Listed below are the overall rankings for the best albums in history as determined by their aggregate positions in over 59,000 different greatest album charts on BestEverAlbums.com! (Chart last updated: 5 hours ago).
"Little Love Affairs is Nanci Griffith's sixth album and her second on major label MCA. The rollicking folk accompaniment from the Philo records was scrapped on the MCA debut "Lone Star State of Mind" in favor for a more Nashville-friendly sound. Despite their best mainstreaming intentions, that r...""Little Love Affairs is Nanci Griffith's sixth album and her second on major label MCA. The rollicking folk accompaniment from the Philo records was scrapped on the MCA debut "Lone Star State of Mind" in favor for a more Nashville-friendly sound. Despite their best mainstreaming intentions, that record was strongly a folk album, with light pop and contemporary country touches on the surface. "Little Love Affairs" continues in that dynamic. At its heart, the album is a strong folk album, and even with a few tracks targeted towards contemporary country, the record is Griffith's peak pop-crossover record of substance. Griffith's very best pop songs were the magnificent From a Distance and Trouble in the Fields from the previous album, and most of Little Love Affairs captures that crossover appeal, not as singles, but in album-length form.
MCA's biggest attempt at a commercial hit was the single "Never Mind," written by Nashville songwriter legend Harlan Howard. Griffith performs it so true to its roots that it was probably too country (or folk) for country radio. The follow-up original track Love Found a Halo was also performed in the original style, and just was not glitsy enough to be suitable for country radio.
Perhaps the highlight of the record is Gulf Coast Highway, a very mellow track supported by more mellow tracks like Anybody's Fool and I Knew Love.
Luckily, to save us from getting too sentimental or too traditional, two lovely upbeat "Wish It Would Rain" and "Outbound Plane" save us from inner sentimental turmoil.
Overall, Little Love Affairs has the substance to make it Griffith's finest crossover pop album, rivaling "Late Night Grande Hotel" and maybe "Flyer."
Track Pick: Gulf Coast Highway
Gems: I Knew Love, Outbound Plane, I Wish It Would Rain"[+]Reply
"A really fantastic recording and performance. I'd say this outdoes the studio recording except for Another Brick in the Wall Part II, Comfortably Numb, and The Trial (all of which benefit from more polished studio work on the normal versions). Everything else just totally smokes the studio versio...""A really fantastic recording and performance. I'd say this outdoes the studio recording except for Another Brick in the Wall Part II, Comfortably Numb, and The Trial (all of which benefit from more polished studio work on the normal versions). Everything else just totally smokes the studio versions. You have the hilarious MC intros before both takes of "In The Flesh" on both discs, you have the bonus track "What Shall We Do Now" which was cut from the studio album (WHY?! It's so good!!), you have really excellent David Gilmour guitar work on tracks like "Young Lust" where he just *nails* the perfect tone, and you have the classic Roger freak out intro for "Run Like Hell." If you doubt that this version has superior energy and performances to the studio version, check out the "Run Like Hell" version on this live album with Roger's insane introduction. "Get your hands together!!!! Have a good time! Enjoy yourselves!!!!"
Not sure who else still owns this on CD but somehow this was always the single loudest CD I ever owned when played at full volume back in the day - not sure what that was about, but I wasn't complaining about it. The louder the better for this album!"[+]Reply
"Along with, only the lonely, this is my favourite Frank Sinatra album. The brilliant record cover says it all, it's a light night alone LP. A cottage for sale, stormy weather, and, why try to change me now, are all highlights. A wonderful album, with Sinatra at the peak of his powers. Excellent."Reply
"Amazing album! A great selection of songs which will grace any collection! Substitute, I Can See For Miles, I'm A Boy, My Generation and Pinball Wizard were my favorites."Reply
""Everything Must Go" is Steely Dan's second album since their re-union - and at this point their latest. I have noticed that it is often considered weaker than its predecessor, "Two Against Nature". I'm not sure I agree. Without quite reaching the heights of the 1970s there are on this album some..."""Everything Must Go" is Steely Dan's second album since their re-union - and at this point their latest. I have noticed that it is often considered weaker than its predecessor, "Two Against Nature". I'm not sure I agree. Without quite reaching the heights of the 1970s there are on this album some fine and actually very catchy songs - and unlike "Two Against Nature" none of the tracks become longwinded.
"The Things I Love the Most" is in all ways Steely Dan at their best - a song that would have slipped seamlessly into "Katy Lied".
"Blues Beach" - is with his little flute refrain a song that you soon may find yourself go whistling, and another evidence that the group is still capeable of writing sophisticated pop numbers, and lyrics with bite and wit.
"Slang of Ages" sung by Becker, also stands out positively - beautiful female voices.
The opening number "Last Mall" is more funky - but with its dismal lyrics and the fine drive also a number you gladly return to.
The title-track is, although I usually do not care much for saxophone solos, probably my favorite. Beautiful melody with a catchy and doomsday-like refrain.
The other tracks are solid, but more forgettable.
The lyrics are generally weird, dark and disillusioned which certainly does not make them less interesting.
I certainly hope that Becker and Fagen will return to the studios, they obviously have have a lot to offer.
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