What Are Your Top 5 CD's/LP's

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 2:33 pm

A very tricky question that I have been pondering for ages! I am not much of an album person, especially with the advent of i-tunes where I tend to just download the tracks I like. However I think I have now got a final list in no particular order!

1) ABBA - Arrival - the 1st album I bought. I loved ABBA, much to the annoyance of my heavy rock loving brothers. It had some great tracks on it, including Knowing Me, Knowing You (as beloved by ALan Partridge) and Money, Money, Money. Dancing Queen was on it but I used to skip that.

2) The Bobby Darin Story - a great transitional album that covers Bobbys early 'pop tracks' including Splish Splash, Dream Lover and his teen-pop songs before you get to hear his fantastic swing numbers. 'Artificial Flowers' still gives me goose-bumps! But its his covers of 'Beyond the Sea', Up a Lazy River, Bill Bailey and of course Mack the Knife that I love the most.

3) Manic Street Preachers - Everything must Go. A collection of great rock anthems including the sublime 'A Design for Life', 'Everything must go', 'Removables' and 'Australia' along with the quirky 'Kevin Carter' and 'Elvis Impersonator on Blackpool Pier'. It was a close run thing between this and Oasis 'Whats the story', Pulp 'Different Class' or Lightning Seeds 'Jollifiication'

4) Eydie Gorme - On Stage - teamed with Don Costa for a fantastic collection of tunes including my favourite cover of 'Taking a chance on Love'. Her voice just hits all the right notes at just the right time!

5) The Rare Monro - What an absolute pleasure it was to be able to get a Matt album that felt like it had just been recorded - all those songs (many of which I'd never heard of off!) that I had never hear sing before. A wonderful collection of power ballads, with some swing, jazz and those fantastic commercials! I have started shopping at wollowrths again!

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:05 pm

Hi Mark--I think your list was ---very predictable---but interesting nevertheless--especially including 2 Frank Sinatra. I think we would all expect Tony to be in there somewhere---and that JJ album is just great.
I do not know that "Ella" title--but it sounds good !!

Mike--you have cheated slightly and included a Matt Monro CD--the rules were that no Matt cds were to be included, as most of us would have included at least one on our top 5, and I wanted to see what other singers you all liked.

I guess "Manic Street Preachers" was the big surprise on your list !!!!

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:37 pm

Sorry Marian, had missed out the no Matt rule!

In that case I will go for the 'Seekers say farewell at the Talk of the Town' - a bit off the wall but a wonderful live performance with some lovely songs and the perfect voice of Judy Durham

Mark Fox · Post by **Mark Fox** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:38 pm

M-Five was a wee bit restricting-last time I counted my faves came to a hundred!Ella recorded three(I think)in a series with Nelson,Ella Swings Gently...Brightly etc...Superb additions to those marvellous Songbook recordings. Incidentally ,Tony used an Ella recording as finale at his Charity gig at Ronnie Scott's Club recently.
AND my feelings on JJ's 'SHALL WE DANCE' are well-known ,I mentioned it to Jack when last we spoke.

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:58 pm

Hi Mark---yes I realise that restricting the list to 5 made it more difficult to choose favourites----I'm sure that we all have lots more favourite albums----but I had to make a limit to keep it under control.

Well done to Mike for picking another favourite so quickly !!

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:27 pm

Mike, I own and love those "britpop" albums you mention

ALL the songs on "Everything Must Go" were potential hit's for the Manic's. A GREAT album

just to say though, it is "Blackpool Promenarde"

Last Sunday, David Jacobs played an Eydie Gorme song, conducted by Don Costa, so it could have come from the album you mentioned Mike

jon · Post by **jon** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 4:14 pm

Interesting to see that there are some other Manics fans on this website. However the Manics, while contemporaneous with it, were not classed as part of the "Britpop" scene, and certainly never thought of themselves as part of it.

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:54 pm

Yes John, it was just that they were around at the same time as Pulp, Blur, Oasis etc..... so they are bound to be rounded up in the Britpop scene/era

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 1:33 pm

I loved that 'Cool Britannia' era - the 'battle' of Blur V Oasis, also the Boo Radleys, Divine Comedy (ok - not British!), The Supernaturals, Giggolo Aunts, Shed 7 et al! Theres that feel back on the music scene at the moment too with the Feeling, kaiser chiefs, snow patrol, arctic monkeys - and the Manics! I've also downloaded a couple of Lilly Allen songs onto my i-pod!

Eydie was a great talent, love her spanish tracks, some of which are featured on youtube along with her marvellous 'Johnny one note' performance from 1956!!

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 11:46 pm

I thought Ocean Colour Scene and Supergrass were rather cool too

has anyone heard of one of my very favourite groups, fronted by Paul Buchanan, the wonderful BLUE NILE. They originate from Scotland, and have only released about four or five albums in around 20 years. SUBLIME

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 9:14 pm

Yep - loved Supergrass too. Not sure if I have heard of Blue Nile -w ill have to check them out

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:49 pm

I have only heard Paul Buchanan sing the top 10 duet Sleep with Sharleen Spiteri on the most recent Texas album. Radio 2 played it quite frequently a year and a half ago. Loved the song and his voice (as well as Sharleen's). At the time the reviewers stated that Paul Buchanan and his group Blue Nile were quite prolific.

(Still working on my top 5 albums.)

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:52 pm

That's Ok Paul--we are quite happy to wait for your top 5-I know it is not easy to choose !!!

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:24 pm

i am also struggling to name my top 5 albums, and I can only be sure of one that would make this list - "What's Going On' by Marvin Gaye.
Can't get beyond this point though

Gray

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 8:06 pm

Yes, I know it is difficult restricting yourself to only 5. But that makes it more interesting, to learn what everyone chooses.

Some lists are fairly predictable [eg--mine ], but I never expected to see Marvin Gaye in your top 5 , Gray, that's for sure.