The Birth of Lean

Prior to the 1992 release of the five-disc box set The King of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters, RCA's approach to reissuing Elvis Presley on CD - or on LP, for that matter - was rather scatter-shot, seeming to follow the dictates of the market more than the demands of history. There were some excellent releases of archival material and in 1987, on the tenth anniversary of the King's death, there was a stellar series of compilations, but most of what was released was a constant stream of recycled hits, which this box most certainly is not. This set is sharply and expertly assembled, presenting Elvis' peak as a creative and cultural force in staggering detail…

1977's Increase has Germany's Birth Control producing a sound that is a little less progressive than their earlier work, although the body of this album still incorporates strong doses of Moog and Hammond keyboard undertakings from Zeus B. Held. The songs have a more established and structural feel to them, especially pieces like "Fight for You" and "Until the Night." Birth Control's sense of humor is still prevalent as well, brought about in the lyrics of the opening "Skate-Board Sue," but where the music is concerned, they began to reveal influences from Western '70s rock, even though their fundamental progressive sound remains at the forefront. There's a definitive jazz lean which surfaces through most of the tracks, while the guitar-led rhythms are steady and dominating…

Though it may not seem like much time, the five short years during which they recorded for A&M Records marked the most consistent period of Y&T's unfortunate career. And though they would sign a new contract with Geffen thereafter, their subsequent, glam-drenched efforts would prove even less inspired. So while hardly all encompassing, Best of '81 to '85 will satisfy the curious fan better than any other package, save perhaps for their excellent live album, Open Fire. The band's drab studio technique notwithstanding, tracks like "Open Fire," "Hurricane," "Mean Streak," and "I Believe in You" make a strong, cohesive statement about the group's songwriting, if not their performance. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Dinah Washington (born Ruth Lee Jones; August 29, 1924 – December 14, 1963) was an American singer and pianist, who has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the '50s". Primarily a jazz vocalist, she performed and recorded in a wide variety of styles including blues, R&B, and traditional pop music, and gave herself the title of "Queen of the Blues". She was a 1986 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.