Hard Candy (2005) [re Up]

Ian Gillan's final solo outing before his second comeback with Deep Purple is possibly the singer's most rocking solo collection. Originally a European release, Toolbox finally appeared in North American record stores in 1997. The disc is hampered by its '80s production (complete with faux-Van Halen guitar licks and big reverb drum sounds) but Gillan's personality and dynamic performances preserve Toolbox's sharp rock & roll edge. Tracks like "Candy Horizon" and "Don't Hold Me Back" have more than their share of questionable lyrics, but Gillan's trademark screams easily overshadow any poetic shortcomings. Nothing can compare to the classic recordings Gillan was involved with in the early '70s, but among his second-tier offerings, Toolbox is definitely one of the best.

Donovan's last truly great album of the 1960s, 1968's BARABAJAGAL shows interesting artistic growth at least as marked as his transformation from folk troubadour to daffy hippie-pop guru. The title track and "Trudi" feature the Rod Stewart-era Jeff Beck Group as Donovan's backing band; consequently both these songs have a surprising amount of sonic heft to them…

Erotic Lounge - there is no better music to sex! A good collection of music - like a carefully cut diamond, find it among the slag heaps at times as difficult as to give the latter form. If we continue the analogy, the Sony BMG music produces such "diamonds" is not worse than the precious masterpieces by Cartier or Tiffany & Co. Therefore, past collections Erotic Lounge series to go hard, they cover charmingly attractive and content even more striking. The first collection was released in 2003, and each subsequent out once per year, revealing new facets as erotic titles.

Most pop stars reach a point where they accept the slow march of time, but not Madonna. Time is Madonna's enemy – an enemy to be battled or, better still, one to be ignored. She soldiers on, turning tougher, harder, colder with each passing album, winding up with a record as flinty as MDNA, the 2012 record that is her first release since departing Warner for Interscope…

I Love Disco features some the biggest names including F.R. David, Donna Summer, A-ha, Debbie Harry, Eurythmics and Eartha Kitt to name a few. This albums is guaranteed to get you strutting your funky stuff this festive season.