The B-52's -- The B-52's

  Garage/ New Wave/ Pop debut effort by the B-52's.  These guys mastered the retro 60's super kitch, with a kinda Punk Rock aesthetic, they did what they wanted, looked how they wanted, didn't care what you were going to do about it, luckily with their mass charismatic appeal, people loved it and they became a huge hit ... mostly with Rock Lobster, which is in my opinion the weakest number on the record, but nevertheless a killer track!

Dusty Springfield -- Dusty In Memphis

  Newly signed to Atlantic records, with Jerry Wexler at the helm Dusty records a full blown Memphis Soul album.  Although the record is a bit of a Aretha Franklin ripoff, Springfield holds her own as a tour de force soul singer.  She was primarily known as a British Pop singer, but wanted to change her image to emulate something more like her idols and when you hear Son Of The Preacher Man, you can't help admitting that she had completely succeeded!

J.J. Jackson -- But It's Alright

    Kinda almost obscure, other than the title track which was a major hit, by Soul belter J.J. Jackson ... and if you've heard But It's Alright, which I'm sure you have, unless you've been radioless your whole life, you know what I mean by belter!!  Funny enough this American sounding Soul album was recorded in England with session musicians, so is there really a Greatest Little Soul Band In The Land???  The production on the record is a little shotty and way too tinny, But It's Alright!

Fats Domino -- Sings Million Record Hits

  R & B giant, no pun intended, has sold over 30 millions singles.  He revolutionized music with marketably relatable lyrics and a beat that just never quit!  Not only did he change the face of American music, but his sound even found its way to Jamaica, the proof is in the song Be My Guest, listen to the guitar closely followed by the horn section, yes that's right, you're hearing an early incantation of Ska done first by the fun lovin' Fat Man!  Domino has an undeniable talent, nonthreatening charisma ... changing American mores with simple songs of love and having fun!

Bob Marley And The Wailers -- Legend

   Yeah Yeah Yeah, he's a brilliant man and had one hell of a career!  But every white boy jock, hipster- wannabe who smokes tha ganj seems to flock to this album proclaiming their undying love for Reggae, even though this is the only Reggae album they own and it's probably on CD.  Not that I think that these songs are bad, but they're hardly the ones that I'd consider his best.  These tracks are the easiest for an American market to swallow, like a sorta friendly, kind hearted Marley, who didn't have utter contempt for the white man and Babylon, those themes are represented on his actual best numbers ... anyway these are his biggest Babylonian hits ... but they hardly represent the Legend that is Bob Marley!

Lene Lovich -- Stateless

  I knew I used to like this album, but I was ready to potentially hate it since my last listen, which was ages ago, to my surprise I still love this record.  Lene seems to have a kinda German shticked style to her music, making a sorta Electro Punk Wave.  My personal favorite is the opening track Home, but that's not saying the rest is bad, I just find she hit the mark the best with that number ... and doesn't she look just like Jennifer Connely, the chick from Labyrinth???

Update: I've been clearing out my record collection and decided that there would never be an occasion that would deem this album appropriate, I honestly hated it this time around!! 

The Jam -- This Is The Modern World

  Sophomore release by The Jam, This Is The Modern World.  The best way to describe The Jam's sound, I think, is 60's Mod mixed with hard edged Glam ... which is basically 77 British Punk Rock, but where their contemporaries wanted to destroy Rock 'n' Roll, The Jam wanted to embrace it!