My CD Collection

A slight carry-over from a thread I posted in. Starting with the BMG-era albums.

1: ELVIS' GOLDEN RECORDS/Elvis Presley (RCA PCD1-5196; 1984)

Note that this album has a new stock number and for good reason: RCA originally released this (at the beginning of the CD era) in electronically rechanneled stereo. However, the initial customers for the CD format were basic audiophiles; they were NOT pleased by the result and so RCA recalled the CD, took many of the copies back, and later reissued it in its original mono with a brand-new stock number. This copy of the disc was pressed in March, 1988 (seeing as there's a 3/88 in the matrix of the disc.) The recordings sound, er, slightly wonkier than we hear them today (this was an era before RCA Victor's new owners, BMG, started to really put their heart into those digital remasters).

2: THE UNFORGETTABLE GLENN MILLER (RCA PCD1-5459; 1985)

The greatest hits of that legendary (and oft-reissued) bandleader who made many an unforgettable recording for RCA Victor before being killed in a plane crash off the English Channel in late 1944. This CD is notable for the glaring error made on its packaging (co-relating with history, the magnetic tape was invented in 1928, 10 years ahead of Glenn's REAL success on the charts):

While every attempt has been made to reproduce these historic tracks to the highest quality, it should be remembered that magnetic tape had not been invented at the time of the original sessions. Therefore some original surface noise remains.

(emphasis added; bullshit called upon statement)

It should be noted that this is a FAR later pressing.

3: ''DIRTY DANCING'' ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK FROM THE VESTRON MOTION PICTURE (RCA 6408-2-R; August 4, 1987)

Bet you all were waiting for me to tell you that I HAVE THIS ALBUM! To the best of my knowledge though, I haven't seen the film though I would like to get a Vestron Video copy of it. As a side note, THIS is the album that restored the fortunes of the former RCA Victor, who achieved gross revenue of $236 million in the United States back in 1988 (the year in which RCA was most profitable as a record company). The album cost RCA $200,000 to make, and sold 15.6 million copies in less than two years, thanks to a string of notable singles, including the #1 smash ''(I've Had) The Time Of My Life'' by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes. There are a few oldies scattered around the disc too, including Bruce Channel's memorable hit ''Hey Baby'', Mickey & Sylvia's ''Love Is Strange'' (which was the B-side of the aforementioned chart-topper) and The 5 Satins' ''In The Still Of The Night''. One year later, the follow-up to this, ''More Dirty Dancing'', brought yet another hit song: The Contours' 1962 recording of ''Do You Love Me'', hit #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1988. The Contours, by then composed of Joe Billingslea and three new members, joined Ronnie Spector and Bill Medley, among others, on a 'Dirty Dancing Tour' resulting from the success of the film.

4: ELVIS PRESLEY - HEART AND SOUL (RCA 07863 65137 2; 1996)

The 90's were a time when we finally started to hear the hits of Elvis Presley in the natural form we hear them today; BMG used albums like this one to help us try and do it. One notable goof on my copy: Although it says that ''Love Me Tender'' is in stereo, that's ABSOLUTELY not the case; however the pitch and key of the song are a correction from the ''Elvis' Golden Records'' CD I have.

5: THE ESSENTIAL WAYLON JENNINGS (RCA 07863-66857-2; 1996)

One of my favorite artists in a 20-track CD album.

6: THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND - CRASH (RCA 07863 66904 2; April 30, 1996)

This album from the Charlottesville, Virginia-based rock group spawned 5 notable singles; two of which (''So Much to Say'' and ''Crash Into Me'') also hit the pop songs chart, and the latter song (also its title track) hit the Hot 100 as well.

7: 5TH DIMENSION - GREATEST HITS ON EARTH (Arista ARCD 8335; 1985)

The reissue of the 1972 compilation from a group I never really got into until 2014. Their songs are SO SO good and definitely check out their whole catalogue.

8: ARETHA FRANKLIN - ARETHA (Arista ARCD 8442; October 1986)

Not the first of her albums with this title (the first of them also being her first for Arista, the label that she was signed to after abandoning Atlantic). It also had a hit in "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duet with George Michael that saw her topping the charts for the first time in almost 20 years. The cover artwork was designed by the legendary Andy Warhol and was his final work before his death in early 1987. In 1986, the movie ''Jumpin' Jack Flash'' starring Whoopi Goldberg was released and was at best a middling success for 20th Century-Fox (despite being trashed by critics); it did contain her version of the title track (produced by the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, who co-wrote that song) and that version is on this CD.

9: WHITNEY HOUSTON: WHITNEY (Arista ARCD 8405; June 2, 1987)

Even though my mom never cared for her music in spite of her warm thoughts on her voice, this is the album that gave her international recognition. It is notable for being the first album by a female artist, and only the fifth album by a solo artist, to debut at #1 on the Hot 200, and remained at the top for eleven consecutive weeks, creating a record; the most cumulative weeks (25 weeks) at number one on the albums chart by a female artist during the 1980s. She became the first artists whose first four singles from one album—"I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)", "Didn't We Almost Have It All," "So Emotional" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"—all peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Needless to say, I would like again to point out that even though my mom liked her voice, she thought she was a tad bit overrated as a recording artist. And that's just her opinion. I don't want any of Whitney's legion of fans to go after her.

10: CARLY SIMON - COMING AROUND AGAIN (Arista; ARCD 8443; April 13, 1987)

I'm a bit weak when it comes to my thoughts on this (out of all the tracks on here, I've only heard the title track) but the reviews of this were very good. Feel like listening to it more (I also have it on cassette). My copy was at one point ordered by another person via Columbia House; it's notable for the glaring error: THE UPC CODE ON THIS IS WRONG! It reads as: 0-7863-54651-4 instead of: 0-7822-18443-2. I'll post a scan of the back inlay on DeviantArt later just to provide evidence.

11: 1988 SUMMER OLYMPICS ALBUM: ONE MOMENT IN TIME (Arista ARCD 8551; 1988)

The album's title refers both to the South Korean Olympic Games of 1988 AND to that big hit song for Whitney Houston from 1988 that's been forgotten: the song in fact topped the UK singles charts and peaked at #5 here in the states. My copy was pressed in August, 1988 (as evidenced by 8/88 in the deadwax)

12: ARETHA FRANKLIN - PLATINUM AND GOLD COLLECTION (Arista 82676 50897 2; 2003)

Platinum & Gold Collection is a series of budget-priced greatest hits compilations for recording artists on the labels of Sony BMG. The series was launched as a Sony BMG counterpart to Universal Music Group's successful 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection series. Most Platinum & Gold Collection albums contain 12 tracks.

The Platinum & Gold Collection is a series of discount-priced greatest hits CDs by bands who have recorded for BMG or its subsidiaries.

The albums are often compiled by the label without the participation or approval of the bands or solo acts being anthologized, and as a result, the CDs are often boycotted by fans of the bands or solo acts. One notable example is the Cowboy Junkies anthology.

I myself scrutinize this for treating The Queen of Soul as if her Arista deal was the only highlight of her life (it was a highlight indeed). Indeed, her most highlighted period - the one in which she was with Atlantic - is represented only by two songs: respectively, they are her legendary renditions of ''Respect'' and ''Think'' (meaning that even one of my favorite songs from her, ''You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman'', does NOT make an appearance of any kind here.)

However, for some older artists, Platinum & Gold Collection CDs may also be the only hits compilations currently available in record stores. Shame, really.

13: CLASSIC 60S SOUL: VOLUME 1 (BMG Special Products; 75517-44614-2; 1997)

Some great, well-mastered, high-fidelity hits from some of the greatest soul artists of the 1960s. There is one goof here: Track 6 is listed as James and Bobby Purify's recording of ''Let Love Come Between Us'' - - - it's actually The Delfonics' ''Break Your Promise'' that's on Track 6 of the CD.

14: ARETHA FRANKLIN - WHO'S ZOOMIN' WHO (BMG Special Products; 75517488972; 2004)

I had ordered a copy of the album that contained one of her most notable post-Atlantic recordings, that of the smash hit ''Freeway of Love''. I'd like to take this copy to the Pima County Public Library because this particular copy of the album isn't what I ordered.

15: DIETER THOMAS HECK PRASENTIERT: ANDREA JURGENS - DIE GROSSEN ERFOLGE, STARGALA (BMG 74321 34935 2; 1996)

This woman is apparently Ariola's most successful German child star since that German singing Dutchman himself. Remember him? Needless to say, he was a great artist and Jurgens nicely follows in his footsteps. Apparently, one notable record of hers, "Und dabei liebe ich euch beide", caused quite a controversy in Berlin. (I myself am German so I should know that.)

16: HEINO - KEHR ICH EINST ZUR HEIMAT WIEDER (BMG 74321 45426 2; 1997)

[Copy and paste David Letterman's jokes about this guy here]