Digression #7: Happy New Year 2013!!!!!!!!

Hello all,
In terms of this blog, 2012 has certainly been the best year, but it's been uneven.
If I'm not mistaken, about half of the albums/samplers that I've posted have been marked as copyrighted/non-distributable by mediafire (some more than once).
Realistically, I am unlikely to re-up any older albums, as some of the albums I re-uploaded were deleted by mediafire within days of my posting them.
With that said, I am unsure about the future of this blog. I enjoy assembling samplers, so I may post a few here and there, but with so many being taken down, I'm not sure how motivated I will be to consistently post new things. I do not wish to make any promises, as my track record with keeping them is not very good.
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Anyway, enough with my rant...
I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and thank you all for visiting this past year.
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Ladies of the 80s Sampler

Hello all,
Because most of my recent posts have been re-uploads or updates of samplers previously posted, I'd like to post a new Sampler for today (one that I've been promising for a while now).
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Without further ado, here is my "Ladies of the 80s" Sampler, a collection of 80s pop and rock songs by female artists. I previously posted a companion single, Jennifer Rush's 1984 hit "Power of Love," which you can get here.
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Because I was not born until 1990, I evidently didn't live through the 80s (and the 80s are not exactly my favourite music decade), so I am hoping my choices are reasonable. In some cases, the songs chosen are not the most obvious ones.
For example, I included Cyndi Lauper's "She Bop" rather than "Girls Just Want To Have Fun." I also included Joan Jett's "Crimson & Clover" because her mega-hit "I Love Rock 'N' Roll" was previously featured in the Flashdance Expanded Soundtrack.
In the case of artists who had a shit-ton of hit singles (notably Madonna and Whitney Houston), I really wasn't sure what to choose but ultimately went with rather obvious picks.
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With the exception of the Joan Jett track, all songs come from my CD collection.
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01. What About Love? (Heart, 1985)
02. I Found Someone (Cher, 1987)
03. Self Control (Laura Branigan, 1984)
04. We Belong (Pat Benatar, 1984)
05. She Bop (Cyndi Lauper, 1984)
06. Manic Monday (The Bangles, 1985)
07. Heaven Is A Place On Earth (Belinda Carlisle, 1987)
08. She Works Hard For The Money (Donna Summer, 1983, Album Version)
09. Total Eclipse Of The Heart (Bonnie Tyler, 1983, Album Version)
10. Vogue (Madonna, 1990)
11. The Pleasure Principle (Janet Jackson, 1987)
12. Bette Davis Eyes (Kim Carnes, 1981)
13. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (Eurythmics, 1983)
14. Modern Girl (Sheena Easton, 1980)
15. Crimson And Clover (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, 1981)
16. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) (Whitney Houston, 1987)
17. What's Love Got To Do With It? (Tina Turner, 1984, Extended Version)
18. Conga (Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine, 1985, 12" Version)
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Get it here in ZIP format.
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Enjoy!

Luther Vandross Collection (NEW LINK)

(Originally posted 17 July 2012)
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I put this together for a friend, and thought I might as well post it here so anyone else who was interested could have it as well. Here is a collection of songs performed by Luther Vandross, either as a solo performer, in a duet, or in a group. I'm not going to give any extra background info, as the music speaks for itself. When Mr. Vandross passed away in 2005, we lost a very talented performer and interpretor, the voice of his generation.
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Disc 1: 1978-1986

1. Papillon (AKA Hot Butterfly) [1978]

- With Bionic Boogie

2. The Glow Of Love [1980]

 - With Change

3. Never Too Much (12" Mix) [1981]

4. Searchin' [1980]

- With Change

5. A House Is Not A Home [1981]

6. Since I Lost My Baby [1982]

7. She Loves Me Back [1982]

8. If This World Were Mine [1982]

- With Cheryl Lynn

9. How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye [1983]

- With Dionne Warwick

10. Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) [1983]

11. Wait For Love [1985]

12. Stop To Love (12" Mix) [1986]

Disc 2: 1986-2003

1. Give Me The Reason [1986]

2. There's Nothing Better Than Love [1986]

- With Gregory Hines

3. Any Love [1988]

4. Here And Now [1989]

5. Power Of Love/Love Power [1991]

6. I (Who Have Nothing) [1991]

- With Martha Wash

7. Love The One You're With [1994]

8. Endless Love [1994]

- With Mariah Carey

9. Your Secret Love (Urban Mix) [1996]

10. Take You Out [2001]

11. I'd Rather [2001]

12. Buy Me A Rose [2003]

13. The Closer I Get To You [2003]

- With Beyoncé Knowles

14. Dance With My Father [2003]

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P.S. As a bonus, here is a Youtube video of Luther Vandross performing "A House Is Not A Home" live at the NAACP Image Awards:

Download Disc 1 here and Disc 2 here (NEW LINK).
Enjoy!

ABBA-Esque Music Sampler (NEW LINKS)

UPDATE: Just 1 day after re-uploading disc 2, mediafire has blocked it again, so unfortunately that spells the end of disc 2. Disc 1 remains available and downloadable.
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(Originally posted 2 June 2012)
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As a follow-up to a blog post from two years ago, I have assembled a collection of forty ABBA-esque songs. Almost all of the songs are from my personal CD collection, with a few coming from various internet blogs. I haven't anything else to add about it; the content speaks for itself. See my earlier post for a brief overview of some of the artists presented here.
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So, without further ado, here is the track listing of this two-disc compilation...
Disc 1 can be downloaded here.
DISC 2 BLOCKED PERMANENTLY. :(
The two discs can be downloaded and unpacked independently of each other.
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#	Title	Artist	Album
1.01	Angeleyes	ABBA	Voulez-Vous [1979]
1.02	Angelo	Brotherhood Of Man	Images [1977]
1.03	I’m In Love For The Very First Time	Maywood	Different Worlds [1981]
1.04	Valentino	Champagne	Champagne [1977]
1.05	Telegram	Silver Convention	Summernights [1977]
1.06	Highwayman	Brotherhood Of Man	Images [1977]
1.07	El Lute	Boney M	Oceans Of Fantasy [1979]
1.08	My Man	Luv’	With Luv’ [1978]
1.09	Make Love Whenever You Can	Arabesque	Arabesque IV [1980]
1.10	Writer Please Write Me A Song	Dolly Dots	P.S. We Love You [1981]
1.11	Jimmy	Boney M	Boonoonoonoos [1981]
1.12	Oh Boy (The Mood I’m In)	Brotherhood Of Man	Oh Boy! [1977]
1.13	Cara Mia	Baccara	Baccara [1977]
1.14	Rio	Maywood	Different Worlds [1981]
1.15	Lucifer’s Lover	Arabesque	Arabesque II: City Cats [1979]
1.16	Plantation Boy	Boney M	Love For Sale [1977]
1.17	Figaro	Brotherhood Of Man	B For Brotherhood [1978]
1.18	Viva Torero	À La Carte	Viva À La Carte [1981]
1.19	Ann-Maria	Luv’	True Luv’ [1979]
1.20	Oh Me, Oh My, Goodbye	Champagne	Champagne [1977]
2.01	Cassandra	ABBA	Single B-Side [1982]
2.02	I Know Him So Well	Elaine Paige	Chess [1984 Studio Cast]
2.03	Story Of A Heart	Benny Andersson Band Feat. Helen Sjöholm	Story Of A Heart [2010]
2.04	Since I Met You	Maywood	Different Worlds [1981]
2.05	Slowly	Frida (Of ABBA)	Shine [1984]
2.06	Mother, How Are You Today?	Maywood	Maywood [1980]
2.07	The Winner Takes It All	ABBA	Super Trouper [1980]
2.08	The Queen Of Hearts	Agnetha Fältskog (Of ABBA)	That’s Me: The Greatest Hits [1999]; Recorded 1981
2.09	Hurting Each Other	Carpenters	A Song For You [1972]
2.10	Casanova	Luv’	Lots Of Luv’ [1979]
2.11	Somewhere In Paradise	Baccara	Single B-Side [1978]
2.12	Red Indian Drums	À La Carte	Do Wah Diddy Diddy Round [1980]
2.13	Black Jack	Champagne	Single A-Side [1979]
2.14	Hooray! Hooray! It’s A Holi-Holiday!	Boney M	Oceans Of Fantasy [1979]
2.15	Give Me Back My Love	Maywood	Maywood [1980]
2.16	Lullaby	Brotherhood Of Man	Images [1977]
2.17	Wanted (Jean Le Voleur)	À La Carte	Viva À La Carte [1981]
2.18	To Turn The Stone	Frida (Of ABBA)	Something’s Going On [1982]
2.19	The Sign	Ace Of Base	The Sign [1994]
2.20	Alejandro	Lady GaGa	The Fame Monster [2009]

Batman: Score & Soundtrack Sampler 1989-2008 (NEW LINK)

(Originally Posted 28 June 2012)
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In the meantime, here is a compilation of highlights from the scores/soundtracks of Batman films from 1989's Batman through 2008's Dark Knight (excluding 1997's Batman & Robin, for which no score was released, and including 1993's animated feature Batman: Mask of the Phantasm).
Featured is music by Danny Elfman, Elliot Goldenthal, Shirley Walker, and Hans Zimmer, as well as songs by Prince, Siouxsie and the Banshees, U2, and Seal.
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I've made two different covers. I'm sorry that neither is particularly imaginative; I made them using MS Paint. You can probably tell from the first cover image who my favourite Batman was, but I'll save that discussion for later.
As for today, I hope you enjoy this mix. I tried to sequence it such that the varying styles of music would flow from one to the other more or less seamlessly. Sometimes it worked; other times not so much. In any event, I think it makes for quite an entertaining mix.
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Disc 1: Score Highlights

Tracks 1-3: Main Themes

1. Batman Theme (Batman [1989])
2. Birth Of A Penguin (Batman Returns [1992])
3. Main Title (Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm [1993])

Tracks 4-6: Bring In The Bad Guys

4. First Confrontation (Batman [1989])
5. The Joker's Big Entrance (Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm [1993])
6. Batman Vs. The Circus (Batman Returns [1992])

Tracks 7-9: "Shall We Dance?"

7. Mr. E's Dance Card (Rhumba, Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango) (Batman Forever [1995])
8. Two-Face Three Step (Batman Forever [1995])
9. Waltz To The Death (Batman [1989])

Tracks 10-12: Enter The Girl

10. Descent Into Mystery (Batman [1989])
11. First Love (Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm [1993]) 
12. Fancy Footwork (Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm [1993]) 

Tracks 13-18: Batman Springs Into Action

13. Phantasm's Graveyard Murder (Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm [1993])
14. Charge Of The Batmobile (Batman [1989])
15. Molossus (Batman Begins [2005])
16. Batman To The Rescue (Batman [1989])
17. Like A Dog Chasing Cars (The Dark Knight [2008])
18. Fledermausmarschmusik (Batman Forever [1995])

Tracks 19-22: Finale: Batman Triumphant

19. Final Confrontation (Batman Returns [1992])
20. Finale (Batman [1989])
21. Victory (Batman Forever [1995])
22. Batman Theme (Reprise) (Batman [1989])

Disc 2 (Bonus): Soundtrack Highlights

1. Partyman- Prince Feat. Anna Fantastic (Batman [1989])
2. Trust- Prince (Batman [1989])
3. Face To Face- Siouxsie & The Banshees (Batman Returns [1992])
4. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me- U2 (Batman Forever [1995])
5. Kiss From A Rose- Seal (Batman Forever [1995]
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You can download the file in ZIP format here (NEW LINK).
Enjoy!
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P.S. You can also find the original soundtrack album to the 1966 Batman TV Show on Paul Durango's Blog

Thank God It's Friday (1978): Expanded Edition (NEW LINKS)

(Originally posted 29 May 2012, Updated 30 November 2012, Updated 15 October 2016)
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As a follow-up to the Saturday Night Fever Expanded Soundtrack (posted here), and also as an homage to the late Donna Summer...
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I have assembled here an "Expanded Edition" of the "Thank God It's Friday" Soundtrack from 1978. At almost 3 hours of music, it makes for quite an awesome (if at times tedious) listening experience. Unlike my two previous mp3 posts, the majority of the songs here come from the internet (I'd like to give credit where it's due, but I no longer remember which songs are from where), while only a few come from CDs I own. The bitrate on some songs is as low as 128kbps, although I think the majority are VBR in the 250s range. Nevertheless, I think it's a nice offering, and to the best of my knowledge no other blogger has posted a similar "expanded" version of this classic album.
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Without further ado, here is the song selection...

#	Title	Artist	Length	If Different From Original:
1.01	Thank God It’s Friday	Love & Kisses	7:43	12” Extended Version
1.02	After Dark	Pattie Brooks	7:56	X
1.03	With Your Love	Donna Summer	6:06	12” Extended Remix (1978)
1.04	Last Dance	Donna Summer	8:09	12” Remix (1979)
1.05	Disco Queen	Paul Jabara	3:46	X
1.06	Find My Way	Cameo	9:04	Full-Length Album Version
1.07	Too Hot Ta Trot	The Commodores	5:38	Extended Version
1.08	Leatherman’s Theme	Wright Bros. Flying Machine	3:23	X
1.09	I Wanna Dance	Marathon	5:56	X
1.10	Brick House	The Commodores	3:44	X
2.01	Take It To The Zoo	Sunshine	7:59	X
2.02	Sevilla Nights	Santa Esmeralda	6:07	X
2.03	You’re The Most Precious Thing In My Life	Love & Kisses	7:55	X
2.04	From Here To Eternity	Giorgio Moroder	5:59	X
2.05	Do You Want The Real Thing?	D.C. LaRue	12:12	Extended Version
2.06	Trapped In A Stairway	Paul Jabara	3:23	X
2.07	Floyd’s Theme	Natural Juices	2:58	X
2.08	Lovin’, Livin’ & Givin’	Diana Ross	5:10	Extended Remix (1978)
2.09	Love Masterpiece	Thelma Houston	6:38	Extended Version
2.10	Down To Love Town	Originals	5:55	12” Version
2.11	Last Dance (Reprise)	Donna Summer	3:21	X
3.01	Je T’Aime (Moi Non Plus)	Donna Summer	15 :47	X
3.02	Romeo & Juliet Suite: Acts I & II	Alec R. Costandinos	15:15	Full-Length Album Version

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“Brick House,” “From Here To Eternity,” “Down To Love Town,” and the “Romeo & Juliet Suite” were featured in the film, but not in the original soundtrack release.

“Thank God It’s Friday,” “With Your Love,” “Last Dance,” “Find My Way,” “Too Hot Ta Trot,” “Do You Want The Real Thing,” “Lovin’, Livin’ & Givin’,” and “Love Masterpiece” are included here in alternate versions from the original soundtrack release. “Too Hot Ta Trot” was originally featured as a live recording.

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The file is split into two parts:

Download Discs 1 & 3 here (NEW LINK 10/15/16).
Download Disc 2 here.

The two parts can be downloaded and unzipped separately, and are independent of each other. Discs 1 & 3 have been removed by mediafire twice, so the re-uploaded version has track titles removed from the file names. Sorry about that, but hopefully that will make it less likely to be taken down a third time.
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Enjoy!
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And, if you like, it please leave a comment... It'll brighten up my day. :)