Najee - Rising Sun (2007)

One of the smooth jazzer's stronger releases. As with most Najee albums, I prefer the tracks with saxophone over those where he plays flute. Don't get me wrong, he's a fine flautist, I just don't particularly care for that sound, especially when compared to his soprano sax sound (which improves with each outing). Not as many ballads on this one, which may be why I like it a little better than his earlier stuff.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart:  Did not chart

Tracks:  My top picks are Clarity (a John Mayer cover), Brazilian Affair, Out Of A Dream, and Still In Love. Even the take on the standard Moody's Mood For Love is good. The only track I'm tempted to skip is Romance The Night.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Morning Tenderness (1998)
Najee Plays Songs From The Key Of Life (1995)
Share My World (1994)
Just An Illusion (1992)
Najee's Theme (1986)

John Mayer Trio - Try! (2005)

John Mayer has a lot of talent, but he's got the same problem that many creative types have: a lack of focus. He wants to be a pop star, stand-up comedian, writer, hell for all I know he's a painter and sculptor, too. Here, Mayer wants to be a blues artist. He's got the chops to do it and he's backed by a couple of stellar studio artists; they make a great power trio. I guess he's earned a little self-indulgence. This is a good album (a great live album), and I can appreciate Mayer's skills and what he's trying to do here, but I just would really prefer if he'd make the popish stuff that he was first known for. But that's just me (and I readily admit that I may be more than a little jealous of the boy's talent and, more importantly, his dating scorecard).

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #34

Tracks:  There's not much middle ground or gray area. Like most Mayer albums, the good stuff is really good but the rest is easily skippable, particularly the butchering of Ray Charles' I Got A Woman. The good tunes here are Who Did You Think I Was, Good Love Is On The Way, and the sorta reworked songs from previous Mayer albums, Gravity and Daughters.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Where The Light Is: Live In Los Angeles (2008)
Continuum (2006)
Heavier Things (2003)
Room For Squares (2001)

Repercussions - Earth And Heaven (1995)

Japanese Import

Back in October, I posted about a CD by Raw Stylus titled Pushing Against The Flow. A faithful reader and friend o' the blog immediately responded with the recommendation of this CD so I picked up a copy of this CD and its 1997 follow-up on eBay. I was not disappointed. I've gotten to where I prefer this CD to the Raw Stylus. While the two albums are very similar (they share Gary Katz as a producer), this group's writing is much better. Instead of acid jazz, this is better described as jazz/R&B - more groove oriented than dance oriented and much more melodic. The band was a 6 piece collective from NYC closely associated with The Groove Academy. Standout performances by bassist Jonathan Maron. I was previously unfamiliar with the group, but they've got some guest artists whose names I recognize: Joe Sample, Don Grolnick, and a horn section led by the legendary Jerry Hey. That horn section gives certain songs a particular sound that reminds me of early '80s Al Jarreau (the horn section is almost identical to that on Jarreau and other West Coast classics). This album didn't sell well domestically, probably because the people at Reprise had no idea how to market this sound. Too bad, because it's good stuff.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:  The album is strong throughout so it's hard to pick favorites, but today I'm liking Find Your Way, Promise Me Nothing, and Keepin' It All Together. This import copy has a bonus track, Let's Do It Again, which is a pleasant surprise tacked on at the end.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but whenever I post about a CD imported from Japan, someone usually emails me and asks if I have the obi strip (or spine card). This time, the answer is yes:

Chase - Ennea/Pure Music (1972/1974)

Chase was an early '70s trumpet-based band that fit right in with other jazz-rock outfits of the time (Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears, etc.). Led by trumpeter/composer Bill Chase, the group's first album had a top 40 hit (Get It On, 1971, #22) and, as sometimes happens, the debut album was the biggest and best of the group's discography. This two-fer CD includes two of the band's subsequent albums that were recorded before the unfortunate demise of Bill Chase and three other band members in a 1974 plane crash. The playing is high, tight, and enjoyable while giving me a full-on bell bottom flashback. The material isn't consistently strong, but the songs that are good are excellent. Chops for days.

Other than Bill Chase, the personnel on these two albums are completely different lineups. As a result, they sound slightly different, but that's due more to the writing than the playing. Overall, I prefer the Pure Music album to the Ennea album.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Ennea #71, Pure Music #155

Tracks: Of the Ennea tracks, I'm a fan of So Many People, I Can Feel It. I'm not a fan of the Greek Mythology prog-rock suite that made up side two of the LP (tracks 7 - 12 on this disc). Of the Pure Music half, my top picks are Run Back To Mama, Love Is On The Way, and Close Up Tight, but, with the exception of Twinkles, the whole album is high energy, in your face intensity. There's some "electric trumpet" on the Pure Music album, which is a fun, if dated, sound.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I learned of Chase in college when I played an arrangement of Run Back To Mama (which was a blast to perform). I'm not much of a trumpet player anymore, but it's still fun to hear top-notch players screaming in the upper register of the instrument and this disc suits that purpose quite nicely.

Joni Mitchell - Blue (1971)

Note: this CD released using HDCD encoding.

If I'm in a blue funk and want to wallow around in it for a while, this is my go-to album. An album all about relationships, I usually have one of two thoughts while listening: 1) I'm not alone; Joni is miserable, too, or 2) as bad as I feel, I'm not nearly as messed up as Joni. Either way, it makes me feel better.

Probably one of the most perfectly titled albums ever. The music is beautiful in its raw simplicity, with unusual chord progressions that work wonderfully with the lyrics and melodies. Most people my age (5 years old at time of release) are unfamiliar with this album unless introduced to it by someone else; it isn't getting any airplay on the radio. I can't remember how I came across it, I'm just glad I did. There's nothing else like it.

Even with lack of a top 40 single, this album was a critical and commercial success. Read a few of the accolades by clicking here.

Update: In its 2020 list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Rolling Stone ranked Blue at #3.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #15

Tracks:  In my mind, there's only one 36 minute track here.

For more information on the brief life of the CD longbox,
go visit The Legend of the Longbox.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  Wallowing.

Various Artists - Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day, Vol. 10 (1990)

Disc 10 of 25.  This volume of the series contains singles that peaked on the charts in December 1972 - November 1973 and contains an usually high number of top ten hits (including two chart toppers) when compared to other volumes. Even so, this is one of the weaker discs in the series - not even Stealers Wheel and Stories could rescue it.

Tracks:

• It Never Rains In Southern California - Albert Hammond (#5 in December 1972)
  This country rock ditty doesn't do much for me. The long, drawn out lyrics don't seem to match the pace of the rhythm section.
• Oh, Babe, What Would You Say? - Hurricane Smith (#3 in February 1973)
  A flashback to vaudeville from the Beatles' former engineer (come to think of it, this sounds a little like a Carol Channing singing Ringo Starr tune, doesn't it?). I have no recollection of it from 1973, but it's enjoyable now.
• Last Song - Edward Bear (#3 in March 1973)
  I can't put it any better than this sentence I found in the liner notes: "Heartfelt but kinda mopey and dopey, Last Song plays like the junior-high version of Since I Fell For You."
• Dead Skunk - Loudon Wainwright III (#16 in March 1973)
  My childhood friend Troy had the 45 single of this novelty tune so I know all the words even though I find it a little hard to listen to these days. Still, I'll have a hard time getting the chorus out of my head today.
• The Cover Of Rolling Stone - Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show (#6 in March 1973)
  Shel Silverstein's satirical lyrics about rock 'n' roll excesses are the star of this song. About the same time this song peaked, Rolling Stone thanked the group for the free publicity by putting them on the cover.
  
  
  
• The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia - Vicki Lawrence (#1 in April 1973)
  This murder mystery song is ok, but I'm reminded of the crush I had on Vicki Lawrence when she was on the Carol Burnett Show. I like the modulation from minor to major for the chorus.
• Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheel (#6 in May 1973)
  A fantastic blues pop song; I've always liked Gerry Rafferty's voice. The cowbell break at the end of the bridge is brilliant in its simplicity. And, if you're like me, these days you can't separate this song from the movie Reservoir Dogs.
• Drift Away - Dobie Gray (#5 in May 1973)
  I know I should support Gray since he's a fellow Texan, but I've never liked this country soul song ("country soul" - I'm not so sure those two words should ever go together). Guaranteed to make me change the radio station.
• Wildflower - Skylark (#9 in May 1973)
  A Canadian version of Philly soul - and it woulda worked if they had just left out the guitar solo. Take that out and the song is a blue-eyed soul classic.
• Brother Louie - Stories (#1 in August 1973)
  A fantastic cover of a Hot Chocolate tune, this is one of my favorite '70s songs. In 1973, I didn't know anything about the lyrics (I'm sure I was totally unfamiliar with the concept of interracial romance back then), but that didn't keep me from singing this loudly, especially that catchy chorus.
• Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne - Looking Glass (#33 in October 1973)
  This follow-up to 1972's Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) sounds much the same, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I like the syncopated rhythm section groove, particularly in the verse. Overall, I prefer Josie Cotton's cover version.
• Heartbeat - It's a Lovebeat - The DeFranco Family featuring Tony DeFranco (#3 in November 1973)
  If I didn't know better, I'd swear this was Donny Osmond and his brothers. Harmless bubblegum pop, but nothing I'd seek out.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: when I was in high school in the early '80s, the church I attended got a new youth pastor. She tried so hard to fit in with us that she was willing to try anything, including pulling out an acoustic guitar and singing the few songs she knew. Unfortunately, one of those songs was Dead Skunk. Of course, I was the only one under twenty that knew that song and I weakly sang along, but nobody was interested in hearing a 10 year old novelty song. Needless to say, Dead Skunk was closely followed by chirping crickets.

Previously revisited for the blog:

Volume 1	Volume 2	Volume 3	Volume 5
Volume 6	Volume 7	Volume 8	Volume 9
Volume 11	Volume 12	Volume 14	Volume 15
Volume 16	Volume 17	Volume 18	Volume 19
Volume 21	Volume 22	Volume 24	Volume 25

Brian Simpson - It's All Good (2005)

A good album to turn to for some relaxing, tasteful piano-based smooth jazz. Simpson is as talented a composer as he is a performer. He has performed with a number of smooth jazz, pop, and R&B artists (George Duke, Janet Jackson, etc.) and seems to have taken their better qualities to form his own style. One of those rare smooth jazz discs that stands up to active listening in addition to being perfect music for your next cocktail party. I really like the slower tracks; I have no idea why I haven't purchased additional Simpson discs.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:  This disc lives up to its title - I don't skip any tracks. My faves are the title track, Twilight, Waiting, and I Remember When.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  I was unfamiliar with Simpson until I heard him play in support of saxophonist Kirk Whalum (Simpson played in Whalum's band, as well). I liked Simpson's set enough to purchase this CD not long after. If the purpose of touring is to promote album sales, then mission accomplished.

Barenaked Ladies - Gordon (1992)

After enjoying Stunt for a while, I wanted to hear some of the BNL back catalog, so I picked up this disc. While not as consistently strong as Stunt, it's got some witty, immediately likeable songs. Moving effortlessly between folksy pop to ballads to country to scat to parodies, these Canadian chameleons had more talent than their (lack of) Top 40 success in the U.S. would suggest. My sons only know about them because of their TV show theme for The Big Bang Theory and that's a shame (but their pop music education is far from over).

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart:  Did not chart (later reached #36 on the Catalog chart in 1998, about the time I purchased my copy)

Tracks:  My favorite track is the hilarious Grade 9. Other favorites include Hello City, Enid, and Box Set, which is particularly funny if you've ever be disappointed in an eagerly anticipated box set from your favorite recording artist. I usually skip The King Of Bedside Manor and Blame It On Me.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Stunt (1998)

Monkey House - Big Money: Singles, Remasters, Rarities, 1992-2005 (2005)

Canadian Import

Monkey House is a Canadian group that is the brainchild of Don Breithaupt, who writes, sings, produces, arranges, and plays keyboards. There's a definite West Coast/AOR sound here; Breithaupt literally wrote the book on Steely Dan and has said "I've been a Steely Dan freak since I was 12 years old. That stuff is my religion." That influence is clearly evident here. Still, it's hardly derivative - what we've got here is a fantastic, highly melodic pop music played by real musicians. Many of the songs are taken from Monkey House's two previous albums: Welcome To The Club (1992) and True Winter (2000) which haven't yet made their way to my collection, but I'm efforting. Highly recommended.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:  I started to list my favorite tracks and found myself just copying down the titles of all 17 tracks. 16 of the tracks were written or co-written by Breithaupt, the other tune is a Donald Fagen tune from The Nightfly era titled Lazy Nina.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  After seeing this album advertised on a random Facebook ad in 2008, I wisely took a chance and purchased this disc in December of that year. Since that time, it has never been far from one of my CD players while the ripped files have taken up permanent residence in my phone. The CD quickly went out of print, so like I always say: buy 'em when you see 'em cause you just never know how long they'll be available.

Dave Edmunds - D.E. 7th/Information (1982/1983)

UK Import

A two-fer compilation from BGO Records, released in 2002. 22 songs in under 70 minutes.

I first discovered Edmunds through his work with Nick Lowe in Rockpile. Both Lowe and Edmunds come from the pub rock tradition, but Edmunds likes his cajun/bluegrass/country western music a little too much at times. As a result, his roots rock and pop songs are top-notch while the rest of his stuff sounds like CCR filler to me. As you can imagine, this makes for a pair of uneven albums here. Eclectic, if you will. Edmunds produced D.E. 7th himself, but reached out to ELO chief Jeff Lynne to produce two songs on Information, updating the sound considerably. On the whole, I prefer the latter album. Because they have such different sounds, they make for a strange single CD pairing (also, I'm subtracting points for subpar liner notes).

---

D.E. 7th (1982)

Press of the time:

• Robert Christgau (B+): "It's a measure of my respect for Edmunds that at this point his meticulous collections of oldies and newies impress me much the way good new Chicago blues albums do"
• Stereo Review: "sharp songs, sharp arrangements, great singing. And it's great fun."
• Rolling Stone (★★★½): "This is one hifalutin celebration of American cars and bars that just won't quit. Hop in, anyone?"
• Trouser Press: "His music may be out of fashion but it will never be out of style."
• Smash Hits (9 out of 10): "Now this is rock and roll - as true, unpretentious and earnest as you can get."
• Billboard: "Fans may still be mourning the demise of Rockpile, but the Welsh guitarist's new band should help ease the pain."
• CashBox: "a sharp-sounding, high-powered success."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #46
• Billboard Rock: #24
• CashBox: #71
• Rolling Stone: #26

Tracks: This album starts off strong with Springsteen's From Small Things Big Things Come and NRBQ's Me And The Boys. Other keepers include Generation Rumble, Others Guys Girls, Paula Meet Jeanne, and Chuck Berry's Dear Dad. I'll pass on the rest.

---

INFORMATION (1983)

Press of the time:

• Robert Christgau (B-): "Not since the onset of a career always marked by consistent taste and uncertain utility has Edmunds strayed so far from the trad, and though his perfidy/courage is characteristically marginal, it's still a mistake."
• Rolling Stone (★★★★): "careerist rock at its very best"
• Trouser Press: "ranks as one of his decidedly lesser LPs"
• Billboard: "a more consciously commercial band style adding synthesizers and electronic percussion."
• Stereo Review: Recording of Special Merit
• CashBox: "experiments with techno-rock"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #51
• Billboard Rock: #9
• CashBox: #61
• Rolling Stone: #32

Tracks: The best song on the CD is Slipping Away, which was written by Lynne and, not surprisingly, sounds just like an ELO song. Other stand outs include the title track and covers of NRBQ's I Want You Bad and J. Geils Band's Wait. I usually skip The Watch On My Wrist and The Shape I'm In.

---

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Thinking back to high school, I remember the Information album (I most likely borrowed it from my buddy Jim), especially the song Slipping Away. But I remember it with the U.S. album cover:

Roxy Music - Avalon (1982)

Note: this release was received as a gift as an LP, later replaced by a CD. This CD released using HDCD encoding.

Roxy Music was decidedly a more popular group in the UK than in the US, so it's not surprising that I hadn't heard of the group before my friend Jim gave me this album. The single was More Than This (it bubbled under the charts at 102 and the video received modest airplay on MTV), but the song that grabbed me immediately was the gorgeous title track. Initially, that track was the only one that got played at my place. After a few months, I ventured beyond the title track and found a lush album of rich, meticulously crafted tunes. There's not a weak track in the bunch. I never went back to discover the group's earlier catalog and I didn't keep up with Bryan Ferry's solo career; I just knew that nothing could measure up to this album.

I'm not alone in my admiration, this album is consistently found in lists of top albums of the '80s. A favorite line comes from a retro-review in the Spin Alternative Record Guide, where it received a 9 out 10 rating: "1982's Avalon remains one of the all-time great makeout infernos." Musical genius Nile Rodgers has often claimed that Roxy Music was the inspiration for Chic. If you need more of an endorsement than that, you're at the wrong blog, buddy.

Update: In its 2020 list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Rolling Stone ranked Avalon at #336.

Press of the time:

• Trouser Press: "Avalon has the emotional brilliance of other Roxy Music LPS, and is even more chilling"
• Robert Christgau (A-): "minor triumph" 
• Smash Hits (8 out of 10): "Stately, sad and scrumptious all at the same time."
• Record Mirror: "More than 'Avalon' there is nothing."
• Stereo Review: "coolly intense"
• Rolling Stone (★★★½): "takes a long time to kick in, but it finally does, and it's a good one"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #53
• Billboard Rock: #41
• CashBox: #32
• CashBox CD: #18
• Rolling Stone: #15

Tracks:  The title track continues to be my favorite cut from this album and is one of my favorite songs of the '80s. Stunning, beautiful, and relaxing. Other top tracks include More Than This, The Main Thing, Take A Chance With Me, and To Turn You On.

For more information on the brief life of the CD longbox,
go visit The Legend of the Longbox.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Pat Metheny Group - Offramp (1982)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD.

I was just discovering jazz in 1982 so when I saw this album won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Fusion Performance, I thought I'd check it out. I was completely unprepared for the sonic landscapes put together by Metheny and his longtime keyboardist/writing partner, Lyle Mays. As a result, my LP was played only a handful of times. While there is some great improv work here, the musicians were more interested in sounds and grooves rather than melodies in the traditional sense. At 16, I wanted something I could hum along to, and this wasn't it. I wasn't ready for Metheny until late 1984/early 1985, but by then this album had already left my collection.

Reviews/ratings:

• Musician: "a worthy addition to the splendid Metheny catalog"
• Stereo Review: "should capture a deservedly large audience"
• Downbeat (★★★★): "Metheny here conspires to exit his own road to glory, change course slightly, then establish new directions that may ultimately yield continued accolades."
• Rolling Stone (★★½ ): "a letdown"
• The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide (1999): ★★★★
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz (5th ed., 2000): ★★½

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #50
• Billboard Jazz: #1
• Billboard R&B: #43
• CashBox: #45
• CashBox Jazz: #1
• Rolling Stone: #18
• Radio & Records Jazz Radio National Airplay: #1

Tracks:  Track 2, Are You Going With Me?, is the best track on the album and one Metheny continues to play in concert. Also good are Au Lait, Eighteen, and James. I usually skip the cacophonous title track.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  This album was one of 11 that I got for a penny from Columbia House in early 1983. After some months had passed with very few listenings, I planned on selling my LP to the used record store in Houston (Record Exchange on Westheimer). On our way to the store, my friends and I stopped at Westwood Mall to catch a showing of Return Of The Jedi. By the time we returned to the car, this album along with a few others had melted into a hot, sticky pool of black vinyl.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Steve Reich - Different Trains, Electric Counterpoint (1989)
First Circle (1984)

Lee Ritenour - Rit's House (2002)

One of many cases in which the critics and I don't agree. They loved this album when it was released because it wasn't commercial pop-jazz and Ritenour gave himself more room to stretch out and display his improv skills. That's all fine and good, unless you happen to enjoy commercial pop-jazz (which I do). And who says the two have to be mutually exclusive? Anyway, the main problem with this album is weak midtempo material that ends up running together after a while. I keep waiting for "Captain Fingers" to rip into something and live up to his nickname. I don't often visit this house; I usually go for Ritenour's Brazilian-flavored releases or his West Coast album, Rit.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: There are a few tracks here I enjoy, including A Little Dolphin Dreamin' and Olinda. There's a slow cover of The Police's Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic (my favorite Police track) with vocals by the inimitable Michael McDonald. The thing is, I can't decide whether I like it or not. Somedays I'll hear it and love it; other days I'll think it's a hot mess and reach for the skip button. It's one of the few songs that effect me in that way.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Larry & Lee (1995)
Festival (1988)
Harlequin (1985)
On The Line (1983)
Out Of The Shadows (1982)
"Rit" (1981)
Rio (1979)

Bonnie Raitt - Green Light (1982)

A great bluesy rock album that sadly didn't quite fit in with the emerging synthpop genre that was charting in the summer of 1982 (Human League, Soft Cell, etc.). Roots rock had a small but solid following so the fan base was there, but for some reason this collection of good, well-performed tunes didn't even sell enough copies for Raitt to keep her recording contract. It's baffling. I can just imagine the marketing conversations at Warner Bros:

I mean, the singer/guitarist is in her 30s! Where are the synths? Where's the quirky fashion? How are going to promote that? It's easier not to promote it, let's take that road.

But I digress. Back to Raitt. In the interest of full disclosure, I didn't discover this album when it was released, but that I'm thinking that had more to do with exposure than personal preference. This stuff would have fit in nicely next to my Paul Carrack/NickLowe/Dave Edmunds records of the time. Raitt can sing and play with the best of them and she finally found success once she signed with Capitol Records. She's talented and I'm glad she finally got her due. I would love to see her live. This album was released in January 1982, but IMHO it sounds best when it's played on your car stereo on a hot summer night.

Press of the time:

• Musician: "No doubt I'll play this album a million more times"
• Rolling Stone (★★★): "rock & roll cuts really kick"
• Robert Christgau (A-): "rocks one more than once"
• Stereo Review: "she still doesn't realize how good she is."
• Billboard: "this sounds like her long overdue vault to the top."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #38
• Billboard Rock: #18
• CashBox: #34
• Rolling Stone: #16

Tracks: Top tracks are Keep This Heart In Mind, River Of Tears, Willya Wontcha, Talk To Me, the title track, and her infectious covers of NRBQ's Me And The Boys & The Equals' Baby Come Back. The only filler I can find is Can't Get Enough.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  In 1982, my family didn't subscribe to HBO (hell, we didn't even have cable), but I had some friends that did. I remember a Bonnie Raitt video appearing on HBO's Video Jukebox one day and I'm sure that was the first I'd heard of her. I have no idea what song it was, but it seems that she was driving around in car, much like on the album cover. I'm guessing it was for Keep This Heart In Mind, which was the only charting song from the album (Mainstream Rock #39).

Dave Koz - Lucky Man (1993)

Dave Koz is one of the better-known smooth jazz artists partially because he knows how to market himself: radio and TV host of syndicated smooth jazz programming, smooth jazz cruises, "Dave Koz and Friends" tours, not to mention TV appearances on The Weather Channel, Beverly Hills 90210, and Desperate Housewives. But all that promotion is for naught without good material. This album is a little ballad-heavy, but it is one of Koz's strongest releases. It has just the right combination of slick production and guest artists (Phil Perry, Maceo Parker, Clarence Clemons, Booker T. Jones) while utilizing a stable of first-call session musicians. It's the album of a young musician trying to find his own sound, but still commercial enough to find a place on the then-emerging smooth jazz radio market. It's just uneven and dated enough that I don't listen to it much these days other than the few tracks I've ripped to iTunes.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #176

Tracks:  The album starts off strong with Shakin' The Shack followed by You Make Me Smile. Also good are Tender Is The Night and Wait A Little While. People may recognize track 3, Faces Of The Heart, as it served as the theme for General Hospital for many years. I'm not a fan of Silver Lining and the attempt at hip-hop/jazz fusion, Don't Look Any Further.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  Happy 21st birthday, Kelly Taylor.

Previously revisited for the blog:
December Makes Me Feel This Way (1997)

The Go-Go's - Vacation (1982)

In 1982, I was so disappointed in the title track of this album that I almost broke up with The Go-Go's. I can't explain the disappointment, I just didn't like the song and refused to buy the album because I'm a stubborn S.O.B. The song has since grown on me, but it is far from being the best song on the album. The album isn't nearly as fun as its predecessor, Beauty And The Beat, but it's still got a few entertaining summer, surf-type songs from the girls. Overall, too many minor key songs on this one for my tastes, though. The high points of the group for me have always been the drumming of Gina Schock and wonderfully unique voice of Belinda Carlisle (♥ love ya, Belinda, call me!) and neither disappoints here. If you need mindless poolside music, this fits the bill perfectly, but I don't use it for much more than that. Fortunately, the girls would come back strong in 1984 with Talk Show so it turns out I didn't need to break up with them, after all.

Press of the time:

• Rolling Stone (★★★★): "an amusing miracle"
• Smash Hits (6 out of 10): "poppy songs as modern as they're ancient."
• Robert Christgau (B-): "you can't build a wall of sound (much less an empire) out of tissue paper."
• Stereo Review: "something of a letdown"
• Record Mirror: "Who will save America from Joan Jett and the Go-Go's?"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #8
• Billboard Rock: #21
• CashBox: #5
• Rolling Stone: #3

Tracks: the top track is Get Up And Go, followed closely by the cover of The Capitols' Cool Jerk. I also enjoy Girl Of 100 Lists, I Think It's Me, and This Old Feeling. I usually skip Worlds Away and It's Everything But Party Time; Rolling Stone labeled the latter "the most dour song ever written about hedonism." Most songs aren't even 3 minutes long, so if you don't like a track, you don't have to wait too long for the next one.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Return To The Valley Of The Go-Go's (1994)

Pet Shop Boys - Discography: The Complete Singles Collection (1991)

In this house, it's always time for PSB - one of the few groups we can all agree on. This is a 18 track compilation of their singles released 1985-1991. It gets a lot of playing time 'round here.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #111

Tracks:  I don't skip any of these tracks. Hands down, my favorite PSB song is Left To My Own Devices. In a close race for second place are West End Girls, Suburbia, and What Have I Done To Deserve This, followed by So Hard and Where The Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You). Chart positions follow:

Song	US	UK
West End Girls	1	1
Love Comes Quickly	62	19
Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)	10	11
Suburbia	70	8
It's a Sin	9	1
What Have I Done To Deserve This?	2	2
Rent		8
Always on My Mind	4	1
Heart		1
Domino Dancing	18	7
Left To My Own Devices	84	4
It's Alright		5
So Hard	62	4
Being Boring		20
Where The Streets Have No Name	72	4
Jealousy		12
DJ Culture		13
Was It Worth It?		24

For more information on the brief life of the CD longbox,
go visit The Legend of the Longbox.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  This CD was a gift to me from my late friend Scott, so it's very special to me.

A few weeks ago, rain forced my son to stay inside, so he passed the time by playing a video game upstairs while I was elsewhere in the house. Suddenly, I hear him excitedly yelling, "PSB ON GTA!!!" I walked upstairs to check it out and, sure enough, we were listening to West End Girls while he drove over people on the sidewalk.

Now that I've heard Left To My Own Devices this morning, I will probably listen to it at least 5 more times today.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Yes (2009)
Fundamental (2006)
Somewhere (1997)
Bilingual (1996)
Disco 2 (1994)
Very (1993)
Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You) (1991)

Pete Townshend - All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (1982)

Canadian import

I've said it before: I'm not much of a lyrics guy. Unfortunately for Townshend, most the reviews of this album focused on his lyrics. In issue 375, Rolling Stone hinted at the good songs here by saying "Townshend the musician is even more formidable than Townshend the word slinger" before returning the focus of the review to the lyrics. (Curiously, the RS reviewer gave the album a negative review but 4 star rating.) But the music here, while not Townshend's best, is pretty good in parts. This is a fragmented album where only one song holds up all the way through - Face Dances Part Two. Every other song might have a good verse or chorus, but the rest of the song doesn't live up to the good parts. For example, the chorus of Slit Skirts might be the best 8 bars on the album, but the verse sounds like a show tune that didn't make the cut for Tommy. As a result, I find that my mind wanders a bit at times while listening. It's not a bad album at all, but it leaves me longing for a listen to Face Dances.

For an explanation of the inane, racist album title, see Rolling Stone interview below. You'll be amused and disappointed.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #26
• Billboard Rock: #7
• CashBox: #21
• Rolling Stone: #7

Tracks:  In addition to Face Dances Part Two, top cuts include Prelude, Stop Hurting People, Communication, and Slit Skirts.  Fittingly, I usually skip Exquisitely Bored.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: When my buddy Jim first played this for me in 1982, I initially didn't give much of a chance for purely superficial reasons: the album title and that spooky, cover photo. I'm thinking the ATCO marketing people should have stepped in there.

Various Artists - Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day, Vol. 24 (1996)

Disc 24 of 25. This volume of the series contains singles that peaked on the charts in April 1976 - July 1979, the largest time span I've found in this series.  Many of these tunes have a connection to acting/TV shows/movies. Once again, some critics didn't like this volume (Allmusic states that "this music is best aired only after one is duly ensconced on the sectional with white wine and bonbons in hand"), but I like the majority of tunes here and I'm currently sober. There aren't any classics here, but it's still a nice time capsule.

Tracks:

• Hey Deanie - Shaun Cassidy (#7 in January 1978)
  Completely formulaic: member of a famous musical family sings an Eric Carmen tune to capitalize on his popularity as a TV show teen idol. Pretty much the same formula Disney uses these days. However, this is a pretty good song and Cassidy doesn't have AutoTune to clean up his vocals. I'll be right back - I'm going to ask my wife if she had a Shaun Cassidy poster on her walls when she was a pre-teen. Her response: "Of course!"
• Heaven On The 7th Floor - Paul Nicholas (#6 in November 1977)
  And now I'm dancing thanks to this little slice of disco heaven. You may remember Nicholas as Dougie Shears in the film version of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band. Or not.
• Thank You For Being A Friend - Andrew Gold (#25 in April 1978)
  Long before TV's The Golden Girls copped it for its theme, I enjoyed this one on the AM radio. It's cheesy soft rock (right up my alley), but for me the highlight is the spacey bridge.
• Makin' It - David Naughton (#5 in July 1979)
  This TV show theme, sung by the show's lead, is the true gem of this volume. I've always liked this song and it doesn't appear on any disco compilations I own. I even watched the 8 or 9 episodes of the TV show. Curiously, this song lasted longer in the Top 40 than the program was on the air.
• The King is Gone - Ronnie McDowell (#13 in October 1977)
  Shamelessly capitalizing on the death of Elvis, this song is better off forgotten.
• Save Your Kisses For Me - Brotherhood of Man (#27 in July 1976)
  This song bears more than a passing resemblance to Tie A Yellow Ribbon. Late '60s bubblegum pop released about ten years late. For those of you that keep up with such things, this song won the Eurovision contest in 1976.
• Feel So Good - Chuck Mangione (#4 in June 1978)
  Love it. This song is most likely responsible for opening the door and exposing me to other music genres - Mangione as a gateway drug that eventually led to Miles Davis. It was a long, strange trip. More on this song (including lyrics!) here.
• Emotion - Samantha Sang (#3 in March 1978)
  Basically a BeeGees song featuring Sang. Featuring a hushed vocal, Sang rode the BeeGees' coattails as far as she could. And who could blame her? If I had the opportunity to record it back then, I'd woulda done the same thing. It's a great song; Barry Gibb simply couldn't miss back then.
• Love Fire - Jigsaw (#30 in April 1976)
  Pleasant, but ultimately forgettable follow-up to the group's far superior Sky High.
• Everybody Be Dancin' - Starbuck (#38 in May 1977)
  When I first heard this without knowing the artist, I thought, "hey, that sound's like somebody playing Moonlight Feels Right at a faster tempo." Turns out I was right. But like I always say: ain't nothing wrong with stealing from yourself. I like this, but would rather hear Moonlight Feels Right.
• Did You Boogie (With Your Baby) - Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids (#29 in October 1976)
  First of all, that is a fantastic band name. Complete with a Wolfman Jack cameo, this is an okay attempt to ride the '50s nostalgia wave of the 1970s (Grease/American Graffiti/Happy Days). This Beach Boys knock-off was a big hit with me, however, because I was hitting puberty around the time of its popularity and all I could think about was boogie-ing with my baby in the back row of the picture show.
• Street Corner Serenade - Wet Willie (#30 in February 1978)
  I always liked this southern-tinged homage to Brill Building songs of the early '60s, particularly the sax solo, guitar picking, and the (almost) a capella breakdown.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: see above

Previously revisited for the blog:

Volume 1	Volume 2	Volume 3	Volume 5
Volume 6	Volume 7	Volume 8	Volume 9
Volume 11	Volume 12	Volume 14	Volume 15
Volume 16	Volume 17	Volume 18	Volume 19
Volume 21	Volume 22	Volume 25