Pure

Midge Ure

BMG

The former mastermind from Ultravox is at it again. In his third solo outing he gives us plenty of melodies to hum and tunes brimming with food for thought. Most of what is here runs deeper than you could grasp with a casual listening session without being overly heavy-handed. Exquisite. (SC)

 

Something Good

Utah Saints

London

With two Top Ten UK hits under their belts this duo of London DJ's are out to conquer the dance floors of America. Since it's basically mindless dance music, they'll probably succeed. I'll give it a, "5." It's got a good beat and you won't need to think while listening. (BB)

 

Blade Runner

Vangelis

Atlantic

Three of the pieces here were inspired by the movie and recorded during the same sessions as the soundtrack. This long overdue disc marks the premier release of all the original Vangelis music from the film. Until now, a cheezy orchestral reworking of this music was all you could find. (BB)

 

Blues From Dolphins Of Hollywood

Various Artists

Specialty

Recorded "under the table," at a tiny Hollywood studio, this set features, Pee Wee Crayton, Percy Mayfield, Memphis Slim and Jimmy Witherspoon all offering more soulfully inspired performances than found in their commercial releases. A wonderful document of early blues/R&B which until now had been lost in the shuffle.(SC)

 

Big Hard Disk Vol. 2

Various Artists

Smash

A compilation featuring ten of the best techno/dance/trance artists on the planet. If you're into 3am dancing at an all night club, this will be in your collection. A partial list of ingredients: Sheep On Drugs, Grace Jones, Yello, La Tour and Orb. If you're scratching your head, this one isn't for you. (BB)

 

Original Soundtrack

Rover Dangerfield

Warner Brothers

Picture Rodney Dangerfield as a pudgy cartoon dog from Las Vegas wearing a loose red necktie and you get the idea. Whether this can carry a full length animated feature remains to be seen. Typically delightful Warner Brothers cartoon orchestrations abound. But will he pee on an Xmas tree? (SC)

 

Songs From The Cool World: Music from the Motion Picture

Various Artists

Warner Brothers

Most of the music here was created especially for the movie while a few of the other songs come from yet unreleased projects from various alternative/underground bands. David Bowie, The Thompson Twins and Brian Eno provide some new tunes while other performers contribute killer re-mixes of their current hits. (BB)

 

Creole Kings Of New Orleans

Various Artists

Specialty

A fine overview/sampler of the recent reissues from the Specialty label that would make a great party album if nothing else. Owning this disc is also a good way to get your feet wet in a form of music which probably never made it to the airwaves around here. (SC)

 

Creole Kings Of New Orleans Volume Two

Various Artists

Specialty

Twenty-five tunes recorded between '50 and '59 by the likes of Lloyd Price, Guitar Slim, Art Neville, Professor Longhair and more. Lovingly compiled and produced by Billy Vera this compilation, like all other recent reissues on this label, is a piece of the puzzle that's been missing far too long. (CS)

 

Encino Man - Music From The Original Soundtrack

Various Artists

Hollywood

The movie was really stupid and pretty bad, but the soundtrack more than makes up for that. Featuring, (in no particular order), a new Vince Neil tune, a remix of a Queen classic, Cheap Trick and The Smithereens both doing cover tunes, an Edgar Winter instrumental smash and much more. (BB)

 

Evidence Blues Sampler The Third

Various Artists

Evidence

Has it really been that long? Jeez, this is the third sampler from a great blues re-issue label. Hell, they cover everyone from Sun Ra to J.B. Hutto with wonderful liner notes and pristine remastering. Heard enough? No? Then track this and the others down. (They're hard to find.) (CS)

 

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

The Fisher King

MCA

A mix of Jeff Bridges "Air Checks", incidental movie music and streetwise hip-hop. The tunes range from Brenda Lee's,"I'm Sorry" to a real charmer, "How About You" sung by the reclusive Harry Nilsson. (Where's he been?) Let's hope that the flick is as fun as the soundtrack. (SC)

 

Funky Broadway - Stax Revue At The 5/4 Ballroom

Various Artists

Stax

If you like Brooker T. & The MG'S this disc will tickle you to death. What's even more amazing though, is that the performances included here have never before been released, until now. We should all thank Stax for opening the closet door. I'm sure more goodies will follow. And soon. (SC)

 

Genuine Houserockin' Music V

Various Artists

Alligator

This is the fifth sampler of some of the great blues artists that appear on Alligator Records. The seventeen cuts on vol. five cover quite a bit of ground. From the good-time music of Elvin Bishop to the steaming fretwork of Tinsley Ellis, it's just blues here and it's all HOT. (CS)

 

Global Celebrations

Various Artists

Ellipsis Arts

The second four disc set in this series of world music gathers authentic music of festivals and celebrations from around the planet. The set is divided into four CDs, each representing a unifying theme: Religious Celebrations, Cycles Of Nature, Turning Points Of Life and Joyous Festivals. Unique and interesting listening. (SC)

 

Original Soundtrack - Home Alone 2

Various Artists

Fox

Santa's come and gone for another year but he left this behind for us to enjoy. A potpourri of alternative Christmas music featuring the likes of: Darlene Love, TLC, Bette Midler, Bobby Helms and more. I'll bet the kids'll want this one after seeing the movie fifty times. Ho-Ho-Ho. (BB)

 

I Shall Be Unreleased - The Songs Of Bob Dylan

Various Artists

Rhino

This new Rhino compilation is a "must have." From the obvious to the seemingly obscure, anyone who's covered a Dylan tune since 1965 is featured here. And unless you're a vinyl junkie from way back, you'd be hard pressed to find most of these tunes without hocking your fillings. (SC)

 

It's Not The Size That Counts

Various Artists

I.R.S.

Remember the days of the Warner Brothers sampler albums, Loss Leaders ? They offered you an assortment of music and artists (a few familiar, many not) in one neat package. This fifteen song IRS sampler recalls those great albums by featuring new tunes from: dada, Kirsty MacColl, Orzric Tentacles and many others. S'wonderful. (SC)

 

The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Jimmy Hollywood

Various Artists

Atlas

This isn't bad at all. If you're a Robbie Robertson fan you might want to pick it up. Five of the thirteen songs here are his. At least one is only available in this soundtrack. Besides, where else can you get the early '70s Prelude hit, "After The Gold Rush"? (SC)

 

Just Say Roe (Vol. VII Of Just Say Yes)

Various Artists

Sire/Warner Bros.

Another in a series of wonderful various artist albums from the fine folks from Burbank. Previous volumes (except vol. V) weren't much more than inexpensive samplers featuring music from Warner Brothers artists. However, the theme of this one deals with a serious matter. The possible overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision. (SC)

 

Various Artists

Just Say yesterday (Vol. VI of Just Say Yes)

Sire

If you haven't already bought the previous volumes in this inexpensive sampler series you don't know what you're missing. Culled from rare import and domestic underground singles, the latest volume differs from it's predecessors in that every tune on the disc is impossible to find and has never been released on CD. (SC)

 

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Little Big League

Various Artists

RCA

I don't often attend the cinema, so I didn't catch the flick. The soundtrack however is another story. It's obviously better the the movie. Don't think so? Try these guys on for size: The Band, Booker T. & The MG's(featuring the Tower Of Power Horns), Jeff Beck, Stanley Clarke and Dion. (CS)

 

Nintendo - White Knuckle Scorin'

Various Artists

MCA

There are two reasons for buying this CD. One, a portion of the proceeds will go to establish a foundation to promote literacy in children. Two, there's a previously unreleased John Sebastian tune performed by Crosby, Stills and Nash, which for the C,S,N fan will be considered a real treat. (SC)

 

Music From The Television Series Northern Exposure

Various Artists

MCA

The quality and diversity of the music on this soundtrack is indicative of the quality of the Prime-Time T.V. show from whence it came. Believe it or not, there are still a few gems to be found in the otherwise barren wasteland of network television. Pick and shovel recommended.(SC)

 

Original Soundtrack Oliver Stone Presents: Wild Palms

Capitol

Please join me in rejoicing in the fact that listening to the soundtrack is somewhat better than the many hours wasted trying to make sense of this nauseating excuse for a major network television event. You can clean the catbox while playing this and then heave it into the dumpster. (SC)

 

Relativity... Here And Now Sampler

Various Artists

Relativity

A sampler of instrumental music from a small, outstanding label. Enough unique sounds to have been two discs. Featuring: Rod Argent, Brian Chatton, Mo Foster, Andy Davis and Adrian Legg. As exceptional as it is inexpensive. Seek it out and then pick up the full length albums of your favorites. (SC)

 

Songs From The Better Blues Bureau

Various Artists

Blues Bureau International

A thirteen track sampler disc/tape from a small blues label based in California. On it you'll find new material from blues/rock favorites Pat Travers, Rick Derringer, Leslie West and the Outlaws, along with eleven wailing newcomers. Like Gary Moore? Then you'll feel right at home with this one. (SC)

 

Specialty Legends Of Boogie-Woogie

Various Artists

Specialty

When I was a kid, a sloppy version of a Boogie-Woogie riff was the first thing one learned while being introduced to the joy of pounding on a piano. Listening to this gives me the same giddy feeling. I've blown out two windows, a cat and three speakers since Friday. (SC)

 

Superblues: All-Time Classic Blues Hits Volume Two

Various Artists

Stax

An extraordinary companion series to the recent "Stax/Volt", box set. A lovingly remastered compilation of the 'stinging' blues that became a staple of "Black" radio in the 50's and early 60's. Real blues without a doubt, the roots of rock and roll. A word of advice... Buy it. (SC)

 

Sweet Relief

Various Artists

Chaos

This star-studded compilation was assembled to offer moral, financial and musical support to singer/songwriter Victoria Williams who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in the spring of '92. Friends and fans interpret songs from her first two (out of print) albums with wonderful results. Put this one on your Xmas list. (CS)

 

The Beverly Hillbillies

Buddy Ebson/Irene Ryan

Legacy

Weelll Doggies. If this just won't put the possum in the cement pond with all the other critters I don't know what will. Can you believe they actually issued an album like this? I'm surprised the show wasn't cancelled after it came out. Michael Jackson thinks he's bad? Naw. This is. Bigtime. (BB)

 

Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack - With Honors

Various Artists

Maverick

Haven't seen the movie yet but if Joe Pesci is involved then it's probably pretty good. As for the soundtrack, there's twelve tunes and not a clunker in the bunch. Duran Duran, Madonna, The Cult, Belly, Candlebox, Kristin Hersh, The Pretenders, Grant Lee Buffalo, Mudhoney, Babble, Lyle Lovett and Lindsey Buckingham. Yum.(BB)

 

Teenage Symphonies To God

Velvet Crush

550/Epic

These guys surely must be Rhode Island's version of REM. Listen to Murmur and then this to see what I mean. I like these guys a lot. They're noisy, yet melodic and hummable. Yeah, I know, that's not much to go on. You'll just have to trust me on this or go see 'em live. (BB)

 

All Around Us

Voice In Time

Zero Hour

They're back with a five song EP produced by Ken Masfield and mixed by Roger Moutenot. And although the sound is much better than their 1991 release,"Dangerous Town," the quality of the songwriting and performance is still stuck in the mud. Maybe next time, guys, but don't count on it. (SC)

 

(SC) Stephen Curtis

(BB) Stephen Curtis AKA Ben Bland

(CS) Stephen Curtis AKA Clive Sweeney

Index

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