Album Review: Tina Turner - Private Dancer (1984)

I recently decided to give this album a bit of a spin, having read various reviews on it, with most of them holding it in high esteem.  And for the most part I think they're right.  I seldom listen to anything by Tina Turner nowadays, but know all the big hits nonetheless.  And so I decided to try something new, and I'm glad I did with Private Dancer.  The album starts on a fantastic note with "I Might Have Been Queen" and the classic "What's Love Got To Do With It"  "Better Be Good To Me" is my favorite out of the lot of them, and "Steel Claw" takes on a rather "Meat Loaf-esque, Wagnerian rock kind of song that I like more than I probably should.  "Private Dancer" was originally written by Mark Knopfler and recorded by Dire Straits, and it shows.  She even sings a remarkable cover of the Beatles' hit, "Help!", and suffice to say she could've done much worse.  It's not an album that will have you dancing willy-nilly around your abode, but it's an interesting and remarkable album nonetheless.  B+

Album Review: Traveling Wilburys - Traveling Wilburys Volume Three (1990)

The first album by the Traveling Wilburys is without a doubt one of the more fun albums to listen to and one of the best supergroup records ever made.  No obligations of any kind motivated the creation of that particular album, contractual or otherwise, and it shows in every song.  It was, in fact, such a good album that, despite the untimely passing of Roy Orbison, the boys decided to get together one more time and record another album.  The end result was Traveling Wilburys Volume Three.  Now, many will be wondering, of course, what ever happened to "Volume 2?"  Well, Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever is probably the closest thing we'll ever get to a "Volume 2." This album is technically "Volume 2" in spite of the name.  It was also their last album, unfortunately, and the weaker of the two albums that they produced in total.  "Wilbury Twist" is perhaps too silly, but "If You Belonged to Me" showcases Dylan at his Wilbury best, the likes of which we haven't heard since "Tweeter & The Monkey Man."  "She's My Baby", in contrast to their earlier hits, is a bit of a letdown, but still manages to be listenable.  "Poor House" seems to be getting more palatable every time I listen to the album, which is not often nowadays.  The final verdict - yeah, it's not too bad.  B+