Like Swiss Watches -- With the calendar precision reminiscent of a Swiss timepiece, the guys over at Centaur are back on the proverbial record store shelves with PARTY GROOVE: GAY DAYS Vol. 5. The "Official CD" for the internationally acclaimed week of celebration known as Gay Days in Orlando, Florida is mixed yet again by the talented DJ Randy Bettis. The 13-track continuous dance mix is a fun, bouncy, energetic affair with an engaging blend of new and old. For the new, there's Paula Abdul's "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" (which sounds much better on this CD than it ever did when I played it in the DJ booth), Danielle Bollinger's "Surrender Me" and the Lady D. remake of "Bleeding Love" (the song that has catapulted Leona Lewis to superstardom). On the old-school front, Bettis serves up remakes of disco classics "Ride On Time" and "Hot Stuff" as well as a dance version of Mr. Mister's "Broken Wings" by Rivaz featuring Ronin. These songs and their inclusion are definitely "on point" and help make this another solid Centaur effort that will get maximum airplay throughout the summer. [Note: In addition to buying the actual CD at Best Buy or via Amazon.com, the digital download is available on iTunes and at www.TheOutClub.com] [Another Note: Centaur's GayDays Tour with Bettis will be coming to Chicago as part of Nitro at Circuit Night Club on Saturday, June 28.] Soul To Keep -- Despite the tendency of many in the music industry to keep things simple and straight-forward, it's refreshing when an artist such as soulstress Lalah Hathaway acknowledges that her music is "textured and layered." She also uses the word "three-dimensional" and that's exactly what you get from her latest album "SELF-PORTRAIT (Stax/Concord Music). The daughter of Donny Hathaway, one of the most influential soul artists of the eighties, Ms. Hathaway has produced a 12-track album that will undoubtedly lead to talk of her being one of the most influential soul artists of the new millennium. No reliance on thunderous bass thumps or wickedly funky hip-hop beats here, just Hathaway's silky strong voice gliding uxoriously and effortlessly over the well-produced tracks on SELF-PORTRAIT. While Hathaway may not be as well known as Mary J. Blige, Angie Stone, Jill Scott, and others - and really that's a shame - this album proves that her importance to, and influence on, the R&B/soul music genre is deservedly significant. Still Going Strong - I would venture to guess that despite her burst onto the music scene back some 25 years ago, many would not have predicted that Cyndi Lauper would still be going as strong as she is here in 2008. Yet, after more than 25 million records sold during her career, Lauper is set to add another million or two to that figure with BRING YA TO THE BRINK (Epic), her new 12-track album. On one hand this new effort is a dance record with infectious rhythms and beats and catchy hooks that would make even Madonna and Janet envious. And on the other hand, in keeping with Lauper's oft-overlooked serious side, the lyrical content of the album is strong, deep and meaningful. For Lauper, dressing up her poetry in the vibrant threads of dance music was logical. She said, "I liked the contrast of music that could be celebratory, and even pretty, against words that are sometimes a little intense." Thanks to tracks such as "High & Mighty," "Rocking Chair," and "Same Ol' Story," Lauper surely has a huge hit of an album on her hands that is indicative of her enduring and impressive strength as an artist.