Ben is the second studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The album was released on August 4, 1972, while Jackson was still a member of The Jackson 5. The album received mixed reviews from contemporary music critics. Ben was more successful on music charts than Jackson's previous studio album, having charted within the top ten on the Billboard 200. Internationally, the album was less successful, peaking at number twelve in Canada, while charting within the top 200 positions in Australia and France.
Worldwide, Ben has sold a reported 5 million units. The album released one single, the title track "Ben", which was a commercial success on music charts, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Jackson his first number one single on the chart. "Ben" also charted within the top ten in other territories worldwide. "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" was planned to be released as the second single from the album, but canceled for unspecified reasons. Two of the album's songs were "stripped" in 2009 as part of the three-disc compilation Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection.
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by Lindsay Planer
Although having just entered his teens, pop prodigy Michael Jackson's star was still very much on the ascent, circa his second full-length release, Ben (1972). This LP should not be confused with the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack from the Phil Karlson-directed "thriller" of the same name, and while blessed with an undeniable visual presence, Jackson was otherwise not involved in the creature feature. Like much of the Motown empire at the time, the title track's multimedia exposure, coupled with strong crossover appeal, insured that "Ben" scored the artist his first Pop Singles' chart-topper. Yet one interesting shift was the lack of participation from the Motown hitmaking machine known collectively as "the Corporation". While the aggregate had dominated most of the Jackson Five's early recordings and contributed their fair share to Jackson's debut, Got to Be There (1971), besides the title track, the only other cut to bear their unmistakable smooth production style is the practically perfunctory midtempo "We've Got a Good Thing Going." The catchy "Greatest Show on Earth" has a cinematic quality that stands out thanks to an excellent arrangement from James Anthony Carmichael -- one of several he scored for the project. While not a cover in the traditional sense, "People Make the World Go 'Round" was actually released within a few weeks of the Stylistics' more familiar hit. Although the reading heard here is equally impassioned, the emotive impact could arguably be greater thanks to the optimism infused with innocence in Jackson's vocals. "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" owes greatly to the Heartbeats' doo wop version, as opposed to Jimmy Scott's earlier classic. Jackson is obviously quite familiar with the former's phrasing while adding an age-defying maturity of his own. Returning back to his Hitsville roots, "My Girl" is updated with a funkier rhythm. The vocalist responds in kind with his own soulful lead that soars over the freshly syncopated chorus. The score includes some call-and-response interaction similar to what he and his brothers had displayed on the Jackson Five's selections "Nobody" and "The Love You Save," among countless others. "What Goes Around Comes Around" is one of Ben's better deep cuts with the vibrant melody perfectly matched to the artist's youthful voice. Of lesser note is the hopelessly dated "message" in the filler track "In Our Small Way." Luckily, a pair of winners conclude the effort with the propulsive and funky "Shoo Be Doo Be Doo Da Day" -- which was co-written by Stevie Wonder -- and the Berry Gordy-penned midtempo "You Can Cry on My Shoulder." Ben -- along with rest of Michael Jackson's recordings for Motown, can be found as part of the excellent and thoroughly annotative three-disc Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection (2009).

The Bay Area’s (not Toronto’s) Prince Ali gets a major solo release push from Hieroglyphics Imperium! As he is constantly dissatisfied with some of the music that is getting more play from the Bay these days, Prince Ali refuses to conform and drops a diversified album full of melodic rhymes and rhythms over hard hitting tracks like “The Majors” with Planet Asia, Casual and Keith Murray, to space-y vibes like “Side Show”. For fans of Bored Stiff’s From the Ground Up and featuring a slew of other Hiero cameos from A-Plus, Tajai and Pep Love.

突如其来的成功，往往令人迷失。但是，有人还是会一如初衷的坚持到底
我们再听见这样的阿杜
今年4月，新加坡的新人阿杜以黑马之姿，凭着极具个人特色的沙哑嗓音，及极具男人味，刚劲中带着细腻的柔情，被赋予着“东方的布莱恩亚当斯”的封号，加入这一场唱片市场的角逐战，几经过关斩将，踏遍国内各大小校园与签唱会的努力以赴，终于获得无数的肯定！
专辑全亚洲热卖70万张后，阿杜也初尝了“走红”的滋味，不但登上销售排行榜冠军，专辑主打蝉联了KTV23周的冠军之外，更是一口气拿下了新加坡金曲奖SINGAPORE HIT AWARDS2002当地歌手最重视的“最具潜质本地新人奖”和“最佳新人奖金奖”两项大奖，击败了原本被看好的强劲的对手S.H.E、许哲佩、信乐团、许慧欣..等，但阿杜在增加自信之余，仍不改的谦虚本性，一本初衷的对所有的人怀着感恩与谦卑的心。从他身上散发朴质不变，坚持到底的执着，因而开启这张新专辑的主题精神！
单纯的阿杜 不简单的制作
结束今年七月的宣传期后，阿杜回到新加坡录音室，为新专辑打拼；在新专辑音乐的制作上，仍由新加坡超级制作人许环良担任整张专辑的音乐统筹，台湾名作词人林秋离则担任整张专辑歌词统筹，连同吴剑泓（两个女生制作人）及马来西亚的陈豪（无印良品制作人）、以及21岁的音乐才子林俊杰（张惠妹《记得》创作者）联手制作；历经这个夏季在录音室的煎熬，加上翻出的压箱宝的珍藏之作，终于淬炼出阿杜的第二张代表作！
在新专辑中，不变的仍是阿杜极具个人持色的沙哑嗓音，至于在音乐的制作上，除了如《坚持到底》、《你就像个小孩》...等延续地第一张专辑的情歌路线外，也加入了一些较轻松的中板，甚至还有雷鬼曲风令人耳目一新的《天蝎蝴蝶》，一洗阿杜过于沧桑及沉郁的印象，此外阿杜也录制了他的第一支台语歌《雨衣》献给他的母亲，使得这张更加多元化的专辑，除了展现一个男人至情至性的爱情物语外，也多添了一份感人至深的赤子亲情。‘
尽管阿杜在今年荣获某时尚杂志读者票选女性最想出轨对象的第四名，阿杜仍不改其腼腆朴质的性情；因此，新专辑的视觉打造仍然沿袭着阿杜简单率直的男儿本性走向，以公路电影的风格呈现游子的心境和男性的毅力与坚持；所以，无论是专辑封面及内页的摄影，或是MV的拍摄，都离不开公路、沙漠、铁路、屋顶等冷调性的外景。
推荐曲
坚持到底
这支专辑的主打歌延续了上一张专辑中《他一定很爱你》执着孩子气的阿杜，他在诠释此曲时候流露出的真诚，特别能引起男性听众的共鸣、以及女性歌迷的疼惜。《坚持到底》的男儿真性情，在此曲中表露无遗！
你就像个小孩
人在爱情中，不免都会像个小孩，执意不让，动则哭闹，阿杜的赤子之心，传达出对爱情的无奈与宽容，令人动容！这首歌更是林秋离与黄中原老师两年前的压箱宝之作，如今推出必能不负重望！
雨衣
阿杜的第一支台语歌，以母亲的母语“福建话”深情唱出对母亲的感恩心情，歌词中以《雨衣》隐喻为母亲的庇荫，是近年少有的感人作品，从小命运颠沛流离的阿杜娓娓唱来，更是感人至深！
惩罚
比《天黑》更撼动人心的情歌，是这张专辑中最催心催肺更催泪的情歌，阿杜独特的沙哑音质，对此曲的诠释直可媲美布莱恩亚当斯、麦可波顿及洛史都华等情歌圣手的迷人特质！
天蝎蝴蝶
别于专辑中的抒情歌，这支带着雷鬼曲风的新作，彻底打破人们对阿杜的刻板印象，宛如天蝎与蝴蝶迥然不同的性格，让阿杜展现了令人耳目一新的风格！

连续两年以三张专辑「最佳新人」以及「最佳专辑」入围金曲奖的蛋堡，创作火力依旧旺盛，不但受邀在日本(Shin Sight Trio)，香港(24Herbs)和马来西亚(Manhand)等各国乐队的专辑里跨刀，更首次担任制作人替谢和弦的新专辑炮制了单曲「Crazy For You」。
而对自己的年度专辑创作计划也没因此怠惰，蛋堡找来自己心仪已久的传奇嘻哈制作人Shin-Ski共同打造新的专辑，整张专辑除了由Shin-Ski操刀编曲制作之外，还邀请了完美嗓音创作才女徐佳莹共谱晦暗暧昧情歌“嘘...”以及礼聘乐坛雷鬼小霸王Matzka跨刀首次尝试了弛放雷鬼小品「听一首歌」。
在经典的「月光」专辑之后，蛋堡推出的并不是另一张气度恢宏的野心之作，她邀请自己喜欢的朋友创作出一首首小品集结成册，就像是专辑同名单曲「踩.脚.踏.车」所表达的一样，在秋意渐浓的时节里以他独有的轻松节奏，带你穿梭在这座城市的大街小巷恣意漫游。

1998年，Columbia公司推出Maxwell的第二张专辑《Embrya》。整张专辑风格迥异，感性的陈述着Maxwell的每一个想法，时而将您带入空旷、寂静的山野，时而又穿梭在迷幻、繁华的都市。Maxwell所得给你的就是一种感觉，一种闭上眼睛找寻真正自我的感觉。

Edward James Kendrick, best known by the stage name Eddie Kendricks, was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971.

蘇打綠以一首歡樂的翻唱曲〈我賴你〉作為2016年的故事終了。
這是他們2016專輯巡迴In Summer裡在《夏 / 狂熱》台北Legacy現場演出的版本。蘇打綠在休團前硬要推出的這首單曲，背後有一個非常白爛的原因，老闆林暐哲在5年前跟網友打賭，如果他的微博粉絲破10萬就要幫蘇打綠發單曲。這個早已被遺忘的約定，前一陣子突然被提起。對於蘇打綠要休團依依不捨的蘇打粉，竟然在短短幾天就達成目標，等著老闆實踐諾言是在年底前，誕生了這個單曲。
為了把每件事都做到極致，這個臨時起意的單曲，還硬是加碼做了兩個Remix的版本。在CD送進壓片場的前一天，老闆林暐哲和製作人徐千秀熬夜做出了兩個截然不同的Remix！真的，蘇打綠的整個團隊就是這麼瘋癲！

吴青峰 ×「加油，你是最棒的」
“超级新人”助阵年度励志大剧献唱主题曲
吴青峰影视剧OST第2首「起风了」
超级金曲 全新重制 特别合作 “峰”起云涌
2019年都市情感励志大剧「加油，你是最棒的」备受期待，作为“先生系列”的第三部作品，前两部电视剧「好先生」、「恋爱先生」均引爆话题，不仅收获超高的收视率，口碑也是颇佳。本剧改编自知名作家自由极光的同名小说，这样的黄金班底自然少不了音乐大咖加盟，“超级新人”吴青峰与「加油，你是最棒的」达成特别限定单曲合作，献唱主题曲「起风了」，以自己独特“峰”格诠释超级金曲。
「起风了」这首歌可谓是火遍华语圈，原唱和曲作者为日本歌手高桥优，早前由日本制作团队打造的「起风了」在音乐平台创下了过亿播放量及50万+评论等超高成绩。这次「加油，你是最棒的」剧方获得日本团队正式授权，并邀请吴青峰参与重制全新版本「起风了」作为主题曲。青峰与内地知名音乐人刘胡轶携手担纲制作，除保留原曲的精华，也升级将更多全新的概念融入新版，日方制作人听完成品给予极高评价，大赞“华丽而特别”。
自2018年中重新出发的吴青峰被喻为年度“最强新人”，尝试参加内地综艺「明日之子」当导师，在「蒙面唱将猜猜猜」的猫咪形象圈粉无数，更登陆「歌手2019」并大放异彩。青峰去年首度尝试为影视剧创作并演唱，同样让歌迷和媒体直呼惊喜，此次加盟「加油，你是最棒的」也是他自己参与影视剧OST的第2首单曲，此次特别合作的主题曲「起风了」势必将是年度影视剧新歌大热门预定。
在中文版「起风了」的页面下，数以万计的网友讲述自己的故事。这首歌触及每个人的真情实感。而吴青峰诠释的「起风了」更有自己的“峰”味，以他的角度做出了新的表达：努力摆脱所谓“舒适区”，勇敢尝试更多不同类型的突破。“看着天边似在眼前，也甘愿赴汤蹈火去走它一遍”、“我曾将青春翻涌成她，也曾指尖弹出盛夏”等歌词中不断奋进的基调，牵动聆听者的思绪，也与「加油，你是最棒的」剧情的励志基调尤为契合。
都市情感励志大剧「加油，你是最棒的」由华策影视、白鲸影业、浩瀚星盘出品，李潇担任总制片人及剧本总监，自由极光编剧，刘新导演，讲述了几位为理想打拼的底层小人物在挫折中坚守，在困境中奋斗，最终找到家的温暖，成为了“更好的自己”的故事。「加油，你是最棒的 电视原声带」由北京智慧大狗联合“天才联盟”品牌出品发行。

吴青峰 ×「我在北京等你」
年度青春励志大戏联手「歌手」青峰
小小「蜂鸟」制造巨大的能量
最佳隐喻创作新歌不忘追逐那个梦
备受期待的青春励志大剧「我在北京等你」即将登陆电视荧屏，剧中李易峰与江疏影为了梦想不断打拼，不论顺流还是逆境都勇敢向前。更让人惊喜的是2018再出发的“最强新人”蜕变“歌手”的创作歌手吴青峰参与音乐制作，为这部新剧定制创作并献唱主题曲「蜂鸟」，这也是吴青峰2019年第一首原创作品。新歌以明快的旋律和极具寓意的歌词勾勒出奋进的我们，在音乐中似乎能看到拼搏的主人公，面对挫折紧握拳头也要去追逐梦想。
吴青峰再造热单「蜂鸟」接棒「起风了」，「起风了」上线后就取得骄人成绩，连续一整月稳坐排行榜冠军。这首有着独特寓意的「蜂鸟」，是青峰近年来最满意的创作作品之一，在收到剧方邀约后，青峰建议避免直白的表达，选取了娇小的「蜂鸟」为新的角度，一气呵成写下了这首新歌，并亲任制作人及编曲主导制作。歌曲中呈现出多元化的流行气质，视觉化的歌词融入了很强的隐喻，让每个听到的人仿佛都是那只向往突破自我的蜂鸟，纵使力量再微弱，也牵起手来一起挣脱，实现自己渺小而伟大的神话。
作为首发阵容在「歌手2019」节目中吴青峰大放异彩，不论诠释别人歌曲还是再次演绎自己的创作，总会有惊喜呈现，并且都有不错的成绩，也受到歌迷喜爱。这首为「我在北京等你」创作的「蜂鸟」，用丰富的细节展现出恢弘的图景，在这样的世界中，小小的“蜂鸟”不断努力，不畏艰辛也不忘追逐那个梦，犹如黑暗中的微光照亮前进的方向。
青春励志大剧「我在北京等你」由芒果影视、和力辰光、欢瑞世纪、盛夏纸兵、国文影业、光芒影业联合出品，李易峰、江疏影主演，蒋梦婕、胡宇威、何杜娟、李晨浩、柯恬柔出演。以当下年轻人海外创业为背景，讲述了在海外长大笃信公平正义的律师徐天（李易峰饰），与满腔抱负的新人设计师的盛夏（江疏影饰）相遇。两条人生轨迹从异国相交到回归故里，他们将合奏出怎样的青春交响，「我在北京等你电视原声带」由北京智慧大狗联合“天才联盟”品牌出品发行。

A well-sung but uneven album from legendary songwriter Lamont Dozier. Dozier didn't get his momentum going as a solo act until the next album. This was his introductory vehicle, and it served to let him work out the kinks. Everything except the lyrics was first-rate; his vocals, the production, and the arrangements worked, and Dozier sounded convincing on the uptempo tunes and compelling on the ballads.
From All Music Guide - Ron Wynn

Remastered mid-price reissue of the legendary producer's (part of Motown's Holland-Dozier-Holland hit machine) long unavailable 1979 album. 8 tracks including 'Boogie Business' & 'Love Me to the Max'. Guests include Rene Moore, Angela Winbush (remember Rene & Angela) and Lee Ritenour. 2001 release.

A sweet mellow groover from the mighty Lamont Dozier – a set that's not nearly as well known as his earlier work of the 70s, but one that has the Motown man still riding strong! In contrast to the fuller, clubbier grooves of Dozier's ABC work, most of the tunes here are a bit more laidback and mellow – still with a groove, but not nearly as full-on – and with a sophisticated, sensual feel that's a fair bit like Leon Ware at his best! Production is nice and warm throughout, but never too slick – and there's some really compelling keyboard bits, especially some use of Prophet 5, which makes for a nice contrast with Lamont's vocals. The whole thing's great – and titles include "Why", "Playing For Keeps", "Chained", "Cool Me Out", "Working On You", "Starting Over", and "You Made Me A Believer". (Original pressing. Cover has a promo stamp.)

这部雄浑壮伟的钜作，正是滚石探索美国音乐集其大成的总验收－－蓝调、乡村、灵魂、福音，从Gram Parsons教给他们的白人歌谣到国会图书馆留下来的二○年代密西西比田野录音，Exile On Main Street探索了摇滚乐所从出的美国文化最深邃的灵魂，也替后世树立了一座绝难攀越的巨碑－－或者该说，一条切进美国音乐古老的心脏地带的Main Street。　　 Exile On Main Street，如今大家都同意，是摇滚乐诞生至斯，最值得纪念的扛鼎之作，可能也是滚石最好的一张唱片－－不幸的是，它也是滚石最后一张真正担得起「伟大」两字的专辑，结束了他们从1968年起算的辉煌年代。

From Burt Bacharach to Barry Mann and Paul Williams, over the years some of pop music's top songwriters have occasioned to record reinterpretations of their own hits. The middle hyphenate of the famed Motown songwriting team, Holland-Dozier-Holland, has an advantage over those three in that he's recorded in the past for major labels and received a Grammy nomination for his most recent recording, ...An American Original. His vocals are rich and soulful doing his old Supremes', Four Tops' and Isley Brothers' hits, but we're so enamored of the lighthearted arrangements of the originals that an hour of these songs done at such a slow tempo comes off as a bit sluggish. His intention seems to be to recapture them in their original form as ballads, and there is a heartfelt beauty and a depth to some of these songs; "My World Is Empty Without You" truly has an aching quality that helps you understand the depth of the lyrics much better than the Supremes' version. For all those pluses, these versions will never capture our hearts the way the old recordings did. Now that this is out of Dozier's system, it would be nice to hear more originals from one of pop and soul's true songwriting greats.