Boston Pops - Holiday Pops (1998)

Pretty much you would expect from the title: mostly familiar Christmas tunes given the orchestral pops treatment with vocals from the Tanglewood Festival Chorus. Performances are impeccable, but there are a few questionable programming choices.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Classical Crossover: #3

Tracks:

Favorites are tracks 2, 7, 9, & 12. Skip tracks 4, 10, & 13.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None. My father was a huge Boston Pops fan dating back to the Arthur Fiedler days and I inherited this CD from him.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Joy To The World (1992)
By Request (1987)

Robert Johnson - King Of The Delta Blues Singers (1961)

Recorded 1936 & 1937, album originally released 1961, this particular CD reissue released in 1998.

From the back CD insert:

By 1961, Robert Johnson had become something of a mythical figure who people had heard of but had not necessarily heard. His recordings - the most important blues recordings of all time - had become virtually lost to the ages. That was, until this album, King Of The Delta Blues Singers was compiled and released, sparking a whole new generation's interest in authentic delta blues. Now, newly remastered and expanded to include a recently discovered, previously unreleased version of "Traveling Riverside Blues," King Of The Delta Blues Singers is a monument to the blues and an essential album for any music fan.

The last part may seem like hyperbole, but I don't think it is and I'm not sure what I can add to that. This is the real deal makes up an important album. It should be required listening in order to understand not only blues music, but also the '60s British invasion groups that owe quite a bit to these recordings (Stones, Clapton, Zep, etc). The remastering here is fantastic, plus, if I'm in just the right mindset, it's a blast to listen to. 

Uncredited 1961 liner notes and 1998 reissue liner notes by Peter Guralnick. Further reading recommendation: Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey by Robert "Mack" McCormick.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Catalog (1987): #34

Johnson has been honored posthumously many times (for a partial list, check his Wikipedia page), but since I was a philatelist as a teen, I'm choosing his selection to appear on a US postage stamp in 1994 to be my personal favorite:

Tracks:

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: The Gunter Hotel, where Johnson allegedly recorded these songs in room 414, is about 11 miles from our house, across the street from a theater my wife and I frequent, and next door to our favorite local steakhouse. One year for my birthday, I decided my lovely wife and I would enjoy a steak and a few drinks then spend the night in room 414 just to say we had stayed there. The hotel often hosts live music at its lobby bar, appropriately named Bar 414. There is also a plaque and small display recognizing Johnson near the hotel's front entrance.
However, the current owners, the Marriott organization, do not want you spending the night in room 414. At the very least, they don't make it easy for a music fan. Despite my best efforts - multiple phone calls, multiple in-person front desk attempts, clicking all over the hotel's website - the best I could get is "We can't guarantee anything, book a reservation for the night you want for a suite, then call the day before and request room 414. If it's available for that night, we'll try to hold it for you." The charge for a suite for one night in June at the time (2022 maybe?) was $450. Needless to say, we have not spent the night in room suite 414. Screw 'em. Seems like the hotel has really missed an opportunity not properly marketing its historic past.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Escaping The Delta (2004)

Various Artists - Melrose Place Jazz (1998)

Yeah, I was an avid fan of the nighttime soap Melrose Place, especially in the early seasons. So many beautiful people to look at! (I was very much crushing on Marcia Cross at the time.) It was appointment television for my wife and I back in the nineties. During the show's fourth season, characters named Jake and Jo opened a jazz club called Upstairs Jazz Club; so named because it was located above Shooters, the popular bar and hangout spot on the show. This compilation CD was released during the show's sixth season.

Several smooth jazz artists appeared on the show, including Kenny G., Huge Groove, and Vanessa Williams. However, you won't find their music on this CD. This "soundtrack" is simply a curated compilation of smooth jazz and jazz vocalists put together by the Windham Hill Jazz label, so there's no overlap with onscreen performances. Go figure. Nevertheless, it includes a wide variety of jazz and jazz-adjacent music and is a fairly accurate representation of smooth jazz/new age/soft R&B of the time and includes several of my favorite artists, such as Tom Scott and Earl Klugh.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #13

Tracks, with my favorites indicated:

	Artist	Title
1	Tom Scott	Melrose Place Theme
2	Etta James	The Man I Love	✔
3	Earl Klugh	Before You Go	✔
4	Tuck & Patti	Takes My Breath Away
5	Tom Scott	Amanda's Song
6	Lisa Fischer	Way Past Goodbye	✔
7	Todd Cochran	She Is Gentle Rain
8	Johnny Reno	Martinis At Eight
9	Ricky Peterson	Air Play
10	The Braxton Brothers	Happy Again	✔
11	Diana Krall	I Don't Know Enough About You
12	Jim Brickman	You Never Know
13	The Rippingtons feat. Russ Freeman	Black Diamond (acoustic version)
14	Don Grusin	Solaria	✔
15	Tom Scott	Love Will Lead You Back
16	Abraham Laboriel	Time For You And I

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: see above. I wouldn't dare watch an episode of the show these days. Sometimes it's best to live with the memories we have rather than trying to recreate them.

John Pizzarelli Meets The Beatles (1998)

Cover versions of Beatles tunes are a penny a dozen and jazz covers of Beatles tunes are a dime a dozen, but I really enjoy what's going on with this disc. A testament not only to Pizzarelli's playing and singing, but also to Don Sebesky's arranging skills.

In the album's liner notes by Jonathan Schwartz, then of New York City's WQEW radio, he writes

Pizzarelli has merged the language of the Nat Cole Trio with the sly catalogue of the Beatles. He has created the first bilingual album in English.

Hyperbole aside, the trio part is accurate, but there's also some big band to be found here as well. I'm glad I happened across it.

Reviews/ratings:

• DownBeat (★★★★): "These are jazzy, pop confections reminiscent of wide ties and bell-bottom suits, paisley and polka dots, fun, not profound."
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz, 5th ed. (★★★): "makes the best go of jazzing John 'n' Paul that anyone ever has"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #25

I'm surprised this album didn't chart higher. There weren't a lot of CDs with original jazz compositions being sold at that time, so a Beatles covers album should have fit right in to the milieu. See for yourself:

A lot of various artists compilations (4, 6, 7, 10, 12, 16, 18, & 22), reissues/repackaging (8, 11), tribute albums (1, 3, 14, 19, 21, 25), and standards albums (9, 15). That leaves just seven albums with mostly newly written music (2, 5, 13, 17, 20, 23, & 24). But I digress.

Tracks: You get both the tracks you'd expect (Here Comes The Sun, And I Love Her) alongside those you might not (I've Just Seen A Face, Things We Said Today). An instrumental thrown in for good measure (Eleanor Rigby). Almost all the tracks are enjoyable, the only skippable tracks are Get Back and the schmaltzy Long And Winding Road.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Various Artists - The Jazz Collection By Bose (1998)

Continuing my recent fascination with finding 'vintage' sampler compilations, I recently picked up this CD for a buck from the bottom shelf at the local Half Price Books. I couldn't find any background on the release, so I'm just assuming this CD was created as a promotional item from Bose to pair with their Wave Radio/CD model of shelf stereo that was released in 1998.

Regardless, it's a fine jazz compilation with a nice variety of style and instrumentation. Selection draws mainly from releases on the Concord Jazz label, but also includes some tracks not available anywhere else. A pleasant surprise of a find. The only downside is a lack of liner notes.

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

Tracks:

1. The Charlie Byrd Trio - This Can't Be Love (Rogers/Hart) ✔
   from the 1998 album, Au Courant
2. The Larry Elgart Orchestra - I Get The Blues When It Rains (Stoddard/Klauber)
   "Recorded by Bose corporation at Mt. Wachusett Community College, Gardner, MA"
3. Scott Hamilton - Two Eighteen (Hamilton) ✔
   from the 1989 album, Scott Hamilton Plays Ballads
4. The Dukes Of Dixieland - Bourbon Street Parade (Barbarin)
   "Recorded by Bose Corporation aboard the Natchez Riverboat in New Orleans LA"
5. Mel Tormé & George Shearing - I'll Be Seeing You (Fain/Kahal)
   from the 1986 album, An Elegant Evening
6. Flim & The BB's - Boogie Palace (Barber) ✔
   from the 1985 album, Big Notes
7. Dave McKenna - "C" Jam Blues (Ellington) ✔
   from the 1990 album, Live At Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume Two
8. Susannah McCorkle - It Ain't Necessarily So (Heyward/G. & I. Gershwin)
   from the 1998 album, Someone To Watch Over Me - The Songs Of George Gershwin
9. The Frank Vignola Trio - Tico Tico (Abreu/Drake/Olivera) ✔
   from the 1994 album, Let It Happen
10. Gerry Mulligan & Scott Hamilton - Gone (Mulligan)
    from the 1986 album, Soft Lights & Sweet Music
11. Mel Tormé & George Shearing - I'm Hip (Frishberg/Dorough)
    from the 1985 album, An Evening At Charlie's
12. Monty Alexander with John Patitucci & Troy Davis - Fly Me To the Moon (Howard) ✔
    from the 1997 album, Echoes Of Jilly's
13. Clark Terry - Hey Mr. Mumbles (Terry)
    from the 1991 album, Live At The Village Gate

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.

Craig Duncan - Christmas In The Smoky Mountains (1998)

Subtitled "A Green Hill Instrumental Classic."

Credited to Craig Duncan, an artist described on Discogs as "the featured instrumentalist on over ninety record albums with sales in excess of five million copies. He has produced numerous recordings for the gift shop market in a variety of musical styles." Gift shop market, huh? Welp, somebody's gotta do it.

With a title like Christmas In The Smoky Mountains, I was expecting more bluegrass, and there's definitely some of that, but with the strings, hammered dulcimer, pennywhistle, and mandolin, this music often leans more towards subdued Irish New Age, which I guess I should have expected for the "gift shop market." Imagine walking into a locally-owned small town boutique in a quaint, revitalized downtown storefront where the aromas are strong, the spiced cider is complimentary, there's a bright Christmas tree in every corner, and prices are full retail. This is the music playing while you tread the restored hardwood floors. And copies of the CD just happen to be sitting by the cash register.

Tracks: I enjoy Sleigh Ride, White Christmas, Silver Bells, and The Christmas Songs. 

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I inherited this disc from my parents, who very well may have picked this up at a store similar to the one described above. I'm guessing somewhere in the Texas Hill Country: Kerrville, Fredricksburg, Wimberley, etc.

Gary Burton - Like Minds (1998)

On the back insert of this album's 2003 SACD release, the work is described as

A top 5 [Billboard Jazz chart] and Grammy Award-winning recording, vibraphonist Gary Burton's Like Minds is not only "one of Burton's best albums" [CMJ Music Report], it was also, significantly, the first recorded encounter between envelope-pushing artists Pat Metheny and Chick Corea. Add legendary drummer Roy Haynes and stalwart bassist Dave Holland to the mix, and it's no wonder that this dream line-up yielded a recording that instantly became - and continues to remain - an essential, modern jazz classic.

No lies detected. The title is certainly apt and if you like other music from these artists, you'll enjoy this album. Makes me think I should own more Chick Corea releases.

Burton - vibraphone
Chick Corea - piano
Pat Metheny - guitar
Roy Haynes - drums
Dave Holland - bass

Winner of the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group.

Liner notes by Burton. Press release as seen in Billboard magazine.

Reviews/ratings:

• DownBeat (★★★½): "success as an event"
• The Penguin Guide to Jazz, 5th ed. (★★★½): "heartily recommended"
• The Virgin Encyclopedia of Jazz (1999): ★★★★

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: did not chart
• Billboard Jazz: #5

Tracks:

1. Question And Answer - originally the title track for Metheny's 1990 album, which also featured Holland and Haynes.
2. Elucidation - Metheny original, written for this project.
3. Windows - written and recorded by Corea in the mid-1960s, the piece has become one of his standards.
4. Futures - Corea original, written for this project
5. Like Minds - Burton original, written for this project
6. Country Roads - written and recorded by Burton in the late 1960s
7. Tears Of Rain - written by Metheny for his award-winning 1997 album with bassist Charlie Haden, Beyond The Missouri Sky (Short Stories).
8. Soon - a George Gershwin standard, first heard in the 1930 revision of the musical Strike Up the Band.
9. For A Thousand Years - Metheny original
10. Straight Up And Down - written and recorded by Corea in the late 1960s

In the album's liner notes, Burton states that "Six of the ten songs are first takes and two more are second takes." Impressive! Plus the playing is impeccable throughout - a "supergroup" that lives up to that title. I prefer the Metheny compositions, but that's probably because I've heard more of his music than that written by the others.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Whiz Kids (1987)
Matchbook (1975)

Marshall Crenshaw - The 9 Volt Years (1998)

Subtitled "Battery Powered Home Demos & Curios (1979-198?)"

I'm not normally a fan of demos and b-sides but for Marshall Crenshaw I'll certainly make an exception. 16 tracks, only three break the 3 minute mark. A few cuts appear in different forms on other Crenshaw albums and a couple appear on Rhino's excellent 'best of" compilation. No matter - they're all remarkably enjoyable. Jason Ankeny of allmusic.com puts it best in a ★★★★½ retro-review: "Far from the collection of scraps and throw-aways its humble title would suggest, [this album] is instead a showcase for Marshall Crenshaw at his most engaging and refreshing."

Package includes brief notes on each track from Crenshaw himself which greatly enhance the listening experience.

Press of the time:

• Billboard: "these tracks range from 'hi -fi' to 'medium -fi' to 'lo -fi' to 'no -fi.' Whatever the level of "fi," the music always cuts through."
• Entertainment Weekly (B+): "recalls an era when a chiming guitar, a winsome voice, and a charming hook could soothe any romantic despair."
• Washington Post: "this new collection is a welcome reminder why his first two albums are still so fondly remembered."

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

Tracks: All. Play it from top to bottom. There's two surprises here: 1) a cover of Bo Diddley's I'm Sorry, and 2) brother Robert Crenshaw takes over the writing and singing on track 5, the Bacharach-esque Everyone's In Love With You. Track 11 is unnecessary, but it's only 9 seconds long.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Jaggedland (2009)
What's In The Bag (2003)
The Best of Marshall Crenshaw (2000)
Life's Too Short (1991)
Field Day (1983)
Marshall Crenshaw (1982)

Chicago - The Heart of Chicago 1967–1998 Volume II (1998)

As the title suggests, this is a compilation CD from Chicago - there are many; this is the fifth Chicago compilation set to appear on this blog. It's pleasant enough as I usually enjoy Chicago tunes (although, admittedly, I gave up on them in the later half of the 1980's). I have all but two of these tracks on other CDs, those two mediocre tracks being recorded for this disc in a shameless attempt to have serious, completist fans to spend more money. And, to be honest, if "completist fan" described me, I would have bought this package in 1998 just for those two tracks, regardless of quality, because that's what we music junkies do.

Tracks appear to be selected and sequenced arbitrarily. You're better off with the Rhino 2 CD set, Only The Beginning: The Very Best Of Chicago.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #154

Tracks:

Song	Album	Year	Hot 100	AC
Dialogue (Part I & II)	V	1972	24	-
Old Days	VIII	1975	5	3
All Roads Lead to You	-	1998	-	14
Love Me Tomorrow	16	1982	22	8
Baby, What a Big Surprise	XI	1977	4	8
You're Not Alone	19	1989	10	9
What Kind of Man Would I Be?	19	1989	5	2
No Tell Lover	Hot Streets	1979	14	5
Show Me a Sign	-	1998	-	28
(I've Been) Searchin' So Long	VII	1974	9	8
Call On Me	VII	1974	6	1
I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love	19	1988	3	5
Feelin' Stronger Every Day	VI	1973	10	-
Stay the Night	17	1984	16	-
I'm a Man	I	1969	49	-
25 or 6 to 4	II	1970	4	-

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None, IIRC, it appeared here at blog headquarters a few years back as part of a large menagerie of CDs.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Only The Beginning: The Very Best Of Chicago (2002)
Greatest Hits 1982-1989 (1989)
Chicago 17 (1984)
Chicago 16 (1982)
Greatest Hits, Vol. II (1981)
Greatest Hits (1975)
Chicago Transit Authority (1969)

Lee Ritenour - This Is Love (1998)

I don't know what's more unbelievable: that I found this CD for $2 on a clearance shelf or that I didn't already have this smooth jazz gem. It's a solid album and ten times more interesting than anything Rit was doing with Fourplay at the time.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #4 (ironically kept from moving higher by a Fourplay album, among others)

Tracks: Today I'm digging the pseudo-reggae title track, the laid-back Can You Feel It? (with a nice solo from Bob James), a fantastic take on Sonny Rollins' Alfie's Theme (with a show-stealing B3 solo from Ronnie Foster), Ooh-Yeah, and an interesting extended re-do of Dreamwalk, which originally appeared on Rit. There's a couple of vocal tracks on here, a Ritenour original and a Randy Newman cover, and while vocal cuts on an otherwise instrumental album normally distract me, these seem to sequence perfectly. The only misstep is an attempt at turning Gabriel Fauré's Pavane into a jazz chart. It's a beautiful piece and might have worked as a solo acoustic track, but this moody mid-tempo arrangement does nothing for me, even with an Ernie Watts solo.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I got to see Mr. Ritenour play a short set at last year's Jazz’SALive festival in Travis Park. He played a track from this release (Ooh-Yeah) along with other favorites. However, he never dipped back to the early '80s to play any Westcoast/AOR tunes although I was hoping Eric Tagg would walk out for a special reunion appearance. Alas, 'twas not to be, but a great show nonetheless. Rit's son, Wes, who I'm guessing is named after Wes Montgomery and appears on the above album cover, played drums at the concert and more than held his own.

September 22, 2018

Previously revisited for the blog:
Rit's House (2002)
Larry & Lee (1995)
Stolen Moments (1990)
Festival (1988)
Harlequin (1985)
On The Line (1983)
"Rit" (1981)
Rio (1979)

Various Artists - Ultimate Dance Party 1999 (1998)

This CD was recently gifted to me. I recognize only a few of the tunes by title, so let's give this a spin and 1) see which songs I remember when I hear them, and 2) remind me of how out of touch I was with popular music when I was in my early 30s. Hint: I was not partying like it was 1999.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #69

Tracks:

1. Too Close - Next (#1 pop)
   I vaguely remember this one but I dig the laid-back Chicago-style R&B groove although I wish they'd changed it up every now and then.
2. Walkin' On the Sun - Smash Mouth (#2 pop)
   Remember this, like it, bought the CD.
3. Feel It (Blunt Edit) - The Tamperer (feat. Maya) (#4 dance)
   Never heard this that I can recall. Bad vocals over the baking track from Can You Feel It by The Jacksons. Stick with the latter.
4. Free (Mood II Swing Radio Mix) - Ultra Naté (#75 pop)
   No memory of this one. Not a bad dance tune but I'll have forgotten it by this afternoon. Very typical dance beat of the time.
5. I Say A Little Prayer (Love To Infinity's Classic Radio Mix) - Diana King (#38 pop, #8 dance)
   A dance version of the classic Bacharach tune re-popularized by the 1997 movie, My Best Friend's Wedding. Not bad for what it is. I think my buddy Scott sent me this one on a mixtape that I wish I still had.
6. Nobody's Supposed To Be Here (Hex Hector Dance Mix) - Deborah Cox (#1 dance)
   No memory of this one. Then again, there's nothing much memorable about it. Complete waste of a powerhouse voice.
7. It's Like That - Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins (#14 dance)
   Heard the 1983 original but not this ill-advised redo.
8. Cruel Summer (Blazin' Rhythm Remix) - Ace of Base (#10 pop, #10 dance)
   I had forgotten all about this cover. And for good reason. I'm getting a headache.
9. Kiss The Rain (TP2K Remix) - Billie Myers (#15 pop)
   Remember it, but not a fan. Sounds like Tracy Chapman to these ears. Bad remix to boot.
10. One More Night (Hani Radio Edit) - Amber (#58 pop, #9 dance)
    Remember this, like it, bought the CD. Headache gone.
11. The First Night (Razor-N-Guido Club Edit) - Monica (#1 pop, #1 dance)
    Don't remember it, but I kinda dig it.
12. I'm Leavin' (NYC Rough Club Edit) - Lisa Stansfield (#1 dance)
    No memory of this one. I've always liked Stansfield sultry voice and this tune is doing nothing to change my mind about that. I'm digging this one, too.
13. A Rose Is Still A Rose (Rhythm Mix) - Aretha Franklin (#26 pop, #1 dance)
    I vaguely remember this tune. The Queen of Soul is bringing it plus it's written and produced by Lauryn Hill. Winner.
14. Everybody (Backstreet's Back) - Backstreet Boys (#4 pop)
    <puns>Even though I wanted it that way, the group does not got it goin' on so they need to quit playing games with this compilation. </puns> Remember it. Pass.
15. Still Not A Player - Big Punisher (Feat. Joe) (#24 pop)
    Don't remember this one. Nobody's ever accused me of being a hip hop aficionado and rightfully so. Nonetheless, I dig the backing tracks here which I can only assume were sampled from a '70s R&B tune.
16. Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See (Radio Edit) - Busta Rhymes
    Don't remember this one. It isn't doing much for me, but then again I'm not the target audience.
17. Shorty (You Keep Playin' With My Mind) - Imajin (Feat. Keith Murray) (#25 pop)
    Don't remember this one but I immediately recognized the Dance With Me sample.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: In 1998-99, I was working as middle school band director and trying to raise an infant and a 5 year-old. Walkin' On The Sun reminds of that school. I remember listening to a lot of Dave Matthews Band and Ben Folds Five around that time while my friend Scott was inundating me with mixtapes of import dance mixes (mainly Australian) much like these.

Burt Bacharach - One Amazing Night (1998)

Recorded at a tribute concert at the height of the late '90s Bacharach revival. And, as expected at such events, this thing is hit-or-miss. Recorded live at the Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City with Bacharach himself conducting the orchestra and playing the piano, there's lots of good guest artists while others leave you scratching your head. The orchestra is fantastic throughout, but can't say the same for the vocals and the arrangements that often needlessly change the time signature. Thankfully, there's no between song patter. Also available on VHS.

"Good intentions don't necessarily make for good music, however, and One Amazing Night, the aural document of the concert, is proof that. Like any tribute album, it's quite uneven, ranging from the sublime to the irritating in the switch of a track. There's little question that all the artists involved have genuine affection for Bacharach, but many of the featured musicians simply don't have the technique to pull off these songs, which are often much more difficult than they appear. ...it doesn't quite hold up to repeated listens." --Allmusic

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

Tracks: My picks would be God Give Me Strength with Elvis Costello, Wives And Lovers with David Sanborn and George Duke, and the medley with Dionne Warwick (who else?). Definitely skip Mike Myers' attempt at What's New Pussycat? and the dreadfully slow rendition of Anyone Who Had A Heart with Wynonna.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Very Best Of Burt Bacharach (2001)
Blue Bacharach: A Cooler Shaker (1999)
Best of (1999)
Painted From Memory (1998)
What The World Needs Now: Big Deal Recording Artists Perform the Songs of Burt Bacharach (1998)

Songs from Ally McBeal featuring Vonda Shepard (1998)

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

Record exec: "Vonda, we've got good news and bad news for you. The good news: we're gonna release a CD of your recordings! The bad news: you won't get top billing and we're gonna put another woman's picture on the cover."

More covers than originals and that's fine with me. I like Vonda's voice just fine and the vague country-soft rock spin she puts on tunes. If I'm remembering the show correctly, Vonda played this music with her band as the characters interacted and occasionally mistreated her bar band as a live karoake back-up group. And that's the best way to listen to these tunes - as background music.

Billboard, May 30, 1998, p. 26
Compared to The Rembrandts. Ouch.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #7

Tracks: The better tracks are Hooked On A Feeling, You Belong To Me, Will You Marry Me?,  It's In His Kiss (The Shoop Shoop Song), and I Only Want To Be With You. According to imdb.com: "The song 'Tell him' by various different artists, including the original by The Exciters, written by Bert Berns, is featured in 52 out of 112 episodes.[sic]" I will not be re-watching the series to confirm that number.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: I have vague memories of watching the TV show, mainly for the parade of pretty women. I don't remember how many seasons it lasted, but I'm pretty sure I didn't watch more than two (my crack research staff informs me it aired 5 seasons, 1997-2002).

Previously revisited for the blog:
Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas featuring Vonda Shepard (2000)

---

*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.

Faith Hill - This Kiss (1998)

CD Single

A country crossover hit that my wife purchased for minivan listening. I'd rather look at Faith Hill than listen to her, but even I will admit this single is easy to listen to, despite the twang. Never heard the "b-side" (track 2) until today.

Single chart peaks:

• US Billboard Hot 100: #7
• Billboard Adult Contemporary: #3
• Billboard Country: #1

Tracks: We get two, totaling just under 7 minutes. Like I've said, This Kiss is enjoyable, particularly the syncopated chorus. The other track is Better Days, track 5 from Hill's 1997 album, Faith. Pass.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  None

Jeff Lorber - Midnight (1998)

I normally like projects that involve multi-instrumentalist Lorber (and he's been involved in a lot of projects other than his own stuff). His smooth jazz/funk-lite fusion keyboard and production styles are immediately identifiable. This is a strong effort; I'm digging the timeless sound of Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes electric piano, and is that a Moog synth I hear? I appreciate that Lorber fought the urge to put saxophone on this album because I think his melodies just sound better on keyboard. For that reason, I wish he would have reconsidered the vocal tracks as they just throw off the continuity of this mostly instrumental release. If I could stay awake until midnight, this laid back CD would be a great album to listen to at that time.

People often write about Lorber's mid-80's work, but I prefer the stuff like this that came before and after those attempts at pop/R&B chart success. You may remember his Top 40 hit Facts Of Love which peaked at #27 in 1986. That sounds like a Janet Jackson-Jimmy Jam-Terry Lewis song and, fortunately, doesn't resemble anything on this album.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: Did not chart
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz: #17

Tracks:  To me, the standout cut is the cover of The Beatles' Dear Prudence. I'm also liking the first three tracks as well as The Wild East. As suggested earlier, I usually skip the vocal tracks for continuity's sake.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Very Best of (2002)

Les Nubians - Princesses Nubiennes (1998)

Les Nubians is a duo of sisters who've lived in France and Chad. I'd describe their music as Sade meets Soul II Soul with worse writing/arranging/producing. I heard the group's song Les Portes Du Souvenir on a World Market compilation CD and immediately loved it. Streaming music and YouTube not being available at the time, I had to buy this CD to hear more of the duo's music, which, for the most part, doesn't resemble the previously mentioned song. Too much hip-hop influence for my tastes; females rapping in French isn't my thing. Not terrible, but not something I seek out to hear. Ah well, we all have CDs in our collections that we own for just one track.

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #100
• Billboard R&B: #25

Tracks: Other than Les Portes Du Souvenir, the only tracks that do anything for me are the more pop-sounding Demain and Si Je T'Avais Écouté.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Various Artists - What The World Needs Now: Big Deal Recording Artists Perform the Songs of Burt Bacharach (1998)

A bunch of alt/indie artists from the '90s attempt to cover classic Bacharach tunes and, for the most part, completely miss the point of the songs. Most bands completely ignore the subtlety of Bacharach's intricate chords and mixed meters and choose to just plow straight through. These songs deserve better than 3-chord, 4/4, power pop covers drenched in feedback and distortion. I bought this because I enjoy Bacharach tunes, but should have known better. I was unfamiliar with Big Deal records and, with the exception of Shonen Knife, I was previously unfamiliar with the 14 artists represented here. Lesson learned. The review from People magazine sums it up nicely: "what played nicely in 1967 can sound awfully corny in 1998." Stick with the versions you know.

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

Tracks: It's not all bad. The Wondermints do a good job with Don't Go Breaking My Heart. Other than that, these groups hack at these classics like bad wedding reception bands.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None. Today is the disc's second play.

Duncan Sheik - Humming (1998)

This is one of the CDs in my collection that I never gave a chance. I liked Sheik's debut album and the fantastic single Barely Breathing so I wanted more of the same or better. Unfortunately, like many sophomore releases, the songwriting here isn't as good as on the debut. This 1998 album is also quite a bit noisier than the first and I guess that was enough for me not to listen to it much. I liked the quiet moodiness of the earlier release. How dare an artist try a new sound without checking with me first.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #163

Tracks:  The first three tracks are pretty good, including the non-charting single Bite Your Tongue, then things start falling apart with Alibi which never really goes anywhere. Of the other tracks, I only like Everyone Everywhere. The worse tracks are Nichiren and the Jeff Buckley tribute song A Body Goes Down. And don't get me started on the dreaded hidden track.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
Reasons for Living (1997)
Duncan Sheik (1996)

Jimmy Cobb's Mob - Only For The Pure At Heart (1998)

On a trip to New York City in January, 1999, I wanted to check out the jazz club Birdland. I would have gone to see anybody perform, but lucked into catching legendary jazz drummer Jimmy Cobb. He played with all the greats, but Cobb's most famous recording would have to be his work on Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue. At the time I heard him, he was the last surviving player from those fabled 1959 sessions. I ordered this disc not long after I returned home. I originally just purchased this CD as a show souvenir, but it turns out to be a really good, relaxed bop album which could have just as easily been released in the late 50's as the late '90s. Cobb put together a great quartet and doesn't seem to mind not being out front. I really enjoy Peter Bernstein on guitar; especially his tone.

An historic jazz venue, by the time I got to Birdland in 1999, the club was at its third location on 44th St. which is roomy and comfortable - no complaints about that. However, I would have loved to have seen the original space on Broadway where it operated from 1949-1965. BTW, our food at Birdland that night wasn't good. We would have been better off eating somewhere else and then catching the show.

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

Tracks: My favorite track is the take on the standard Stars Fell On Alabama. Other standouts include Gingerbread Boy, Smile, and Vida Blue.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: See above.

Rialto (1998)

Bombastic Britpop, equal parts Oasis and The Verve. Lots of orchestration. They make a valiant attempt to get a Beatlesque sound, but the songwriting is weak and the production is rumbustious.

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

Tracks:  My favorite is Dream Another Dream (which has a fantastic hook); also good is Monday Morning 5:19. You can guess from the titles which tracks on the album should be avoided: Quarantine, Love Like Semtex, The Underdogs, and Milk Of Amnesia.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: my friend Scott gave me my copy of this CD. I had never heard of the band before then and I've never heard of them since. I rarely listen to more than the first two tracks.