz around 2012 and he sang a couple of these songs, I enjoyed so much I got the Cd. Time after time, The good life, Say it, Once upon a summertime, It's love.
Diana Ross - The Definitive Collection An Original Diva. Some great songs and a great voice. Love Hangover, Missing you, Touch me in the morning, Last time I saw him, My mistake(w/Marvin Gaye), Endless love(w/Lionel Ritchie), Do you know where you're going to.
Toni Braxton - At Her Best Collection of hits from this sexy, sultry, Soulstress. Love the voice, love the songs. Un-break my heart, Breathe again, Spanish guitar, Candlelight, You're makin' me high.
Roxy Music - Avalon One of the best Cd's in my collection. Top quality songs, musicianship, and recording. One review described it as sophisticated rock, I'll go with that. More than this, The space between, Avalon, While my heart is still beating, To turn you on.
Rush - Rush Debut release from the greatest Rock band ever(says me). Rush began as a Blues/Rock power trio in the image of cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Etc. This Cd has them at their hard-rockin best. This is the only album to feature the late John Rutsey on drums. Finding my way, Here again, In the mood, Before and after, Working man.
The Charlie Brechtel Band - Iron Buffalo Charlie was a leader of the biker blues scene and a totally cool dude. I got meet and get to know Charlie and am glad I did. Charlie was a regular performer at the annual Sturgis biker rally. If you like gritty, bluesy, rock music seek him out, you just might like his music. Sadly, Charlie passed away in 2020. R.I.P. goodtime Charlie and thanks for the memories. Bandidos, Horses of iron and steel, Rogue, Ghost cowboy, Inner circle, Wild Will.
Rush - Fly By Night Several firsts on this sophomore set. This is the first record featuring the legendary Neil Peart on drums as well as his lyrical songwriting contributions. The first Rush record co-produced with Terry Brown (a relationship that would create many epic albums). Also the first Rush record to feature a long, multi-movement song, something that would be common on many Rush albums moving forward. Anthem, Best I can, Beneath between and behind, By-tor and the snow dog, Fly by night.
The Breeders - Last Splash Was listening to a lot of Alternative Rock around the time this cd came out. A couple of songs were getting a lot of play on radio/mtv and I really liked them so I got this disc. Other than the 2 hits everything else is pretty mediocre, but still fun to listen to occasionally. Cannonball, Divine hammer, Do you love me now, Saints, Drivin' on 9.
No idea why, I don't one any of their albums, never been to a concert, but whenever the Ramones are on the radio...I have to listen
Garth Brooks - The Garth Brooks Collection After 5 hugely successful Albums Garth released this compilation record of his favorite songs that weren't big hits. Some great songs sung well by the modern day king of country. Against the grain, Much too young(to feel this damn old), Alabama clay, Cold shoulder, Wild horses.
Rush - Caress Of Steel This 3rd release from Canadian Rockers Rush was a commercial disappointment (at the time) in the eyes of the record company. They had built a little momentum with the first 2 albums but shifted a little to longer songs and more usage of multi-part thematic tracks. This is the first album to feature such a song on an entire side of an album, something Rush would do several times. 1976, I was in 6th grade, this was the first Rush music I heard. I knew instantly that this was the type of music I was interested in and Rush became My Band. For that this album will always hold a special place in my heart. Bastille day, Lakeside park, The necromancer, Didacts and narpets, No one at the bridge.
Rush - 2112 Rush breaks through on their 4th album. After disappointing sales/reviews of Caress Of Steel the record company was ready to drop Rush but gave them one last chance. although the exec's wanted short radio friendly songs, Rush held true to their instincts and made this album with side 1 dedicated to 1 multi-part story telling song and side 2 with 5 great tracks that should have been hits. This album was so successful that the label would back off and give the boys control of the music moving forward.....good decision. Overture, The temples of Syrinx, A passage to Bangkok, The twilight zone, Lessons, Something for nothing.
Garth Brooks - The Hits Greatest Hits from Garth's first five albums. At the time of his peak these songs were so overplayed(and I wasn't a big country music fan yet) that I couldn't stand to hear them, but now I appreciate just how good of a collection of songs this is. Callin' Baton Rouge, The thunder rolls, Rodeo, Shameless,That summer, Friends in low places.
