'80s On 8
- Breakout-Swing Out Sister (The band's big American hit, and rightfully so; vocally and instrumentally, its bounce and confident outlook are just as captivating as they were years ago. Other recommended gems: "Butterfly," "Forever Blue," and the Cal Tjader instrumental remix of "Now You're Not Here.")
- Without You-Lane 8 (Forthright recurring vocals set to a hypnotic keyboard groove.)
- What Is Love?-Duncan Sheik (Sheik's acoustic rendition is as strong as the original by Howard Jones.)
- Armando's Rhumba-Helen Sung/Paquito D'Rivera (A simmering number for piano and clarinet. Also recommended: Sung's "Going Express" CD.)
- Insanity-Gregory Porter/Lalah Hathaway (Porter and Hathaway blend well here. Porter is equally at home singing traditional jazz, contemporary R&B, or singer-songwriter material.)
- Rosemary's Tune-Jay Rowe (To me, this sounds like a Steely Dan backing track, especially in the keyboard and drums.)
- Landslide-Dixie Chicks (This contemplative, Stevie Nicks-penned Fleetwood Mac take on aging suits these three voices well.)
