Day 19 - Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd - Jazz Samba (1962)

This album was fun to listen to. "Jazz Samba" is music for a lazy summer day. Listening to it you feel relaxed and happy at first, then you want to dance, then you go back to feeling relaxed again. I love listening to those kind of albums. Stan and Charlie play beautifully and the songs themselves are brilliant. Brazilian and exotic, and also American and jazzy. Perfect combination. Stan would go onto making his number 1 hit a few years later with João and Astrud Gilberto, "The Girl From Ipanema". 5/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: Desafinado, Samba Dees Days, O Pato & É Luxo Só.

Day 19 - Booker T. And The M.G.s - Green Onions (1962)

This album was interesting to me because I hadn't heard organs used outside of church music or classical. I enjoyed "Green Onions", the organ based r&b songs on this album were cool and funky. The title track is very famous and, of course, i've heard it played lots of times but never knew where it originated from. I don't understand the name choices for some songs, especially "Green Onions", but I like the music and will hear it again. 4/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: Green Onions, I Got A Woman, Twist And Shout, One Who Really Loves You & You Can't Sit Down.

Day 19 - Ray Charles - Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music (1962)

This is my second Ray Charles album and I loved this one just as much, if not more, than the first one. Every album of Ray's I hear I love him more and more. On this album Ray interprets a bunch of classic pop and country tunes and puts his own r&b twist on it. The first track "Bye Bye Love" is a showstopper and one of my favourite tracks on the album. My other favourite is "I Love You So Much It Hurts" which I thought was a beautiful love song. 5/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: Bye Bye Love, I Love You So Much It Hurts, Hey, Good Lookin', You Win Again & You Don't Know Me.

Day 18 - Bill Evans Trio - Sunday At The Village Vanguard (1961)

This is the first album i've heard that I didn't really care for. Bill Evans is a pianist and all the songs on this album are piano and little else, with clapping after each song. I thought Bill and his trio played well and the songs were nice but they were too long and all sounded similar. I wasn't hooked on this album, I found it boring but it was nice travelling music. This isn't one i'll be listening to all the way through again. 3/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: My Man's Gone Now, Solar & Jade Visions.

Day 17 - Anne Murray - Anne Murray's Greatest Hits (1980)

This is the second album i've listened to that's not on the list. I first heard of Anne on last week's episode of 'Family Guy' where Stewie and Brian become obsessed with her. Hearing the songs on the show I instantly formed an interest in her lovely voice and wonderful lyrics. This album was wonderful. Consisting of 10 of her biggest hits every song is great. Anne's voice is soft and mellow and very soothing. The song "You Needed Me" is my favourite, the lyrics are beautiful and it doesn't fail to bring a tear to my eye. 5/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: You Needed Me, Snow Bird, You Won't See Me & Daydream Believer.

Day 16 - Muddy Waters - At Newport 1960 (1960)

I thought this was a great blues rock album. Muddy's voice is strong and sensual and his music is greatly entertaining. He wows the crowd at his Newport concert, they especially loved "Got My Mojo Working" and had him perform an encore to applause and cheering. I only heard about him in passing before I started this challenge but now I think i'll become a great fan of his work :). 5/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man, Tiger In Your Tank, I Feel So Good & Got My Mojo Working.

Day 15 - Jimmy Smith - Back At The Chicken Shack (1960)

This is my first jazz album of the 60's and I enjoyed it a lot. Jimmy's jazz was smooth and nice. I felt very relaxed listening to this. A few of the songs sounded similar but there were some real standouts such as "Minor Chant" and "On The Sunny Side Of The Street", one of my favourite songs. Overall one of my fave smooth jazz albums. 4/5.

Tracks I enjoyed the most: Minor Chant, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, When I Grow Too Old To Dream & Messy Bessie.