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Chicago Christmas (Album of the Day)
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Chicago celebrate the holidays this year with a new Christmas collection that spotlights the legendary group’s trademark sound on eight original songs, two yuletide favorites and one timeless classic that embraces the spirit of hope. Produced by founding member Lee Loughnane, CHICAGO CHRISTMAS is the 37th album of the band’s career and its fourth holiday set. Whereas its previous releases focused more on traditional Christmas songs, the new record spotlights holiday music the band wrote especially for the album, including “All Over The World,” “(Because) It’s Christmastime,” and “I’m Your Santa Claus.” Instead of recording in a studio, the group used an innovative mobile recording setup to make the album while on tour. Have a CHICAGO CHRISTMAS this year!
My Feeling for the Blues (Album of the Day)
Beloved by blues aficionados as “The Texas Cannonball,” Freddie King had his biggest hits on the fabled King Records label during the 1960s but fans are quick to point out that his end-of-the-decade stint on Atlantic produced work that was just as memorable, such as the dynamic MY FEELING FOR THE BLUES. Produced by sax great King Curtis and featuring horn arrangements by Donny Hathaway, the set frames King's amazing axework perfectly, but the real revelation on these 11 tracks is how soulful Freddie was as a singer. The underrated MY FEELING FOR THE BLUES was released 50 years ago this month, and from from the opening “Yonder Wall” to the closing title track, you'll feel the blues too!
Who Loves You (Album of the Day)
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons had so many iconic singles in the 1960s that it's easy to forget they made great records in the 1970s as well. Case in point: WHO LOVES YOU, a Warner Bros./Curb collection that shows the Seasons successfully incorporating disco rhythms (and even a bit of synthesizer) into their classic harmony pop sound. Frankie Valli, whose solo career was then taking off, plays a reduced role here, but the other singers more than compensate, and the band's longtime producer-songwriter Bob Gaudio supplies some gems here including “Silver Star,” the Top 10 title track and “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” which was released on this day in 1975 and would become the Four Seasons' all-time best-selling single. A major comeback for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, WHO LOVES YOU is an album you're sure to love.
Spend the Night (Album of the Day)
By the time they had released SPEND THE NIGHT, the members of The Donnas had been playing together since their days at Palo Alto High School, which may explain why the 2002 collection sounds so tight. The quartet's fifth studio album (and first for a major label, Atlantic Records) delivers the punchy Ramones-meets-Runaways attack of previous releases while adding sharper production and more accomplished performances. Party anthems and tales of teen romance and rivalry abound on these 13 originals, which include “Take Me to the Backseat,” “Who Invited You” and “Take It Off,” a single whose success helped put the album on the Billboard chart – a first for the group. Hard rock fans looking for a good time should SPEND THE NIGHT with The Donnas.
Prince - 1999 (Super Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
One of the most iconic and influential double albums in rock history, Prince’s 1999 was released in late 1982 at a major turning point in the artist’s career. After years of being relegated to the R&B charts, he experienced his first true crossover moment with the mega-hits “Little Red Corvette,” “1999,” and “Delirious,” shattering barriers with a revolutionary blend of rock, funk, R&B and new wave pop. The new 1999 SUPER DELUXE EDITION represents the deepest dive to date into Prince’s vault and includes a total of 65 audio tracks across five CDs and ten 180g vinyl records. Along with nearly two dozen previously unissued studio tracks, the set features a complete live audio performance of a 1982 Detroit concert, and a DVD containing another complete, previously unreleased concert from the same tour. New Year's Eve is our cue to party like it's 1999...
PLAYLIST OF THE DAY - Christmas Time (Album of the Day)
CHRISTMAS TIME gathers all your favorite Christmas songs and some new ones to make memories to. There's a little something for everyone on the 80-song playlist, which illustrates how popular holiday songs are with artists in every genre. Vocal pop is well-represented by singers ranging from Frank Sinatra (“Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town”) to Josh Groban (“The First Noel”) and Kelly Clarkson (“Christmas Eve”) and so is classic rock, with hitmakers including The Beach Boys (“Little Saint Nick”), Eagles (“Please Come Home for Christmas”) and Paul McCartney (“Wonderful Christmastime”). But there's also R&B (Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder), country (Martina McBride) and jazz (Vince Guaraldi) here … and even a Chanukah song (by Adam Sandler, of course). On the night before the big day, get in the mood with CHRISTMAS TIME.
PLAYLIST OF THE DAY - 100 Greatest Christmas Songs Ever (Album of the Day)
100 GREATEST CHRISTMAS SONGS EVER really delivers on its title; celebrate the yuletide in style with this timeless playlist of Xmas favorites old and new. Of course there are lots of perennials here - tracks like Nat King Cole's “The Christmas Song” and Gene Autry's “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” have been holiday traditions for generations. You'll also hear seasonal staples given fresh spins by artists ranging from Michael Buble and Kylie Minogue to Blake Shelton and Los Lobos. More recent additions to the Christmas canon include “Last Christmas” by Wham!, “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues and “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses. Have a happy holiday with our 100 GREATEST CHRISTMAS SONGS EVER.
Down by the Jetty (Album of the Day)
A reaction to the prog and glam of the early 1970s, the back-to-basics sound of U.K. pub rock was rooted in the rock and roll and R&B of earlier decades, and few bands delivered it more powerfully than Dr. Feelgood. The Essex quartet had years of live performance under their belts when they entered the studio with producer Vic Maile to cut DOWN BY THE JETTY, and it shows in the dozen cuts that precede the “Bony Moronie”/“Tequila” concert recording that closes this debut. Guitarist Wilko Johnson penned several fine originals for this set, including “She Does It Right” and “Roxette,” and the bluesy shout of frontman Lee Brilleaux seals the deal. An inspiration to bands ranging from The Jam and Boomtown Rats to Blondie, DOWN BY THE JETTY turns 45 this month but its fire remains undimmed.
The John Peel Sessions 1979-1983 (Album of the Day)
From post-punk roots, Echo & The Bunnymen grew to become Liverpool's second most famous foursome with music that was darkly mysterious, sweepingly romantic and increasingly ambitious. BBC DJ John Peel was one of British alternative rock's leading tastemakers during the band's initial incarnation; as can be heard on THE JOHN PEEL SESSIONS 1979-1983, their paths crossed several times. The six radio dates with Peel take the group from its beginnings (when drum machine Echo was still supplying the beats) to its masterpiece OCEAN RAIN. Showcasing fiery performances and Ian McCullough's talent for improvising lyrics, these 20 recordings include revelatory versions of such Bunnymen favorites as “The Killing Moon,” “Seven Seas” and “Heaven Up Here.” Now available as a limited edition 2-LP set on 180-gram black vinyl, THE JOHN PEEL SESSIONS 1979-1983 is a collection no fan of the band should be without
And Now! (Album of the Day)
Both as backing band for some of the 1960s' biggest stars and as headliners in their own right, Booker T. & The M.G.'s represented the gold standard for instrumental soul. Their third studio album, AND NOW!, marked a new era for the Memphis group as original bassist Lewie Steinberg was replaced by Donald “Duck” Dunn on all 12 tracks. Along with such fine originals as minor R&B hit “My Sweet Potato,” the band leave their funky stamp on songs ranging from the traditional “Jericho” to show tune “Summertime” to 5 Royales/James Brown favorite “Think.” Stax Studio head Jim Stewart helmed the sessions for the 1966 collection, and he gives each player a chance to shine (Booker T. Jones' keyboards and Steve Cropper's guitar work are particularly impressive). We'll give the thoroughly enjoyable AND NOW! another spin to wish Jones a happy birthday.