Public Enemy - Best 1200

This is one of those strange compilations that seemingly features re-recordings of Fats Domino and "friends" with hits like "Blueberry Hill," Ray Charles' and "What'd I Say" and Little Richard and "Tutti Frutti." In fact, these are re-recordings, most of them live, including a late version of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' doing his one classic "I Put a Spell on You," the Dale Hawkins' tune. That said, these performances are solid, still full of crackling energy and sometimes they even add depth to the originals. It's worth hearing, and for the right price it's actually worth picking up, especially if you are a fan of any of the artists here, who also include Joe Liggins, Richard Berry, Johnny Otis, and Amos Milburn.

Lisa Angelle possesses a classic country voice -- all honey and twang.

Themes of heartbreak and loneliness rule her songs, equally classic within country music. But on her self-titled album, there is little to set her apart. Angelle's phrasing is sometimes awkward, especially on "I Didn't Want to Know," where drawn-out notes sound somewhat flat instead of plaintive. The songwriting, too, rarely delves from steel guitar, fiddles, and clichés, making for a somewhat bland experience. The lead single, "A Woman Gets Lonely," is probably the best song on the album, but fans of female country singers won't have to look very far to find something better.