Vinyl Feature: The Best Disco Album In The World

Just in case you ever wondered what the best disco album in the World is, well your wondering days are over because here it is! At least that is what the self proclaimed title says but in reality it's closer to "A Pretty Good Disco Album".

If you like disco this compilation LP has some great disco sounds that will get your feet tapping while you will gradually feel a strange compulsion to wear a skin tight body suit with sparkles all over it. Ah, 70's disco...

Vinyl Feature: The Boomtown Rats - the fine art of Surfacing

 Irish New Wave band The Boomtown Rats released the fine art of Surfacing on October 9, 1979 under three different labels, depending on the country, but the copy I have was from the UK under the Ensign Records label.

Three of the songs were also released as singles and were all hit sellers namely I Don't Like Mondays, Diamond Smiles and Someone's Looking at You with the first being the biggest hit of the three.

Vinyl Feature: Cat Stevens - Greatest Hits

Cat Stevens music had a profound impact in the 70's during his short career before spectacularly cutting it short with his conversion to Islam and devoting himself to various charities and non-profits. I for one am a big fan and have always loved his music and the beautiful message contained in the meaningful lyrics. My children have been similarly affected and you can often hear one of them belting out Wild World, or some other Cat Stevens hit, in the kitchen.

This then is a compilation of some of the best of the songs from Cat Stevens and worthy of the title of Greatest Hits.

Vinyl Feature: Kenny Rogers - We've Got Tonight

We've Got Tonight was released in 1983 under the Liberty Records label and was the eleventh solo studio album by Kenny Rogers.

The title song was sung as a duet with Sheena Easton.

Vinyl Feature: Shakin' Stevens - Shaky

Shaky was Shakin' Stevens only number one selling UK album and did well for him world wide and it also spawned three top ten hit singles.

The album was released in 1981 and has a very "rock 'n roll" sound, going against the grain of the rest of the early eighties popular music style with music that sounds like it could have come straight from the 50's.

Shaky was released under the Epic label.

Vinyl Feature: David Bowie - Tonight

Tonight is David Bowie's sixteenth studio album and was released in 1984. I picked this up in mint condition from my new favourite second hand store, which is in Landskrona, for their normal price of 5kr. They have a large selection of LP's available and most Sundays there is a large gathering of vinyl diggers searching for some PVC magic.

The album did really well for Bowie and achieved several gold and platinum sales world wide. Despite this Bowie himself apparently never really liked the album...

Vinyl Feature: Elkie Brooks - Pearls II

Released in 1982 as a sequel to Pearls this album generated no less than three hit singles and featured in the charts for about 25 weeks, and for part of that time Pearls was still on the charts as well.

Pearls II was under the A&M label and was produced by Gus Dudgeon.

Vinyl Feature: The Manhattan Transfer - The Manhattan Transfer

The Manhattan Transfer were known for their wonderful vocal performances and incredible harmonies and this, their second album, doesn't disappoint. Released on April 2nd 1975 it cemented The Manhattan Transfer's style and sound and received many positive reviews from the critics.

The album was released under the Atlantic/WEA label.

Vinyl Feature: Andreas Vollenweider - Down to the Moon

Andreas Vollenweider is a Swiss musician whose main instrument of choice is a self designed electrified harp. His music is dreamy and kinda surreal in a fairytale fantasy land sort of way, quite beautiful and in the right setting can be almost spiritual. It can roughly be described as World and New Age, occasionally Jazz, and even on occasions Classical.

Down To The Moon was released in 1986 and was Vollenweiders fifth studio album.

Vinyl Feature: Eurythmics - Revenge

Revenge by the Eurythmics was their fifth studio album and was a great success for them world wide achieving gold and platinum sales in many countries. It was released on the 30th June 1986 and the song Missionary Man was awarded a Grammy the same year.

The album is a nice blend of pop/rock and new wave music that defined the Eurythmics sound in the mid 80's.

Vinyl Feature: Cass Elliot - Cass Elliot

This album was released in February 1972 after being recorded in 1971 and was simply titled "Cass Elliot" as Cass Elliot tried to shed the title of "Mama Cass" that she had gained while a member of The Mamma's and The Pappa's. It was her sixth solo album and she apparently had free reign as to song choice so she tried for a subdued and sophisticated sound.

The album however was not a great success and rightfully so as it sounds a bit too subdued to me and lacks the spirited edge of Cass Elliot's other albums. Never-the-less it makes a good collectors piece for me.

Vinyl Feature: Rod Steward - Blondes have more fun

"Blondes have more fun" was Rod Stewards 9th album and went on to sell over 14 000 000 copies with the song "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" being the big hit single off the album. It was released on the 24th of November 1978.

Vinyl Feature: Bobby Hackett - Rendezvous

Rendezvous by Bobby Hackett is an incredible display of trumpet mastery by a maestro of the art! If you haven't heard it yet I suggest you look out for a copy as soon as possible and immerse yourself into some heavenly jazz atmosphere.

Released in 1956 Rendevouz was Bobby Hackett's 5th album and was on the Regal and EMI Record labels.

It is a mono album which some people claim is better than stereo, but having listened to many albums of both kinds over nearly 50 years I can say that the sound quality has more to do with the way the album was produced and mastered with both sounding equally great when done well.

Vinyl Feature: Elvis Presley's Greatest Hits

I picked up this box set of six records at a charity shop here in Southern Sweden a couple of months ago for a whopping 50kr! It also includes a bonus "Elvis at the Movies" disc with a small variety of music from movies he was in over his career.

The set was compiled and released by Readers Digest in the mid 70's and is a wonderful collection of a wide variety of songs by the "King of Rock 'n Roll".

Vinyl Feature: Belinda Carlisle - Heaven on Earth

Vinyl Feature: Diana Ross and the Supremes - Greatest Hits

Released in 1967 this album contained a collection of Diana Ross and the Supremes A and B side hits, and was the first LP to name the group under the new title of Diana Ross and the Supremes. It became their second number one album and it would be years before another female group would achieve the same.

Vinyl Feature: The Best Of Nat King Cole

A beautiful compilation album released in 1968 by the man who put the oo into smooth! It was recorded on the Capitol Records label and on the front cover it says that it is playable on both stereo and mono phonographs, which is very reassuring to know! Hehe!

Vinyl Feature: The Best Of Peter, Paul and Mary

I haven't had an album featured on Vinyl Philosophy so far that has so little information available about it on-line. While there is lots of info available about all of Peter, Paul and Mary's other albums, this particular one seems a little lacking in information.

Vinyl Feature: Les Paul and Mary Ford - Hits of Les and Mary

Les Paul and Mary Ford were a husband and wife hit singing duo during the fifties who sold over six million records. This album was a collection of hits and was released in 1960 under the Capitol Records label as a "mono high fidelity" LP that the producers said could be played on both mono and stereo equipment and they further promised on the back cover that "It cannot become obsolete."! Little did they know what a roller coaster vinyl records would embark on, becoming "obsolete" when CD's were introduced and then staging a strong comeback several years later.

Vinyl Feature: Liza Minnelli - Tropical Nights

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