Moondance - VAN MORRISON*****

And It Stoned Me/Moondance/Crazy Love/Caravan/Into The Mystic/Come Running/These Dreams Of You/Brand New Day/Everyone/Glad Tidings

Moondance finds Van Morrison in peak form delivering this varied collection of songs on his best album. Unfortunately his future releases would disappoint in comparison. (US:29 UK:32)

"What a warm and welcoming album this is. Van Morrison's Moondance is one of the finest crafted albums put to wax. It is a collection of mostly mellow numbers fuelled by tasteful arrangements and Morrison's emotional and soulful delivery. A true masterwork, and a essential listen. No better starting point for Van Morrison than here thanks to the accessible nature of these songs."

"Moondance really belongs in every music collection. It is a classic album, but even more than that it is a timeless classic. The music transcends labelling as it contains a variety of styles and a little mystical something besides. The greatest thing is that its lyrics and musical production is so uplifting and very soulful. This is music that makes you feel good and reflective at the same time."

"Morrison turns in his strongest, most cohesive set with Moondance. Bathed in natural images and buoyed by a fundamental optimism, it's a brilliant collection of songs. Morrison blends blue-eyed soul, straight-up pop, Celtic folk, and his own distinctive sense of music into a lovely mix unlike anything else. Where Astral Weeks established Morrison as a unique visionary, Moondance reminded everyone what a brilliant songwriter and pop singer he was. The two together formed the foundation of one of the boldest careers in pop music."

"This album is Van Morrison's best commercial release. It has an eclectic range of musical genres including R & B/soul, jazz, rock. Van Morrison's delivery is what makes it so great. His voice brings heartache and excitement and mixes them together brilliantly. An instant classic."

"Van Morrison's classic, Moondance, is the rarest of beasts, a wholly substantial and completely consistent rock album. Never on this spell-binding LP is there a clichéd or superficial lyric, a lazily-sung word, an unnecessary instrument in the accompaniment, an instance of fabricated artistic posturing and nowhere is there a song that is not completely outstanding. Casual classic rock listeners are probably familiar with the dreamy And It Stoned Me and the jazzy title track, but none of these ten songs would sound out of place on a best-of collection."

Live - STEPPENWOLF***

Sookie Sookie/Don't Step On The Grass Sam/Tighten Up Your Wig/Monster/Draft Resister/Power Play Corrina Corrina/Twisted/For Here To There Eventually/Hey Lawdy Mama-Magic Carpet Ride/The Pusher/Born To Be Wild

Live (up to a point) double LP from American heavy rockers Steppenwolf featuring many of their best known songs. After three years at the top the group's record sales would steadily decline from now on. (US:7 UK:16)

"It's a very good album overall, primarily due to so much material. A lot of the live versions included here are not particularly inspired compared to their corresponding studio versions, and a few seem downright perfunctory. But there can be little doubt, if you want to know what a live concert sounded like in 1970, this is as good a place as any to start."

"If you lived through the 1960s, this hard-driving live album by Steppenwolf will bring back lots of memories of the struggle, the demonstrations, the idealism, the raw energy we all had back then to work for noble causes. If you are younger, this album will show you one of the best rock bands of that decade at its best."

"This proved to be one of those albums that hasn't aged well, which is such a shame, because Steppenwolf were a fantastic live band with the right line-up. The problem was that the album wasn't really live (not much anyway) but rather studio tracks with overdubbed applause mixed with some live stuff that was doctored in some places."

"Steppenwolf live? Not really. A few songs recorded in concert, a few more studio tracks with applause dubbed in and some heavily doctored live tracks. Probably the best we'll ever get from the classic era. Too bad, because the potential is all there. They were a great band in concert, there's just very little evidence to prove it now."

"Record companies of that time had a lot of power over their artists and this type of 'faux-live' release was not entirely uncommon. It is still a fantastic record and a great collection of songs and I give it a definite thumbs up, but you just have to get past the fact that this was not recorded live in a concert arena. But it is representative of what Steppenwolf would have sounded like in that era."

"I have always thought this to be an excellent blues album. It is very bass and drums heavy, and the guitar work on it is fantastic. Nice fat guitar sounds, very clean but sustaining guitars."

Here Comes Bobby - BOBBY SHERMAN***

Easy Come Easy Go/She's A Lady/Come Close To Me/July Seventeen/The Lady Is Waiting/Turtles & Trees/La La La (If I Had You)/Two Blind Minds/Make Your Own Kind Of Music/Hey Honey Bun/Fun & Games

Here Comes Bobby was the quick follow up album from lightweight vocalist Bobby Sherman, whose fan base consisted almost entirely of young teen girls. It didn't take the music industry long to discover that more quick bucks could be made promoting artists for their good looks rather than their musical talent. Includes the US top ten hits Easy Come Easy Go and La La La (If I Had You). (US:10)

"A pleasurable album of lightweight pop from congenial teen idol Sherman. Possessed of a not particularly interesting but nonetheless quite inoffensive singing voice, Bobby manages to pull off a couple of giddy pop gems in Easy Come, Easy Go and Hey, Honey Bun, worth the price of the album no matter what you pay. Otherwise I found the rest of the album quite enjoyable. You can feel that bright smile shining through the music."

"One look at a Bobby Sherman LP and you pretty much know it's gonna suck. With the right material though like, say, not covering a Bob Dylan song, as on Sherman's first album, this grinning teen idol's records can offer up a decent sugary marshmallow or two."

"On this album, Sherman's own song, Two Blind Minds is surprisingly rocking. Or it rocks as much as his easy-listening backing group can manage, at least. Sherman also gives us a good version of Danny Janssen's La La La (If I Had You), which bubblegum fans might know from the Josie and The Pussycats album.”

"This music is great. Its from a happy-go-lucky era that quite frankly doesn't exist anymore. For those of us who remember his show, and when these songs came out, they are just as great now as they were then. They make me happy and allow me to forget some of the horrors of this age."

"Bobby was a teen idol back in the late 60s-early 70s.I didn't really remember him, but I enjoy catchy pop, especially from the early 70s that speak of innocence and wonder."

"This is evidence that anyone can have a singing career if enough money is spent promoting it to a target audience of teenage girls. He can't sing, the songs are embarrassingly stupid and he was just another teenage idol for mindless little girls."

Sentimental Journey - RINGO STARR**

Sentimental Journey/Night & Day/Whispering Grass/Bye Bye Blackbird/I'm A Fool To Care/Stardust/Blue Turning Grey Over You/Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing/Dream/You Always Hurt The One You Love/Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/Let The Rest Of The World Go By

Sentimental Journey was the first solo album from The Beatles' weakest link, drummer Ringo Starr. Consisting of old time songs it is unlikely to appeal to anyone other than completist fans. (US: 22 UK:7)

“The first solo album by an ex-Beatles is to be honest, not very good, made up of antique songs from the first half of the 20th century."

"A horrendous bunch of Hollywood tunes - the biggest imaginable blow to the Beatles' reputation."

"Here, Ringo performs songs not from his childhood, but from his parents' generation. This collection of standards reveals that Starr's voice is better than one might expect (but, let's face it--he's not exactly a crooner), and there's definitely an enthusiasm here that is nothing short of charming. The set boasts an impressive array of arrangers. Sentimental Journey is exactly that: nothing more, nothing less."

"Ringo's first solo album, doing cover versions of songs from the 20's, 30's, 40's, approximately. To please his mum, he said. He chose a different arranger for each track to give them different vibes, Quincy Jones, George Martin, Paul McCartney, Richard Perry, Maurice Gibb, etc. And Ringo, the crooner, sings his heart out, of course, romantic, swinging, melancholic."

"Ringo simply doesn't have the talent for this. Stardust is one of the most perfect songs ever written, nearly impossible to butcher, but Ringo manages it. Sorry Mr. Starkey, but I can't imagine how this made it to shelves."

"A really bad idea, which Ringo later said he'd done for his mum. I hope she enjoyed it more than I did. The gimmick is that each track has a different celebrity arranger, although you'd never tell from the end results. Not an auspicious beginning."

"You get to listen to Ringo warble his way through music his mum used to listen to. Not one of his best, it is just a novelty album he recorded right after the break up. If you don't expect much it is a pleasant interlude.”

"On his solo debut album, Sentimental Journey, Ringo covers pre-rock favourites that he grew up with. There's nothing of any real interest to a Beatles fan here."

A Memorial 1944-1969 - GLEN MILLER*****

Moonlight Serenade/Sunrise Serenade/Little Brown Jug/To You/Stairway To The Stars/In The Mood/My Prayer/Johnson Rag/Indian Summer/Star Dust/Tuxedo Junction/Danny Boy/Pennsylvania Six Five Thousand/ Anvil Chorus/Song Of The Volga Boatmen/Perfidia/Chatanooga Choo Choo/Adios/Elmer's Tune/A String Of Pearls/Moonlight Cocktail/Skylark/Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree/American Patrol/At Last/I've Got A Gal In Kalamazoo/Serenade In Blue/Juke Box Saturday Night/That Old Black Magic/St Louis Blues March.

Glenn Miller & His Orchestra were the world's most popular dance band during the late 1930s and early 1940s. This double LP commemorated the 25th anniversary of Miller's death in a plane crash. Unlike many artists of the period their numerous hits continue to receive airplay today, a lasting testimonial to their quality and inventiveness. (UK:18)

"Glenn Miller's music is still as exciting, vibrant, and popular as it was years ago. This LP is the perfect representation of why this is so. His unique arrangements give woodwinds an ethereal sound that is at once soothing and disarming (on tracks such as Moonlight Serenade, In The Mood and A String Of Pearls). The counterpoint of horns with woodwinds creates a happy, carefree mood on Chattanooga Choo-Choo, and on one of my personal favourites Kalamazoo. His numbers range from deeply romantic to cheeringly fun."

"Glenn Miller made some of the most beautiful music ever recorded. I love most of the big bands of the 1930s & 1940s, but Glenn Miller will always be my favourite. Get this collection along and you'll know what truly great music is. This is the music that blasted from radios and jukeboxes during wartime and long after the war finally ended. Whether fun swing tunes or romantic ballads, Glenn's music will make you feel good."

"From the tight swing feelings of Tuxedo Junction to the jazz ballad feels of songs like String Of Pearls, Glenn Miller and his band prove that they were the greatest and most loved musicians of the wartime era."

"A great recording. This is a must for anyone who is interested in the big band era. The music is a toe-tapping delight."

"If you have never heard of Glenn Miller and are interested in music from the 40s or just want to hear some music that will get you tapping your foot this is a great album to start with. I am a fan of great band music and for me Glenn Miller and his band can really lift your spirits and change your mood in a heartbeat. Some numbers of course get you on the dance floor kicking up your heels."

Tom - TOM JONES***

Can't Turn You Loose/Polk Salad Annie/Proud Mary/Sugar Sugar/Venus/I Thank You/Without Love/You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'/If I Ruled The World/Can't Stop Loving You/The Impossible Dream/Let There Be Love

Welsh balladeer Tom Jones remained highly popular at the start of the decade as the high placing for Tom testifies. Includes the US No. 5 and UK No. 10 hit single Without Love. (US:6 UK:4)

"Side one is loaded with peppy R & B and pop covers. Lots of fun. Side two is all ballads and showtunes. Gets a little much. Points for being a sort of 'concept album', but it makes for an uneven listen."

"Tom Jones punches in with his own over-the-top renditions of You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', The Impossible Dream, Polk Salad Annie, Proud Mary, Sugar Sugar, Venus and a few others."

"Continued Tom Jones' turn-of-the-decade winning streak, However, the album wasn't as strong as his previous studio collection, This Is Tom Jones, featuring a set of R & B covers (I Can't Turn You Loose, I Thank You, Proud Mary) and pop confections (Sugar, Sugar) that were too bombastic to be enjoyable. However, when Jones delivered ballads like The Impossible Dream or the hit Without Love, the record kicked into high gear, as his delivery matched the material as well as the arrangements."

“Obviously a lot of thought was put into the selection and sequence of the tracks on this album. The six tracks on side one comprise the more sensuous side - they are all the kind of uptempo rock songs that make middle aged housewives throw their hotel keys and phone numbers at the stage. Whereas the five tracks on side two comprise the love side with moaning ballads of utmost sensitivity (if not sincerity.) Concept aside, this is also the Tom Jones Experience at its pinnacle -- his best selection of songs, best band, best arrangements, best singing. If you only have one Tom Jones album in your collection, this is the one to have."

Psychedelic Shack - THE TEMPTATIONS***

Psychedelic Shack/Hum Along & Dance/War/Its Summer/You Make You're Own Heaven & Hell/You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)/Take A Stroll Through Your Mind/Friendship Train

Under the direction of Norman Whitfield Psychedelic Shack sees soul group the Tempations making a slight nod towards psychedelia, just as the genre started to wane among rock groups. Contains the US No. 7 title track hit single. (US:9 UK:56)

"Psychedelic Shack demonstrates that no amount of experimentation was allowed to get in the way of the essential necessity of making a thumpingly good collection of tracks, and that whatever may have been used in the making of this record, nothing was allowed to degenerate into outright self-indulgence. Every minute of this set feels alive - even the lengthy tracks that close out the respective sides."

"Released in 1970 the Temptations and Norman Whitfield were in full psychedelic mode throughout this album. Some of the members of the group were becoming uncomfortable singing psychedelic songs, but personally I prefer this version of the Tempts over all others."

"1970 may have been the last year when the word 'psychedelic' was in fashion, but in the case of The Temptations, their psychedelic journey was still just beginning. They had had such influences within their music at least since Cloud Nine, but my first impression of Psychedelic Shack was that it wasn't very psychedelic soul, more like 'ordinary' soul and funk with a psychedelic twist. On the other hand, the eightand- half-minute Take A Stroll Thru Your Mind is evidently psychedelic, but it isn't anything much more – you just get a twisted soundscape on a very simple pattern of music."

"After Norman Whitfield replaced Smokey Robinson as The Temptations' producer, the group went from making gentle songs like My Girl to politically chancy numbers like Ball Of Confusion. Though I never felt The Temptations were all that comfortable singing the political tunes Whitfield and lyricist Barrett Strong submitted to the group to sing, on Psychedelic Shack they appear far more at ease. It helps that the lush, funky production of Whitfield is on point throughout. Just because this album is called Psychedelic Shack doesn't mean that it actually is all that 'psychedelic'. The title track and Hum Along & Dance are the only numbers that really flirt with the San Francisco sound of the era."