Music on CD

Lynne Shelby: Suit yourself 2005 [CD]

Ray could sing anything, and was especially interested in the country music genre. 'Friendship' reached the number-one position on the Billboard's Country chart and remained there for 70 weeks. The album was "a big hit, really the last genuine hit when 'Brother Ray' was alive", as well as "the pinnacle of his '80s country-pop records, the one where Ray truly captured the sound of the era". Hank Jr. sparks Rays' bluesy side, the Oak Ridge Boys back him with gospel harmonies, and Ricky Skaggs adds a taste of high-and-lonesome. Two bonus tracks added: a pair of later duets to the original ten tracks, "Everybody Has the Blues" with Tony Bennett, and "Baby Grand" with Billy Joel.

Cesária Evora: Club Sodade [CD]

Aswad: New Chapter [CD]

Bird and the Bee: Bird and the Bee [CD]

The Neville Brothers: Valence Street [CD]

'Guaranteed' is Level 42's ninth studio album and a delight from beginning to end. Mark King and Mike Lindup's vocals have never sounded better either together or separately than on this album. With musicians such as Wally Badarou, Gary Barnacle, Allan Holdsworth and Gary Husband involved the band were ready to deliver an album of superb pop/funk as they never recorded before. Most impressive are the slower grinding grooves that keep's the funk basic tradition like on "Overtime", "Set Me Up", "Her Big Day" and the Afro-Latin influenced "The Ape", all strong reminders of the music versatility and energy that broke the band out of the box in the beginning.