Best Adult Contemporary
1 December
December holds the distinction of single-handedly putting Windham Hill on the map and being the new age album most likely to find its way into music collections of all ilk.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The 20th Anniversary Edition....which is now even a few years old....contains a couple of unreleased songs and the sheet music to his version of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (here just titled, "Joy")."
"Very pleasant piano music."
"It's amazing how music can set the tone for a social gathering and in my very very humble opinion, I'd say "December by George Winston" is the perfect CD for such a purpose."
"I think it is Winston's best, with "Summer" as a close second. It will give you years of beautiful listening."
"George Winston's exquisite piano talent comes alive in a selection of music that takes the listener from Thanksgiving through Christmas."
"I first heard it on a Sunday night jazz program when I was living in Charlotte, NC, To me, George Winston is like a soothing balm that goes straight to my soul."
"This is my all time favorite album (CD)."
"From the first track to the last December will capture your soul taking both it and your mind to places full of wonder, warmth and joy."
By losing the "Jefferson" part of their name and hiring former Elvin Bishop vocalist Mickey Thomas, Starship soared the heights of pop stardom with songs penned by Diane Warren, Bernie Taupin, Robbie Nevil and more!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is some memory music that I can enjoy."
"Very cool CD with all their best music glad I found it."
"I love this CD."
"I can still recall taking my youngest daughter to a Starship concert which I can honestly say I enjoyed more than she did at the time."
"Awesome music that takes me back to the mid to late 80's when I was teenager."
"Product performed exactly as described."
"Good memories here listening to this CD."
Thanks to DJ Bill Campton, ex-Kingston Trio singer/songwriter John Stewart's music was big in Phoenix in 1974, so producer Nik Venet had Stewart take a band there and record a 'live' album of hits and some new songs at the Phoenix Symphony Hall in March 1974.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Can't say enough about how much I enjoyed this CD."
"Was at this concert so getting this album after losing my original years ago was a real blessing."
"While, admittedly there is an occasional, once-in-a-lifetime occurrence that can never be repeated, duplicated or equalled, the usual fare consists of inadequate recording equipment, crowd noise, or burned out performers needing a break after an arduous tour schedule. Tears came to our eyes as we once again relived an evening when this sadly underrated and much-missed folk icon went through an evening of inspired musical magic."
"Because of KDKB radio and Bill Compton (Program Manager), John had become a huge star in Phoenix. He deserved the fame and he would have become a national star, if only independent radio wasn't killed off by the commercial pablum which reigns today."
"Nothing better than John Stewart in concert."
"John Stewart has a huge catalog of songs, from his years with the Kingston Trio, "Daydream Believer," "California Bloodlines."
"John Stewart was very unique and very under rated."
Best Soft Rock
Dan Fogelberg's first Christmas album is a smartly informed collection of familiar holiday hymns, carols, and deliciously original music inspired by the Renaissance period.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If you are looking for a Christmas cd that is soft and sweet without the same old Christmas songs ( redone a million times) this is for you."
"Wonderfully arranged CD, capturing the spirit of Christmas."
"I bought a copy for my aunt who is a retired music teacher with no idea of who Dan Fogelberg was and she loves it as well."
"Old world Christmas tunes played with old world instruments and some wonderful harmonies as in "What Child is This", this is a wonderful addition to any Christmas music collection."
"It has a lot of good tracks with nice acoustic guitar playing."
"I really liked the songs that he picked for the album."
"Buy this!"
Best General
Maroon 5 aren't the first band to fuse R&B and rock, but they certainly are one of the most convincing.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Absolutely beautiful splattered vinyl."
"But it sounds like trash on vinyl."
"I'm a confirmed baby-boomer and usually buy only 60's and 70's music, but after I got XM radio in my new pickup truck I started hearing a few newer songs that I liked and almost all of them were sung by "Maroon 5". The beat is usually relentless, the chord and key shifts beautiful and often unexpected, and the high vocal harmonies (wish there were more of them) are as precise as Lennon-McCartney or Heart."
"Great music to listen to anytime."
"Buy this CD!"
"I know price shouldn't be a factor, but I found this for just $4 while browsing Amazon's MP3 department."
"Some songs never go out of style and create a mood...and Mr. Levine does it well!"
"I mainly got this album because it was pretty cheap and I love Maroon 5."
Best Euro Pop
Primarily this was to put baby's to sleep.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Best Contemporary Hawaiian lullabies."
"I've been using this CD for my child since birth."
"I am still looking for a CD of Hawaiian language lullabies."
"My husband & I heard this CD, Hawaiian Lullabies, while dining in a small Mediterranean-French bistro in Honolulu, and agreed it was the most angelic music we had heard in a long time."
"B-man says it's insipid but it's made to put baby's to sleep."
"I have many hawaiian cd's and there is nothing about this cd that sounds hawaiian, except perhaps, the C & H Sugar song on track four."
Best Power Pop
Rosenbergs - Mission You - Cd.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Rosenbergs encapsulate rock and roll from the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90' with this pure power pop masterpiece of singing, melody, and pop intensity."
"wow, even today this band blows away the competition."
"Other standouts include "Paper and Plastic", "In Pursuit", and "Secret" If you like power pop and strong vocals/harmonies you will love this CD."
"Expansive electric guitar chords make for a very full sound, and the rhythm section keeps everything upbeat and moving."
"Expansive electric guitar chords make for a very full sound, and the rhythm section keeps everything upbeat and moving."
"It is released by Robert Fripp's DGM label, a second copy of the CD is included, and Talking Head, Tina Weymouth, provides backing vocals."
"New York's The Rosenbergs have captured a blend of muscular pop and intelligent songwriting that will make ya happy no matter if you think pop music died when Brian stopped touring with the Beach Boys, or when Cheap Trick left Budokan."
"Every song is incredible and I found myself singing their songs over and over again even without the music playing."
Best Pop Rock
Britain's greatest pop diva Dusty Springfield was the finest blue-eyed soul singer of her era, and this landmark Atlantic Records album from 1969 is a masterpiece, a perfect marriage of pop and soul.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Dusty made a debut in the. American South here, The music is exquisite and includes. every superb genre she is so noted for, including the sexy. "Breakfast in Bed", "I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore" with. its haunting back-up vocals, and the sensual dream of "The. Windmills of Your Mind"."
"I keep listening over and over."
"I really don't know how you don't give this album 5 stars!"
"O c ourse I heard it back then."
"On time and as described.."
"A great bargain and overall great track selections; too bad about the sound quality though."
"Having Dusty Springfield music playing is worth getting this wonderful compact disc or any of her music. She was truly a timeless voice of our times."
"I returned the lp and will search for a warmer more soothing sounding lp."
Best Instrumental Pop & Lounge
Kenton '76.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There are several outstanding tunes on the album, but my most favorite is Hank Levy's Decoupage."
"Tim Hagans and John Harner display great solo skills."
"One of Kenton's greatest recordings."
"I have several albums by Stan Kenton and was told of this one by a GREAT friend."
"One of the best Kenton recordings of his later band with some memorable arrangements and it's in a live setting."
"It was worth every penny."
"this is a Start to finish awesome album."
Best Singer-Songwriters
Mule Variations is the twelfth studio album by American musician Tom Waits, released on April 16, 1999 on the ANTI- label.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"One of Waits' best."
"I first considered buying this album after hearing Beth perform Hold On in an episode of The Walking Dead this season."
"Filipino box spring hog....outrageous!!!!!"
"Look, I don't even know why I felt compelled to add my voice to the cavalcade of positivity, but if I had to discover him all over again, and I was only going to buy ONE CD because mom was cutting up the cards and shutting down the amazon account...this one would make me wanna get a job so I could afford the rest."
"The coffeehouse folk of his early career (and the great material it yeilded), the amazing blues-jazz of the late seventies (and some shows I shall never forget, THE GAS PUMPS)! Ranks with Tom T's Blues, Jersey Girl - better - "she closed her eyes and started......swaying, but it's so hard to dance that way, when it's cold and there's no music", man, I really love this song."
"The first song, Big in Japan, leads you to expect the same atonality and tribal-rhythm driven poundings that he delivered on his Bone Machine album. His lyrics here combine the poetic doggerel of his Small Change years without striking the same false and affected (if fun) notes found there: Down by the Riverside motel, it's 10 below and falling. by a 99 cent store she closed her eyes. and started swaying. but it's so hard to dance that way. when it's cold and there's no music. (from "Hold On"). Every song on the album has a lyric that will stay with you for days after hearing it: "She's a diamond that wants to stay coal." The traditional blues influence that has always been in Waits' music is more visible here, thanks to more subdued production than on the previous albums."
Best Traditional & Vocal Pop
Britain's greatest pop diva Dusty Springfield was the finest blue-eyed soul singer of her era, and this landmark Atlantic Records album from 1969 is a masterpiece, a perfect marriage of pop and soul.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Dusty made a debut in the. American South here, The music is exquisite and includes. every superb genre she is so noted for, including the sexy. "Breakfast in Bed", "I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore" with. its haunting back-up vocals, and the sensual dream of "The. Windmills of Your Mind"."
"I keep listening over and over."
"I really don't know how you don't give this album 5 stars!"
"O c ourse I heard it back then."
"On time and as described.."
"A great bargain and overall great track selections; too bad about the sound quality though."
"Having Dusty Springfield music playing is worth getting this wonderful compact disc or any of her music. She was truly a timeless voice of our times."
"I returned the lp and will search for a warmer more soothing sounding lp."
Best Easy Listening
Special Price 50 Track Double CD, Includes: La Paloma, Michelle, Blueberry Hill, Lili Marleen And More.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is music that I listened to when I was a youngster."
"Used to love Billy Vaughn's rendition of "wheels when I was younger."
"Very good CD."
"Yes, there are some HITS missing including US and German hits but those are available on other CD collections."
"Replacement for original purchase over five-years ago."
"I have owned this Album for about a year."
"A great CD to have in my collection."
"Always a fan of Billy Vaughn I only wish my favorite song, Look for a Star was on the 1st CD with the other best songs as opposed to being the only good one on CD#2."