A selection of notable LPs released this month 50 years ago. Click the links to order from Amazon.
We've had 50 years to get used to it, but Riperton's soaring soprano voice still stuns in this best-selling LP, produced by Stevie Wonder (using the pseudonym "Wonderlove" so as not to stir trouble with Motown).
Wonder, under the name El Toro Negro, also played keyboards and other instruments on several tracks. Riperton's performance of his gently funky, jazzy "Take a Little Trip" is a highlight.
But the album's best moment is Riperton's hit "Loving You," penned as a lullaby for her young daughter, future SNL star Maya Rudolph. Riperton sings as beautifully as the birds heard tweeting at the start of the track.
Lowell George and crew are joined by the Tower of Power Horns and Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt on background vocals on their fourth LP, featuring more of their elastic blend of funk, soul and roots influences.
Nilsson produced by John Lennon - this should be much better than it is.
Recorded during Lennon's boozy "Lost Weekend" phase, neither of these guys was in good shape at the time. Worse, Lennon's challenging Nilsson to over-sing and scream his vocals left the singer's once magnificent voice sounding frayed and tattered.
The opening track is a depressingly dull and dirge-y cover of Jimmy Cliff's "Many Rivers to Cross," which finds Harry sounding hoarse and tired — like he's crossed plenty of damn rivers already.
The second track, a lively cover of Nilsson and Lennon singings Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues," is much better. Did Kenny Loggins' lift the opening for "I'm Alright"? Sorta sounds like it.
Nilsson sounds almost like himself on the beautifully sad ballad, "Don't Forget Me" and the dreamy Lennon co-write "Mucho Mungo," but is again painfully hoarse on a glacially slow cover of "Save the Last Dance for Me."
His cover of rock'n'roll oldie "Loop De Loop," meanwhile, would've been fun if Harry didn't sound like crap.
Joni Mitchell supplied the cover art for this nicely sequenced best-of featuring all of group's big hits: "Teach Your Children," "Ohio," "Woodstock," "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and more.
A stellar collection of blue-eyed soul out of Scotland. Hightlights include the funky, catchy "Work to Do" and the hit instrumental, "Pick Up the Pieces." "Keepin' it to Myself" is pretty great, too.
The one with "Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet." The other tracks don't match up in my opinion, but if you like loud, crunchy 70s guitar you may enjoy it.
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