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Rod Stewart: 1975-1978 (Album of the Day)
After brilliant stints with the Jeff Beck Group and the Faces and several outstanding solo albums, Rod Stewart moved to Los Angeles in 1974 and signed with Warner Bros. Records. ROD STEWART 1975-1978 reflects the burst of creativity that followed, starting with ATLANTIC CROSSING, produced (along with Stewart's next three albums) by the legendary Tom Dowd. That four-album late-'70s run was one of the performer's most successful; after his label debut was certified gold, A NIGHT ON THE TOWN went double-platinum, and FOOT LOOSE & FANCY FREE went triple-platinum, as did follow-up BLONDES HAVE MORE FUN - Stewart's first #1 album. Along with newly remastered versions of these, the new five-LP boxed set ROD STEWART 1975-1978 includes a bonus disc of 10 outtakes selected from the recording sessions for all four albums.
Live At Carnegie Hall Deluxe Edition (Album of the Day)
Among the most important figures in 20th century American music, Charles Mingus was a virtuoso bass player, band leader and composer. LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL shows the jazz icon's skills to remarkable effect – along with the talents of such players as saxophonist Rahsaan Roland Kirk, pianist Don Pullen and trumpeter Jon Faddis. Recorded on January 19, 1974, the Atlantic collection was initially released as a single LP with one long track per side (“C Jam Blues” and “Perdido”), leaving most of the concert on the cutting room floor. In honor of Black Music Month, the new 2-CD LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL DELUXE EDITION presents the complete performance in its original order for the first time with more than 72 minutes of unreleased material.
The Queen is Dead (Album of the Day)
The Smiths cherry-picked elements from postwar British pop to make some of the most adventurous alternative rock of the 1980s; singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr combined encyclopedic musical knowledge with a literate, contemporary outlook to create songs that sounded classic but felt new. THE QUEEN IS DEAD shows the catholic tastes that informed the group's work on 10 tracks including such varied and distinctive originals as “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” and the single “The Boy With The Thorn In His Side.” Released 35 years ago today, the Sire set is widely considered to be the Manchester quartet's finest hour. THE QUEEN IS DEAD – long live The Smiths!
The Getaway (Album of the Day)
Released five years ago today, THE GETAWAY marked a new chapter for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who tapped Danger Mouse to helm the Warner Bros. collection after nearly a quarter-century with Rick Rubin. Though the band had a couple dozen songs written for the album, plans changed after a snowboarding accident sidelined Flea and their new producer suggested the group write additional songs in the studio. The approach paid off with such outstanding tracks as “Dark Necessities,” the electro-influenced “Go Robot” and “Sick Love” (which features piano work by Elton John). Among the quartet's most sonically nuanced and diverse sets, THE GETAWAY debuted in the Top 10 and showed the Chili Peppers still have some amazing tricks up their sleeves.
Dirty Computer (Album of the Day)
Janelle Monáe's DIRTY COMPUTER was among the final projects that Prince worked on and the Atlantic set has an ambition and inclusive approach to genre that would've made the Purple One proud. While still displaying some of the concept-album moves of her two preceding collections, there's more of Monáe in this one; its outspoken lyrics and confident delivery are clearly personal. Among the many highlights here are “Make Me Feel,” “Crazy, Classic, Life” and female-empowerment anthem “Pynk,” which features vocals by Grimes (other notable guests include Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder and Pharrell Williams). A Top 10 hit that garnered an Album of the Year Grammy nomination, DIRTY COMPUTER was cited by such outlets as The Associated Press, NPR and Time magazine as one of 2018's best, and it's still a knockout.
Together (Album of the Day)
Released in 1977 as the disco era was near its peak, TOGETHER was Sister Sledge's second album and shows the quartet well on their way to becoming dance-floor icons. Recorded at New York City's Power Station with producers (and Silver Convention masterminds) Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay, the Cotillion collection has uptempo numbers like “Blockbuster Boy” and “Cream of the Crop” to get you moving and a high funk factor thanks to a couple of Stevie Wonder and Allen Toussaint covers as well as “Do the Funky Do,” one of three Sister-penned songs here. Including ballads and the Brazilian-tinged “Can't Mess Around with Love,” there's much beyond Eurodisco here, and TOGETHER Kathy, Debbie, Joni and Kim Sledge harmonize as beautifully as ever.
The Divine Feminine (Album of the Day)
Released 5 years ago today, THE DIVINE FEMININE was Mac Miller's exploration of relationships both romantic and platonic. The Warner Bros. collection pairs the alternative rapper with a legion of top producers (including Dâm-Funk, DJ Dahi and Frank Dukes) and the star power extends to the microphone as well, with Kendrick Lamar, CeeLo Green and Ariana Grande among the many guests. Mac sings and raps from the heart on such tracks as “Dang!,” “We” and “My Favorite Part,” and the album really connected with listeners, reaching #2 on the Billboard chart. We'll leave the last word on THE DIVINE FEMININE to Pitchfork, which said, “It's easily his most intoxicating release yet, an odyssey of soulful compositions paring down his expansive and eclectic soundboard from the last few years into something distinctly cozy and pleasant.”
I Got a Name (Album of the Day)
By the time of I GOT A NAME, Jim Croce's name was well established as a hitmaker and storyteller par excellence. Unfortunately, this fifth album would prove to be his last - the beloved singer-songwriter died in a plane crash on this day in 1973, a few months before the collection's release. While the tragic circumstances may have influenced sales of the Cashman-West-produced set (which reached No.2 on the Billboard chart), the high quality of the 11 tracks were sufficient to ensure success. The classic title track (originally recorded for the film The Last American Hero), “I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song” and “Workin' at the Car Wash Blues” were all Top 40 singles, and even the deepest album cuts shine with humanity and fine craftsmanship. As we remember Jim Croce, I GOT A NAME is a poignant reminder of the enduring appeal of his music.
Peace Beyond Passion (Album of the Day)
Born Michelle Lynn Johnson in Berlin, Me'shell Ndegeocello was one of the first signings to Madonna's Maverick imprint, and the buzz generated by her acclaimed debut for the label only grew with sophomore set PEACE BEYOND PASSION. The 1996 collection spun off three singles that reached Billboard's Dance Music/Club Play chart: “Stay,” “Leviticus: Faggot” and a cover of Bill Withers' “Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?,” which hit #1 on that chart. And while the grooves coursing through her music are undeniably danceable (Me'shell is a talented bassist as well as a singer-songwriter), there's also a dream-like feel to the multi-layered arrangements and thoughtful lyrics that adds to the allure. PEACE BEYOND PASSION was a Grammy nominee for Best R&B Album and remains Ndegeocello's most commercially successful collection.
Abacab (Album of the Day)
For their 11th album, ABACAB, the members of Genesis were determined to try new things, and the collection became the first produced by the group and the first recorded at their recently purchased Surrey studio, The Farm. While their prog-rock roots are still evident on such cuts as “Dodo/Lurker,” the set was the band's most accessible to date, thanks to engineer Hugh Padgham's radio-friendly sheen and hook-filled songs including the title track, “Man On The Corner” and “No Reply At All,” which features the Earth Wind & Fire horn section. Released 40 years ago this month, ABACAB was Genesis' first Top 10 hit in America, and the double-platinum album turned the trio into one of the biggest bands of the 1980s.