I’ve been listening to Women & Songs and Back to Back Hits: Blondie and Pat Benatar. Clearly, Women & Songs provides more variety with more artists. I haven’t heard Nelly Furtado’s “I’m Like a Bird” in a while. I have heard Alan’s Morissette’s “Thank U” when we saw the musical version of Jagged Little Pill a few months ago. Our local Oldies rock radio station plays Cher’s “Believe” and “Kind & Generous” by Natalie Merchant on a regular basis.
From time to time I like to listen to Blondie and Pat Benatar’s songs from a kinder, gentler age. I can’t forget hearing Debbie Harry belt out “The Tide is High” for the first time decades ago. And Pat Benatar’s “Love is a Battlefield” got heavy air play back in 1983!
Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: B (for both)
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | Christina Aguilera– | Beautiful Written By – Linda Perry |
| 2 | Faith Hill– | Cry Written By – Angie Aparo |
| 3 | Jewel– | Intuition Written By – Jewel Kilcher, Lester Mendez |
| 4 | Nelly Furtado– | I’m Like A Bird Written By – Nelly Furtado |
| 5 | Kelly Clarkson– | Low Written By – Jimmy Harry |
| 6 | Alicia Keys– | A Woman’s Worth Written By – Alicia Keys, Erica Rose |
| 7 | Dido– | Thank You Written By – Dido Armstrong, Paul Herman |
| 8 | Michelle Branch– | Are You Happy Now? Written By – John Shanks, Michelle Branch |
| 9 | Alanis Morissette– | Thank U Written By – Alanis Morissette, Glen Ballard |
| 10 | Sarah McLachlan– | Adia Written By – Pierre Marchand, Sarah McLachlan |
| 11 | LeAnn Rimes– | How Do I Live Written By – Diane Warren |
| 12 | Cher– | Believe Written By – Brian Higgins, Matthew Gray, Paul Barry, Steven Torch, Stuart McLennan, Timothy Powell |
| 13 | Lisa Marie Presley– | Lights Out Written By – Clif Magness, Glen Ballard, Lisa Marie Presley |
| 14 | Bonnie Raitt– | Can’t Make You Love Me Written By – Allen Shamblin, Mike Reid |
| 15 | Cherie (2)– | I’m Ready Written By – DioGuardi/Burton/Hartman/Skarbek/Jones |
| 16 | Natalie Merchant– | Kind & Generous Written By – Natalie Merchant |
| 17 | Rachael Yamagata– | Under My Skin Written By – Rachael Yamagata |
| 18 | Heather Headley– | I Wish I Wasn’t Written By – James Harris III, James Wright, Terry Lewis |
| 19 | Toni Braxton– | Un-Break My Heart Written By – Diane Warren |
TRACK LIST:
| Blondie– | Call Me | ||
| Blondie– | Heart Of Glass | ||
| Blondie– | The Tide Is High | ||
| Blondie– | Rapture | ||
| Blondie– | One Way Or Another | ||
| Pat Benatar– | Heartbreaker | ||
| Pat Benatar– | Hit Me With Your Best Shot | ||
| Pat Benatar– | Love Is A Battlefield | ||
| Pat Benatar– | We Live For Love | ||
| Pat Benatar– | We Belong |
I know very few of the Women & Song songs. Most of them appear to be from the 1990s which was about the time contemporary music and I came to a parting of the ways (which basically lasted until I discovered EDM). Also, I think all of those artists have recorded much better songs. I do know all of the Blondie and Benatar songs. Not a huge fan of Benatar, but I like all the songs by Blondie—although the CD doesn’t include my favorite Blondie song, “Dreaming”, with its frenetic drums and the immortal opening line, “When I met you at the restaurant/You could tell I was no debutante.”
Deb, I was driving Patrick to violin lessons and Katie to flute lessons and gymnastics so I heard many of the songs of the 1990s. Like you, I prefer the songs of the 1980s.
When i think Women and Songs i think Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Rosetta Tharpe, and Big Mama Thornton. I’m not the target audience for these compilations.
Even the “kids” like Sarah Vaughan or Ella Fitzgerald…much less the grandkids like Abbey Lincoln or Nina Simone…
Todd, I just found a Nina Simone album that I haven’t listened to before. That may show up on the blog someday soon…
Jerry, I actually have some compilations of Smith, Rainey, Tharpe, and Thornton. Now…to find them.
Personally, my definition of Hell would be one where Cher’s hideous “Believe” is on constant rotation.
In the first one, I know few songs. There is one I know and really like – “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt (which we just heard her sing in concert).
I know most of the Blondie/Benatar songs. I’ve always mildly liked both.
Pass on both, especially the first.
And keep off my lawn!
Jeff, even though these compilations are not Top Shelf music, they are great vehicles for nostalgia. Diane and I went to a Bonnie Raitt concert in the early 1990s and heard her sing “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Great concert and great song!
WordPress Got you again in the second paragraph above, George…
Hm…very few songs I don’t remember, and might well recall the few if I heard them again…but Benatar is not a fair match for Blondie the band.
Though the average is still a bit better for the second disc…
Man, those are unflattering photos of Harry and Benatar, as well…not the worst possible, but not terribly kind.
Todd, BACK TO BACK HITS: BLONDIE/PAT BENATAR came out in 1996 when the “grunge” movement was strong. Maybe that’s why the record company went with grungy photos.
Todd, the second disc includes songs that were all hits. The WOMEN & SONGS disc is more of a hodgepodge.
Todd, thanks for the heads up on WORDPRESS messing with me again! I try to be vigilant, but WORDPRESS is incredibly sneaky!