70's Soul Sessions - Various Artists

Advantages: good songs are great
Disadvantages: a couple of weird ones.

...I had heard a lot about Joss Stone way before i heard a lot of her music. Months before she began appearing on tv and radio, she was appearing in the newspaper and magazines, because there was a huge amount of publicity surrounding her. People couldnt believe that she was a white girl singing soul music and sounded so mature at the age of 16. So when I heard her on the radio, i was very unaware that I was listening to Joss Stone. Probably a good thing as I appreciated her music for what it is, not for all the pubicity infuencing me. It was her fusion of soul, jazz and a strikingly powerful voice that made her sttyle of music grow on me, as initially I hadnt been all that keen on it. However, her album contains a collection of songs that, when you first hear them, they all sound alike, but eventually you begin to pick out the best... Read review

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Advantages: Fab price; Far better tracklisting than most 70s compilations; Loads of classics!
Disadvantages: The odd 'filler track' and uninspiring liner notes.

...("She's Gone") which along with number 1 hits such as Art Garfunkel's 'I Only Have Eyes For You' and Chicago's classic 'If You Leave Me Now' more than make up for the less impressive selections. Disc 2 contains 'Northern Lights' by Renaissance which is one of my all time favourite 70s songs, sounding along the same lines as an ABBA track or two but with theunique folkish style of Renaissance. I bought the boxset specifically to own this track on CD - well worth a listen! Disc 2 contains the excellent 'Wig Wam Bam' from the Sweet and Mott the Hoople's 'All The Young Dudes' (70s anthem by far.) 'Sheena is a Punk Rocker' by the Ramones also crops up on disc 2, representing a driving punk/new wave anthem albeit with a more commercial edge. Other legendary artists/acts such as T. Rex ), Elvis Presley, David Essex, ELO and Chris Rea... Read review

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Advantages: some wonderful and uniqu interpretations of older songs
Disadvantages: Mika, excellent as a single CD with the creme dela creme of the tracks

...Various Artist. He is very prolific isn't he? Wandering through the racks of CDs in any record shop you will find a ton of compilations on any theme possible. Lets take a look,Ultimate banging Thrash Handbag House 2008, the Best Summer Anthems by Dutch People 4, 5000 60s Hits your dad owns bu would make a great gift for his birthday and the ubiquitous Now that's what I cal Music infinite. I do not tend to buy these compilations, as I tend to already have the songs I like om them whilst there is always a few tracks you can not stand and the ones at the end have a very tenuous link to the compilation theme as a whole. However I do buy the occasional compilation if it has something unique to offer such as live tracks. Dermot O' Leary (he of Big Brother 's Little Brother, X Factor and another million TV shows fame) has a live session... Read review

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