Porcelain
Artist: Julia Fordham
Community Score: 10.00
Our Turn to Dance
Artist: Livingston Taylor

Livingston Taylor has been making records for nearly as long as his more famous brother though, unfortunately, with nowhere near the frequency. A talented songwriter in his own right (and most of the album is written or co-written by him) he's a good judge of other people's songs. Two fine examples are "No Easy Way to Break Somebody's Heart" by... Read More

Land of Dreams
Artist: Randy Newman

Unlike his contemporaries in the singer/songwriter community, Randy Newman has displayed little interest in writing about himself, with nearly every song in his repertoire set in the voice of some imagined character. So 1988's Land of Dreams was startling because its first three songs formed a triptych about Newman's childhood; for the first... Read More

Julia Fordham
Artist: Julia Fordham
Community Score: 9.00

Critics were bothered by her cherry-picked appropriations of exotic musical elements (a casual nod to South Africa here, an incongruous incursion of Spanish guitar there) and the ultimately cold nature of what seemed on the surface to be lush and warm instrumental arrangements. More casual listeners probably had the hardest time getting past her... Read More

Greatest Hits and More
Artist: Donovan

Time was when this 20-track 67-minute British compilation had it all over any U.S. best-of on Donovan. Not only did it offer sound superior to that on any Donovan release from America during the 1980s, but it included the extended 4:31 version of "Sunshine Superman" and it embraced such late-'60s hits as "Atlantis" and "Barabajagal," plus the... Read More

Solitude Standing
Artist: Suzanne Vega
Community Score: 9.77

The songs on Solitude Standing, Suzanne Vega's second album, had years listed beside them on the lyric sheet, so you could see that some of them dated back to 1978. But that bold admission heralded the album's triumph -- its diversity was what made it so good. Partially, that was because the old songs were the equal of anything on the first... Read More

2 Nice Girls
Artist: 2 Nice Girls
Negotiations and Love Songs 1971-1986
Artist: Paul Simon
Community Score: 6.50

Paul Simon replaced his earlier compilation, Greatest Hits, Etc. (1977), with this one, allowing Hits to go out of print. Fans may well wish that he had simply put together a Greatest Hits, Etc., Vol. 2 instead, however, since this is a case of a 16-track album covering 15 years replacing a 14-track album covering five years while... Read More

Avalon Sunset
Artist: Van Morrison
Community Score: 7.75

Van Morrison scored one of his biggest commercial successes with Avalon Sunset, a record highlighted by the gorgeous "Have I Told You Lately," one of his most heartfelt love songs and a major radio hit which helped introduce his music to a new generation of listeners. Not a consistently strong LP, Avalon Sunset is nevertheless the work of a... Read More

Irish Heartbeat
Artist: Van Morrison
Community Score: 8.75

Although still purposeful, Van Morrison's '80s albums were becoming repetitive when he took a break for this collaboration with the Chieftains on traditional Irish songs. The result takes him back to his earliest days and finds him singing with renewed conviction. This album should appeal to all fans of Irish music as well as Morrison lovers. ~... Read More

The Innocence Mission
Artist: The Innocence Mission
Community Score: 10.00

Karen Peris has the voice of an angel. On their major label debut, the Innocence Mission showcase Peris' otherworldly folkie rock tunes. The music is extremely in-the-moment. This self-titled release is a pleasure to listen to; however, the songs don't stay with you between listens. ~ Tim Griggs, All Music Guide Read More

Bring the Family
Artist: John Hiatt
Community Score: 9.50

In 1987, John Hiatt, clean and sober and looking for an American record deal, was asked by an A&R man at a British label to name his dream band. After a little thought, Hiatt replied that if he had his druthers, he'd cut a record with Ry Cooder on guitar, Nick Lowe on bass, and Jim Keltner on drums. To Hiatt's surprise, he discovered all three... Read More

Royal Albert Hall
Artist: Bob Dylan