CD-Charts Position 261
Average Rating:

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Veedon Fleece

CD-Charts > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Van Morrison

Release Date June 30, 2008
Having hit his public straight between the eyes with the Celtic soul of "His Band....", "Moondance" and "St Dominic's Preview" and the folky Americana of "Tupelo Honey" and "Hard Nose The Highway", Van Morrison, in 1974, produced this somewhat introspective collection that harked back, aurally, to "Astral Weeks". There's flauting a-plenty, acoustic ambience, vocal indulgence, stretched-out tunes such as "You Don't Pull No Punches" and "Fair Play" and a good helping of mystery in the lyrics to boot. Remember this album was released in 1974 in the midst of "Diamond Dogs", "Country Life", "Quadrophenia" and "It's Only Rock n Roll". It is the very antithesis to those works and, as usual, way, way ahead of its time, creatively. I have to admit that ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 262
Average Rating:

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Take It on the Run: the Best of Reo Speedwagon

CD-Charts > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: REO Speedwagon

Release Date October 23, 2000
I only knew a few of the hits of REO Speedwagon but thanks to this superb compilation album, I know many more. It's brilliant, chilling music and a must have for all soft rock fans.
Recommened!

CD-Charts Position 263
Average Rating:

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Separate Ways

CD-Charts > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Teddy Thompson

Release Date November 08, 2005
It's a small world sometimes.

The world's of The Wainwrights, The McGarrigles
and The Thompsons intertwine endlessly if seems.

Fathers and Sons. Mothers and Daughters.

Mr Thompson jnr's self-admission that he needs
a kick in the butt occasionally has on this occasion
resulted in a very fine album indeed.

Since his eponymous 2000 debut the songwriting has
become more rounded, more confident and this from
a young man clearly ill-at-ease with himself.

12 songs framing narcissistic uncertainty, emotional fragility
and deadpan self-mockery in a truthful and revealing way.

Self-flagellation and obsession apart there are some damned
good ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 264
Average Rating:

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Awake

CD-Charts > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Josh Groban

Release Date January 29, 2007
Josh Groban's voice is in a league of its own - the best non-operatic singer around! The album is superb and the David Foster production is out of this world! If you think you don't like classical music, listen to 'Un giorno per noi'. Surely this most be the most beautiful piece of music ever. I could listen to it all day, every day. The man is sheer class!

CD-Charts Position 265
Average Rating:

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Nine Lives

CD-Charts > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Steve Winwood

Release Date May 05, 2008
I find it very hard to criticise Steve Winwood.He is a quality musician with a quality voice. He started out a teenage prodigy who took the charts by storm, then spent much of the 70's doing pretentious but quality material typical of the era with various line ups. In the 80's he went commercial and had massive success, particularly in the States. Then he tried to carry this theme into the 90's and somehow it didn't work any more. His last album 'About Time' was largely based on latin rhythms with an intimate sounding combo and was a classy piece of work. This new effort seems to fall somewhere in between that album and his 70's work. Whilst it lacks a certain focus and dynamism, it is still a quality piece of work. For me, the bluesy minimalistic opener 'I'm Not ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 266
Average Rating:

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The Very Best Of 10 CC

CD-Charts > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: 10cc

Release Date June 01, 1998
It's amazing that a band named after the volume of semen that a human male produces in one ejaculation could go on to so much success, especially as bands were still being banned for pretty innocuous things at the time. However it happened, I'm glad it did.

This best of covers the whole career of 10cc and other projects, from the dreadful 'Neanderthal Man' by Hotlegs (why on earth it is on this album I don't know!), through the first real hit, the cod doo-wop of 'Donna', through to the best songs recorded by Godley and Creme.

Their 3 UK number ones are here, amazingly each one with a different member of the band on lead vocals - 'Rubber Bullets' (Lol Creme), 'I'm Not In Love' (Eric Stewart), and 'Dreadlock Holiday' (Graham Gouldman). Also there are all ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 267
Average Rating:

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Greatest Hits

CD-Charts > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Bruce Springsteen

Release Date January 01, 1995
You can't go wrong with Bruce Springsteen's entire catalogue, and seeing as how most are on a very low price you could pick them at random and still have a lot of nice surprises (but maybe not the Lucky Town era). This compilation is an interesting mix of tracks, but it barely scratches the surface particularly of the pre Born In The USA time and centres too much on the ones since then. There's practically nothing from Greetings, The Wild, Nebraska and Darkness, the huge amount of live tracks are also overlooked, so I think this is aimed more at the very casual listener who isn't concerned what great album tracks they're missing. Sadly only Born In The USA and one track off Born To Run get all the attention on the radio, so I say to anyone you should buy any of the albums because they're ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 268
Average Rating:

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Both Sides Now

CD-Charts > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: Joni Mitchell

Release Date February 28, 2000
I've been a dedicated Joni fan for decades, but I don't think I've ever heard her as good as here! Old songs with grand orchestra arrangements, but not at all drowning her voice, which only has grown in quality and feeling over the years. Old Classics like "A Case of You" and "Both Sides Now" sounds absolutely great. And "Stormy Weather" doesn't come very short to legendary Lena Horne.

My very best recommendations!!

CD-Charts Position 269
Average Rating:

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Hunky Dory: Remastered

CD-Charts > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: David Bowie

Release Date September 06, 1999
This album contains the best songwriting of David Bowie's magnificent career. Where to start? Well. it kicks off with Changes; a signature tune for his career. I recall the opening bars being played in the documentary "Cracked Actor" from 1974. Bowie, stepping out of a car in the USA looking emaciated, lost, and delicate.The warm tones of his pre-Ziggy Englishness seemed to wrap around the walking figure. Changes, like Oh You Pretty Things, and Kooks, is Bowie stripped bare. For once the honesty is almost too intense: "I turned myself to face me, but never caught a glimpse".
And for the next six years Bowie kept running, at least until the near breakdown of Station to Station/Low.
The album is haunting, folksy, melodic, wordy, kooky, dark and light, and seems to contain almost every aspect ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 270
Average Rating:

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Undiscovered

CD-Charts > Music > Adult Contemporary
by: James Morrison

Release Date July 31, 2006
James Morrison reminds me of Terence Trent Derby with his distinctive vocals and cut down style,very few musical instruments,often just acoustic guitar and drums.Echoes of Stevie Wonder and chords and melodies that have a passing resemblance to other artists' songs complete the mix.I really like this album but it wasn't one that i liked first time of hearing.It's an album you need to play and let it grow on you.It's a little raw and naive in places and a little like a live recording of a busker on a city street corner.No bells and whistles,just a guy relying and believing in his talent.This gives it some originality and credit to James Morrison on producing a stunning album that may not be for everyone but will be enjoyed by most.Recommended.