She has had 40 chart-topping club hits, over 20 more than runner-ups Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Donna Summer.
She also has had 37 Top 10 pop hits. Her latest single, "Celebration," debuted in the top spot in the U.K., tying Elvis Presley for the second most number ones in Great Britain behind the Beatles. She is the U.K.'s most successful female entertainer with the most number-one albums and songs by a woman. Who's that girl? She's Madonna.
Her remastered double-disc retrospective, Celebration, spans her career, going back to her salad days with "Everybody." Also included are epic moments that made the Material Girl appear in the news like "Justify My Love" and "Like a Prayer."
This fourth hits package from the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame inductee also contains favorites that were overlooked on 1990's Immaculate Collection, 1995's Something to Remember and 2001's GHV2, such as "Dress You Up" and "Burning Up." The new addition, "Celebration," reminds listeners of what Madonna is best at—making sure all types of people "get into the groove" for the past 25 years. Wanna know where's the party? Look no further than Celebration. A companion double-disc DVD is also available.
Sure, Barbra Streisand is known as a control-freak perfectionist, but she is also a savvy businessperson—and that voice is loved by many. On her latest, Love Is the Answer, the multi-talented diva welcomes Grammy darling Diana Krall as co-producer. Krall does a fantastic job arranging the orchestra to match these covers.
On "Make Someone Happy" and "Here's That Rainy Day," I can imagine seeing Streisand through a Vaseline-smeared lens, with candles burning in the background, showing off her flawless manicure while belting out the songs.
Fear not, you won't have to dip into your dwindling 401 ( k ) savings, as Streisand is not planning to tour. To promote Love Is the Answer, she did an intimate show at The Village Vanguard in New York City.
A deluxe version of Love Is the Answer is available, featuring Streisand singing alongside Krall's quartet on the bonus disc.
But will Mrs. James Brolin reprise her role as Mrs. Focker in the third installment of the Meet the Parents series? Filming has begun in Chicago.
On the cover of Rufus Wainwright's live album Milwaukee At Last!, the font and color scheme recall the carefree days of the TV show Laugh-In. The introductory song, "Release the Stars," is fabulously over the top. But the camp takes a break with "Going to a Town," where the out crooner criticizes his homeland by singing, "I'm so tired of America." He brings up the country's holier-than-thou outlook and lack of separation between church and state. Somebody alert Toby Keith. On the medley "Not Ready to Love/Slide Show," Wainwright gives his all and sells it to the back row. "Gay Messiah" serves as a big finish. An accompanying live DVD with additional material is also available. The set was recorded live in August 2007 at the Pabst Theater. Milwaukee At Last! is out now on Decca.
Alan Cumming is a Broadway veteran, film star, author and solo recording artist. His debut bow, I Bought a Blue Car Today, is out now on The Yellow Sound Label. Here, the Tony Award winner opens with a radiant cover of Cyndi Lauper's feel-good anthem "Shine." His theatrical delivery beams on the Hedwig and the Angry Inch medley "Wig in a Box / Wicked Town" and Sally Bowles' "Mein Herr" from Cabaret. The material here is featured in Cumming's touring stage show of the same name.
When it comes to albums, I am a conventionalist. I favor the physical CD with liner notes over a download. Cumming reflects on each of the chosen songs in the CD's booklet. That makes I Bought a Blue Car Today that much better. Also, check out his book Tommy Tale: A Novel, a lively story of a twentysomething bisexual party boy.
This spring The Sounds opened for No Doubt. Now the bi-fronted Swedish act is headlining its own tour to promote its latest Crossing the Rubicon. Here, there is an undeniable influence from Blondie and the well-known Scandinavian knack for crafting classic pop. "Nobody Sleeps While I'm Awake" is a party anthem in the making, while the synthesizer-heavy "Beatbox" is due to ignite the clubs this fall. The Sounds will be at The Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield, on Saturday, Nov. 7.
In 2007, I quickly became enamored with "Almost Lover" by A Fine Frenzy. This Starbucks-ready goodie is from the debut One Cell in the Sea. Fronted by Alison Sudol, A Fine Frenzy follows up with Bomb in a Birdcage. Here, the sound matures from intimate folk pop to upbeat numbers ( "Electric Twist," "Happier," "World Without" ) and even some electronica leanings ( "Blow Away," "Stood Up" ) . Kudos for taking risks, especially ones that pay off. Don't worry, the sweet, shy poet who won the world over with "Almost Lover" returns on "Swan Song" and "Beacon." A Fine Frenzy is due to return to Chicago with a date at Park West, 322 W. Armitage, on Wed., Nov. 4.
