I’ve been listening to these two off-beat music compilations. 90s NOW includes some familiar songs like Extreme’s “More Than Words” and Jimmy Cliff’s “I Can See Clearly Now.” But, then there are some songs I hadn’t heard before like Bingoboys’ “How to Dance.”
I have at least a dozen music CDs with Wilson Phillips’ “Release Me” on them. For some reason, that song must be bargain priced. GRADE: B
If you’re a fan of guitar music, Guitar Fire! includes some scintillating playing from guitar greats like B. B. King, Larry Carlton, and the group Acoustic Alchemy. I’m a fan of The Rippingtons so “Affair in San Miguel” was a joy to listen to. And you can’t go wrong with hanging out “Early A.M. Attitude” with Dave Gruisin and Lee Rittenour. GRADE: B+
Sometimes it’s fun to stray from the beaten path of music and listen to something a little different. Do you recognize these songs?
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | Extreme (2)– | More Than Words |
| 2 | Us3– | Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) |
| 3 | Jimmy Cliff– | I Can See Clearly Now |
| 4 | Michel’Le– | No More Lies |
| 5 | The Outhere Brothers– | Boom Boom Boom (Radio Version) |
| 6 | Reality– | Yolanda |
| 7 | Bingoboys featuring Princessa (2)– | How To Dance |
| 8 | Gerardo– | We Want The Funk |
| 9 | After 7– | Heat Of The Moment |
| 10 | Wilson Phillips– | Release Me |
| 11 | Surface– | The First Time |
| 12 | Aaron Hall– | I Miss You |
TRACK LIST:
| Larry Carlton– | Smiles And Smiles To Go | 5:47 | |
| Acoustic Alchemy– | Take Five | 4:38 | |
| Dave Grusin / Lee Ritenour– | Early A.M. Attitude | 4:58 | |
| Rippingtons* Featuring Russ Freeman (2)– | Affair In San Miguel | 5:09 | |
| Special EFX Featuring Chieli Minucci And George Jinda– | Jamaica, Jamaica | 4:04 | |
| Gary Burton– | The Chief | 4:16 | |
| Rene Toledo– | South Beat | 5:23 | |
| Kevin Eubanks– | Essence | 5:37 | |
| Larry Carlton / B.B. King– | Blues For TJ | 5:18 |
As my kids were born (all of them in the 1990s—yes, I was an older mother, lol), I lost touch with much of the contemporary music that was popular on the radio, retreating to my comfort zone of 1960s pop & soul, 1970s disco, and 1980s new wave & alternative, so much of what is on these CDs is unknown to me—and likely to stay that way.
Deb, the music of the Nineties tends to be dismissed when compared with the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
I recall the Jimmy Cliff version of “See Clearly Now,” the rest . . . nada. They must not have played widely on the drive-time MOR and Top 40 stations that I listened too
Fred, contemporary music radio stations were in decline in the 1900s as MTV and the budding Internet with Napster drew listenings away.
. . . listened to.
Like Fred, only the Jimmy Cliff is familiar. I’m not much for 90s music; give me the 60s and 50s any day. Also, I’m more of a banjo or mandolin man. Yep, I’m that old.
Jerry, clearly you’re a man who prefers the Classics!