Patrice Rushen - Signature (1997)

Note: this CD released using HDCD encoding.

I picked this CD out of a used bin at some point during the past few years and I was pleasantly surprised to hear Rushen putting out a mostly instrumental smooth jazz album featuring guests such as Kirk Whalum and Gerald Albright. Rushen produced and arranged the tracks and wrote all but three of them. Fans expecting 1980's pop/R&B may be disappointed, but not this guy. And while there's plenty of synth work on the album (it was the '90s, after all), I'm very pleased with the fact there's a heaping helping of acoustic piano on the tracks. I had never heard of this album before purchasing it, but I'm very glad I ran across it - it's been in fairly regular rotation since its purchase.

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Contemporary Jazz Performance, eventually losing to Into the Sun by Randy Brecker.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #9

Tracks: My favorites are the originals Almost Home, Wise Ol' Souls, Arrival. and the beautiful ballad Days Gone By. We're also treated to good covers of Sade's Sweetest Taboo and The Stylistics' Hurry Up This Way Again. 

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I recently saw Rushen perform live and she included track 10 from this album, Arrival, in her setlist. She put on a spectacular show and, while I knew she was a good player, I had no idea how good until I saw her live - simply amazing.

Pieces Of A Dream - Pieces (1997)

Don't be fooled by the Blue Note label, this thing is often more R&B than jazz. Goes down smooth. I was unable to find any press from 1997, but I feel certain the term "quiet storm" was probably used at least once in those reviews and/or press releases. At the time of this recording, the group's original three members (bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon, keyboardist James Lloyd) were joined by Michael Antonio Thornton (keyboards) and Eddie Baccus, Jr. (saxophone). There's also plenty of big name guest artists present here, including Maxi Priest, Everette Harp, Greg Phillinganes, Hubert Laws, George Duke, and Jeff Lorber, as well as their long-time friend Grover Washington, Jr., who had helped the group since their early days.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #14

Tracks: It's all an easy listen, but my top picks are ...And A Bag Of Chips, D'Vora, and Knikki's Smile. My least favorite is Voices Of Wisdom. The disc closes with a fun cover of Stevie Wonder's Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) which sounds like something the band just threw together and had a blast doing it.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Found this in the used bins of Hogwild Records one day and it quickly became my go-to smooth jazz album for quite some time afterwards.

Savage Garden - To The Moon And Back (1997)

US promo CD single

A decent enough single from the late '90s, it won an ARIA award (the Australian equivalent of a Grammy) for Song of the Year in 1997.

Billboard, May 24, 1997, p. 54

Peak on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart: #24

Tracks:

1. long edit (4:32)
2. short edit (4:13)
3. callout hook #1 (:10)
4. callout hook #2 (:05)

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Songs of this type and vintage remind me of chaperoning middle school dances in the late '90s. Not as hellish as you'd think. I found the experience occasionally entertaining as I watched 12 year olds try to navigate the contrived social scene. And don't get me started on the hilarity of the dancing. When I'd get bored, I'd walk around carrying a huge Maglite 4 D-Cell Flashlight and shine it on unsuspecting students - "what do you think you're doing?" Good times.

Various Artists - Music From The Original Motion Picture Boogie Nights (1997)

"Oh, I think you need all that bass." - Buck Swope

One of two pop/rock compilation soundtracks released from the 1997 Paul Thomas Anderson film.

Revisiting 5 of Boogie Nights' Best Soundtrack Moments

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #84

Tracks:

1. Intro (Feel The Heat) - John C. Reilly & Mark Wahlberg
   I could do without it, but these guys should get a cut of the soundtrack profits too, right?
2. Best Of My Love - The Emotions (#1, 1977)
   If this sounds like an Earth, Wind & Fire song sung by females, maybe because that's what it is, written and produced by musical genius Maurice White. The bass line is awesome in its simplicity. Great groove throughout. This cut perfectly soundtracks the legendary introductory long-take that takes up the first 3 minutes of the film. Best of My Love deservedly won the Grammy award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, ironically winning over the nominated tune Boogie Nights by Heatwave.
3. Jungle Fever - Chakachas (#8, 1972)
   I can't imagine my mother letting a 6 year old Mark listen to this tune in '72 what with all the heavy breathing and moaning (which makes this cut perfect for a movie about people in the porn industry, no?). As a parent, I can understand that way of thinking, but I sure was missing out on a sweet groove from this Belgian group. There really isn't much to it, but what's there is enough.
4. Brand New Key - Melanie (#1, 1971)
   Not a bad little ditty, I just can't stand this singer's voice. The roller skate and key imagery isn't very subtle, but again, perfect for the setting of the movie.
   
5. Spill The Wine - War with Eric Burdon (#3, 1970)
   That laid back bass line punctuated by organ hits is irresistible and as good today as it was 50 years ago.  Add some flute work to bizarre lyrics about gnomes and whatnot then you've really got something.  But the real hook is in the chorus.  A classic.
6. Got To Give It Up (Part 1) - Marvin Gaye (#1, 1977)
   Another stone-cold classic that's been sampled and otherwise plagiarized for over 40 years. Best ever use of bottle in a disco song?
   
7. Machine Gun - The Commodores (#22, 1974)
   Dadgum, that's some good sequencing. And the best use of Clavinet this side of Superstition.
   
8. Magnet & Steel - Walter Egan (#8, 1978)
   That's Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham on the track, insuring that the song sounds like something from Fleetwood Mac.  That's it, Walt, play the hot hand. I don't understand the use of a toy piano under the chorus.  Magnet and steel is strained metaphor, for sure, but I dig this tune anyway.
   
9. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead (#13, 1979)
   Classic Philadelphia International sound.  I remember dancing to this one in the jr high gym.  I can't find any fault with any of it: the great string part floating above a funky bass line played by Jimmy Williams backed up with vocals from The Sweethearts of Sigma.  Immediately recognizable, immediately danceable, immediately classic. "Don't wanna stop, please don't make me stop!" The duo's only Top 40 hit, this one would peak at #13, but topped the R&B chart and reached #10 on the disco chart.
   
10. Sister Christian - Night Ranger (#5, 1984)
    A fun tune to play air drums to, if nothing else. All the ladies loved this one, so I went along for the ride but I still have no idea what the song is about. I'm not a fan of power ballads, but if you insist on one, you can't do much better than this cut. Bonus points for the shape and build of the guitar solo.
11. Livin' Thing - ELO (#13, 1976)
    Jeff Lynne was somehow able to combine a mock-Spanish flourish intro and interludes with a Motown backbeat on the chorus and have wordless background angel choruses float above it all. You can't really dance to all of this odd pastiche, but it works anyway. 
12. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys (#39, 1966)
    If this isn't the most perfect pop song ever written, it's certainly in the discussion. Absolute sublime beauty. I could listen to this ten times in a row. And have.
13. The Big Top (Theme From 'Boogie Nights') - Michael Penn & Patrick Warren
    I could do without it, but these guys should get a cut of the soundtrack profits too, right?
    The Touch - Mark Wahlburg
    The dreaded hidden track rears its ugly head, this time in the form of a cover of a tune from the 1986 animated Transformers movie. And then it's back to track 12 for this humble blogger.

The only tune from the soundtrack I'd add to this set would be Andrew Gold's Lonely Boy. But man-oh-man 10 good tracks out of 13 is a heckuva batting average (.769) on a soundtrack CD so I ain't complaining.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I am a big, bright, shining star. This album is a fantastic time capsule of a soundtrack and I've liked the movie from the first time I saw it, but as far as personal memories of the porn industry of the San Fernando Valley in the late '70s and early '80s? Nah - don't have any.

Herb Alpert ‎- A Portrait In Music (1997)

THINKING OUT OF THE BOX SET WEEK (MARCH 8 - 14, 2020)*
*In which I've lost/misplaced/can't find/never had one or more CDs in a multi-disc set.

Disc 1 of a 2 CD limited edition career retrospective. No idea where disc 2 ran off to.

Yes, I'm going to voice my usual complaints about non-chronological sequencing in this post. You've been warned.

I wonder about the selections included here - based solely on chart data, this would appear to be a lackluster compilation, but it ain't that bad. Alpert had 46 Adult Contemporary Hits and 19 Top 40 Hits; so there's obviously a wealth of material to choose from but much of that stuff is overlooked for reasons unknown. These tracks skew toward the earlier Tijuana Brass recordings from the '60s (14 of the disc's 22 tracks) and, to me, that sound is entertaining for a bit, but not for an hour. Mostly due to reasons of nostalgia, I'm partial to the '70s and '80s material, but that should come as a surprise to absolutely no one.

I also can't figure out why 1997 seemed like a good time to put out a promo-only compilation and on the Rondor label (one of Alpert's publishing arms), not A&M. Admittedly, I don't know much about publishing rights; I always figured Alpert owned all his own stuff but a man's gotta eat. [shrug]

Alpert played loose with genres - samba, bossa, pop, swing, disco, latin, R&B, smooth jazz, covers, as well his own "Ameriachi" sound with the Tijuana Brass - but to sequence them like they did on this disc doesn't properly serve the material and disrespects the listener with sudden jolts of contrasting production and arranging styles. I love to shuffle tracks as much as the next guy (I still own no fewer than 3 iPod Shuffles - they're around here somewhere, possibly next to disc 2 of this set.), but when it comes to compilations, I've long believed that chronological sequencing is not only easiest, it's the right thing to do.

I'm doing a lot of bitching about this CD, but I'm doing it a disservice with all these negative comments. It's good, I'm just disappointed it isn't as good as it could have been. Coulda woulda shoulda.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Promotional release

Tracks:

Song	Year	Hot 100	AC
The Lonely Bull	1962	6	-
Tijuana Taxi	1965	38	9
Cantina Blue	1966	-	-
Beba	1997	-	-
Slick	1968	-	36
Behind The Rain	1979	-	-
Cinco De Mayo	1965	-	-
So What's New	1966	-	-
Route 101	1982	37	4
Can't Stop Thinking About You	1996	-	-
Rotation	1979	30	23
Bittersweet Samba	1965	-	-
Memories Of Madrid	1966	-	-
Our Song	1987	-	-
Salud, Amor Y Dinero	1964	-	-
Green Peppers	1966	-	-
It's All For You	1985	-	-
El Presidente	1964	-	-
Bo-Bo	1967	-	-
A Beautiful Friend	1968	-	-
Adios, Mi Corazon	1964	-	-
Rise	1979	1	1

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Passion Dance (1997)
Classics, Volume 1 (1987)
Beyond (1980)
Rise (1979)
What Now My Love (1966)

Diana Krall - Love Scenes (1997)

I'm in full agreement with the following review:

Stereo Review, January 1998, p. 98

I'm not a huge fan of Krall's oeuvre, but this CD showed up in my mailbox as a gift and I'm glad it did because I'm digging her in this trio set-up. Heck, even I might sound decent playing with experienced virtuosi like McBride, Malone, and producer Tommy LiPuma (my only downfall might be my complete lack of any jazz piano chops). And the tone McBride and Malone are able to pull out of those strings - all I can say is wow. I've heard Krall with orchestra backing, but there's no comparison to this intimate setting - perfect for these standards. Ideal for a relaxing evening with an old fashioned or two; always better if you're sharing the experience with another, but if you're by yourself, use headphones.

The album was nominated for the Best Jazz Vocal Performance Grammy Award.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200: #109
• Billboard Jazz: #1

Tracks, with composers and year of debut, in order of my preference:

1. I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You (Young, Crosby & Washington) - 1932
2. They Can't Take That Away From Me (Gershwin & Gershwin) - 1937
3. Garden in the Rain (Gibbons & Dyrenforth) - 1928
4. I Miss You So (Henderson, Scott, & Robin) - 1940
5. You're Getting To Be A Habit with Me (Warren & Dubin) - 1932
6. How Deep Is The Ocean (How High Is The Sky) (Berlin) - 1932
7. I Don't Know Enough About You (Lee & Barbour) - 1946
8. All Or Nothing At All (Lawrence & Altman) - 1939
9. Gentle Rain (Bonfá & Dubey) - 1965
10. Peel Me A Grape (Frishberg) - 1962
11. My Love Is (Myles) - 1961
12. Lost Mind (Mayfield) - 1953

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

ed. note: Melrose Place!!!

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Look of Love (2001)

James Taylor - Hourglass (1997)

I'd happily listen to James Taylor perform an acoustic set with just him and his guitar, but there's lots of performers I like in the credits here: Stevie Wonder, Sting, Valerie Carter, Yo-Yo Ma, Branford Marsalis, Michael Brecker, etc. Winner of the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. Not much to say about this other than it sure goes down easy.

Billboard, May 24, 1997, p. 53

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #9

Tracks: I think every cut could have been a hit on the adult contemporary chart but what do I know. With the help of Stevie Wonder's harmonica, the happy shuffle Little More Time With You peaked at #3 on the AC chart, but that's it. Go figure. I like 'em all (even the country-tinged ones near the end) and will probably spin this CD again as soon as it has finished its first go 'round.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Greatest Hits 2 (2000)
Greatest Hits (1976)

Bob James - Playin' Hooky (1997)

Note: this CD released using HDCD encoding.

In which Mr. James gets together with some great guests and produces something a little different than his usual solo stuff. To my ears, the guests seem to push James a little and I'm digging the results. The collaborations hearken back to his '70s works while still sounding contemporary in the '90s (if that makes any sense). But it's all smooth and works great after a long day in the cubicle farm.

Notable names include: Steve Gadd, Fareed Haque, Dave Samuels, Boney James, Paul Brown, Chuck Loeb, Nathan East, and Rick Braun.

Playin' hooky from where? Fourplay? Or maybe his usual output?

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart.
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #4

Tracks: My top picks are Playing With Fire, Mind Games, and Hook Line & Sinker. The only track I'll skip is the awkward take on Gershwin's 1922 tune, Do It Again.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Rameau (1984)
Two of a Kind (1982)

Down to the Bone - From Manhattan to Staten (1997)

Been a while since a DTTB acid jazz CD appeared on this blog, but I saw this disc sitting needlessly in the used CD bin recently and I rescued it without a second thought. The group's debut disc, it isn't quite as frenetic as their later releases, but it's still an pleasurable mix of instrumental funk and jazz. I dig.

It's strange album title for a British group, no?

I can't think of anything new to write about the group that I haven't already written, so let's see if I can find anything amusing in the reviews over on Amazon (where this disc is currently available for a penny):

• Hot tunes for the dance floor and a non stop rhythem [sic]. Cruising on an interstate with this CD can be a joy as the music flows and flows. I first heard this song on, of all places, the Weather Channel. Those are my thoughts and thanks for reading.
• this CD is "Off Da' Chain"...!!!
• I got this for my brother. He loves it.
• What can I say.
• Where ever you are you can just stop and get out the car and dance. Some people will laugh, some will point, & some will stop by and join in with you. That's how good Manhattan to Staten CD is good.
• easy to dance to on roller skates.
• I could easily envision one of these songs on some soundtrack or on a car commercial.
• like Dali in Soundscape.
• Wish I had a longer drive to work!

Just noticed the back cover image is of the Staten Island Ferry in front of the World Trade Center towers. That was a gut punch. Damn.

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

Tracks: Like all DTTB releases, they're all heavily grooved, they're all enjoyable, they're all danceable, and they all run together after a while. One of those groups where you can't name any of their tracks and you're lucky to remember an album title, but you enjoy the crap out of the music just the same. From what I can tell, the singles were the first two tracks, Staten Island Groove and Brooklyn Heights.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Future Boogie (2009)
Supercharged (2007)
Cellar Funk (2004)
Crazy Vibes and Things (2002)
The Urban Grooves (1999)

Herb Alpert - Passion Dance (1997)

I gave up on Alpert after Beyond in 1980, so this is a "comeback album" of sorts for me. And I love it: high-energy and Latin-flavored (thanks to the collaboration of bassist/keyboardist/producer Oskar Cartaya). It took me a while to figure out why I like it so much and then it hit me: the flavor/groove of this album reminds me of Spyro Gyra. This ain't TJB or Rise or dance tunes with Janet Jackson; Alpert was moving on and he scored a (lonely) bullseye here. ;-)

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #7

Tracks: I dig the first nine tracks, especially TKO, Slinky, the cover of Stevie Wonder's Creepin, ¿Qué Pasa Mr. Jones?, and Baila Conmigo (Dance With Me). The final track is an odd updating of Alpert's 1982 Top 40 instrumental, Route 101 and they shoulda left that one alone. It's not terrible, but what's the point?

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Classics, Volume 1 (1987)
Beyond (1980)
Rise (1979)
What Now My Love (1966)

Think Out Loud - Shelf Life (1997)

German import

Think Out Loud was a collaboration between Peter Beckett and Steve Kipner, singer/songwriters with connections to Airplay, Player, Olivia Newton-John, Chicago, and Little River Band as well as being members of a band I'm unfamiliar with: Skyband (see below). With that pedigree, I was hoping for something along the lines of early '80s westcoast/AOR and instead I got what could have been filler on the St. Elmo's Fire Soundtrack. Disappointed. It's not so much the writing, it's the arrangements and production. Ah well.

Skyband, ca. 1975

I can find no mention of this album being released in the US, if that tells you anything. And I'm deducting points for not having any liner notes other than songwriting and production credits. Who played on this thing? Maybe I shoulda bought that Skyband vinyl instead. Or not.

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

Tracks and who really shoulda recorded them:

1. Castles On Quicksand - Heart
2. Way Beyond My Reach - Cutting Crew
3. Don't Throw It Away - Foreigner
4. From Where I Stand - Chicago
5. Answer To The Why - Soundgarden
6. Moonlight On Water - Olivia Newton-John
7. Just Like That - Richard Marx
8. Let's Talk About Love - Wilson Phillips
9. I'll Find My Way Again - Don Henley
10. Calm Before The Storm - Glass Tiger
11. Dancing On A High Wire - Robbie Nevil
12. Invisible Man - Backstreet Boys
13. Invisible Man (Special Remix) - The Deele

Maybe these would grow on me over time. It's a shame they won't get that chance.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: When you buy albums on spec, you win some and you lose some.

Shania Twain - Come On Over (1997)

"MY WIFE BOUGHT WHAT?!?" FORTNIGHT* (JULY 1-14, 2016)

The 15th track is titled Rock This Country! and that also serves as the album's mission statement. As Christgau puts it,

Twain's latest incarnation obviously has nothing to do with country. Setting out into the vast unexplored territory separating Garth from Madonna, she and husband-producer-cowriter Mutt Lange glance over at Gwen Stefani and take a few tips from Lange's old charges the Cars before arriving at a new pop formula that's all flirtatious ebullience and lively hooks.

All songs written by Shania and her then-husband Mutt Lange, who put his signature sound on it and hit it big again. I imagine this was young Taylor Swift's favorite album for at least two full years around the time of release. The critics loved it and it topped the country album charts for 50 non-consecutive weeks in the years 1997-2000 (that's right - #1 in four calendar years). And I'm sure it was a ground-breaker in the world of country music. Nonetheless, there's still too much twang, fiddle, and slide guitar for this guy.

Update: In its 2020 list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, Rolling Stone ranked Come On Over at #300.

Billboard, Nov 15, 1997, p. 67

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #2

Tracks: The best song on the thing is the Adult Contemporary chart-topper You're Still The One, the rest all runs together for me. I'll take my Mutt with AC/DC or Def Leppard, thankyouverymuch. I thought the song Honey I'm Home was gonna be a Def Leppard rocker and then the chorus hit and suddenly I'm at a barn dance. I think my wife's fave on here was That Don't Impress Me Much (I don't think she was sending me a message with that, but who knows?).

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I don't know exactly what happened, but somehow this CD got wet, so while the disc itself still plays, the liner note booklet is now an unopenable, solid mass of pulp I can't even slide out the jewel box tray.

I just had a vision of The Cult's Ian Astbury screaming, "CHECK THIS ONE!" and then band tearing into a rockin' fiddle solo. And that provided my morning chuckle.

---

*I recently unearthed a CD carry case that my wife used to carry in one or more of our three former minivans.  This month, in the spirit of this blog's mission, I'll be listening to that case's contents.

All Saints (1997)

"MY WIFE BOUGHT WHAT?!?" FORTNIGHT* (JULY 1-14, 2016)

Who?

From the All Music: "BRIT Award-winning all-female vocal group whose soulful pop music first hit the charts in the late '90s."

From the Wikipedia: "British girl band"

From Mark: weak sauce Spice Girls wannabes (pun intended). I don't really want to listen to the Spice Girls, either. Not terrible, but not terribly interesting. For this type of music, give me Eternal.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #40

Tracks: Guessing my wife bought this for the lead track Never Ever, which charted at #4 in the Billboard Hot 100. It's a long, slow, repetitive shuffle that I kinda sorta remember. The album does contain some laughable covers of Under The Bridge and Lady Marmalade. The best song on the disc is Heaven.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Nope.

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*I recently unearthed a CD carry case that my wife used to carry in one or more of our three former minivans. This month, in the spirit of this blog's mission, I'll be listening to that case's contents.

Celine Dion - Let's Talk About Love (1997)

"MY WIFE BOUGHT WHAT?!?" FORTNIGHT* (JULY 1-14, 2016)

It's July 4th, so I'm listening to a French Canadian. Go figure.

And there it is, on a sticker that takes up a quarter of the jewel case's front:

Never listened to this before. 15 tracks? 72 minutes? I can power through this. To be honest, I've got nothing against Celine herself - in fact, I actually enjoy her voice when it's in a lower, softer range. It's when she starts caterwauling/screaming overly emotive lyrics that I have to roll my eyes and shut off my ears. But this is one of the world's all-time best selling albums (currently #19 on that list, but who really knows) and has a truckload of Grammy awards, so feel free to ignore me.

Billboard, Nov. 29, 1997, p. 64

I count ten producers listed among the fifteen tracks, so the fact that there's any consistency is amazing. Naturally, I gravitate towards tracks produced by David Foster (particularly To Love You More) but not so much that they'll be ripped to my iTunes library. This is how the Adult Contemporary genre had devolved in the late '90s.

Turns out the album makes an appearance in the 33⅓ book series. Even with that promising title, I can't decide whether or not to give that one a read.

I'll put it this way: if you like My Heart Will Go On, you'll like this album. If a formula makes $$$ you can't blame her (and her label) for sticking with over-produced ballads.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: (#1, one week)

Tracks: Nice to hear the Bee Gees on Immortality and there's little caterwauling in that one. Treat Her Like A Lady actually had me laughing out loud - oh sheesh [wipes tears from face]. Is that a gospel choir on a piece that isn't even remotely gospel? I've heard Tell Him - the duet with Babs - before; the two treat it more like a competition than collaboration. And a Leo Sayer cover stuck between two Corey Hart ballads (both better than Sunglasses At Night"). The token dance track, Just A Little Bit Of Love, makes me want to listen to CeCe Peniston do it better. Believe it or not, the track I most want to skip isn't My Heart Will Go On, it's the duet with Luciano Pavarotti.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I always wondered why an ED drug never licensed My Heart Will Go On for their advertising. Just change the word "heart" to "hard" and you've really got something there. Hi-yooooo! Thank you and good night.

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*I recently unearthed a CD carry case that my wife used to carry in one or more of our three former minivans. This month, in the spirit of this blog's mission, I'll be listening to that case's contents.

Repercussions - Charmed Life (1997)

Japanese Import

A weak follow up to 1995's Earth and Heaven, this album loses a big name producer (Gary Katz) and label (Reprise), but it's still got a few tracks of funky, danceable acid jazz and nu soul. With no label backing, there aren't many of the big name guest artists that played on the earlier disc, so this joint is missing the horns and solos of the previous album. It doesn't quite measure up to the earlier release; I'd classify it as a sophomore slump. This is the mixed bag you'd expect from an album with a hodge-podge of lead vocalists and producers. On the first album, the group sounded like its main influence was Incognito; this album sounds more like Soul II Soul for the first half while much of the last half has a drum & bass beat.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart (evidence suggests this album was released only in Japan).

Tracks:  My picks today are Remember, Moving On, and the lead track Love Again which, according to the obi strip (below), is a "super hit tune" and the "ZIP-FM 4th Anniversary Song." Tracks 5 & 8, Let The Games Begin and Love Me Now are a little too hip-hoppy for my tastes so I usually skip those along with From The Control Tower and the drum & bass stuff of the latter half, with the exception of Natural High (the penultimate track), which has a sweet slow groove workin'. The album closes with a below average acoustic number, wha?

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Earth And Heaven (1995)

Backstreet Boys (1997)

By request! (In this particular case, "by request" means that a reader actually sent me a CD. Thanks?)

Actually, when I asked this particular reader why he would send me such a CD, his response was something along the lines of "When I saw that an Aqua CD had been on the blog, I figured all bets were off." Well-played, my friend.

Unfortunately, this CD is not well-played. I've got nothing against Backstreet Boys (after all, they're larger than life, right?), boy bands just aren't my thing. I'm guessing that's because when they were debuting in the U.S., I was already a two-time father in his early 30's on his fourth job, not a teenage girl. And even though my friend Scott hipped me to lots of dance music in '97, I took a pass on these guys. Listening to the CD today is a trip back to that time as I remember the singles here from the radio and clubs of the time, but not much more than that.

So now my CD collection has a Backstreet Boys CD in it. It goes well with the Aqua CD.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #4

Tracks:  A lot of mid-tempo ballads ready made for jr. high slow dances. I will admit that Quit Playing Games (With My Heart) (#2 pop, #2 Adult Contemporary, #18 Adult Top 40, #41 Dance) is a decent pop song and I knew most of the words. But by track 4, I was looking for a magazine to read. A tired retread of P.M. Dawn song sounds like the turntable is set on 16²⁄₃ instead of 33¹⁄₃ - sorry, forgot I was listening to a CD for a second. There's even a Mutt Lange song to end the CD that's a complete insult to the man's vast talents.

BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!! This here is one of dem Enhanced CDs that were oh so popular in the late '90s. So let's take a look at the bonus content, if the current will support it. I was able to get the features to boot up, but was unable to do much more than that. Honestly, I tried (but wasn't too terribly disappointed).

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  None

Ben Folds Five - Whatever And Ever Amen (1997)

Note: the CD I listened to was not the 2005 reissue.

In 1997, I was flipping channels one day and caught a brief promotional interview with Ben Folds. The dialogue was interspersed with song clips and the piano-based rock immediately caught my attention for two reasons: 1) there's not a lot of piano-based rock out there anymore, and 2) I thought the songwriting sounded a lot like Billy Joel (probably because of the piano). I immediately bought the CD and it turned out to be my best purchase of the year. I thought I would like a few songs, but Folds' lo-fi pop songwriting is so good, I liked the whole thing and it was immediately put in heavy rotation. We get a little taste of different genres throughout from straight ahead rock to ballads to waltzes to klezmer to power pop. Faithful readers of this blog know that I don't normally pay attention to lyrics, but Folds' sense of humor almost forces me to listen. And if the misogynistic lyrics to Brick don't hit you right in the gut, nothing will.

So today, after too long an absence, this disc is headed to my truck for some open road listening.

Press of the time:

• Entertainment Weekly (A): "everything you’d want out of a rock album"
• Billboard (Spotlight): "more satisfying with each experience"
• Rolling Stone (★★★½): "another batch of sweet songs"
• Stereo Review (best of the month): "nothing like you've ever heard"

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #42

Tracks: My favorites have always been One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces, Song For The Dumped, and Battle Of Who Could Care Less. but Ten years ago, I put together a list of 30 "desert island" pop/rock discs and this made the cut because it's so dang consistently good. Normally, I can't stand hidden tracks, but the one on this CD is at least funny.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Along with the band's first album which I purchased almost immediately after hearing this one, I remember listening to Whatever And Ever Amen in my little maroon Honda Civic on my way to teach 8th grade English, 1997-1998. Man, that was a long year in the classroom.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Sound of the Life of the Mind (2012)
Lonely Avenue (2010)
Naked Baby Photos (1998)
Ben Folds Five (1995)

Smash Mouth - Fush Yu Mang (1997)

1997. Heard the Doors-ish Walkin' On The Sun on the radio. Liked it. Bought this CD. Found a few decent tracks. Skipped the rest. Thought it wasn't my thing. Put CD on shelf for 17 years. Pulled it out today. Better than I remember it. Will give it a listen poolside next summer as it seems better suited to that environment.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #19

Tracks:  Remember that I haven't heard this ska punk in a while, but today I'm digging the first four tracks as well as the Fonz, Disconnect the Dots and the cover of Why Can't We Be Friends. I want to skip the rest, which tend to be heavier and more frantic. At only 37 minutes, the whole thing is over quickly anyway.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Reminds me of the year I taught 8th grade English. Longest year of my life.

The Lion King - Original Broadway Cast Recording (1997)

Music & Lyrics: Elton John & Tim Rice

Disney released The Lion King animated feature in 1994. Like most households that contained young children in the 1990's, we had a copy of the film on VHS (we might still have it around here somewhere). That tape got a lot of playing time in our home; so much so that every member of our family seemingly knew every lyric, bit of dialogue, and sound effect in this often sad, depressing show. I quickly grew tired of it, but that's just what we do for our kids - no regrets there.

In 1997, Disney staged a musical production of the show, following on the heels of their success with Beauty And The Beast. The producers had the great idea of hiring visionary stage/opera director Julie Taymor to direct. The result was nothing short of spectacular. Even the New York Times liked it. I saw it twice and was blown away by the impressive staging and costumes each time. This was one of the few times the show lived up to the hype. And don't forget that Elton John has written some catchy tunes here. The show won five Tony awards, including Best Musical and Best Director. This soundtrack album won a Grammy. As of this writing, the show is still running and is the 4th longest-running show on Broadway at over 6,770 performances. Like all Disney products, this is polished and professional.

So while the product is top-notch, I've grown tired of it. Like most cast albums in my collection, this one is more of a souvenir than a CD that comes off the shelf. I'd go see the show again, though.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #162

Tracks:  While there are quite a few new songs for the musical that weren't in the movie, my favorites here are the same ones I liked in the movie: Circle of Life, Hakuna Matata, and I Just Can't Wait To Be King.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  This CD was a gift from my friend Scott, with whom my wife and I saw the show in 2001 (I first saw it on a solo business trip to NYC in 2000).

The Canadian Brass Plays Bernstein (1997)

"WEST SIDE STORY" WEEK (NOVEMBER 10-16, 2013)

Even with ever-changing personnel, the virtuosity of The Canadian Brass cannot be disputed. So, the only problem with being a group of talented musicians is finding enough quality material to perform. Bernstein is a safe choice, so this should be a great album and for the most part it is. However, there are a few arrangements that seem designed to serve the ensemble more than the composer and that's where there's a problem. But those moments are few and not too terribly distracting. The quintet has produced over 100 albums since its founding in 1970, so it would be unrealistic to expect a home run every at bat.

This album contains 15 tracks, 10 from West Side Story. The penultimate track, Bernstein Portrait, is an original piece by producer/arranger Christopher Dedrick. That piece isn't terrible, but I think they should have stayed with Bernstein's work and saved the original material for another time.

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

Tracks:  The better arrangements here are of Jet Song, Something's Coming, and One Hand One Heart. One of the best tunes on the CD, Make Our Garden Grow, comes not from West Side Story but from Bernstein's operetta Candide. Arrangements that don't work are Maria, Alleluia, and, ironically, Best Of All Possible Worlds.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Jazz Roots (2008)
All You Need is Love (1998)