Smooth image and smooth vocals, personify Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music. There are so many classics on this album. Take the uptempo in your face "virgina plain", the nu-romantic classic, "Love is a drug", the effortless emotion of "Dance Away" and simple grace of his tribute to John Lennon "Jealous Guy".

A classic album to enhance any music collection

Johnny Cash- Man in Black

The is a great collection of Johnny Cash's music, covering the classics and a few lesser known songs. Of particular note are songs such as 'Ring of Fire' and 'I walk the line'. There's a live version of 'A Boy named Sue', that makes the hairs stand on the back of your neck and also coveys the essence of a lot of his music.

True this will appeal to older fans, but I think that some of his stuff is pretty gritty and rebellious even in today's world. Well worth a listen, especially if you're a sucker for old country classics.

The Essential Clash

Like all compilations, people will argue over what should and shouldn't have been included. This set of tracks does a good job of showing what the Clash were about. It's fairly comprehensive with over 40 tracks and covers what
many would consider their best stuff.

CD1 is the earlier recordings, which in my opinion sounds quite dated, but still worth a play. CD 2 is the more well known songs and this stands the test of time with classics like 'London's Burning' and 'Rock the Casbah'

The Clash were one of the finest bands around at the time and also one that managed to move with the times, but keep there credibility. If you were wondering what punk was all about, then this is as fine a start as you'll get.

David Bowie - Aladdin Sane (30th Aniversary Edition)

Ziggy Stardust was Bowie's ticket to fame and fortune. And this was confirmed with the release of Aladdin Sane. This album is a prize for any record collection as it contains some of Bowie's most memorable tracks including 'The Jean Genie", "Let's Spend the Night Together" , "Time" and "panic in Detroit". But that's not all as this time this release has a second CD full with special versions of some of the songs but with the added bonus of "All the Young Dudes" and "John I'm only Dancing".

Bowie is a formidable rock star and any of his work is worth having. You either love it or you hate it or if your like me love some of and hate other bits. Either way this is a superb 30th anniversary release is worth spending your pennies on.

The Osmonds - The ultimate collection

This album is an absolute must for anyone who remembers the Osmonds. Yep the mormon answer to the Jacksons are back with a greatest hits 2 disc set.The first disc features all the classic Osmond songs including Crazy Horses and also features some remixes of their most memorable songs.

Disc 2 features all the Donny and Marie songs (yes even Puppy Love).

This is a good comprehensive collection of their songs and is worth adding to any record collection.

Cilla Black - Beginnings

Well it's been a long time since our Cilla has released a new album but surprise surprise she has now. This is a mixture of her classic hits and some new songs with a few covers thrown in for good measure.

Cillas early stuff like 'Anyone Who Had A Heart', 'Step Inside Love' and 'Your My World' are really good songs and her voice has a unique innocent feel to it and is complemented by the quality of the songs.

The new songs aren't too bad, you can see the difference in her voice and it does sound as if it's struggling a bit. But on the whole this is not a bad album even if only for the old stuff.

Although I have to say the thought of Cilla wanting to kiss me all over is a bit scary.

The Human League - The very best of...

These lot keep poping up, just when you think they have gone away, out comes a double hits album. This one features all the classic League songs that we know and love. The songs that take us back to the days of eye make-up and long hair down one side. With tracks like 'Don't You Want Me', 'Mirror Man' and their more upto date stuff like 'All I Ever Wanted' this is a must for all 80's music fans.

But there's more, you also get a megamix cd featuring special mixes for this release. So you can dance all night the wonderful sound of the Human League. Go on, buy it and grow your hair lop-sided.

The Stranglers - Singles box volume 2

The Stranglers are one of the longest surviving and controversial bands to come out of the UK. This is a must have box set. It features the well known hits 'Golden Brown, 'Nuclear Device' and my favorite 'Strange Little Girl'.

the set features extras including a couple of songs in french and swedish plus 12 inch versions and 'b' sides

The stranglers (formerly called the Guilford Stranglers) are a British institution. Their sound is a mixture of rock and soft punk (if there is such a thing). Formed in 1974 their songs have become classics and have been used for TV, Film and advertising.

Each Cd features the original sleeve artwork.

a collection worth collecting

Pink Floyd - Dark side of the moon

The release of Pink Floyd's 'The Dark Side Of The Moon' on Super Audio CD (SACD) format is to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the title. This marks the first time Pink Floyd's seminal recording will be presented in full 5.1 surround sound.

What can you say about the album, well it's widely recognized as one of the greatest British rock albums of all time and has notched up sales in excess of a 30 million worldwide to date. so we're talking about an album that doesn't need any plugging.

The end result is quite impressive as it retaining the raw atmosphere of the original analog recordings and still captures the intricateness of each layer. The disc can be played on any normal CD, but also on any SACD DVD player... the sound quality is superb.

This is the sort of album that if you haven't got it then get it as your record collection is sadly lacking without it and if you have got it, you're probably a huge fan and would want this version too.

Stand by Duran fans, this is the definitive box set. This set features the singles from 1981-1985.

Fellow Brummies Simon Le Bon, John Taylor, Roger Taylor, Andy Taylor and Nick Rhodes took the 80's by storm with their sharp 80's suits, gel fixed hair and on occasions a touch of blusher, they turned out definitive UK rock for the 80's.

The first half dozen in the box feature a blistering collection of disco rock track with hits including 'Planet Earth' , 'Girls On Film' (yep the one with the soft porn music vid that every young lad wanted to see) 'Hungry Like The Wolf' and 'Save A Prayer'.

The band then got a bit more exotic and a bit more electro with 'the Reflex' and Wild Boys'.

There is a full compliment of 'B' sides and extended mixes to go with each track.

It's beautifully presented in a black flip top box. If you are a fan of Duran x 2 or a fan of the 80's then this collection is for you.

This is a superb blast from the past. Martha and her muffins are well known for their major hit 'Echo Beach' which seemed at the time to feature on every 80's summer compilation. But they have a wealth of good quality songs including 'Indecision' Hide and Seek' and 'Revenge'.

This was the first album to be released by Martha in the early 80's with This Is the Ice Age and Danseparc a couple of years after.

The original line-up was Martha Johnson (vocals, keyboards), Martha Ladly (vocals, keyboards, trombone), guitarist Mark Gane, bassist Carl Finkle, drummer Tim Gane and saxophonist Andy Haas.

This is the definaitve album for the Muffins, the other two are good but this one does have 'Echo Beach' which sells it for me