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1. FRANCE GALL - DON'T MAKE WAR CAPTAIN, MAKE LOVE - 7"
One of her very few songs sung in English. I love the guitar tone. Sweet happy candy pop.
2. TAMMYS - EGYPTIAN SHUMBA - 7"
Pure giddy excitement. A total feast of girls growling and howling. Totally insane. It's like a Phil Spector production going out of control; totally raw. Dance, Dance, Dance!
3. COCO ROSIE - NOT FOR SALE - LA MAISON DE MON REVE
Some have been a bit much for my senses, but this track is composed, restraint and good. Their live show is captivating; one of my favorite current girl groups.
4. MARY J BLIGE - ENOUGH CRYING - THE BREAKTHROUGH
The "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul." Enough is enough... you gotta love her.
5. LUIZ ECA Y LA FAMILIA SAGRADA - SA MARINA - LA NUEVA ONDA DEL BRASIL
Supposedly the current most wanted Brazilian Popular Music (MPB) record, this is a rare Nelson Angelo song with the beautiful Joyce in one of her earliest recordings.
6. MARCIA GRIFFITHS - WORKING TO THE TOP (MY AMBITION) (PART I) - PLAY ME SWEET & NICE
The "Queen of Reggae"
7. AMY WINEHOUSE - BACK TO BLACK - s/t
I'm really into Amy these days. She's like the ultimate modern day female singer, in the spirit of those great 60s chanteuses. In one of her other songs, "Rehab," I think she is channeling M. Griffiths. Even though I'm not into tattoos at all, I'm weirdly attracted to hers.
8. SUSANNA & THE MAGICAL ORCHESTRA - CRAZY, CRAZY NIGHTS - MELODY MOUNTAIN
A gorgeous covers album, this track (a KISS song!) just kills me. The quietness of this version is contrasted by the beefcake lyrics and it works!
9. LADY & BIRD - SUICIDE IS PAINLESS - s/t
Dutch-Indo Keren Ann as Lady and Icelandic Bardi as Bird. This M.A.S.H. cover is as ethereal & emotional as the last track. Also refer to this and this.
10. FRANCOISE HARDY - ONLY FRIENDS - 7"
What can I say? Love her.
11. CLAUDINE LONGET - LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER - CUDDLE UP WITH CLAUDINE
Pls refer to this blog entry.
12. GEMINIS - A FRIEND OF MINE - ONE KISS CAN LEAD TO ANOTHER: GIRL GROUP SOUNDS LOST & FOUND
Another awesome track by another awesome gang of girls.
13. QUIXOTIC - SITTING IN THE PARK - MORTAL MIRROR
This song is for emo+beer = busted career. Thanks bro.
14. BETTY DAVIS - YOU & I - THIS IS IT!
Miles Davis' 2nd wife, she is one bad-ass seductive lady (which scares me).
15. HOPE SANDOVAL & THE WARM INVENTIONS - CHARLOTTE - BAVARIAN FRUIT BREAD
Released in 2001, this is a bewitching, elegant yet overlooked gem. Bert Jansch bequeaths his masterful guitar skills to this track.
16. DNTEL (FT. JENNY LEWIS) - ROLL ON - DUMB LUCK
Prolific and inspirational, Ms. Lewis adds her own charm to Jimmy's already charming album.
17. DIANE RAY - PLEASE DON'T TALK TO THE LIFEGUARD - BOYD RICE PRESENTS MUSIC FOR PUSSYCATS
Hilarious and adorable. I should start surfing again.
18. EMILY'S SASSY LIME - PINEAPPLE BOYS NEED NOT APPLY. - RIGHT IS HERE
No really. I really mean it - pineapple boys need not apply.
19. CHANTAL GOYA - COMMENT LE REVOIR - MASCULIN-FEMININ
Most famous as the femme in the Godard film "Masculin, féminin," this yé-yé girl was born in Saigon (!)
20. GLENDA COLLINS - FIND ANOTHER FOOL - THE LITTLE GIRL'S GONE ROCKIN'
I really feelin' the lyrics to this track lately. The greasiest song of this set.
21. KAREN DALTON - SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND - IN MY OWN TIME
Oh gosh, pls refer to this blog entry.
22. CATHERINE HOWE - NOTHING MORE THAN STRANGERS - WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE
Don't know much about this lady, but Catherine is the female equivalent to Nick Drake's pastoral pop.
23. DAUGHTERS OF ALBION - GOOD TO HAVE YOU - s/t
Produced by Leon Russell. OMG! I realized just now that I should've played Russell's "Superstar" covered by the female duo, Spring! Damn it! That would have been a really good one.
24. NINA SIMONE - DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO - THE BEST OF NINA SIMONE
This song speaks for this set...