To commemorate the end of the century, Sony Music assembled the gargantuan 26-disc box set, Sony Music 100 Years: Soundtrack for a Century. The title was imposing, as was the idea behind it -- to chronicle the life of the oldest record label in the music industry. To be clear, Sony Music has not existed for 100 years, but the heart of its catalog, Columbia Records, was founded early in the 20th century. Sony acquired Columbia and its various subsidiaries in the late '80s, purchasing one of the richest catalogs in pop history, as the box set proves again and again. Sony realized that most consumers wouldn't invest in a 26-disc box, no matter how impressive it was, so they simultaneously released a series of 12 genre-specific double-disc sets that culled highlights from the set. That left two discs exclusive to the box, which was appropriate, since anyone who spends over $300 on an album deserves a little bonus. As it turns out, the double-disc sets are every bit as impressive as the big box, perhaps more so, because they're easily digestible. Even so, the scope of the 38-track Pop Music: The Modern Era 1976-1999 is impressive. Beginning with Aerosmith's "Dream On" and ending with Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)," the collection covers a huge amount of ground, featuring not just major artists, but era-defining one-hit wonders. Sure, it's easy to spot omissions or quibble about the featured selections, but it's amazing to think that all these songs came from one group of labels. Some selections don't hold up -- Michael Bolton's "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" actually sounds more dated than anything from the late '70s -- but that's fine, since this winds up being a representative snapshot of mainstream pop in the last 25 years of the 20th century. After all, any collection that has Wild Cherry ("Play That Funky Music"), James Taylor ("Your Smiling Face"), Electric Light Orchestra ("Don't Bring Me Down"), Journey ("Open Arms"), Herbie Hancock ("Rockit"), Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias ("To All the Girls I've Loved Before"), New Kids on the Block ("Step by Step"), and Will Smith ("Gettin' Jiggy Wit It"), to name but a few, goes a long way in capturing how ephemeral, weird, and wonderful the '70s, '80s, and '90s could be. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Willie Nelson (Vocals), Willie Nelson (Performer), Tom Hamilton (Bass), Barbra Streisand (Vocals), Barbra Streisand (Performer), Daniel Ponce (Bata), Aerosmith (Performer), Bangles (Performer), Michael Bolton (Vocals), Michael Bolton (Producer), Michael Bolton (Performer), Shawn Colvin (Guitar (Acoustic)), Shawn Colvin (Vocals), Shawn Colvin (Performer), Neil Diamond (Vocals), Neil Diamond (Producer), Neil Diamond (Performer), Celine Dion (Vocals), Celine Dion (Performer), Electric Light Orchestra (Performer), Gloria Estefan (Vocals), Gloria Estefan (Performer), Heatwave (Performer), Susanna Hoffs (Guitar (Rhythm)), Susanna Hoffs (Vocals), Michael Jackson (Performer), Billy Joel (Synthesizer), Billy Joel (Percussion), Billy Joel (Piano), Billy Joel (Keyboards), Billy Joel (Vocals), Billy Joel (Vocals (Background)), Billy Joel (Clavinet), Billy Joel (Producer), Billy Joel (Performer), Journey (Performer), Cyndi Lauper (Vocals), Cyndi Lauper (Performer), Jeff Lynne (Synthesizer), Jeff Lynne (Guitar), Jeff Lynne (Keyboards), Jeff Lynne (Vocals), Jeff Lynne (Producer), Jeff Lynne (String Arrangements), Jeff Lynne (Choir Arrangement), Material (Producer), Paul McCartney (Synthesizer), Paul McCartney (Bass), Paul McCartney (Guitar), Paul McCartney (Percussion), Paul McCartney (Piano), Paul McCartney (Vocals), Paul McCartney (Performer), Paul McCartney (Vocoder), Men at Work (Performer), Miami Sound Machine (Performer), George Michael (Arranger), George Michael (Vocals), George Michael (Producer), Eddie Money (Arranger), Eddie Money (Keyboards), Eddie Money (Saxophone), Eddie Money (Vocals), Eddie Money (Performer), New Kids on the Block (Performer), Joe Perry (Guitar), Joe Perry (Vocals (Background)), Steve Perry (Vocals), Sade (Performer), Boz Scaggs (Guitar), Boz Scaggs (Vocals), Boz Scaggs (Performer), Neal Schon (Guitar), Neal Schon (Vocals), Jules Shear (Vocals (Background)), Bruce Springsteen (Guitar), Bruce Springsteen (Harmonica), Bruce Springsteen (Guitar (Electric)), Bruce Springsteen (Vocals), Bruce Springsteen (Guitar (12 String)), Bruce Springsteen (Producer), Bruce Springsteen (Performer), James Taylor (Performer), Toto (Producer), Toto (Performer), Wham! (Performer), Wild Cherry (Performer), Herbie Hancock (Producer), Herbie Hancock (Emulator), Herbie Hancock (Performer), Herbie Hancock (Vocoder), Herbie Hancock (Fender Rhodes), Herbie Hancock (Microphone), Herbie Hancock (Fairlight CMI), Herbie Hancock (Rhythm Sequencing), Herbie Hancock (Clavitar), Quincy Jones (Producer), Steve Khan (Guitar (Acoustic)), Steve Khan (Guitar (12 String Electric)), Bill Laswell (Bass), Jeremy Lubbock (Conductor), Tom Scott (Saxophone), Steve Smith (Drums), Phil Green (?), Ellie Greenwich (Vocals (Background)), Burt Bacharach (Arranger), Burt Bacharach (Conductor), Burt Bacharach (Producer), Julio Iglesias (Vocals), Julio Iglesias (Performer), David Foster (Piano), David Foster (Keyboards), Carole Bayer Sager (Producer), Jonathan Cain (Guitar), Jonathan Cain (Keyboards), Jonathan Cain (Vocals), John Cameron (Arranger), John Cameron (Conductor), Louis Clark (Conductor), Louis Clark (String Arrangements), Louis Clark (Choir Arrangement), Clarence Clemons (Percussion), Clarence Clemons (Saxophone), Clarence Clemons (Vocals (Background)), Ralph MacDonald (Percussion), Davitt Sigerson (Producer), Des'ree (Vocals), Des'ree (Performer), Michael Jonzun (?), Sue Ann Carwell (Vocals (Background)), Marlon Jackson (Vocals (Background)), Jim Keltner (Drums), George Martin (Producer), Louie Shelton (Guitar), Michael Cohen (Compilation Producer), Steven Berkowitz (Executive Producer), Barry Gibb (Guitar (Acoustic)), Barry Gibb (Vocals), Barry Gibb (Vocals (Background)), Barry Gibb (Producer), Barry Gibb (Horn Arrangements), Barry Gibb (String Arrangements), Dave Foreman (Guitar), Peter Graves (Horn Arrangements), Sade Adu (Vocals), Sade Adu (Vocals (Background)), Albhy Galuten (Producer), Albhy Galuten (Horn Arrangements), Albhy Galuten (String Arrangements), Billy Altman (Project Director), Peter Asher (Producer), Mark Avsec (Keyboards), Terry Bailey (Trumpet), Adrian Barber (Producer), Randy Barlow (Trumpet), Eric Bazilian (Bass), Eric Bazilian (Guitar), Eric Bazilian (Saxophone), Eric Bazilian (Vocals (Background)), Eric Bazilian (Hooter), Kevin Beamish (Producer), Michael Beinhorn (Turntables), Michael Beinhorn (?), Michael Beinhorn (Dmx), Michael Beinhorn (Mini Moog), Ernest Berger (Drums), Bev Bevan (Percussion), Bev Bevan (Drums), Roy Bittan (Piano), George Bitzer (Piano (Electric)), Michael Boddicker (Synthesizer), Michael Boddicker (Emulator), Bruce Botnick (Producer), Terry Bradford (Vocals (Background)), Lanar Brantley (Bass), Alex Brown (Vocals (Background)), David Brown (Guitar), Wallis Buchanan (Vibe Master), Kevin Calhoun (Percussion), Ed Calle (Saxophone), David Campbell (String Arrangements), Mariah Carey (Vocals), Mariah Carey (Vocals (Background)), Mariah Carey (Producer), Mariah Carey (Performer), Carl Carwell (Vocals (Background)), Jorge Casas (Bass), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Lenny Castro (Conga), Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (Drums), Rick Chertoff (Percussion), Rick Chertoff (Producer), Kevin Clark (Drum Programming), Paulinho Da Costa (Percussion), Kevin Cronin (Piano), Kevin Cronin (Guitar (Rhythm)), Kevin Cronin (Vocals), Kevin Cronin (Vocals (Background)), Kevin Cronin (Producer), Terence Trent D'Arby (Percussion), Terence Trent D'Arby (Keyboards), Terence Trent D'Arby (Sax (Baritone)), Terence Trent D'Arby (Vocals), Terence Trent D'Arby (Vocals (Background)), Krystal Davis (Vocals (Background)), John DeFaria (Guitar), Liberty DeVitto (Percussion), Liberty DeVitto (Drums), Schuyler Deale (Bass), Paul S. Denman (Bass), Cornell Dupree (Guitar), Rick DiFonzo (Guitar), Martin Ditcham (Percussion), Neal Doughty (Organ (Hammond)), Mark Doyle (?), Dave Early (Percussion), Dave Early (Drums), Joe Eckert (Horn), Emilio Estefan, Jr. (Percussion), Emilio Estefan, Jr. (Producer), Danny Federici (Organ), Anton Fig (Percussion), Anton Fig (Drums), Steve Forman (Percussion), Simon Franglen (Synclavier), Dean Fraser (Saxophone), Steve Gadd (Drums), Jim Gilstrap (Vocals (Background)), Pete Glenister (Guitar), Gary Grant (Trumpet), Alan Gratzer (Drums), Ed Greene (Drums), Kelly Groucutt (Bass), Andrew Hale (Keyboards), Bruce Hall (Bass), Greg Ham (Flute), Greg Ham (Keyboards), Greg Ham (Saxophone), Greg Ham (Vocals), Colin Hay (Guitar (Rhythm)), Colin Hay (Vocals), Preston Heyman (Drums), Jerry Hey (Trumpet), Jerry Hey (Horn Arrangements), Jerry Hey (String Arrangements), Jim Horn (Saxophone), Craig Hundley (Synthesizer), David Hungate (Bass), Joey Hunting (Guitar), Rob Hyman (Keyboards), Rob Hyman (Vocals (Background)), Phillip Ingram (Vocals (Background)), Randy Jackson (Vocals (Background)), Tito Jackson (Vocals (Background)), Jeff Jacobs (Synthesizer), Neil Jason (Bass), Neil Jason (Guitar), Eric Johns (Guitar), Augie Johnson (Vocals (Background)), Jeff Jones (Executive Producer), Kevin Jones (Keyboard Programming), Mick Jones (Producer), Jason Kay (Arranger), Jason Kay (Vocals), Jason Kay (Producer), John Keane (Drums), Tom Kelly (Vocals (Background)), Bobby Kimball (Vocals), Kathryn King (Producer), Doug Kleeger (Sound Effects), Kofi (Vocals (Background)), Danny Kortchmar (Guitar), Joey Kramer (Drums), Russ Kunkel (Percussion), Russ Kunkel (Drums), Joe Lala (Shaker), Joe Lala (kabassa), Al Lancellotti (?), Jon Landau (Producer), Michael Landau (Guitar), Jimmy Ienner, Jr. (Photography), John Leventhal (Guitar), John Leventhal (Mandolin), John Leventhal (Percussion), John Leventhal (Violin), John Leventhal (Keyboards), John Leventhal (Producer), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Steve Lukather (Vocals), Clarence McDonald (Piano), John Mahoney (Keyboards), Mario Mantese (Bass), Kate Markowitz (Harmony Vocals), Stuart Matthewman (Guitar), Stuart Matthewman (Trumpet), Stuart Matthewman (Saxophone), Marty McCall (Vocals (Background)), Hugh McCracken (Guitar (Acoustic)), Peter McIan (Producer), Richard Mendelson (?), Sammy Merendino (Electronic Percussion), Clive Mngaza (Hi Hat), Teddy Mulet (Trumpet), Randy Nichols (Keyboards), Michael Omartian (Keyboards), Michael Omartian (Producer), Rafael Padilla (Percussion), Richard Page (Vocals (Background)), David Paich (Arranger), David Paich (Keyboards), David Paich (Vocals), David Paich (Arp), David Paich (Horn Arrangements), David Paich (Mini Moog), James Pankow (Trombone), Jeff Porcaro (Percussion), Jeff Porcaro (Drums), Rob Parissi (Guitar), Rob Parissi (Arranger), Rob Parissi (Vocals), Rob Parissi (Producer), Alan Pasqua (Keyboards), Shawn Pelton (Drums), Debbi Peterson (Drums), Debbi Peterson (Vocals), Vicki Peterson (Guitar), Vicki Peterson (Vocals), Greg Phillinganes (Synthesizer), Greg Phillinganes (Keyboards), Greg Phillinganes (Rhythm Arrangements), Chuck Plotkin (Producer), Steve Porcaro (Keyboards), James Poyser (Piano), James Poyser (Celeste), James Poyser (Vocals (Background)), James Poyser (Fender Rhodes), James Poyser (Wurlitzer), Phil Ramone (Producer), REO Speedwagon (Performer), Michael Rhodes (Bass), Karl Richardson (Producer), Gary Richrath (Producer), Andrew Ridgley (Guitar), Nambo Robinson (Trombone), Dan Shea (Synthesizer), Dan Shea (Keyboards), Dan Shea (Programming), Dan Shea (Drum Programming), Dan Shea (Sound Design), Slash (Guitar), Andrew Slater (Producer), Toby Smith (Keyboards), Phil Spalding (Bass), Jerry Speiser (Drums), Jerry Speiser (Vocals), Maurice Starr (Producer), Michael Steele (Bass), Michael Steele (Vocals), Doug Stegmeyer (Bass), Maretha Stewart (Vocals (Background)), Al Stone (Producer), Mike "Clay" Stone (Producer), Ron Strykert (Guitar), Ron Strykert (Vocals), Fred Tackett (Guitar), Crystal Taliefero (Percussion), Crystal Taliefero (Vocals (Background)), Garry Tallent (Bass), Richard Tandy (Keyboards), Richard Tandy (String Arrangements), Richard Tandy (Choir Arrangement), Richard Tee (Piano (Electric)), Rod Temperton (Keyboards), Richard Termini (Synthesizer), George Terry (Guitar), Tom Tom 84 (Horn Arrangements), Tom Tom 84 (String Arrangements), Lonnie Turner (Bass), Steven Tyler (Vocals), Ross Valory (Bass), Ross Valory (Vocals), Steven Van Zandt (Guitar (Acoustic)), Steven Van Zandt (Guitar (Electric)), Steven Van Zandt (Producer), Stevie Wonder (Performer), Jamiroquai (Performer), Barry Blue (Producer), Gary Mallaber (Percussion), Gary Mallaber (Drums), George Bianchi (Piano (Grand)), Paul Cooke (Drums), David Dyson (?), Simon Hale (Arranger), Ashley Ingram (Bass), Ashley Ingram (Keyboards), Ashley Ingram (String Arrangements), Dan Rothchild (Bass), Rob Laufer (Guitar), Al Quaglieri (Producer), Al Quaglieri (Liner Notes), Al Quaglieri (Discography), Al Quaglieri (Annotation), J. Taylor (Guitar (Acoustic)), J. Taylor (Vocals), Harold Cowart (Bass), Jimmy Lyon (Guitar), Jimmy Lyon (Arranger), Jim Trompeter (Keyboards), Walter Afanasieff (Producer), Ron Beitle (Drums), Ron Beitle (Vocals), John Jackson (Archive Research), Jonathan Knight (Vocals), Jordan Knight (Vocals), John Rees (Bass), John Rees (Vocals), Leland Sklar (Bass), Fiona Apple (Vocals), The Jacksons (Producer), The Jacksons (Vocal Arrangement), Randee Saint Nicholas (Photo Courtesy), Don Hunstein (Photo Courtesy), Herman Leonard (Photo Courtesy), David Gahr (Photo Courtesy), Arnold Levine (Art Direction), Darcy Proper (Mastering), Frank Ockenfels (Photo Courtesy), Marc Kirkeby (Archive Research), Nat Brewster (Archive Research), Janet Boye (Art Direction), Maxine Lewis (Vocals (Background)), Enrique "Kiki" Garcia (Drums), Chris Athens (Mastering), Sheila Rock (Photo Courtesy), David Katzenstein (Photo Courtesy), Sam Emerson (Photo Courtesy), Lauryn Hill (Vocals), Lauryn Hill (Producer), Lauryn Hill (Performer), Brian Aris (Photo Courtesy), Herb Ritts (Photo Courtesy), Randall Martin (CD Art Adaptation), Poke & Tone (Producer), Charlie Sarrica (Artwork), Charles Berginc (Horn), Jack Brandiar (Horn), Bridgette Bryant-Fiddmont (Vocals (Background)), Yasko Kubota (?), Rob Sachs (?), Michael Brooks (Archive Research), Will Smith (Vocals), DJ Supreme (DJ), Derrick McKenzie (Drums), Timothy "Tyme" Riley (Keyboards), Alanna Capps (Vocals (Background)), A. Jackson (Vocals), A. Jackson (Vocals (Background)), A. Jackson (Producer), Patti Matheny (Project Coordinator), Vada Nobles (Drum Programming), Shawn King (Photography), Lenesha Randolph (Vocals (Background)), Rasheem "Kio" Pugh (Vocals (Background)), Fundisha Johnson (Vocals (Background)), Indigo Quartet (Strings), Everol Ray (Trumpet), Jenni Fujita (Vocals (Background)), Joey McIntyre (Vocals), Neil Steubenhaus (Bass), Rick Singer (Horn), John Milward (Liner Notes), DJ Jazzy Jeff (Scratching), Simon Katz (Guitar), Michael Thompson (Guitar), Michael Thompson (Photo Courtesy), Bryan Basset (Guitar), Bryan Basset (Vocals), Ilene Bellovin (Photo Research), Lori Berkowitz (Photo Research), John Brio (Drums), John Brio (Chamberlin), Ed Cerchione (Tape Research), Dave DiMartino (Essay), Jenny Friel (Photo Research), He-Man Broken Hearts Club Choir (Vocals (Background)), Ron Juliano (Artwork), Greg Lord (Photography), Tina McCarthy (Archive Research), Milward (?), John Naatjes (Tape Research), Leo Okcke (?), Clay Otswald (Keyboards), Christopher Ottaunick (Photography), Joe Palmacio (Mastering), Jeffrey Peisch (Series Producer), Erik Ryding (Archive Research), Tracy Sham (Photography), Laura Lee Spence (Archive Research), Joel Staniszewski (Photography), Judy Thomas (Tape Research), Eric Johnson (Photo Courtesy), Michael Levine (Photo Courtesy)
