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Selling England By the Pound (Album of the Day)
Genesis' dominance of the pop charts in the 1980s and 1990s cemented their image as radio-friendly hitmakers, but there was a time when the U.K. group stood at the cutting edge of progressive rock; the band's first half-dozen albums (with singer Peter Gabriel at the microphone) are exemplars of the form. SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND, from 1973, is a remarkably effective fusion of whimsical storybook tales and muscular rock performances. The eight originals include a catchy single (“I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)”) as well as complex musical epics (“The Battle of Epping Forest,” “The Cinema Show”) and - shades of things to come – a lead vocal from drummer Phil Collins (“More Fool Me”). SELLING ENGLAND BY THE POUND reached #3 on the British chart to become Genesis' most commercially successful album to that point, and the set remains among the band's very best.
Dizzy Up The Girl (Album of the Day)
Buffalo, NY trio Goo Goo Dolls had already made a “Name” for themselves as alternative rockers to watch when they came up with a song for the City Of Angels soundtrack - and found themselves on top of the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart for a record 18 weeks. That Grammy-nominated track was featured on the band's sixth studio album, DIZZY UP THE GIRL, which was released on this day in 1998. But “Iris” wasn't the only hit there; the set's 13 originals also include the successful singles “Slide,” “Black Balloon,” “Broadway” and “Dizzy.” Produced by Rob Cavallo, the polished, hook-filled collection demonstrated that strong melodies and tough rock textures were not incompatible, and DIZZY UP THE GIRL went triple-Platinum to become Goo Goo Dolls' breakthrough album.
In the Dark (Album of the Day)
The Grateful Dead had been making music for more than 20 years before their 12th studio set, IN THE DARK, finally put them in the Top 10. The material on the 1987 collection is outstanding, with many of the originals having been workshopped by the group in concert for years; among the highlights are “Hell in a Bucket,” “Throwing Stones” and “Touch of Grey,” the band's sole Top 40 single. The album's title reflects its recording at Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium, where the house lights were turned down as though an audience was present. “Everybody played their parts in real time, together,” recalled drummer Bill Kreutzmann. “When we took breaks, we'd go into the wings by the stage door and sit there and talk about what we'd just done … the analysis served the songs and the camaraderie served the band.” IN THE DARK captured lightning in a bottle and became a double-Platinum hit.
Bad Company (Album of the Day)
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Paul Rodgers, drummer Simon Kirke (both from Free), guitarist/songwriter Mick Ralphs (from Mott The Hoople) and bassist Boz Burrell (from King Crimson) became one of the most successful supergroups of the 1970s when they joined forces as Bad Company. Signing with Led Zeppelin's Swan Song label, the quartet's self-titled debut was the #1 album in America on this day in 1974. Of the eight originals on the collection, more than half would spend years in rotation on AOR and classic rock radio - “Rock Steady,” “Ready For Love,” “Movin’ On,” the title song and the #5 hit “Can’t Get Enough.” Surely the quartet's finest hour, the 5x Platinum BAD COMPANY remains a milestone of blues-based hard rock.
Shabooh Shoobah (Album of the Day)
As INXS continued its climb to rock stardom, SHABOOH SHOOBAH represents the point where the summit first came into view for the Australian sextet; the 1982 collection was their first to be released worldwide, and reached the upper half of the Billboard 200. The 10 originals show the band members – guitarist Andrew Farriss and singer Michael Hutchence in particular – coming into their own as songwriters, and “The One Thing” and “Don't Change” both charted in America. INXS was already a powerful live act, and veteran hard rock producer Mark Opitz capitalizes on that energy, giving the group more punch than most of their New Wave contemporaries. The band played its last show with Hutchence on this day in 1997, and we'll remember the dynamic frontman with SHABOOH SHOOBAH.
Electric Warrior (Album of the Day)
As Tyrannosaurus Rex, Marc Bolan and company had released several collections of wispy hippie-folk before shortening their name and turning up their amps on ELECTRIC WARRIOR. The 1971 album's audacious mix of campy philosophizing, propulsive guitar riffs, lascivious teenybopper boogie - and all the punch that producer Tony Visconti could deliver – set the standard for glam rock. With distinctive singles “Get It On” and “Jeepster” among its 11 tracks, the album became T. Rex's first U.K. No.1 and has since been cited by the likes of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork as one of the greatest of the 1970s. Marc Bolan was born on this day in 1947, and the singer-songwriter truly was an ELECTRIC WARRIOR.
Purple Rain (Album of the Day)
Prince Rogers Nelson emerged at the end of the 1970s to become one of the most potent forces in popular music. Better known simply as Prince, the performer perfected his audacious mix of sexy funk, dance pop and guitar-driven rock on PURPLE RAIN. Recorded with his band the Revolution, the set serves as a soundtrack to the film of the same name but easily stands on its own, with such Top Ten singles as “When Doves Cry,” “I Would Die 4 U,” the title track and “Let's Go Crazy” (which was the #1 song in America this week in 1984). The chart-topping PURPLE RAIN earned Prince a pair of Grammys and an Oscar, and has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide.
III (Album of the Day)
Following the whirlwind success of the first two Led Zeppelin albums and near-constant touring, guitarist Jimmy Page and vocalist Robert Plant took to the now famous Bron-Yr-Aur cottage in Wales to start the early composition of LED ZEPPELIN III. They later convened with drummer John Bonham and bassist John Paul Jones for rehearsals before entering London’s Olympic Studios to begin recording. The collection that emerged on this day in 1970 displays a greater emphasis on acoustic textures and a broader instrumental palette (Jones in particular helps in this regard) and includes such classic tracks as “Immigrant Song” and “Since I’ve Been Loving You.” Another triumph for the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, LED ZEPPELIN III soared to the top of charts worldwide upon release and has since been certified 6x Platinum.
Lindsey Buckingham (Album of the Day)
Born on this day in 1949, Lindsey Buckingham has earned acclaim for his adventurous work as a singer-songwriter and unrivaled savvy as a producer. Under his direction, Fleetwood Mac became one of the best-selling and most beloved rock groups of all time and as a solo artist, Buckingham is a master of complex, inventive arrangements and often plays nearly every instrument himself. His 2021 self-titled LP on Reprise is a welcome display of Buckingham’s instantly recognizable guitar work and vocal layering, particularly on songs such as “Power Down,” “Scream,” “Swan Song” and lead single “I Don’t Mind.” “I wanted to make a pop album, but I also wanted to make stops along the way with songs that resemble art more than pop,” notes the performer, and LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM reaffirms his status as a musical visionary.
Introspective (Album of the Day)
Released on the heels of their highly successful ACTUALLY, Pet Shop Boys' INTROSPECTIVE is a rather unusual entry in their discography. Most dance musicians spin their album cuts into much longer remixes - but Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe aren't like most dance musicians; the six tracks here (including hypnotic mixes of PSB favorites "Always On My Mind" and "It's Alright") have already been extended to 12” durations. The two songs written specifically for the collection, the Trevor Horn-produced opener "Left to My Own Devices" and "Domino Dancing," show the U.K. synth-pop duo moving confidently into elaborate orchestration. INTROSPECTIVE has become a fan favorite as well as one of Pet Shop Boys' best sellers, and we'll give it another spin now to wish Lowe a happy birthday.