A soundtrip that fits your budget

Sounds-wise, the good thing that happens as the year nears its end, is that music labels start coming out with compilation albums. This is in preparation for the shopping spree that comes with the Yuletide Season. For music lovers, it is the time to indulge their craving for sounds without breaking their budgets. You get all the hits in compilations and you do not have to buy all the albums or to download the songs one by one. Here now are really loaded new titles that I am sure will go big with lots of fans.

1 by Julio Iglesias is a two-disc set made up of the Spanish crooner’s biggest hits, some performed as duets and others in the original solos. Disc one is all in English and includes the star-studded duets, one of which, All Of You has Julio singing in Tagalog with Lea Salonga. Disc two is entirely in Spanish. Listen to these songs and I am sure that you will agree that Julio is one of the most romantic balladeers of all time. He is also proof that not straining one’s vocal cords can also be very effective.

Among the songs in the album are Crazy featuring Dave Koz; When I Need You; Vincent (Starry, Starry Night); And I Love Her; Always On My Mind; Fragile with Sting; To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before with Willie Nelson; Moonlight Lady; Can’t Help Falling In Love; My Love with Stevie Wonder; When You Tell Me That You Love Me with Dolly Parton; My Way with Paul Anka; Summer Wind with Frank Sinatra; Let It Be Me with Art Garfunkel; Smoke Gets In Your Eyes with All-4-One; and Hey.

Dance Again… The Hits by J.Lo. This is also a two-disc set with the songs in the CD and the music videos on the DVD. You all know how extremely watchable J.Lo is. So even if you do not particularly care for the songs, you will still want the album if only to have copies of her gorgeous videos. Come to think of it, I suppose that my greatly reduced American Idol (AI) viewing time will be reduced even more next year because I will not see what clothes or hairstyle J.Lo would be wearing anymore. I will definitely miss her. I do not think I would enjoy doing that with Mariah Carey.

Anyway for those who want to have J.Lo around all the time, make sure that you get a copy of this one. This is her first greatest hits package ever. And though her singing will never make it through the AI auditions, it is amazing what clever production and technological progress can do for a star. My only beef here is that they should have sequenced the videos in chronological order. As in If You Had My Love from 1999 coming first and on to the new cuts released here for the first time, Dance Again with Pitbull and Goin’ In with Flo Rida. Then we would have seen how more beautiful she gets with every song.

Included are On The Floor featuring Pitbull; I’m Into You with Lil Wayne; Love Don’t Cost A Thing; Waiting For Tonight; Get Right featuring Fabolous; Jenny From The Block; I’m Real feat. Ja Rule; Do It Well; Ain’t It Funny; Feelin’ So Good; All I Have with LL Cool J; and the always rousing Let’s Get Loud.

Bring Me Home Live 2011 by Sade: Also a two-disc set. This is a live concert recording and Sade has included all her hits. So this one might as well be a greatest hits collection. Sade’s music is an acquired taste. I know people who skip songs in her albums. No need to do that here as she goes from one familiar tune to the next. And what a performer this girl is! She is one of those singers who really mesmerizes audiences.

Mesmerize seems like an understatement when you get to watch the video. Sade is a portrait of elegance and flawless singing. The visuals are stunning and the music, heavenly. This is another lovely reminder of the no need to scream rule. It can work beautifully. Soldier Of Love; Your Love Is King; Skin; Kiss Of Life; Love Is Found; In Another Time; Smooth Operator; Jezebel; Bring Me Home; Is It A Crime; Love Is Stronger Than Pride; All About Out Love; Paradise; Nothing Can Come Between Us; Morning Bird; King Of Sorrow; The Sweetest Taboo; The Moon And The Sky; Pearls; No Ordinary Love; By Your Side. The main release here is the DVD and the CD with the sound recordings is the freebie.