The Essential Barbra Streisand is a two-disc compilation album of Barbra Streisand (her first career-retrospective) released by Sony BMG as part of their Essentials series. Released in January 2002, and drawing from four decades of her work, it includes all but one of her top-ten hits, and most of her top-forty hits.

Joyful is the debut album by German singer–songwriter Ayọ, recorded in January 2006 within five days under live conditions. The album spawned four official singles as well as a promo single, "How Many Times?", released on 26 November 2007. Released in Europe in June 2006, Joyful has since been certified double platinum in France and Poland and gold in Switzerland, Italy, and Greece.

Frank is the debut studio album by English recording artist Amy Winehouse, released on 20 October 2003 by Island Records. Production for the album took place during 2002 to 2003 and was handled by Winehouse, Salaam Remi, Commissioner Gordon, Jimmy Hogarth and Matt Rowe. Its title alludes to the nature and tone of Winehouse's lyrics on the album, as well as one of her influences, Frank Sinatra.

Дважды лауреат премии Ivor Novello, её первый альбом Frank (2003) был номинирован на Mercury Prize. 14 февраля 2007 года певица получила Brit Award как «Лучшая британская исполнительница» («Best British Female Artist»). Второй альбом Back to Black принёс ей 6 номинаций «Грэмми» и победу в 5 из них (включая Record of the Year), после чего она была занесена в Книгу рекордов Гиннесса, как первая и единственная британская певица, выигравшая пять наград Грэмми. В августе 2011 года альбом «Back to Black» признан самым успешным альбомом XXI века в Великобритании.

The Best of the Pogues is a greatest hits album by The Pogues, released in September 1991. The album was dedicated to the memory of Deborah Korner.

Ray Charles Robinson Sr.- was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Genius". Among friends and fellow musicians he preferred being called "Brother Ray". Charles was blinded during childhood, possibly due to glaucoma.
Charles pioneered the soul music genre during the 1950s by combining blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel styles into the music he recorded for Atlantic Records. He contributed to the integration of country music, rhythm and blues, and pop music during the 1960s with his crossover success on ABC Records, notably with his two Modern Sounds albums. While he was with ABC, Charles became one of the first black musicians to be granted artistic control by a mainstream record company.