BJORK
VOLTA
2007 – ONE LITTLE INDIAN
Produced By BJORK, TIMBALAND, DANJA, MARK BELL & DAMIAN TAYLOR
1. Earth Intruders
2. Wanderlust
3. The Dull Flame Of Desire
4. Innocence
5. I See Who You Are
6. Vertebrae By Vertebrae
7. Pneumonia
8. Hope
9. Declare Independence
10. My Juvenile
Bjork’s sixth album, Volta, has been a kind of dumping ground for her critics. Writers and fans alike seem to have been confused by her direction and her choices here, which seems to be based more on misunderstanding than on the actual quality of the record. Volta is not a perfect work by any means, but it’s also not nearly as bad as many have made it out to be. The truth is, Bjork is an artist whose view is in a constant state of change, and it may be that you just may not always see where she’s coming from…and that you may be disappointed that she isn’t repeating what you loved from her in the past. The truth is, Volta was a success for her in America, it showed that she can play well with others, and it serves as a reminder that she is, and always has been, musically fearless, which leads to experiments that are more often than not absolute winners.
“Earth Intruders” and “Innocence” are co-produced by Timbaland, a most interesting pairing of talents. “The Dull Flame Of Desire” features Anohni from Antony & The Johnsons. And “Wanderlust” and “Declare Independence” are examples of Bjork at her very best. You might see it as the artist returning to her more pop sounds of her early work, but in fact, she’s producing more upbeat material while continuing to be her experimental self. You may not like Volta in relation to her other albums, but that doesn’t make it bad. Not at all. This album was followed up by Voltaic, a massive 2 CD and 2 DVD box set that includes all of Volta performed live, remixes, and music videos. It’s a perfect pairing with the Volta album itself. This is a very good, and somewhat misunderstood, record from our favorite Icelandic pixie. It’s good stuff.
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Of dying history
SAM COOKE
PORTRAIT OF A LEGEND: 1951-1964
2003 – ABKCO
Produced By SAM COOKE, HUGO & LUIGI, RENE HALL, AL SCHMITT, ART RUPE, LOU ADLER & BUMPS BLACKWELL
1. Touch The Hem Of His Garment
2. Lovable
3. You Send Me
4. Only Sixteen
5. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
6. Just For You
7. Win Your Love For Me
8. Everybody Loves To Cha Cha Cha
9. I’ll Come Running Back To You
10. You Were Made For Me
11. Sad Mood
12. Cupid
13. (What A) Wonderful World
14. Chain Gang
15. Summertime
16. Little Red Rooster
17. Bring It On Home To Me
18. Nothing Can Change This Love
19. Sugar Dumpling
20. (Ain’t That) Good News
21. Meet Me At Mary’s Place
22. Twistin’ The Night Away
23. Shake
24. Tennessee Waltz
25. Another Saturday Night
26. Good Times
27. Having A Party
28. That’s Where It’s At
29. A Change Is Gonna Come
30. Jesus Gave Me Water
31. 8 Bars Of Soul
Sam Cooke was simply one of the greatest vocalists of all time. His flawless tenor remains an amazing sound, and his list of hits is stunning. Cooke’s career was early in the era of recorded popular music, so he didn’t really make many great albums (Night Beat is an exception), but the singles were more than plentiful. He died in 1964, so we’ll never know just how great his career could have blossomed into. Fortunately for us, in 2003 ABKCO Records released this jaw dropping compilation album that contains almost every Sam Cooke highlight. From the early 1950’s and his time as the front man for the gospel group the Soul Stirrers, to his untimely death, this is one of the better hit collections you will ever find. As short as it was, Cooke, career was nothing short of amazing. So much so that his material still stands up to this day.
Cooke not only sang, he also wrote his own material, and was a savvy businessman. His influence on every soul singer in history is undeniable. And his best work is all here. Cook had a whopping 29 top 40 singles, each one showcasing Cooke’s amazing vocals. “You Send Me”, “Bring It On Home To Me”, “Summertime”, “Twistin’ The Night Away”. And on and on and on. His mark on gospel, soul, pop, early rock and roll…none of it can be denied. His talent was effortless, and often overlooked. His recorded legacy deserves to be heard, and Portrait Of A Legend is the absolute best place for that. He was just 33 years old when he died, but thanks to this amazing album, his legacy lives on. Sam Cooke is a musical treasure, which is proven by every single track on this great collection. This one is perfection.
SAM COOKE
PORTRAIT OF A LEGEND: 1951-1964
2003 – ABKCO
Produced By SAM COOKE, HUGO & LUIGI, RENE HALL, AL SCHMITT, ART RUPE, LOU ADLER & BUMPS BLACKWELL
Fantastic album
One of my favourite singers
Legend
He really was amazing. This track, to me, is one of the most perfect vocal performances ever. Perfect voice, doesn't miss a note.
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Of dying history
CONNIE SMITH
THE ESSENTIAL CONNIE SMITH
1996 – RCA
Produced By BOB FERGUSON, ETHEL GABRIEL & STEVE LINDSEY
1. Once A Day
2. Nobody But A Fool (Would Love You)
3. I Can’t Remember
4. Cry, Cry, Cry
5. Then And Only Then
6. If I Talk To Him
7. Ain’t Had No Lovin’
8. The Hurtin’s All Over
9. I Never Once Stopped Loving You
10. You And Your Sweet Love
11. Cincinnati, Ohio
12. I’ll Come Runnin’
13. Burning A Hole In My Mind
14. Run Away Little Tears
15. Ribbon Of Darkness
16. Just One Time
17. Just For What I Am
18. Love Is The Look You’re Looking For
19. If It Ain’t Love (Let’s Leave It Alone)
20. How Great Thou Art
These days, the name Connie Smith seems to be more forgotten than well known, which is truly a shame. The truth is, she was one of the biggest stars in country music…ever. Between 1965 and 1978, she released a stunning 41 albums (all but seven reaching the US country top 40), and 43 of 46 top 40 singles. During this period, she was obviously one of the biggest stars in country music, and starting in 1968, a star on the gospel side as well. Dolly Parton once said that there are only three female voices that really matter: Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt and Connie Smith. She was the obvious heir apparent to the throne of Patsy Cline. So, what happened? Why is she, outside of country circles, so lesser known and underrated? Well, she did retire after the seventies to concentrate on family and religion, and after she returned to recording in the mid nineties, her momentum was gone.
And so it goes. Smith has released just seven records since the dawn of the 80’s. But do not sleep on her career. The Essential Connie Smith covers her early days at RCA Records from 1964-1972, and at twenty tracks, it’s surprisingly short. Meaning that as great as her recordings were, this could have been twice as long, and not contained a second of filler. Was Connie Smith really that good? You bet your ass she was. “Once A Day”, “Cry, Cry, Cry”, “Just One Time”, “Ribbon Of Darkness”…every track here is pure gold. It’s shocking how under the radar she is today, even though she’s released music as recently as 2024. The Essential is a great place to start with her. If you like this (and I’m pretty sure that if you have a drop of country in you, then you will), there’s an absolute treasure trove of Connie Smith material out there waiting to be discovered. She’s really one of the all-time greats.
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Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
SAM COOKE
PORTRAIT OF A LEGEND: 1951-1964
2003 – ABKCO
Produced By SAM COOKE, HUGO & LUIGI, RENE HALL, AL SCHMITT, ART RUPE, LOU ADLER & BUMPS BLACKWELL
Fantastic album
One of my favourite singers
Legend
He really was amazing. This track, to me, is one of the most perfect vocal performances ever. Perfect voice, doesn't miss a note.
JERRY LEE LEWIS
LAST MAN STANDING
2006 – ARTISTS FIRST / SHANGRI-LA
Produced By STEVE BING & JIMMY RIPP
1. Rock And Roll (with Jimmy Page)
2. Before The Night Is Over (with B.B. King)
3. Pink Cadillac (with Bruce Springsteen)
4. Evening Gown (with Mick Jagger & Ron Wood)
5. You Don’t Have To Go (with Neil Young)
6. Twilight (with Robbie Robertson)
7. Travelin’ Band (with John Fogerty)
8. That Kind Of Fool (with Keith Richards)
9. Sweet Little Sixteen (with Ringo Starr)
10. Just A Bummin’ Around (with Merle Haggard)
11. Honky Tonk Woman (with Kid Rock)
12. What’s Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me) (with Rod Stewart)
13. Don’t Be Ashamed Of Your Age (with George Jones)
14. Couple More Years (with Willie Nelson)
15. Old Glory (with Toby Keith)
16. Trouble In Mind (with Eric Clapton)
17. I Saw Her Standing There (with Little Richard)
18. Lost Highway (with Delaney Bramlett)
19. Hadacol Boogie (with Buddy Guy)
20. What Makes The Irish Heart Beat (with Don Henley)
21. The Pilgrim Ch. 33 (with Kris Kristofferson)
Jerry Lee Lewis was a tough, controversial, and very talented man. And stubborn to the point of not taking dying very seriously. In 2006, Lewis released Last Man Standing, the title being a reference to his having outlived his early Sun Records rock and roll contemporaries Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. In fact, after this album, he lived another sixteen years. Last Man Standing came from seemingly nowhere to become Lewis’ biggest album. This is an album of duets…a popular trend among aging artists whose popularity has fallen behind them. But this isn’t other artists coming in and reworking Lewis’ old hits. This is Lewis giving new perspective on the guest’s material. And not just artists from a specific genre. These artists come from hard rock, older rock and roll, blues, and country music. Yes…Jerry Lee Lewis could really do it all.
As is the case with most duet albums, the quality depends, from song to song, on who the guest is, and if they are out of their element. The good news on that front is that most of these guests are top notch, and fit well with who Lewis was. The exceptions (like Kid Rock, Toby Keith and Don Henley) are absolute missteps, and yeah, it’s always a bit wrong hearing Lewis perform “Sweet Little Sixteen”, but those tracks can’t keep this from being a pretty terrific overall effort from one of the all time greats. And the list of names above is mostly hall of fame material, showing how respected Lewis’ career has always been. This is not perfect by any means (most duet albums are not), but Jerry Lee was a flawed man anyway. He’s in his seventies here, still the Killer, still a hard rocking man. Worth at least a listen, and worthy of much respect.
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KATE BUSH
HOUNDS OF LOVE
1985 – EMI
Produced By KATE BUSH
1. Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)
2. Hounds Of Love
3. The Big Sky
4. Mother Stands For Comfort
5. Cloudbusting
6. And Dream Of Sheep
7. Under Ice
8. Waking The Witch
9. Watching You Without Me
10. Jig Of Life
11. Hello Earth
12. The Morning Fog
Nobody in music does things their own way like Kate Bush does. Nobody. In her almost 50 year career, she’s released just ten studio albums. Six of those came out before the decade of the eighties was over. Her last one was fourteen years ago. She never tours (she did once…in 1979). She’s performed live in the US one time: on SNL, again in 1979. And yet, she’s well known and respected the world over, and her music continues to move and inspire. The absolute peak of her career came in 1985, with the release of her fifth album, Hounds Of Love. It was here that all of the best parts of Kate Bush are on display, and it’s a no doubt winner. Hounds Of Love is one of the best albums of the eighties…of all time…for a number of reasons. It’s a perfect record, somewhat misunderstood in America, but classic nonetheless.
Hounds Of Love has two parts. Side one is a collection of Bush at her pop best. “Running Up That Hill” is her biggest hit. But there’s also “Cloudbusting”, “The Big Sky” and the title track, showing that when she wants to, she can peel off hits with the best of them. And then, she takes a sharp left turn with the second half, the progressive rock suite titled The Ninth Wave. These two halves couldn’t be more different, but Bush makes it work like only she can. She’s not just a singer, and she’s not just a songwriter…she really is an artist, and Hounds Of Love is her masterpiece. She’s always been a step or five above her contemporaries, an exceptional and unique talent that deserves to be listened to. And there is no better place to do that than Hounds Of Love. This album is a must have, even if the first time you heard her was on that dumb Netflix show.
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Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
Last edited by Romanelli on 08/09/2025 13:38; edited 1 time in total
This album is a must have, even if the first time you heard her was on that dumb Netflix show.
Oh come on, it wasn't that dumb. Not as good as Vivarium obviously, but since it's an ironclad requirement now that all children in movies and TV shows have magical/paranormal/alien superpowers, you have to cut these modern-day screenwriters some slack for having to work within such tight restrictions.
TALKING HEADS
STOP MAKING SENSE
1984 – SIRE / WARNER BROS
Produced By TALKING HEADS & GARY GOETZMAN
1. Psycho Killer
2. Heaven
3. Thank You For Sending Me An Angel
4. Found A Job
5. Slippery People
6. Burning Down The House
7. Life During Wartime
8. Making Flippy Floppy
9. Swamp
10. What A Day That Was
11. This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody)
12. Once In A Lifetime
13. Genius Of Love
14. Girlfriend Is Better
15. Take Me To The River
16. Crosseyed And Painless
Talking Heads were the leaders of New Wave music in America. They were strange, funky, danceable, and early advocates for the inclusion of world music in western pop music. Their career spanned from the late seventies to the early nineties…this was a definitively eighties band, and one of the best. And at the very center of it all, during their commercial and creative peak, came the concert film Stop Making Sense. Recorded in 1983 and released the following year, the film was a huge success. The album contained nine songs, and while it became a huge seller, it always felt too short. Still, the project showed that while this was a great studio band, where they really shone brightest was on stage. And this became a big part of how important they were visually as well as musically. Stop Making Sense really is one the all time greatest live documents in rock.
The video was always amazing, but it wasn’t until the 1999 special edition (which is what the tracklist above represents) that the album became a must have. Don’t get me wrong…you will always want the video version above all else. But now, the album is nearly just as good. Many of the selections are better than the original studio tracks, and hearing this band on stage doing these songs is priceless. The best tracks here are “Slippery People”, “Girlfriend Is Better”, and the performance of “Once In A Lifetime” is a bonfide classic. The special edition also includes the entire photo booklet that came with early vinyl releases, and the liner notes are great as well, right down to the description of David Byrne as looking “pretty disheveled”. Stop Making Sense is a video you want to have. The album is fine…but make sure you get the later releases, as the original is far too incomplete.
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Of dying history
THE TONY RICE UNIT
MANZANITA
1979 – ROUNDER
Produced By TONY RICE
1. Old Train
2. Manzanita
3. Little Sadie
4. Blackberry Blossom
5. Nine Pound Hammer
6. Hold Whatcha Got
7. Blue Railroad Train
8. Ginseng Sullivan
9. Midnight On The Stormy Deep
10. I Hope You Have Learned
11. Stony Point
12. Home From The Forest
In the world of guitarists, Tony Rice is one of the all time greats. Problem is, Rice was a bluegrass and jazz player, so he rarely gets his due. Fortunately for us, Rice had a most prolific career, releasing 37 studio albums between 1973 and 2007. Many of his records were solo efforts, but he also recorded with several groups, in duo situations, and as a session musician. He also released seven albums as the leader of The Tony Rice Unit, a supergroup that challenged the boundaries of bluegrass and folk music. Manzanita is the second of those albums, and is widely considered to be their best work. Rice shows off his considerable acoustic guitar talents (he was always excellent, never flashy, always spot on) as well as his singing ability. He takes on four traditional pieces, as well as songs by the likes of Norman Blake and Gordon Lightfoot.
The Unit consists of seven of the greatest bluegrass players of their time. Sam Bush. David Grisman. Jerry Douglas. Ricky Skaggs. This is a who’s who of instrumental southern music, and it does not disappoint. Outside of the bluegrass community, this album and Rice, in particular, remained mostly unknown, but for many players, this album serves as a bible of bluegrass playing. It’s basically perfect, and a great place to introduce yourself to the genre. Rice lost his ability to sing in 1994, and a bad elbow ended his guitar playing career in 2013. He passed away in 2020 at age 69, leaving behind an enormous legacy of guitar greatness. Fortunately, Rice left us a lot of material to explore. My recommendation is to start with Manzanita. From there, the sky is the limit. You’ll want to hear everything this master left for us to explore and enjoy.
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Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
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