Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Songwriting is all about rhythms and rhymes, according to the first recipient of the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. This two-CD set showcases both sides of the acclaimed composer’s craft, from a new version of “The Sound of Silence” to the rhythmic title track of this year’s So Beautiful or So What. Released to celebrate his 70th birthday, Simon’s personally selected 32-song collection leans heavily on selections from Graceland and its stunning followup, Rhythm of the Saints, proving his enduring love of the beat.

One of the most iconic rock bands of all time, U2 might never have reached the Nineties had it not been for the group’s seventh album. After its massive success in the Eighties, the band had fallen into a rut of seriousness and pomposity and desperately needed retooling. Achtung Baby was it. Recorded in Germany shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Achtung Baby broke new ground with its adventurous mix of alternative rock, industrial and electronic dance music and songs that were more introspective than anthemic. The 1991 album, says Bono, was “the sound of four men chopping down The Joshua Tree.” The making of the pivotal album, produced by Daniel Lanois with Brian Eno, was the subject...

In 2010, Grammy host Stephen Colbert credited the “Scottish cat lady in sensible shoes” with saving the record industry. Boyle did that with her mega-selling debut, I Dreamed a Dream. Now the gifted singer is back with another diverse set of songs that include Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” and the Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody.” Boyle’s delivery is, again, stunning. But the surprises are her jazz-tinged take on the Gershwin title track and her stark reading of Tears for Fears’ melancholic classic “Mad World.”

The Supremes were the epitome of beauty and class and favorites of the Beatles, with whom they ruled the pop charts in the 1960s. This 3-CD set celebrates the legendary girl groups’ legacy, from their 1961 debut single “I Want a Guy” to their decade-ending smash “Someday We’ll Be Together.” Packaged with photos of their colorful costumes and fabulous hairdos, the collection features all of the group’s many hits, from “Where Did Our Love Go” to “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me,” their duet with the Temptations.

Her family fled Cuba when she was just a baby, but Gloria Estefan has never strayed far from the rhythms that made the island famous. Born Gloria Fajardo, she met and married Emilio Estefan and, together, their fusion of pop, disco and salsa made Miami Sound Machine one of the biggest bands of the 1980s. “Come on, shake your body, do the conga,” Gloria sang, “I know you can’t control yourself any longer.” Few could resist the dancefloor pull of massive hit songs like “Conga.” Estefan went on to become a Latin crossover superstar, selling more than 100 million albums worldwide and winning seven Grammy Awards—way before Shakira or Jennifer Lopez ever shook their bon-bons. Along the way, she su...

There’s always been a political edge to Indigo Girls. But the Grammy-winning folk-rock duo has never let its message get in the way of a good melody. The 12th studio album by Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, who appeared on Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair and sang on Pink’s protest song “Dear Mr. President,” is rich in harmonious, accessible songs. Whether singing about matters of the heart in “We Get to Feel It All” or tackling the recent Egyptian revolution in “War Rugs,” Indigo Girls never fail to find the sweet spot.

He was once prolific—musically and romantically—releasing eight albums in five years and dating a procession of girlfriends, from Winona Ryder and Parker Posey to Alanis Morissette. Then Adams married actress-singer Mandy Moore in 2009 and took a break from music. Clearly, the change has done him good. Now back with his 13th studio album, the alternative country star sounds positively inspired, with stellar songs like the shuffling, Dylan-like title track and such Norah Jones-accompanied gems as “Kindness.”

With his matinee-idol pompadour, Isaak has always had that cool retro thing going on. So there couldn’t be a better match for the rockabilly star than the reverb-laden songs of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and others. Recorded at Memphis’ Sun Studio, this 14-track tribute is an instant winner, with Isaak covering classics like “It’s Now or Never,” “I Walk the Line” and “Great Balls of Fire.” Hearing his sultry rockabilly croon on Elvis’ famous ballad “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is pure perfection.

Britney’s first remix album came out in 2005—a lifetime ago in pop years. That compilation thrilled fans with its club-ready versions of “…Baby One More Time” and other hits. This collection focuses on remixes of tracks from Spears’ last three albums: Circus, Blackout and Femme Fatale. Highlights include the flute-filled “Criminal,” the edgy electronica of “Womanizer” and the anthemic thump of “Till the World Ends.” Posed seductively in butterfly wings on the cover, Spears soars vocally throughout.

Céline Dion ranks as the best-selling female artist of all time, with worldwide sales of over 200 million albums. At this point, it’s hard to imagine a household without at least one recording by the Quebec-born superstar. For those who only want Dion’s hits, there’s been no shortage of compilations to choose from, including All the Way: A Decade of Song and Complete Best. Now, the singer’s record label has released the ultimate package: The Essential Céline Dion. This latest compilation features all 17 tracks from 2008’s greatest hits collection My Love and includes an additional 10 songs. Along with obvious Céline chart toppers like “Because You Loved Me” and “My Heart Will Go On,” the new...