Anthology (Carly Simon)

Anthology is the first Carly Simon set of my collection. Despite really liking the songs of hers I'd known, I never got around to buying her stuff. Therefore, her debut was long overdue.

Anthology succeeds in many ways. The two-disc set contains forty tracks that span a significant portion of Simon's career. The included liner notes booklet includes a good mix of text, pictures, and discographic information that should satisfy most.

The track selection is good, but could be better. I consider this set a starter set. It doesn't contain everything, but it contains many quality tracks. As to just what is missing that should be included, many people will disagree on that. For me, the answers include a selection of hit singles, like "Tired of Being Blonde" and "It Keeps You Runnin'." Still, I guess it's hard to complain too much about track selection for two reasons: 1) Carly Simon herself had a hand in picking them. 2) Simon's catalogue of albums is well-represented on CD and not too hard to find. Therefore, those of us wishing to supplement this collection have the ability to do so. Granted, that's not ideal - it involves more time and money. Still, it's better than just not getting the songs one wants. For those wanting a more detailed analysis of the songs I consider essential but absent, I have included it after the track listing.

The music that is included kicks ass. Carly Simon is a truly gifted singer-songwriter. Many of her hits have stood the test of time, and it's not hard to understand why. Others that don't get replayed as much (like the stellar "Attitude Dancing") are just as quality. Because so many of these tracks are so awesome, I will forego picking standout tracks and just say that there is no musical reason for avoiding this set.

I would be remiss not to mention that Carly Simon recently released a new album, This Kind of Love. I have not heard anything on it yet, but I imagine it's worth checking out.

Tracks:
1. That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be
2. One More Time
3. Anticipation
4. Legend in Your Own Time
5. Julie Through the Glass
6. You're So Vain
7. We Have No Secrets
8. The Right Thing to Do
9. Mockingbird (with James Taylor)
10. Haven't Got Time for the Pain
11. Older Sister
12. Waterfall
13. Attitude Dancing
14. In Times When My Head
15. Nobody Does It Better
16. You Belong to Me
17. Devoted to You (with James Taylor)
18. Boys in the Trees
19. Vengeance
20. Come Upstairs
21. Jesse

Disc 2
22. Not a Day Goes By
23. Why
24. It Happens Everyday
25. Orpheus
26. Come Back Home
27. Coming Around Again
28. Give Me All Night (single version)
29. The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of
30. All I Want Is You
31. Let the River Run
32. My Romance
33. Better Not Tell Her
34. Love of My Life
35. Like a River (single version)
36. Two Little Sisters (Theme from "Marvin's Room")
37. Film Noir
38. Scar
39. Actress
40. Touched by the Sun (live at Grand Central, 1995)

And for those of you wondering, here are the songs I would still like to own in some form or another:
*"More and More" was a single off the Playing Possum album. Incidentally, that album cover is a classic.
*"It Keeps You Runnin'" was a hit remake of the Doobie Brothers song included on her album Another Passenger. I can understand why she'd prefer including her own composition ("In Times When My Head") on this collection instead. Also included on the Another Passenger album is fan favourite "Libby."
*Minor easy listening hit "Spy" and stellar album cut "We're So Close" are both tracks from the Spy album.
*"Take Me As I Am" was a minor hit from the Come Upstairs album.
*"Hurt" was a minor hit from the standards album Torch.
*"You Know What to Do" was the hit from the Hello Big Man album. The album also includes a version of Bob Marley's "Is This Love."
*Spoiled Girl contains the underappreciated hit "Tired of Being Blonde."
*The minor easy listening hit "Holding Me Tonight" is on the Have You Seen Me Lately album.

Someday...

Mighty like a Rose (Elvis Costello)

There was no particular reason I had for purchasing Elvis Costello's 1991 Mighty Like a Rose album. I had heard two of the tracks before ("The Other Side of Summer" and "So Like Candy"), and while they're both great songs, I already had them on CD. Still, Elvis Costello is a pretty safe bet for great music, so I was happy to pop this album into my player and see how it worked out.

I have to say that this actually exceeded my expectations. The album is somewhat dark, but almost all of the songs are great. The only one for which I didn't really care was "After the Fall." Otherwise, it's hard to pick standouts. "The Other Side of Summer" is an awesome track, as is "Harpies Bizarre." "Broken" is sad but beautiful. "Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 4" makes a great closer.

Overall, this is quite a good album. Recommended.

Tracks:
1. The Other Side of Summer
2. Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)
3. How to Be Dumb
4. All Grown Up
5. Invasion Hit Parade
6. Harpies Bizarre
7. After the Fall
8. Georgie and Her Rival
9. So Like Candy
10. Interlude: Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 2
11. Playboy to a Man
12. Sweet Pear
13. Broken
14. Couldn't Call It Unexpected No. 4

Said and Done (Boyzone)

I'm not really sure what possessed me to buy Boyzone's Said and Done album. Don't get me wrong - I like the Boyzone boys and their tunes. That's why I got the singles box. Still, I'm not sure what I expected to find on an album.

Anyway, for whatever reason, I did buy this 1995 release. It contains such hits as "So Good" and "Coming Home Now." The new tracks for me were the unreleased album tracks. My favourite of these was the opening song, "Together." Also present is a remake of The Sutherland Brothers' "Arms of Mary" which, while nothing amazing, is decent and interesting to hear. I wouldn't call this album essential, but it is a decent pop album, and fans of the Boyzone lads will likely find a track or two worthwhile even if they already have the singles on disc in some form or another.

Tracks:
1. Together
2. Coming Home Now
3. Love Me for a Reason
4. Oh Carol
5. When All Is Said and Done
6. So Good
7. Can't Stop Me
8. I'll Be There
9. Key to My Life
10. If You Were Mine
11. Arms of Mary
12. Believe in Me
13. Father and Son

The Essential Clash

To complete my recent trio of Clash-related purchases, I got The Essential Clash. It's a decent two-disc compilation, and I would even venture to call as to call it all of the essentials if not for one glaring mistake. The track listing of disc two claims to have "This Is Radio Clash," a song I love that was a single-only release. Unfortunately, the compilers were obviously clueless. The song is actually "Radio Clash," the b-side of "This Is Radio Clash" that, while good, is not nearly as good, nor nearly as essential. Grrr.

Track listing:
1. White Riot (single version)
2. London's Burning
3. Complete Control
4. Clash City Rockers (original version)
5. I'm So Bored with the U.S.A.
6. Career Opportunities
7. Hate & War
8. Cheat
9. Police & Thieves
10. Janie Jones
11. Garageland
12. Capitol Radio One
13. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
14. English Civil War
15. Tommy Gun
16. Safe European Home
17. Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad
18. Stay Free
19. Groovy Times
20. I Fought the Law

Disc 2
21. London Calling
22. The Guns of Brixton
23. Clampdown
24. Rudie Can't Fail
25. Lost in the Supermarket
26. Jimmy Jazz
27. Train in Vain
28. Bankrobber
29. The Magnificent Seven
30. Ivan Meets G.I. Joe
31. Police on My Back
32. Stop the World
33. Somebody Got Murdered
34. The Street Parade
35. Radio Clash
36. Ghetto Defendant
37. Rock the Casbah
38. Straight to Hell
39. Should I Stay or Should I Go
40. This Is England

Combat Rock (The Clash)

I also picked up The Clash's Combat Rock, which contains the popular singles "Rock the Casbah" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go." Both fine songs. The album shows a lot of progression from the first, although a couple of the later tracks weren't particularly to my liking. Still, it was overall a decent listen.

Track listing:
1. Know Your Rights
2. Car Jamming
3. Should I Stay or Should I Go
4. Rock the Casbah
5. Red Angel Dragnet
6. Straight to Hell
7. Overpowered by Funk
8. Atom Tan
9. Sean Flynn
10. Ghetto Defendant
11. Inoculated City
12. Death Is a Star

The Clash (U.S. version)

Just listened to the U.S. version of The Clash's eponymous album. Not much I can say except that there's an obvious reason why The Clash are so revered. This particular album has a lot of energy and is relatively less polished than some of their other songs I've heard.

Track listing:
1. Clash City Rockers
2. I'm So Bored with the U.S.A.
3. Remote Control
4. Complete Control
5. White Riot
6. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
7. London's Burning
8. I Fought the Law
9. Janie Jones
10. Career Opportunities
11. What's My Name
12. Hate & War
13. Police & Thieves
14. Jail Guitar Doors
15. Garageland

Song of the Day: "The Way to Your Heart"

ARTIST: Soulsister
TITLE: "The Way to Your Heart"
YEAR: 1989

I have a weakness for catchy crap pop, so I was excited to discover this hit single from Belgian duo Soulsister. It appears to be their only U.S. hit, peaking at #41 on the Hot 100 on the strength of decent airplay but weak sales. I think it probably would have done better just a couple years earlier, as it sounds like the fun pop that was hitting it off with the public then.

You can hear the song here. It is available on the Soulsister album It Takes Two.