We’re now firmly ensconced in top-down, cruising the main drag, lying out by the pool weather which means it’s time to break out the bright, shiny music to match. Here’s a sampling of albums from LGBT and allied artists that seem to go hand-in-hand with this time of year. The odds are pretty good you might hear one of these recordings blasting from my vehicle if you’re stopped next to me at a red light. The best summer tracks from each recording are listed
The B-52s — “Cosmic Thing” (Reprise): “Love Shack,” “Roam,” “Channel Z”
Christina Aguilera — Self-titled (RCA): “Genie In A Bottle,” “What A Girl Wants,” “Come On Over Baby”
Cyndi Lauper — “She’s So Unusual” (Portrait): “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” “She Bop,” “When You Were Mine”
Diana Ross — “Diana” (Motown): “Upside Down,” “I’m Coming Out”
Donna Summer — “Bad Girls” (Casablanca): “Hot Stuff,” “Bad Girls,” “Dim All The Lights”
George Michael — “Faith” (Columbia): “I Want Your Sex,” “Faith,” “Monkey”
Janet Jackson — “Control” (A&M): “What Have You Done For Me Lately,” “Nasty,” “Control,” “When I Think Of You”
Jody Watley — Self-titled (MCA): “Looking For A New Love,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Some Kind Of Lover”
Lady Gaga — “The Fame” (Interscope): “Just Dance,” “Pokerface,” “Love Game,” “Papparazzi”
Madonna — “Like A Prayer” (Sire/WB): “Like A Prayer,” “Express Yourself,” “Cherish”
Michael Jackson — “Off The Wall” (Epic): “Rock With You,” “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,” “Off The Wall”
Prince & The Revolution — “Parade” (Warner Bros): “Kiss,” “Mountains,” “Girls & Boys”
REM — “Green” (Warner Bros): “Stand,” “Pop Song 89,” “Get Up”
RuPaul — “Supermodel Of The World” (Tommy Boy): “Supermodel (You Better Work),” “House Of Love,” “Back To My Roots”
Savage Garden — Self-titled (Columbia): “I Want You,” “To The Moon And Back,” “Break Me Shake Me” : :
info: audiophile@qnotescarolinas.com