4. Albert King - "I'll Play The Blues For You"
Another solid re-offering from the King library. Last year's "In Session" with Stevie Ray Vaughan was a guitarist's guitar album. This one recorded in 1972 featured the incredible Bar-Kays and Albert's phenomenal Flying V. The tones on this will warm the hearth of the most cold-hearted self-loathing toe-staring critic. Although this SACD release was a stereo-only remaster it certainly stands up with the best of 2004...

3. The Animals - "Retrospective"
You got yer Animals...and you got Eric Burdon and the Animals...and a little Eric Burdon and War too. Not only is this the best of the Animal's greatest hits collections, it's a close runner for my best of the year. The additions of "Monterrey" and "Spill the Wine" help to offset the haunting nature of "House of the Rising Sun" and "I'm Crying". Once again, "Retrospective" is a stereo-only release transferred to digital at Abbey Road Studios..

2. Ray Charles - "Genius Loves Company"
Given the timeliness of its release, "Genius Loves Company" is likely to be the runaway favorite at the Grammy's inaugural awarding of the best surround sound recording of 2004. It features the brilliant reworking of "Crazy Love" with your pal and mine Van Morrison. It; however, falls just short of #1...

1. Elton John - "Honky Chateau"
This is simply breathtaking. The first time I heard it, I dragged people into our home to listen to it. Last year's reissue of "Goodbye Yellowbrick Road" was great...terrific even...but suffered from being a little too bright. This year they got it right. I enjoyed all the 2004 Elton John reissues..but decided to include only 1 on this list. I had a tough time choosing between the giddiness of "Chateau" or the ethereal texture of "Madman Across the Water"....but one relisten to "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" sealed it...

Honourable mentions
Elton John - "Madman Across The Water"
John Hiatt - "Bring The Family"
Eric Clapton - "Slowhand"
The Kinks - "Muswell Hillbillies"
Uriah Heep - "Gold From The Byron Era" (available from acousticsounds.com)
Nine Inch Nails - "Downward Spiral"

Ron Wheeler
Editor
www.surroundablog.com