The Supremes -- More Hits

  When I first got this record I thought it was a follow-up compilation because of the album's title.  I was wrong, they're insinuating that their songs from previous albums were all hits (which isn't too far from the truth, at the time they sold as well as the Beatles), and that all the songs from this album are hits as well, hence they'd be More Hits.  I can't help but love the smooth sultry sound of the Supremes, every record is as good as the last.  This album consists mostly of arranged ballads, which are all nice, especially Whisper You Love Me Boy, but I do find More Hits lacks the pumpin' Motown soul sound I look for.  The closest we get to it is in Stop! In The Name Of Love, but seriously, it hardly does it for me.  Don't get me wrong, the team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, made another brilliantly arranged record, they hardly ever miss their mark.  The Supremes go on to make more and More Hits -- but when did they not!

Pink Floyd -- Meddle

  This album is as if the Beatles continued in the Sgt Pepper/ Magical Mystery Tour direction with the spontaneity of the White Album, toss in some Kraut rock psychedelia and you've got yourself some Meddle.  The first three tracks all weave together in a clear circular direction -- smooth acoustic futuristic sound.  Fearless is the gem in this set, you can hear it's influential impact on bands like the Flaming Lips and Galaxie 500.  The simple but very cool guitar riff sets the atmosphere for what should have been thematic denouement ... but no dice ... lounge lizard track San Tropez was just plain awful, followed by bluesy Seamus, which I should have liked, but the damn dogs barking, over and over, totally ruined it of me.  The B-side is the 23 minute long Echoes, the song continues where Fearless left off, but these over the top extended rock-outs are way too much, I kept thinking, "Jesus, who cares, end it!"   You can't Meddle with it, this is a good album, they just needed to clarify their musical direction, somethings are better left on the cutting room floor.

The Byrds -- Turn! Turn! Turn!

  Maybe not the best Byrds release, but Turn! Turn! Turn! serves as a quintessential example of folk style rock music ... but it goes deeper than that, all because of the 12 string Rickenbacker guitar, which makes a great effect for the music, follow that up with the heavy vocal harmonizing and you've got yourself a lush, smooth, influential record.  These Byrds take off to even further musical reaches as they go on, but these early records tell us where they are from.

Roy Orbison -- All-Time Greatest Hits

  Without question Roy Orbison is one of the most unique Rock 'n' Roll persona's of All-Time.  The great thing is that he didn't have to use shock or glamour, no, Roy was purely himself with the enigmatic voice!  The double album set features 20 Orbison hit numbers, here's the quick synopsis: flamenco beat driven, orchestral, operatic rockabilly -- does that even make sense??   The music has a dark desperation, filled with loneliness and wonder, making In Dreams perfect for Lynch's Blue Velvet.  My personal favorites are the rockabillied, Uptown, Dream Baby and somewhat Dylanesque Candy Man.  Roy Orbison is a must hear for every music lover, there will never be another one like him, so whether you love it or hate it, you can't help but appreciate it!

Isley Brothers -- Soul Shout!

  For starters Soul Shout isn't an official Isley Brothers release.  This album is a compilation from bargain basement label Pickwick.  They basically reissued a bunch of old tracks at a low price while the groups are still in the charts.  Soul Shout ain't bad, as an album!  It features the super mega hit Twist and Shout, which is fine and good to hear, but the numbers to write home about are The Snake and especially Right Now.  The Snake is a danceable swingin' doo wop number, while Right Now is a jazzy, soulful full blown emotional vocal demonstration, almost like letting their fans know that they aren't just a one hit wonder, but a Soul Shoutin' force to be reckoned with -- meaning get yourself some Isley's RIGHT NOW!

Toots & the Maytals -- Funky Kingston

   As far as I'm concerned Funky Kingston is one of the best records to come out of the whole Reggae scene.  Now there is one little problem I have with, maybe not this record, but rather Jamaican music.  Many of us put on our Reggae hats in the summer while doing yuppie seasonal activities, enjoying our luxuries, thinking isn't this the greatest music to, for example, lounge in a pool on air mattress or sit on a dock with friends enjoying drinks?  And it is, isn't it?  But i can't help feeling guilty thinking of who and what this music was actually made for.  Just look at the cover of this record, ahh their smiling faces, but what's in the background, that's the shanty town, where living is hard, and albums like these can make life a little easier for all it's inhabitants.  Lets all think twice when playing one of Jamaica's finest! 

The Tremeloes -- Here Comes My Baby

  From what I've learnt, these guys have made a career out of covering songs, which isn't that bad, unless you just make it sound like the real version, but that seems to be the Tremeloes way!  This album was awful -- BIG TIME!!!!  These guys just seem to be riding on the coat tails of  60's swinging London, copy-catting good groups, trying to cash in, and seemed to have forgotten what the music was all about!  One song is kinda Kinksy, the other like the Beatles, ohhh is that the bad side of Cream a la Wrapping Paper I hear -- unfortunately yes!  The title track, a Cat Stevens cover no less, and who the hell calls their album someone else's tune the same year the original comes out (argh this band is stoopid, anyway), is a good rendition of the song, fools you into thinking it is the song, but no dice it's the Tremeloes!  In the end this wanna be garage band can stuff their Muppet sounding falsettos, and s%#*ty use of fuzz guitar, you know where, because this baby is GONE .... P.S. are those wigs -- nerds!