Content tagged 'aod'

FOREIGN AFFAIR was Tina Turner’s third studio album since her dramatic global resurgence, following the monumental success of PRIVATE DANCER and BREAK EVERY RULE, as well as her lead role in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Produced by Dan Hartman (and featuring several songs penned by swamp soul great Tony Joe White), the 1989 set went on to be a multi-platinum record across the world, including the U.K., Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and many more. The biggest track to come from the collection was '80s anthem “The Best,” which features one of the most recognizable choruses in music history. On top of that single, the album is complemented by several Turner favorites, such as “Steamy Windows,” “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” and the title track. We'll wish the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer a happy birthday with another spin of FOREIGN AFFAIR.

With STRANGE DAYS, The Doors were out to strike while the iron was hot; the album hit the chart (eventually reaching #3) while the L.A. quartet's first LP was still in the Top Ten. In fact several of the set's 10 originals predated The Doors' eponymous debut – though they were by no means cast-offs. Jim Morrison's poetry and the dark and unsettling music of Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore lifted the title track, the near-11-minute closer “When the Music's Over” and Top 40 hits “People Are Strange” and “Love Me Two Times” to rock immortality. Though it was at first seen as a commercial disappointment, time has vindicated the 1967 collection, which eventually went platinum and was named by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time. We'll wish drummer John Densmore a happy birthday with another spin of STRANGE DAYS.

Whitesnake founder and frontman David Coverdale was gearing up to record his third solo album when, in the wake of the group’s massive global success, his record label prevailed upon him to change course and release RESTLESS HEART under the David Coverdale & Whitesnake moniker. Powered by singles “Too Many Tears” and “Don’t Fade Away,” the 1997 album was a Top 40 hit in the U.K. but surprisingly was never released in the U.S. - until now. With the vocalist joined by such talented musicians as Adrian Vandenberg, Denny Carmassi and Guy Pratt, the 2-CD RESTLESS HEART DELUXE EDITION features a newly remixed version of the collection that’s closer to the sound Coverdale initially intended for his solo set, plus a remastered version of the original album including three bonus tracks from the Japanese release.

INSIGHT OUT was the beginning of The Association's stint with Warner Bros. after two longplayers for Valiant, and it was a winning combination of group and label - the album reached the Top Ten and quickly went gold. It was also the sextet's first album with producer Bones Howe (who had helmed hits for The Turtles) and the first to lean on the session aces of The Wrecking Crew. With the band's focus on harmonies and material, The Association came up with a beautifully sung collection of folk-rock and sunshine pop, including such fine originals as “When Love Comes To Me” and the ambitious “Requiem for the Masses.” Of course the most famous tracks here are “Windy” and “Never My Love,” which hit the first and second slots, respectively, on the Billboard singles chart in the summer of 1967. Association drummer Ted Bluechell, Jr. was born on this day in 1942, so we'll cue up INSIGHT OUT in his honor.

The Flaming Lips built upon the success of THE SOFT BULLETIN with their first album of the new millennium, YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS. Even if it did later inspire a stage musical, the band deny that the 2002 Warner Bros. collection is concept album, preferring to describe it as “storytelling acid rock.” But that phrase only hints at the emotional resonance and inventive arrangements here; tracks like lead single “Do You Realize??,” “Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell” and Grammy-winning instrumental “Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)” rank with the Oklahoma alternative rockers' very best. Lips drummer Steven Drozd celebrates a birthday today, and we'll wish him a happy one with the critically hailed, gold-certified YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS.

The title of The Hollies' RADIO FUN is an apt description of the 2012 compilation of BBC recordings. Spanning the U.K. group's early-1960s to early-1970s heyday, these 32 tracks display the evolution of their sound, with enthusiasm, brilliant harmonies and the desire to try new things a constant across the years. While there are plenty of live-at-the Beeb performances of familiar singles here – including “He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother,” “Bus Stop” and “If I Needed Someone” (which was released by the band on this day in 1965) – the song selection digs a little deeper to reveal The Hollies' love of U.S. R&B and their skill as writers on such less-heralded gems as “I've Got A Way Of My Own.” A terrific complement to the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' studio releases, RADIO FUN is a must for any British Invasion fan.

Jim Morrison was born on this day in 1943, and more than seven years after his death the iconic performer was back on record racks with AN AMERICAN PRAYER. The Elektra/Asylum collection was built around poetry recordings he had made in 1969 and 1970, with instrumental backing provided by former bandmates John Densmore, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek - making this in effect the final Doors album. The pieces may not have the kind of song structure that girded the foursome's hits (though there is a killer live version of “Roadhouse Blues” included here), but Morrison's gift for striking lyrical imagery is in full effect, and the musical accompaniment is eerily sympathetic. The list of platinum-selling spoken word albums is a pretty short one, and AN AMERICAN PRAYER earned a place on it by channeling the spirit of one of rock's all-time greatest groups.

After the massive success of their major label debut DOOKIE was followed by three lesser hits, Bay-area pop-punk trio Green Day might have raised some eyebrows when they decided to release a rock opera. But AMERICAN IDIOT became not only one of the band's best-selling, but best-received albums. As audacious as the album's overall concept may be (it follows an anti-hero “Jesus Of Suburbia”), the individual songs are just as striking; “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams,” “Holiday” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends” were all huge singles. Engaging the post-9/11 political and cultural landscape with surprising insight and passion, AMERICAN IDIOT is surely one of the greatest rock albums of the new millennium, and we'll give it a spin now to wish Green Day's Tré Cool a happy birthday.

IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR would be Led Zeppelin's final studio album before the group disbanded in the wake of drummer John Bonham's death. The collection shows the group adding Latin and country touches to their powerful blues-based rock, and John Paul Jones' synthesizers are as prominent here as Jimmy Page's riffing guitars. While the group members were exploring new directions, they never abandoned their core strengths – the set brims with classic rock radio anthems including “In The Evening,” “All My Love” and “Fool in the Rain” (released as a single on this date in 1979). If one can't help but to wonder where Led Zeppelin would have gone next, IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR is nonetheless a highly satisfying swan song for the legendary band.

The Doobie Brothers have a long string of hit singles to their credit, but dig deeper into their 1970s output and you'll find their albums are pretty strong as well. By the time of STAMPEDE, the NorCal band had perfected an irresistible blend of rock, country and soul; barring the Motown cover “Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me),” the 1975 collection is all-original, and tracks like “Sweet Maxine” and “I Cheat the Hangman” show that the group's Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons knew how to write memorable songs. While a pretty rootsy release, there are also some ambitious string arrangements here (Curtis Mayfield provided one) and the playing by the band, and guests including Ry Cooder and Bill Payne, is sublime. STAMPEDE is the first Doobies set to feature Jeff "Skunk" Baxter as a full member – he contributes the instrumental “Précis” - and we'll give the gold-certified album another spin to wish the guitarist a happy birthday.