Human Body/Make You Shake It (1984)

Zapp family's vocal group, Human Body's debut album. Features three male vocalists, Billy Beck (ex-The Ohio Players members) and two P-Funk members (ex-Parliament, Funkadelic and others), Ray Davis and Larry Hatcher. The three electro-funk tunes with synth bass are good, but the highlights are the soul ballads in mid/slow tempos, featuring authentic vocals without talk box. Produced by Roger Troutman (Zapp) and Billy Beck. One of great soul albums in the 1980s.

Lauryn Hill/The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

An American female R&B singer/actress also known as a vocal member of hio-hop group the Fugees, Lauryn Hill's solo debut album. A spiritual and melancholy sound with mixing rap, soul, reggae, and R&B. A smash hit album which sold 12 million copies worldwide and won five Grammy Awards such as Album of the Year and Best R&B Album. Includes "Lost Ones", "Doo Wop (That Thing)", "Ex-Factor" and "Everything Is Everything". A masterpiece of the 1990s contemporary R&B/neo-soul.

Hole/Live Through This (1994)

An alternative rock band featuring female singer/actress Courtney Love (vocals, guitar), Hole's second album. Noisy guitar rock (grunge) influenced by power pop and punk. Simple and raw sound like Sonic Youth. In those days Courtney Love had been married to Kurt Cobain, Nirvana's vocalist/guitarist/songwriter. Includes hit singles "Doll Parts", "Violet" and "Miss World".

Hanoi Rocks/Two Steps from the Move (1984)

Finland's heavy metal band formed with Michael Monroe (vocals) and Andy McCoy (guitar) in Helsinki in 1980. Their 1984 album (the U.S. debut). Pop-metal inspired by the 1970s glam-rock. They influenced Guns N' Roses and later hair-metal bands such as Skid Row. Produced by Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Kiss). Includes a single "Up Around the Bend" (a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival).

Hallucinogen/Twisted (1995)

An electronic musician/producer from England, Simon Posford's solo project, Hallucinogen's debut album. An established classic in the goa trance/psychedelic trance genre. Spacy dance music rooted in acid house and acid trance. Not so ethnic and religious. More inorganic and techno-oriented sound than general goa trance music. Recommended to techno listeners who like Hardfloor and the like. Features "LSD" and "Shamanix". The last track "Solstice" contains a hidden track (an ambient version of "Angelic Particles").

The High Llamas/Hawaii (1996)

The British pop band formed by ex-Microdisney member Sean O'Hagan (known as Brian Wilson freak. He joined Stereolab's album 'Emperor Tomato Ketchup') in London in 1991, the High Llamas' second full album. Unique electro/orchestral pop featuing winds, strings, Moog synths, Banjo and others. The sound is like the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" and "Smile" with Van Dyke Parks. 29 tracks in total (77 minutes).

Herbert/100 Lbs (1996) *

A British electronic musician, Matthew Herbert's first album released on the Phono label in 1996 under the name of 'Herbert'. Includes 11 tracks originally released on vinyl as his first three ep's. Experimental and danceable tech-house with lots of digital sampling sources. The digitally-remastered CD was reissued in 2006 with a bonus CD which features rarities, b-sides and unreleased tracks.

Buddy Holly/The Buddy Holly Collection (1956-1983)

The American singer/songwriter known as one of the pioneers of the 1950s rock & roll, Buddy Holly's comprehensive best-compilation album that includes his 50 songs (a set of 2 CDs). He recorded lots of melodic pop songs and had a great influence on the early Beatles, Elvis Costello and many other musicians. A unique vocal style called "hiccup". Includes "Rock Around With Ollie Vee", "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" (a cover of Chuck Berry), "That'll Be the Day", "Words of Love" (the Beatles covered), "Not Fade Away" (the Rolling Stones covered), "Everyday", "Peggy Sue", "Maybe Baby", "Rave On", "Well...All Right", "Think it Over", "It's So Easy" and others.

The Human League/Dare! (1981)

The synth pop band formed in Sheffield, England in 1977. After the two synth players Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh (they formed the British Electric Foundation and Heaven 17 later) left the band, the vocalist/songwriter Philip Oakey made two high school girls Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall join the band as vocalists and produced this third album. Electro pop in the New Romantic style. Pop-song oriented sound called "Electric ABBA". A blockbuster hit that features "The Sound of the Crowd", "Love Action (I Believe in Love)", "Open Your Heart" and "Don't You Want Me" (#1 on the US and UK charts).

The Hollies/Butterfly (1967)

The British pop group, the Hollies' seventh album. Released when Graham Nash (vocals, guitar) was the leader. A psychedelic pop album inspired by the Beatles at the time. Full of folk-oriented pop songs with beautiful melodies and harmonies.

Jon Hassell/Brian Eno/Fourth World Vol. 1: Possible Musics (1980)

A collaboration between American contemporary music (minimalist) trumpeter, Jon Hassell and Brian Eno. Experimental ambient music featuring Jon Hassell's distinctive style of playing trumpet with a husky sound like a sobbing, percussions in the ethnic-music style, such as congas, ghatam (a pot-like instrument in South India) and handclaps, and Brian Eno's synthesizer. Like a soundscape in a tropical rainforest of high temperature and high humidity.

Haircut One Hundred/Pelican West (1982)

The new wave band featuring Nick Heyward (guitar, vocals), Haircut One Hundred's debut album. British pop of good quality, with danceable Latin/funk rhythms. Produced by Bob Sargeant.

Daryl Hall & John Oates/Rock'n Soul Part 1 (1973-1983)

The blue-eyed soul duo who had produced lots of smash hits in the late 1970s and the early 1980s, Daryl Hall & John Oates' best compilation. Lots of good pop songs influenced by Philadelphia soul. Features "Sara Smile", "She's Gone", "Rich Girl", "Kiss on My List", "Private Eyes", "Say It Isn't So" and others. If Todd Rundgren were Mac OS, Daryl Hall might be Microsoft Windows (?).

Happy Mondays/Pills 'N' Thrills and Bellyaches (1990) *

The club/dance-oriented rock band from Manchester, Happy Mondays' third album. Greatly influenced by house music and rave culture. Danceable beats at lazy tempos. The DJ Paul Oakenfold joined in arrangement, production and mixing.

Hardfloor/TB Resuscitation (1993) *

1st album. Innovative sounds making the best use of TB-303 (Roland bass synths). A masterpiece of techno-house/acid-trance from Germany.

Harpers Bizarre/The Secret Life of Harpers Bizarre (1968) *

The pop group of Warner Bros. Records. The imaginative pop of superior quality, with orchestration and sound effects, like soundtracks. This 3rd album is their masterpiece. Produced by Lenny Waronker.

Hatfield and the North/The Rotters' Club (1975)

Along with Caravan and Soft Machine, one of the representative bands from the art-rock scene in Canterbury, England. The peculiar style of progressive rock with pop melodies and jazzy improvisation. The members are: vocalist/bassist Richard Sinclair (ex-Caravan), guitarist Phil Miller (ex-Matching Mole), drummer Pip Pyle (ex-Gong, Delivery) and keyboardist Dave Stewart (ex-Egg). The second album.

Heaven 17/Penthouse and Pavement (1981) *

The electro-pop trio that grew out of Human League, Heaven 17's debut album. A masterpiece of danceable electro-pop. Includes "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang".

Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks/Striking It Rich (1972) *

An acoustic band featuring female backing vocals and violin. Pop and very cool sound based on jazz/country/folk. Features 'I Scare Myself' and 'Canned Music'.

Hüsker Dü/New Day Rising (1985)

A three piece band from Minneapolis, the US. Featuring Grant Hart (drums, vocals) and Bob Mould (guitar, vocals). Post-hardcore punk with melodic songs.