Steps Ahead - Live In Tokyo 1986 (1994)

I thought I'd check out live versions of tunes with which I am very familiar. Sawite. And somehow, these live versions sound more dated than the studio versions I've been listening to for many decades.

By this time, Steps Ahead was Michael Brecker and Mike Mainieri supported by other fine musicians. In this case, we've got Mike Stern on guitar (fresh off his gigs with Miles Davis), Darryl Jones on bass (just after leaving Sting's backing band and, since 1993, with The Rolling Stones), and drummer Steve Smith (who I always associate with Journey). They work together well, but the only bit here that varies much from the studio versions is a nice segue from In A Sentimental Mood to Trains. This isn't one of those albums I'll seek out, but I won't skip a track should it come around on a shuffle.

Reviews/ratings:

• DownBeat (★★★): "packed with catchy jazz-pop melodies and plenty of invigorating stretches of harmonized playing."
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★

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

Tracks: Of the eight tracks here, 3 originally appeared on Modern Times, the remaining 5 on Magnetic.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Magnetic (1986)
Modern Times (1984)
Steps Ahead (1983)

The Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos - Chant (1994)

From the CD insert:

Timeless sounds. Amazing grace. Their voices echoing through the magical calm of their historic cloister, the monks of Stanto Domingo de Silos sing the sublime music of an assured and serene spirit - Gregorian chat.

Those that didn't weren't yet alive in 1994 might not believe that one of the hottest albums that year was made up of 1,000 year old Gregorian chants sung in Latin by a group of 36 monks who live in an eighth-century monastery in Spain. I lived through it and I'm not sure I understand the album's double-platinum(!) success. To be sure, there were plenty of "chant" CDs released in its wake. I don't think the label executives at Angel expected that level of success when it marketed this album as way to relax and relieve some of the stresses of everyday life. My father somehow obtained a copy and now that's been passed on to me.

It is indeed relaxing and beautifully performed, but this isn't the kind of music I seek out.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #3
• Billboard Classical: #1

Tracks: 19 unison a capella tracks, sung in Latin, ranging in length from 42 seconds to over 6 minutes.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I studied plenty of Gregorian chant while pursuing an undergraduate music degree so I understand what's going on. But, in spite of the inherent beauty of the works, the idea of listening to it again in 1994 didn't exactly appeal me.

Various Artists - Minivan Audio Systems: Infinity Acoustic 10 (1994)

Once upon a time, it was rare for a CD player to come standard in a new vehicle. I guess we've come full circle on that one as they've been phased out over the past couple of decades. But if you bought a Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge minivan in 1994 or '95, you apparently had the option of upgrading to the "Infinity Acoustic 10" sound system which included AM/FM radio, graphic equalizer, stereo cassette player, CD player, and 10 speakers.

And it would have come with this CD sampler that not only introduces you to your new sound system, it provides a variety of music from the Sony catalog to play on your minivan's new state-of-the-art stereo system.

Tracks: Imagine sitting surrounded by the fine, supple cloth interior of a new Chrysler Town & Country (MPG: Up to 16 city / 22 highway), and (over the din of your crying, hungry children) trying to hear the following variety of tracks on your way home from the dealership:

1. Introduction to Chrysler Infinity Acoustic 10 Audio System (2:37)
2. How To Set Digital Clock (:54)
3. How To Tune Radio, Set Pre-sets and Adjust Graphic Equalizer (4:56)
4. Hot To Operate Stereo Cassette Player (2:02)
5. How To Operate CD Player (3:40)
6. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Tower Of Power (5:26)
7. I See Your Smile - Gloria Estefan (4:58) #48 pop, #3 AC
8. Honky Tonk Crowd - Rick Trevino (2:47) #35 country
9. All Shook Up - Billy Joel (2:09). Also on My Lives. #92 pop
10. Hellos & Goodbyes - Tommy Emmanuel (4:35)
11. A Wink & A Smile - Harry Connick, Jr. (2:48) Also on Sleepless In Seattle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
12. The Hard Way - Mary Chapin Carpenter (4:23) #11 country
13. Keep Talking - Pink Floyd (6:11) #1 rock
14. Said I Love You - Michael Bolton (5:06) #6 pop, #1 AC
15. Silver Threads And Golden Needles - Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn (2:24) #68 country
16. Don't Want To Be A Fool - Luther Vandross (4:37) #9 pop, #4 R&B, # AC
17. Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525, 1st Movement: Allegro - Marlboro Festival Orchestra, Pablo Casals, Conductor (8:26)

Total time: 67:49 (and, yes, I listened to all of it today, including the excitement of tracks 1-5). The "something for everyone" approach leads to some interesting sequencing choices, but I guess that couldn't be avoided. For my money, the top track is a tie between Harry Connick, Jr. and Luther Vandross. The only new-to-me cut that I had any interest in was Hellos & Goodbyes from Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel. I once had track 6, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride on a prerecorded ToP cassette, so it was good to hear that driving funk instrumental again.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: For our growing family, we bought a base model Plymouth Grand Voyager in 1997, so we missed this disc (and the Infinity Acoustic 10, for that matter) but I couldn't resist it when I saw the CD in the used bin. Plus I had a 10% off coupon.

Hootie & The Blowfish - Cracked Rear View (1994)

I was given this CD 2 or 3 years ago but haven't played it until today. To be fair, it isn't a difficult album to obtain as it sold over 22 million copies. I'm familiar with the singles from radio play, but today marks the first time I've heard the entire album. Here we go...

...

As I suspected. If you've heard the singles, you've heard the rest - it's all the same jangly, folky, pop with almost a retro-'70s country rock feel. A solid album filled with hooks; I'm surprised that it took 30 years before I heard the whole thing.

At the 38th Annual Grammy Awards, Let Her Cry won the award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals while the band was given the nod for Best New Artist over Brandy, Alanis Morissette, Joan Osborne, and Shania Twain.

Press of the time:

• Rolling Stone (★★★½): "their absolute lack of irony is as refreshing as their sing-along hooks"
• Billboard: "proves a pleasing major-label debut"
• Robert Christgau (B): "Rucker's gruff grit adds an extra layer of substance to a music already deeply comforting in its formal certainties."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #1 (8 non-consecutive weeks)
• CashBox: #1

Tracks: As I said, I recognize the five singles and here's how I'd rank them:

1. Only Wanna Be With You (#6 pop, #2 rock, #3 AC)
2. Time (#14 pop, #26 rock, #4 AC)
3. Hold My Hand (#10 pop, #4 rock, #6 AC)
4. Drowning (#21 rock)
5. Let Her Cry (#9 pop, #9 rock, #6 AC)

Of the other six tracks, my picks are Hannah Jane and I'm Goin' Home. I lost interest after 8 tracks. And since this is a mid-'90s release, this disc includes the annoying, seemingly obligatory hidden track at the end.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, which is odd considering how huge these guys were in the mid-'90s.

Shades of Roy Orbison (1994)

I'm going to let Allmusic do the heavy lifting today:

This oddly chosen ten-song budget compilation, running less than 26 minutes, contains five Roy Orbison Top 40 hits of the early '60s, two of which reached the Top Five. The other five tracks are B-sides of singles ("Pretty One," "Indian Wedding") or LP tracks. The slipshod nature of the project is indicated by the misprinting of the title of the first track, which should be called "Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)," but instead has been listed as "Only the Lonely (Know How I Feel)." Generally, one expects more than a 50 percent hit ratio on a compilation, and the obscurities are not sufficiently interesting to justify their inclusion.

Clever title, though.

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

Tracks:

1. Only The Lonely (Know How I Feel) [sic]: 1960 single, #2 pop
2. Borne On The Wind: 1964 single, did not chart
3. Pretty One: b-side to 1959 single, Up Town
4. Indian Wedding: b-side to 1964 single, It's Over
5. Blue Avenue: from the 1961 album Lonely And Blue
6. Workin' For The Man [sic]: 1962 single, #33 pop
7. The Crowd: 1962 single, #26 pop
8. Blue Bayou: 1963 single, #29 pop
9. I'll Say It's My Fault: from the 1961 album Lonely And Blue
10. Oh, Pretty Woman: 1964 single, #1 pop

If you're looking for a budget Orbison compilation, you're better off with Super Hits.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Faithful readers of this space are well-aware of my eBay addiction. I recently ordered a 3 disc lot from that site and this CD arrived with them accompanied by this note:

I don't necessarily like the CD, but I love free. I suspect the seller is simply getting rid of parents' CDs as quickly as possible. Glad I could help.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Super Hits (1995)

Various Artists - The Unplugged Collection, Volume One (1994)

A compilation of performances taken from MTV Unplugged featuring sixteen artists, many of whom released entire albums of their Unplugged concerts. According to the wonderful oral history I Want My MTV, Unplugged creators Bob Small and Jim Burns couldn't get MTV interested in the show. Executive Judy McGrath was the only one at the network that wanted to produce the show. She eventually got her way and the rest is history as the show became a worldwide megabrand.

As you would probably guess for such a compilation, this thing is hit-or-miss and there's alot of tracks here that are just ok. Some tracks aren't completely unplugged - electric bass is most often the culprit - and that bothers more than it probably should. And while the album is average at best, the liner notes are quite good.

To date, subsequent volumes have not been released.

Press of the time:

• Entertainment Weekly (B): "long on tasteful renderings and short on innovation."
• Billboard: "Acoustic, sure. But listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan deliver an emotionally charged blues reading of 'Pride And Joy,' and then argue the semantics of whether or not this is electric."
• CashBox: Pick of the week

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #97

Tracks:

Artist	Song
Stevie Ray Vaughan	Pride And Joy	✔
Eric Clapton	Before You Accuse Me
Lenny Kravitz	Are You Gonna Go My Way
Soul Asylum	Somebody to Shove	✘
k.d. lang	Barefoot	✔
Paul Simon	Graceland
Elton John	Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me	✔
Neil Young	Like A Hurricane	✘
Rod Stewart	Gasoline Alley
John Mellencamp	Pink Houses
Paul McCartney	We Can Work It Out
Elvis Costello & The Rude 5	Deep Dark Truthful Mirror
Don Henley	Come Rain Or Come Shine
Annie Lennox	Why	✔
10,000 Maniacs	Don't Talk
R.E.M.	Half A World Away

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
MTV Buzz Bin, Vol. 1 (1996)
Paul McCartney - Unplugged: The Official Bootleg (1991)
Never Mind The Mainstream...The Best of MTV's 120 Minutes, Vol. 2 (1991)

Various Artists - Living In Oblivion: The 80's Greatest Hits, Volume 3 (1994)

The third of five volumes from EMI Records Group. I didn't buy any discs in this series upon release but now they're appearing in used CD stores as people shamelessly discard entire CD collections. Some of my favorite 80's tunes are here, including Perfect Way and It's My Life, plus great tunes like Poison Arrow, (Keep Feeling) Fascination, and Life In A Northern Town. Also, 7 of the 19 tracks are new to my CD shelves, so it's a perfect mix of familiar and unfamiliar, which is all I can ask of these sorts of compilations.

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

Tracks, with both US and UK chart peaks and links to previous appearances on this blog:

Song	Artist	Year	US	UK	Prev.
(Keep Feeling) Fascination	Human League	1983	8	2	1, 2, 3, 4
Perfect Way	Scritti Politti	1985	11	48	1, 2, 3, 4
Cruel Summer	Bananarama	1983	9	8	1
Life In A Northern Town	Dream Academy	1985	7	15	1, 2
Election Day	Arcadia	1985	6	7	1
Shattered Dreams	Johnny Hates Jazz	1987	2	5	1
Sunglasses At Night	Corey Hart	1984	7	-	1, 2
The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades	Timbuk 3	1986	19	21	1, 2
Make A Circuit With Me	The Polecats	1983	-	76
Rock This Town	Stray Cats	1981	9	9	1, 2, 3, 4
Sidewalk Talk	Jellybean	1984	18	47
It's My Life	Talk Talk	1984	31	46	1, 2
(I Just) Died In Your Arms	Cutting Crew	1986	1	4
Hanging On A Heart Attack	Device	1986	35	-
Poison Arrow	ABC	1982	25	6	1, 2, 3, 4
AEIOU Sometimes Y	Ēbn-Ōzn	1983	-	-
Are You Sure	So	1988	41	62
The Way You Are	Tears For Fears	1983	-	24
What Do All The People Know	The Monroes	1982	59	1	1

Here's my thoughts on those 7 first-timers:

• Make A Circuit With Me: Prior to the purchase of this CD, I was completely unfamiliar with The Polecats, a rockabilly group out of London. Even though there's not much to it, I bob my head to the catchy tune and happy feel of this one, but I wasn't into rockabilly at the time of release so it's safe to say I like it more now than I would have at the time of release. The liner notes state the tune is "built around a metaphor of electronics as sex, perfectly tuned to the Reagan-era" way of thinking.
• Sidewalk Talk: The liner notes also offer up this alliterative blurb: "Mighty Manhattan mixer John 'Jellybean' Benitez made his first album without singing or playing one note." (Not to be pedantic, but it was an EP, not an album, but point taken.) Although she didn't receive an artist credit, this is a Madonna tune. It's highly danceable, but the #18 peak on the pop charts sounds about right.
• (I Just) Died In Your Arms: Didn't care much for this one back in '86 and it hasn't aged well. Pass. Coincidently, I often mistake Cutting Crew for Johnny Hates Jazz and them both being included on this compilation has only compounded my confusion.
• Hanging On A Heart Attack: I know of Holly Knight as being a great songwriter and member of the group Spider, but I didn't know she was a member of a later group, Device. Sadly, this isn't one her better tunes.
• AEIOU Sometimes Y: Devoid of melody, but I like the groundbreaking sampling/DIY aesthetic here. Reportedly the first commercial single produced entirely on computer, it didn't dent the pop chart, but was popular in the clubs in 1983, peaking at #20 on the dance chart.
• Are You Sure: I hadn't previously heard of this song or band, but the single sounds like any number of its contemporaries, nothing to really distinguish it. Could have used a catchy chorus.
• The Way You Are: A single-only release between the duo's first two albums. Neither of the duo like the thing: "I think this was the point at which we realised we had to change direction." I don't think it's all that bad, just a bit unfocused as if the guys couldn't decide if they wanted to sound like experimentalish drum-driven synthpop or have more of a synth-reggae sound. The liner notes claim this compilation was the first official US release of the song. 

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but here's to finding the remaining volume in the used bins and a 5-disc carousel player at the thrift store.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Volume 1 (1993)
Volume 4 (1994)
Volume 5 (1995)

Pet Shop Boys - I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (1994)

CD Single

Recently found this disc and figured since I liked the tune, I'd pick up the CD single used. If a little bit is good, more must be better, right? Normally, I'd say yes, but since I already have 3 of these IWDTKOT remixes elsewhere, it didn't turn out to be the most prudent purchase. Ah, well - there's still 4 tracks that are new to me.

Peak on the US Billboard Dance chart: #2

Billboard, January 22, 1994, p. 61

Tracks:

1. I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (Album Version) - found on Very
2. I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (Club Mix) 
3. I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (Wild Pitch Mix) - found on Disco 2
4. I Wouldn't Normally Do This Kind Of Thing (Extended Nude Mix) - found on Disco 2
5. West End Girls (Sasha Mix)
6. Violence (Hacienda Version)
7. Too Many People

That's 7 tracks in 44 minutes - we certainly used to get bang for our buck with the early '90s CD singles. The best remix of IWNDTKOT is track 4, the Extended Nude Mix. The West End Girls remix is good, not great and the other two b-sides are pleasant enough - Violence is laid back while Too Many People is a full-on typical PSB dance track.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but my back and knees are telling me I shouldn't try the same dance moves I was doing back in '94.

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)
Discography: The Complete Singles Collection (1991)

Various Artists - Just Say Roe (1994)

The 7th and final CD in the Just Say Yes series from the Sire label, conceived specifically as a pro-choice album, hence the title reference to Roe v. Wade and the disturbing cover art. Originally budget-priced at $7.98, this was not a benefit album, but aimed to raise consciousness instead of money:

click image to enlarge

Since I only recognized the names of five of the 16 acts on the disc, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality on about half of the tracks here. Billboard magazine claimed the material was "top-shelf" while CashBox stated "there's some great music to be found here." From what I can find online, the compilation is of particular interest to Madonna completists as her contribution, Goodbye To Innocence, was not released elsewhere on CD.
 
Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

1. David Byrne - Lilies of the Valley, from the album David Byrne.
   Byrne is in good voice but the sparse instrumentation can't really figure what the form of the piece is - funk/rock with a vibraphone solo, maybe. However, I prefer this quirky Byrne to world music Byrne.
2. Madonna - Goodbye to Innocence, previously unreleased
   Very much of its time, this gets my vote for best cut on the album. This highly danceable track was originally recorded for the Erotica album, but inexplicably didn't make the cut.
3. Doubleplusgood - The Winding Song, single-only release
   Am told that this group is a side project of a Book Of Love keyboardist/songwriter. In any case, this is a good world music dance track under a rap vocal from Basil Lucas.
4. Waterlillies - I Am Woman, previously unreleased
   A tasty trip-hop cover of the 1972 Helen Reddy tune.
5. Belly - It's Not Unusual, b-side to Moon single
   Another good cover, this time of a tune we normally associate with Tom Jones. Sounds like an alt rock band having fun in the studio with a song they remember from their youth. Which is probably exactly what this is.
6. The Farm - Comfort, from the album Hullabaloo.
   This moody, guitar-padded piece isn't my thing, but I'm guessing it might appeal to fans of Morrisey.
7. John Wesley Harding - Right to Choose, recorded especially for this compilation
   I like this one. I dig the acoustic alt-rock sound and the way the song gradually builds.
8. Kristin Hersh - Hysterical Bending, recorded especially for this compilation
   I don't particularly care for Hersh's singing voice, but the acoustic guitar part on this one is mesmerizing enough to make me overlook that.
9. Scorpio Rising - It's Obvious, recorded especially for this compilation
   It's obvious this song was heavily influenced by Nirvana. The feedback and repetitive chorus is enough to turn me off
10. Poster Children - Roe v. Wade, recorded especially for this compilation
    While it isn't something I normally listen to, I like the relentless drive of this DIY post-hardcore protest song.
11. Danielle Dax - Defiled, recorded especially for this compilation
    Nope.
12. Tripmaster Monkey - Blatant Affair, recorded especially for this compilation
    Fairly generic early '90s college rock.
13. BiGod 20 - It's Up to You, recorded especially for this compilation
    Here we've got the German experimental techno contribution to the album. I wouldn't seek this out, but I'll sure dance to the thing.
14. Judybats - What We Lose, from the album Full-Empty
    This sort of melodic-jangly-pop-alt-rock was right up my alley at the time so I have no idea how I missed this one even though I was familiar with the band then. Nice to discover it here.
15. Ride - I Don't Want to Be a Soldier, previously unreleased
    Correctly or incorrectly, I'd label this as BritPop, a genre I never really got into.
16. Greenberry Woods - Adieu, from the album Rapple Dapple
    Ending with some quality power pop is always appreciated. And I like the "adieu" wordplay throughout.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:

Just Say Yo (1988)

Various Artists - Living In Oblivion: The 80's Greatest Hits, Volume 4 (1994)

The fourth of five volumes from EMI Records Group. A couple of months back, I featured Volume 1 of the series and wrote these words: "I'll give you odds on whether or not I'll eventually pick up other volumes in this series (warning: don't take that bet cuz I've got a CD addiction to feed)." And soon after that, I found this CD in a used bin and here we are, as predicted.

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

Tracks, with both US and UK chart peaks and links to previous appearances on this blog:

Song	Artist	Year	US	UK	Prev.
Dance Hall Days	Wang Chung	1984	16	21	1, 2, 3, 4
One Thing Leads To Another	The Fixx	1983	4	-	1, 2
True	Spandau Ballet	1983	4	1	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Come On Eileen	Dexys Midnight Runners	1982	1	1	1, 2
Digging Your Scene	The Blow Monkeys	1986	14	12
Sister of Mercy	Thompson Twins	1984	-	11	1, 2
Under The Milky Way	The Church	1988	24	-
Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)	Red Box	1985	-	3
Since Yesterday	Strawberry Switchblade	1984	-	5	1
You Don't Know	Scarlett & Black	1988	20	-
Some People	Belouis Some	1985	67	33	1
Shock	The Motels	1985	84	-
Belly Of The Whale	Burning Sensations	1983	-	-
Tenderness	General Public	1984	27	-	1, 2, 3, 4
Get Out Of London	Intaferon	1983	-	93
Go	Tones On Tail	1984	-	-	1
Slang Teacher	Wide Boy Awake	1982	-	-
Lawnchairs	Our Daughter's Wedding	1981	-	49	1
Mexican Radio	Wall Of Voodoo	1982	58	64	1, 2

So 8 of the 19 tracks are new to my CD shelves, a pleasant ratio of new and familiar to be sure. Here's my thoughts on those eight:

• Digging Your Scene: I was surprised to find I didn't already have this on CD as I've been listening to it for years and downloaded the thing via Napster around the turn of the century. The great sophistipop music belies the serious, timely lyrical content. But sweet sassy molassey that's some smooth groove. The version on this compilation is the "U.S. Mix," clocking in at 4:41.
• Under The Milky Way: Another one I thought I already had somewhere. I think The Church were ahead of their time because now when I hear them, they sound more '90s than '80s to me. Regardless, this is a great dream pop song and a huge hit internationally (it also reminds me of The Cure, but I digress). I dig how it builds from the acoustic part at the beginning before it seamlessly moves to synth pads, bagpipe synth, and so on. Has it really been over 20 years since Donnie Darko was released?
• Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo): This one was new to me - I guess they didn't play it on MTV back in '85, maybe? It's a little too precious for these ears, the chorus sounds like it was lifted from a Proclaimers b-side.
• You Don't Know: a shuffle in the same vein as Everybody Wants To Rule The World but what a fantastic hook on the chorus. Never has a song about the end of a relationship sounded so joyous. A one-hit wonder on multiple continents, but at least we got this single.
• Shock: not a particularly well-written tune, it is over-produced and a complete waste of Martha Davis's unique voice.
• Belly Of The Whale: I can't help but move to this feel they've got working here. I don't know if 'calypso rock' is a genre, but regardless, there should be more songs like this. I dig the verse more than the driving chorus, but it's a good song, I vaguely remember the video on MTV, and Burning Sensations is a helluva band name.
• Get Out Of London: the band does the best they can with the material as the arrangement is much better than the writing. Maybe credit producer Martin Rushent for that. I don't hate it, but I don't love it.
• Slang Teacher: New to me on this disc, but sounds exactly like something I would have loved in '82. Catchy as all get-out and easy to sing/chant along with.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, but repeat the above warning.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Volume 1 (1993)

Various Artists - On The Charts: I.R.S. Records 1979-1994 (1994)

The title is somewhat misleading but I guess "On And Off The Charts: One Track Each From The More Popular Artists And Their Spin-Off Groups on I.R.S. Records 1981-1992" is a little long and arguably pedantic. And don't get me started on the unimaginative cover art. But once I'm able to quit being petty about such things and listen to the tunes, this compilation ain't bad at all. The selections perfectly illustrate what a great label I.R.S. was for up and coming rockers in the '80s, moving from post-punk to new wave to pop to alt rock.

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

Tracks:

Song	Artist	Year	Hot 100	Rock
Our Lips Are Sealed	Go-Go's	1981	20	15
Mexican Radio (edit)	Wall Of Voodoo	1982	58	41
Only A Lad	Oingo Boingo	1981	-	-
The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades	Timbuk 3	1986	19	14
Save It For Later	The English Beat	1982	-	-
She Drives Me Crazy	Fine Young Cannibals	1988	1	-
Mad About You (single mix)	Belinda Carlisle	1986	3	-
Tenderness	General Public	1984	27	39
The One I Love	R.E.M.	1987	9	2
Joey	Concrete Blonde	1990	19	20
Rain In The Summertime (edit)	The Alarm	1987	71	6
Dizz Knee Land	dada	1992	102	27

The highlights for me are the tracks from the Go-Go's and English Beat. I was previously unfamiliar with the tune by The Alarm and am happy to have finally discovered it here - very Joshua Tree-ish to these ears. I've never liked the Concrete Blonde tune and had forgotten all about the dada track. While I'm being petty, I would have picked a different REM tune (probably Radio Free Europe) but since The One I Love was the group's only Top 40 hit on the IRS label, I understand its inclusion here.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: When I was in high school, I thought that silver label with the iconic maroon logo was the coolest LP label graphic going.

Various Artists - So Blue So Funky: Heroes Of The Hammond Volume 2 (1994)

UK Import

"Just pull out all the stops and get organised!" - bad puns from the liner notes

This disc highlights '60s instrumental R&B (heavy on the B) tunes that feature the Hammond organ. I had high hopes for this compilation, and while it is enjoyable, I'm a little disappointed in it overall - there's no "wow" moment to be found. Still, I'd probably buy volume one if I saw it.

Part of Blue Note's fantastic "Blue Series" compilations from the '90s:

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Not released in US

Tracks: 11 tracks, 76 minutes, my top choices marked with a ✔.

Song	Artist	Year
Where It's At	Jimmy McGriff	1965	✔
Meetin' Here	Curtis Amy/Paul Bryant	1961
When Malindy Sings	Freddie Roach	1963
Mary Had A Little Lamb	George Braith	1963	✘
Can Heat	Jimmy Smith	1962	✔
Morris The Minor	Richard 'Groove' Holmes	1961	✔
Minor Soul	Johnny Lytle	1967
Somethin' Strange	Baby Face Willette	1961
I Want To Go Home	Big John Patton	1968
Street Scene	Larry Young	1969	✘
The Kid	Lou Donaldson	1967

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Basia - The Sweetest Illusion (1994)

A typical Basia poppy-jazzy-adult contemporary album - if you're in the mood, it's spot-on and if you're not, it can be annoying as hell. (For the record, today I'm in the mood and I'm quite enjoying it.) I'd reckon this album is stronger than London Warsaw New York but not quite up to Basia's debut, Time And Tide. Very easy to digest and there's some good writing here. My only complaint is that the duo tries to take us on a world tour of musical styles - each song a derivation of some groove you've heard before - with mixed results. It's best when they lose the accordion and scatting and stay in their usual, comfy, pseudo-Latin lane.

Also, as noted in a 1994 LA Times feature:

[Basia's] voice is a little deeper. “That’s because I took vocal lessons, which brought out that side of my voice,” she says. “But it’s also because of the influence of Anita Baker. I love the deep side of her voice and I listen to her CDs constantly.

Listen to a lot of Anita Baker CDs, huh? Join the club. Entertainment Weekly gave The Sweetest Illusion a grade of C+ while Billboard spotlighted the album and gave it a positive outlook for sales.

For what it's worth, I'd be game for a Danny White instrumental album. The Sweetest Illusion has since been released on a 3 CD deluxe set and the second CD of that set is mostly instrumental versions of these tracks. Hmmm...

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #27
• CashBox: #20

Tracks: This is one of those front-loaded albums - the first 3⅔ songs are fantastic, then things get hit-or-miss. The lead track, Drunk On Love, hit the top spot on the Billboard dance chart on October 29, 1994, Basia's only appearance on that particular chart. The better tracks from the middle to the end of the album are the title track (which is the most '90s-sounding thing here) and More Fire Than Flame.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Best of Matt Bianco (1990)
London Warsaw New York (1989)
Time and Tide (1987)

Barbra Streisand - The Concert (1994)

I prefer Barbra's late '70s - early '80s pop and disco output and it doesn't seem like I'd purchase a concert CD with track titles like Therapist Dialogue #1 and/or Disney Medley, so I'm unsure how this 2 CD set got on my shelves, but here we are - let's give this thing a spin. On a related note: it seems some of you like to break into my house at night and put random CDs on my shelves. I don't mind that so much, but could you also leave some baked goods or bourbon alongside? Thanks.

Stereo Review, January 1995, pp. 133, 135

There's no arguing that she can belt it out; Babs brought the goods. It's all very scripted, tasteful, polished, and professional (much credit to arranger/conductor Marvin Hamlisch) - the crowd at Madison Square Garden that evening obviously loved every minute of it - just not my preferred Babs. Give me The Main Event or a duet with either Barry Gibb or Donna Summer.

Streisand has subsequently released five more live albums: in 2000, 2007, 2010, 2013 & 2017.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #10

Tracks: Lots of show tunes on this setlist as well as an Overture and Entr'acte that contain some of Barbra's hits which, oddly, don't actually appear on the album. On the first disc (Act I), my pick cuts would be Can't Help Lovin' That Man and Evergreen. From "Act II," I prefer The Way We Were and Not While I'm Around.

The single from the album was Ordinary Miracles by Marvin Hamlisch and Alan & Marilyn Bergman (disc 2, track 7). It did not chart, but was nominated for a Grammy award in the category of Pop Vocal, Female, eventually losing to All I Wanna Do by Sheryl Crow.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Broadway Album (1985)

Eagles - Hell Freezes Over (1994)

Contains four new studio tracks and eleven tracks recorded live in April 1994 for an MTV special. The four new tracks either sound like Don Henley solo tunes or Eagles tracks you've heard before even though you haven't. The live tunes are just what fans want: "play the hits, guys, and play them like they sound on the albums - don't mess with my familiar arrangements." Henley is such a smug chore I want to hate this, but I dig it - mainly due to Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmidt's contributions. Bottom line: if you like Eagles, you'll like this collection. But you knew that.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #1

Press of the time:

• Stereo Review: "you've heard this before"
• Rolling Stone (★★★½): "far better than anyone but their accountants had a right to expect."
• CashBox: "the group is acknowledging more openly their country sound"
• Billboard: "the project works fine"
• Robert Christgau: dud

Tracks: I like 3 of the 4 new ones, the exception being the too-country-for-Mark's-sensibilities cut, The Girl From Yesterday. The best of the four is Love Will Keep Us Alive, which topped the Adult Contemporary chart for 3 weeks.

Highlights of the live tracks are Wasted Time, I Can't Tell You Why, In The City, and Life In The Fast Lane. While New York Minute is one of Henley's better solo tunes, if a solo tune had to be chosen for the show, I would have opted for Life's Been Good or All She Wants To Do Is Dance or, hell, even Dirty Laundry. I would have preferred more rockers to all these ballads and mid-tempo tunes, but there's nothing really objectionable here. Track 6, the live version of Hotel California, still gets regular play on the local classic radio station.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: On the evening of the last day of school before Christmas break in December 1999, I attended a faculty party at the home of my school's assistant principal. He was an eccentric, single dude rumored to be a former CIA agent, but I digress. Most of the group in attendance was in their 20's and 30's and were quickly intoxicated (like most Xmas office parties, I'd imagine). Amid the frivolity, the assistant principal/special agent in charge asked me if I'd join him for some Cuban cigars and I jumped at the chance. I'd never smoked a celebrated Cuban cigar before and by the end of that evening, that fact hadn't changed. Turns out the cigar was a Havana Sunrise, which, at the time, were produced in Little Havana, Miami. Cubans? Close, but no cigar (apologies, that all-too-easy cliché was uncalled for). I've since had a good number of Cuban cigars and, while they are very good, I honestly can't tell much difference between them and premium cigars from Honduras or the Dominican Republic, I'm no aficionado but again I digress.

So what's all this got to do with The Eagles? At some point during said party, I noticed someone had turned on the TV and stuck in an Eagles Hell Freezes Over DVD. An odd choice for a Christmas party, but better than, say Chicago 25 or some such.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Long Road Out of Eden (2007)
The Long Run (1979)
Hotel California (1976)