I used to date an actress in the early 2000s. And after her evening performance, she'd come home around midnight and put some Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee or Etta James on. Then sing and sway. Title track. Trust in Me. Tough Mary. Stormy Weather. Spoonful. I knew these songs by heart. A true classic.

Today was Jordan : The Comeback day. Every yr, I need to listen to this LP (all 19 tracks) at least 3 or 4 times. And I'm always in awe. Thomas Dolby's production is pitch perfect. The concept works. Songwriting is top-notch. This is the kind of pop record I'd like to make if I had talent. Flawless.

All of Boards of Canada's albums are worth checking out. They're at the very least good (like their latest, Inferno). Some are downright amazing. I'd put in that category Geogaddi (2002) and especially their 1998 debut Music Has the Right to Children. Textured, dreamy, evocative electronic music.

I looked at my vinyl collection today and one item jumped out at me. Joni's Mingus. It was never a fav of mine but the older I grow, the more I listen to it... and the more I appreciate it. Intriguing project. I mean, you can't really go wrong w/ musicians such as Clarke, Mulligan and McLaughlin.

Aretha's an icon. Period. When I want to hear the Queen of Soul in all her glory, I always go back to this LP. Jerry Wexler's superb production allows the tunes (a blend of covers and original material) to spread their wings and take flight. Oh yes. And the legendary Respect is the opening track.

Just got the brand new Stones album. Will listen to it this week. Was a bit disappointed by the previous one but heard good stuff about Foreign Tongues. Gave Goats Head Soup a spin last night. I mean, it's no Exile, Sticky Fingers or Some Girls but it remains a fine record. Angie. Mr. D. Star Star.

One of the most memorable interviews I did was with Questlove in his downtown Montreal hotel room before a Roots concert. It was after the release of the (very good) album, Game Theory. Almost 20 years ago. But if I had just one Roots album to pick, it'd be Things Fall Apart. Legit masterpiece.

I usually listen to Cigarettes After Sex late in the evening, a little before bedtime. It has the effect of a 5 mg melatonin gummy. A little one-note but narcotic, hypnotic atmospheres. Their 1st 2 LPs are a bit rough around the edges but X's is super lush. People who love ASMR should dig this band.

I usually keep my Sharon Jones vinyls for the weekend. Great soundtrack. Pretty tough to pick a fav one out of her catalog but I realize that Give the People What They Want is often on the turntable. Short, only 33 minutes, but man, a modern soul masterclass. A major talent gone way too soon. RIP.

Wonder's Fulfillingness' First Finale. Another item of his brilliant '70s "golden period". Some people tend to forget it but it's pretty darn good. Warm, intimate, gentle, soulful, groovy (the single Boogie On Reggae Woman) w/ background vocals from Paul Anka, the Jackson 5. Perfect Saturday record.

My best friends' father was quite a character. And he loved music. Esp. 3 artists : Beatles, Stones and Nina. He died unexpectedly 35 years ago. I remember he had this LP in his record collection and I heard it regularly when I was at my friends' house. I'm giving it a spin tonight. Wonderful album.

Last night, I gave 10cc's Original Soundtrack a spin. I believe it's their overall best work (yep, it's the one w/ I'm Not in Love). All the ingredients are here : superb vocal harmonies, melodic, warped sense of humour. Plus, the opener (Une Nuit a Paris) and closer (Film of my Love) are terrific.

U2 released some music recently and, honestly, I was not exactly thrilled when I heard the result. IMO, the last decent album the band released was 20+ years ago. But they were fab in the '80s and the early '90s. While Achtung Baby remains my fav U2 LP, Joshua Tree is a close second. Terrific album.

New Amerykah Part One (4th World War). Gotta admit it, my fav Erykah Badu album. Surprisingly, it was a commercial success. Very experimental, adventurous but also melodically rich and socially conscious. The Kid A of neo-soul. I believe it helped shape much of the 2010s left-field neo-soul sound.

I bought TFF's 2nd LP when it came out in '85. Shout was a big hit. Loved Side 1. Was a bit puzzled w/ Side 2 that had a live cut and an (almost) instrumental closer. In hindsight, it's the band's classic, their commercial breakthrough. A very fine LP... even though I like Seeds of Love a bit more.

I only have good things to say about Bowie's Aladdin Sane. The closer, Lady Grinning Soul, helped me get through a painful heartbreak. But there's so much more good stuff here : title track, Jean Genie, Cracked Actor, Panic in Detroit and the fabulous Drive-In Saturday. Another fab 1970s Bowie LP.

For a long time I dismissed Chris Cross' music as cheesy soft-rock. But the truth of the matter is his debut is rock solid. Almost every track is a classic w/ terrific hooks. Plus the guy's an underrated musician. Just listen (if you can) to that solo on Ride Like the Wind buried deep in the mix.

For many people I know, this is their fav Marvin Gaye album. Spun it last night and had a great time. Less purely R&B-oriented than previous '60s-'70s Marvin releases. More funky and "discofied". And, oh yeah, it's steamy, sensual with beautiful arrangements. Perfect for an evening in good company.

Bon Iver's debut is a great Sunday morning record. Intimate, soothing. Justin Vernon wraps his tunes with simple, subtle but very effective arrangements. A beautiful album and still Bon Iver's very best work, IMHO. A modern-day indie folk classic.

Bill Evans is perfect for a slow, cozy Saturday morning with coffee. There are many gems in his catalog but this LP is my usual go-to pick. Waltz for Debby, recorded at the same time (but released a yr later) is also top-notch. The chemistry between Evans, Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian is astounding.

I spend too much time in record shops. But hey, when you've spent most of your life surrounded by records and writing about music, guess it's pretty normal. Got my hands on a 1960 Miles Davis double live LP. Recorded right after he released Kind of Blue w/ versions of All Blues and So What. Awesome.

Got an original Hard Day's Night vinyl pressing today. Gorgeous item. There are many "strange" songs in the Beatles catalog (Revolution 9, You Know My Name, Tomorrow Never Knows, …) but the closing track on this LP is also quite something: no chorus, two different bridges. Pretty audacious for 1964.

When you see a Nina vinyl in good condition for a few bucks, you get it immediately. Found this one today. There are two Charles Aznavour numbers, a classic Jacques Brel tune. Plus the Screamin' Jay Hawkins title track. It's poppier than her early 1960s stuff but a good listen. And that voice...

Besides being a gifted songwriter and musician, Joe Jackson is a true musical chameleon. Jumpin' Jive has nothing to do with his first few new-wavey LPs. It's basically a tribute to the music of Calloway, Tolbert, Louis Jordan, etc. It swings and it totally works. Plus it has aged remarkably well.

It's Canada Day. And I believe it would be extraordinarily clichéd to talk about Tragically Hip or Rush. Great bands but I prefer to talk about creative artists that are lesser known. Like Destroyer. Poison Season is a great record but Kaputt fully embraces the 1980s w/ synths & brass. Superb LP.

Bold as Love. Or, as I like to call it, The Great Transition. All three Hendrix studio LPs are fab but this is the one where Jimi really matured as a songwriter. It's more varied than his debut and also shows a quieter, more introspective side. Little Wing. If 6 Was 9. Title track. Timeless stuff.

Terje Rypdal's an extremely gifted Norwegian musician. First few times I listened to his stuff, he reminded me a lot of David Gilmour. Works, a compilation released in 1985, is a good starting point to discover his superb atmospheric, floating jazz work. And great late-night music (at least for me).

At age 13, all you want is to have fun. I had my Radio-Shack Colour Computer, my mini stereo, my turntable. And I had fun. I wanted the 2nd Led Zep album on vinyl. I got it for my bday and it brought me so much joy. For many, it's still their fav LZ LP. Not sure it's mine but still a terrific album.

Any decent record collection needs (at the very least) one UB40 album. Absolutely love the dub version of their 1981 LP, Present Arms. But it's a polarizing one. A greatest hits collection's a good start but, personally, I'd go with their classic Labour of Love record. White brit reggae at its best.

The 1st Nick Drake LP, Five Leaves Left, was a revelation when I 1st heard it in the early '90s. It had a "Whoa" effect on me. While, in retrospect, I believe his other two studio LPs are probably superior, this is an impressive debut w/ delicate arrangements, a fine prod. And Rich Thompson's on it.