1996 Best Albums/Singles Music Poll

Here’s a Facebook group (Expert Witness) poll that I voted in: Top 20 albums and Top singles of 1996. 

Below my picks are the poll winners.

My Picks

1. DJ Shadow - Endtroducing  30

2. Maxwell - Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite - 15

3. Fountains of Wayne - s/t  13

4. Beck - Odelay 11

5. Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister  10

6. Amy Rigby - Diary of A Mod Housewife 9

7. Bobbie Cryner - Girl of Your Dreams 8

8. Deana Carter - Did I Shave My Legs For This 8

9. Fugees - The Score 8

10. Gillian Welch - Revival 8

11.  Iris DeMent - The Way I Should 8

12.  Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt 8

13.  Johnny Cash - Unchained 8

14.  Mandy Barnett - s/t 8

15. Outkast - Atliens 8

16.  REM - New Adventures in Hi-Fi 8

17. Sheryl Crow - s/t 8

18. Steve Earle - I Feel Alright 8

19. Tony Toni Tone - House of Music 8

20. Willie Nelson - Spirit 8

Singles

2PAC - California Love

Beck - Where It's At

Blackstreet - No Diggity

Cardigans - Lovefool

Celine Dion - It’s All Coming Back To Me Now 

Deana Carter - Strawberry Wine

En Vogue - Don't Let Go (Love)

Everything but the Girl - Missing

Fountains of Wayne - Radiation Vibe 

Fugees - Ready or Not

Garbage - Stupid Girl

Ginuwine - Pony

Los Del Rio - Macarena

Mandy Barnett - Now That's All Right With Me

Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack

Oasis - Wonderwall

OMC - How Bizarre 

Pulp - Common People

Quad City DJs - C'mon N' Ride It

Sheryl Crow - If It Makes You Happy

Smashing Pumpkins - 1979

Spice Girls - Wannabe

Sublime - What I Got

The Prodigy - Firestarter

Toni Braxton - Un-Break My Heart

Poll Winners Albums

1. DJ Shadow: Endtroducing… (516 points/31 votes/highest points given 30)

2. Sleater-Kinney: Call the Doctor (370/22/30)

3. Amy Rigby: Diary of a Mod Housewife (337/26/25)

4. Fugees: The Score (185/19/22)

5. Beck: Odelay (181/19/17)

6. Los Lobos: Colossal Head (155/15/25)

7. Iris DeMent: The Way I Should (154/15/30)

8. Ghostface Killah: Ironman (129/13/23)

9. Belle and Sebastian: If You’re Feeling Sinister (116/9/20)

10. Tony! Toni! Toné!: House of Music (115/13/12)

11. Imperial Teen: Seasick (112/15/10)

12. Stereolab: Emperor Tomato Ketchup (107/13/10)

13. Arto Lindsay: Mundo Civilizado (105/6/25)

14. Fountains of Wayne: Fountains of Wayne (99/10/15)

15. Pet Shop Boys: Bilingual (84/6/25)

16. R.E.M.: New Adventures in Hi-Fi (80/11/10)

17. OutKast: ATLiens (76/7/25)

18. Willie Nelson: Spirit (68/8/15)

19. Fluffy: Black Eye (66/9/10)

20. James Carter: Conversin’ with the Elders (62/8/12)

21. Aphex Twin: Richard D. James Album (61/5/30)

22. Pulp: Different Class (54/7/10)

23. Spring Heel Jack: 68 Million Shades (52/5/19)

24. Prince: Emancipation (48/5/15)

25. Bikini Kill: Reject All American (45/5/10)

26. Weezer: Pinkerton (44/5/15)

27. Wilco: Being There (43/4/15)

28. Steve Earle: I Feel Alright (42/4/15)

29. Sex Pistols: Filthy Lucre Live (40/3/25)

30. Gillian Welch: Revival (39/3/20)

31. Ani DiFranco: Dilate (37/6/10)

32. Sebadoh: Harmacy (36/5/10)

33. Cibo Matto: Viva! La Woman (35/4/10)

34. Modest Mouse: This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About (34/4/13)

35. John Zorn: Bar Kokhba (33/3/13)

36. The Beautiful South: Blue Is the Colour (33/3/15)

37=. Fiona Apple: Tidal (29/4/10)

37=. Tricky: Pre-Millennium Tension (29/4/10)

39. Toni Braxton: Secrets (28/3/10)

40. Sugar and Poison (25/2/15)

Singles Top 20

1. Quad City DJ’s: “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)” (14 votes/average length 24)

2. Blackstreet, Dr. Dre, Queen Pen: “No Diggity” (10/31)

3. The Smashing Pumpkins: “1979” (9/22.7)

4. Spice Girls: “Wannabe” (9/23.1)

5. Pulp: “Common People” (8/20.4)

6. Fugees: “Ready or Not” (8/24)

7. Los Del Rio: “Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix)“ (8/31.5)

8. Toni Braxton: “Un-Break My Heart” (7/28.9)

9. Beck: “Where It’s At” (6/24.3)

10. 2Pac, Dr. Dre: “California Love” (6/31.2)

11. Alanis Morissette: “Ironic” (5/19)

12. Fugees: “Fu-Gee-La” (5/26.4)

13. Ginuwine: “Pony” (5/33.4)

14. Butthole Surfers: “Pepper” (5/39)

15. OMC: “How Bizarre” (5/39)

16. Garbage: “Stupid Girl” (4/19.5)

17. The Cardigans: “Lovefool” (4/20)

18. Celine Dion: “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” (4/21.3)

19. Fluke: “Atom Bomb” (4/25)

20. Local H: “Bound for the Floor” (4/25)

RIP Freddie Jackson

  Freddie Jackson was one of the best, underrated Quiet Storm staples the genre produced.  Joel Whitburn's Top R&B Singles book ranked him 11th for the 1980's (in the book that ends in 2016).  From 1985-1992 he had an impressive run of 10 #1 singles and 3 #2's.  His hit years ended after 1992.  One reason he never achieved household name recognition like Luther Vandross is that he didn't cross over to the Pop Top 40 charts very often.  His biggest hit, "You Are My Lady" did get to #12 in 1985, but he never had that big Pop hit.  I liken his career to Whitburn's #18 Jeffrey Osborne who had a bunch of R&B hits in the 80's/early 90's, but never a solo smash.  His nearest top 10 Pop hit was "You Should Be Mine" #13 in 1986.   Osborne did have a big hit as lead singer of L.T.D. in 1977 with the #4 Pop "Back in Love Again". 

  In 2011 I saw Freddie Jackson in concert as part of the "Men of Soul" tour.  Jackson shared the bill with the late, great Peabo Bryson, Jeffrey Osborne and Howard Hewett.  Jackson's was a strong set.

  Jackson could sing uptempo songs but his specialty were classic slow jams like "Rock Me Tonight" or my favorite "Have You Ever Loved Somebody".  He came along just as the Black Pop of the mid-80's was beginning to reach its peak.  By the end of the decade and early 90's New Jack Swing took over the charts and singers like Jackson, Osborne and others faded from the R&B charts.  The Black Pop era is one I love and Jackson was one the best.  I think he's somewhat underrated as one of the best R&B singers of his era.  

Playlist for 10/1

Alabama Shakes - I Must Be Dreaming

Swell Season - Forward 

Little Big Town - It’s A Dying Art 

Soul to Soul (1971 Documentary) 

Charli XCX - Music, Fashion, Film

Sam Smith - Hazel Eyes 

Ariana Grande - Petals

No Static at All: A Journey into AOR 76-86 (Cherry Red box set)

Neil Young - As Time Explodes

Neil Young - Second Song

Ken Pomeroy - Cruel Joke

Emperor X - Unified Field

Poll: September 1972 Songs

  In September 1972 I was 8 years old and living in Mannheim, Germany, where my Dad was an Army CSM.  I'm not quite infatuated with AT40, but I heard the countdown on Armed Forces Radio.  

Pop Radio Gold

"Burning Love", Elvis Presley : 1
"Back Stabbers", O'Jays : 2
"Go All The Way", Raspberries : 3
"Garden Party", Rick Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band : 4
"Freddie's Dead (Theme From Superfly)", Curtis Mayfield : 5
"Nights In White Satin", Moody Blues : 6
"Everybody Plays The Fool", Main Ingredient : 7
"Alone Again (Naturally)", Gilbert O'Sullivan : 8
"Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress)", Hollies : 9
"Saturday In The Park", Chicago : 10
"Use Me", Bill Withers : 11
"Get On The Good Foot", James Brown : 12
"(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want To Be Right", Luther Ingram : 13
"Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)", Looking Glass : 14
"You Don't Mess Around With Jim", Jim Croce : 15
"I'm Still In Love With You", Al Green : 16
"Power Of Love", Joe Simon : 17
"The Guitar Man", Bread : 18
"Hold Your Head Up", Argent : 19
"Goodbye To Love", Carpenters : 20
"Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me", Mac Davis : 21
"Honky Cat", Elton John : 22
"Run To Me", Bee Gees : 23
"Play Me", Neil Diamond : 24
"Rock And Roll, Part 2", Gary Glitter : 25
"Coconut", Nilsson : 26
"Beautiful Sunday", Daniel Boone : 27
"Join Together", Who : 28
"Black And White", Three Dog Night : 29
"Ben", Michael Jackson : 30
"Lookin' Through The Windows", Jackson 5 : 31
"Speak To The Sky", Rick Springfield : 32
"Popcorn", Hot Butter : 33
"The Happiest Girl In The Whole U.S.A.", Donna Fargo : 34
"Motorcycle Mama", Sailcat : 35
"My Ding-A-Ling", Chuck Berry : 36
"Sealed With A Kiss", Bobby Vinton : 37

Ranking: Songs from Janet Jackson - Control

   After two middling albums, Janet Jackson finally broke through with 1986's Control.  Thanks to her co-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, she crafted a remarkable mix of R&B, funk, disco and pop sounds.  This album was a blueprint for many for Jam & Lewis productions with other acts.   And many female singers followed Jackson's style on this album for their own releases.  I always forget that there were only nine songs on this album.  A concise listen.

1.  When I Think Of You

2.  What Have You Done For Me Lately

3.  Nasty

4.  Let's Wait Awhile

5.  Control

6.  Pleasure Principle

7.  Funny How Time Flies

8.  You Can Be Mine

9.  He Doesn't Know I'm Alive

Playlist for 9/13

Raul Malo - Live in Nashville 

Margo Price- Days of Unrest 

Carly Pearce - Honest Woman

Billy Strings - So Much for Goodbyes 

Joe Pernice - Sunny I Was Wrong

Slayyyter - Worst Girl in America

Courtney Barnett - Creature of Habit

Ratboys -  Singin' to an Empty Chair

Low Cut Connie - Livin In The USA

Peter Frampton - Carry the Light 

Cecile McLorin Salvant - With Every Breath I Take

Michael (2026 Movie)

Music Years of My Life: 9/11/01

 First posted in September 2016

We all seek comfort in music when tragedy strikes.  One of the things I remember most about September 11, 2001, was going to Borders to buy the new Bob Dylan album, "Love and Theft" in the late afternoon.  9/11 was a Tuesday, which back then was New Release day, so I did what was normal for me on a Tuesday, and go to Borders (or Circuit City) and check out the latest CD's.  It was odd that inside this big store people were going about their daily business of browsing books, magazines, CD's, etc., while over the store's speaker system was a newscast of 9/11 events.

The comfort of entertainment in times like that can't be denied.  For some it's as much needed as family, faith.  On September 21 the first benefit concert was broadcast, America: A Tribute to Heroes.  An unplugged/acoustic show, which featured many notable performances.  On October 20, a bigger event was staged, Concert For New York City, which had many powerful moments.

There were also patriotic songs post 9/11, mostly from the Country field. Two I liked were Alan Jackson's "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning" and Aaron Tippin's "Where The Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly".

Many people have noted Clear Channel's infamous memorandum of songs which the company suggested radio stations not play. The list came out a week after 9/11.  In the end, it's memo didn't say stations couldn't play, say "In The Air Tonight" or "Free Fallin'", but suggested use their own judgment.  Still, as misguided as the their list was, it gives you an idea of how fragile the national psyche was in those early days. 

Music has always played a part in my life.  In times of stress and personal pain, music can soothe you.  We always go back to the songs we love.