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Zapp V (Album of the Day)
Ohio was a hotbed of funk in the '70s and '80s, and Zapp was one of Dayton's great contributions to the music. Built around the four Troutman brothers, the group signed to Warner Bros., releasing a string of albums for the label that concluded with ZAPP V, released 30 years ago this week. Also known as ZAPP VIBE, the collection was produced by frontman Roger Troutman, who had by then seen some solo success and whose trademark talk box is all over this set – most obviously on “I Play the Talk Box.” Other electro-funk favorites here include “Ain't the Thing to Do,” “Been This Way Before” and a cover of “Ooh Baby Baby” that gives the Smokey Robinson classic a whole new groove. The band's final studio album before Roger's untimely death, ZAPP V still provides plenty of bounce to the ounce.
Chicago Transit Authority (50th Anniversary Remix) (Album of the Day)
Chicago's debut album, CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY (self-titled at the time), was a groundbreaking double-LP that showcased the band's imaginative writing, proficient musicality and genre-blending mix of rock, jazz, funk and pop. The 1969 collection includes several of the group's most-enduring hits: "Beginnings," "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" and "Questions 67 and 68." The set topped the album chart (it remained on the chart for an amazing three-year run), was certified double platinum and earned the band a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. In celebration of the album's 50th anniversary, Chicago worked with mixing engineer Tim Jessup to remix the entire album; CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY (50th ANNIVERSARY REMIX) is now available on CD, 180-gram vinyl and in a limited, numbered edition on gold vinyl available exclusively through Rhino.com.
Open Mind (Album of the Day)
For his technique alone Jean-Luc Ponty would be acclaimed as one of the greatest violinists in jazz history, but his recordings reveal additional dimensions to his talent. Released 35 years ago this month, OPEN MIND is a perfect example; the self-produced set presents the man's virtuoso string work with adventurous electric backing including some hypnotic synthesizer arrangements. Though guitarist George Benson and keyboardist Chick Corea appear on a couple of tracks, Ponty himself is responsible for most of what you hear, playing several instruments and programming rhythm tracks. For all the electronics involved, the feel is warm, upbeat and melodic across these six originals from the titular opener to the closing “Intuition.” Fusion fans with an OPEN MIND will find this 1984 Atlantic collection irresistible.
California (Album of the Day)
Bay-area group Mr. Bungle took eclecticism to new heights, mixing a dizzying variety of styles on their records, and CALIFORNIA is no exception. The Warner Bros. collection includes more vintage popular musics in its mix of styles, and a stronger emphasis on melody, harmony and orchestration, making this perhaps the band's most accessible release. Which doesn't mean you'll hear “Sweet Charity,” “The Air-Conditioned Nightmare” or “Pink Cigarette” on the radio any time soon - Mike Patton and company have an experimental streak a mile wide. The weird and wonderful CALIFORNIA proved to be Mr. Bungle's final studio album; released 20 years ago this month, it's still way ahead of its time.
Holy Diver (Album of the Day)
Ronnie James Dio had already established himself as a world-class hard rock singer-songwriter through his work with Rainbow and Black Sabbath but it was HOLY DIVER that made him immortal. The 1983 solo debut features an outstanding set of originals ranging from fist-pumping anthems to gothic fantasies; “Rainbow in the Dark,” “Stand Up and Shout” and the title track all qualify as stone-cold classics. Though Ronnie James' name was front and center, Dio was a band, and the Warner Bros. collection benefits immeasurably from the powerhouse performances of guitarist Vivian Campbell, bassist Jimmy Bain and drummer Vinny Appice. Cited by Rolling Stones as one of the 100 greatest metal albums of all time, the platinum-certified HOLY DIVER is the perfect way to celebrate what would have been Ronnie James Dio's 77th birthday.
The Complete Yusef Lateef (Album of the Day)
Don't be fooled by the title: THE COMPLETE YUSEF LATEEF isn't a multi-disc career retrospective, but rather a studio set by the esteemed jazz man. Lateef's first album for Atlantic Records following a string of releases for Impulse offered a “complete” overview of the performer's musical outlook through seven songs covering an impressive amount of stylistic ground. The jazz here is flavored with Eastern sounds (“Rosalie”), blues (“In the Evening”) and New Orleans R&B (“Kongsberg”), and also includes “Stay With Me,” a lovely ballad drawn from a film score (to The Cardinal). THE COMPLETE YUSEF LATEEF was cut with producer Joel Dorn more than fifty years ago but its inviting approach still sounds fresh, and the collection remains among the saxophonist's best.
Running on Empty (Remastered) (Album of the Day)
Jackson Browne went on tour in 1977 with a remarkable group of musicians to create an album about the road, on the road; the result was RUNNING ON EMPTY, an album that is as brutally honest as it is achingly beautiful. Browne and his band (guitarist Danny Kortchmar; David Lindley on fiddle and lap steel guitar; keyboardist Craig Doerge; bassist Leland Sklar; drummer Russ Kunkel; and background vocalists Doug Haywood and Rosemary Butler) took an unconventional and, profoundly innovative approach to recording these 10 songs, opting for such natural settings as a Holiday Inn hotel room, a backstage rehearsal space and a tour bus as well as concert stages. Browne's biggest-selling album, the collection peaked at #3 on the Billboard chart and has been certified 7x Platinum by the RIAA. Released last month on CD and 180-gram vinyl, a new version of RUNNING ON EMPTY features meticulously remastered sound and a faithful reproduction of the original artwork.
The Sound of Wilson Pickett (Album of the Day)
That Alabama-born soul shouter Wilson Pickett could do no wrong in 1967 is borne out by THE SOUND OF WILSON PICKETT. Comprised of recent singles, the Atlantic collection was cut at Muscle Shoals' Fame Studios with Rick Hall, Tom Dowd and Jerry Wexler handling production chores and guitarist Chips Moman and keyboardist Spooner Oldham among the ace players backing Pickett. The Wicked One really sinks his teeth into these 11 songs, which include sizzling performances of “You Can't Stand Alone,” his old Falcons hit “I Found A Love” and Top 10 single “Funky Broadway.” Allmusic said THE SOUND OF WILSON PICKETT “may be his finest album performance of the entire decade,” and its consistent quality makes it hard to argue the point.
Prisoner in Disguise (Album of the Day)
Linda Ronstadt's final Capitol album was a commercial breakthrough for the performer, and PRISONER IN DISGUISE builds on that success. The 1975 Asylum album was another platinum-certified, Top 10 hit and it's easy to see why, from the well-chosen material to the terrific accompaniment to the matchless lead vocals. Producer Peter Asher convened a who's who of L.A. musical talent to join Linda in the studio, including Emmylou Harris, David Lindley, James Taylor, Lowell George and J. D. Souther - the last three of whom also supplied songs to the collection. The 11 tracks include a pair of Motown classics, country (“I Will Always Love You”) and even a reggae ballad (“Many Rivers to Cross”), all of which Ronstadt makes uniquely her own. We'll give PRISONER IN DISGUISE another spin now to wish the singer a happy birthday.
David Bowie (Album of the Day)
David Bowie's second album, self-titled like his first, brought the singer-songwriter a step closer to the sound and vision that would make him world famous. Co-produced by Tony Visconti, the 1969 collection features nine dense originals including “Memory of a Free Festival,” “Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed” and “Cygnet Committee,” hewing closer to hippie folk than the cabaret stylings of his debut and finally placing Bowie firmly in the rock camp. By far the most famous track here is “Space Oddity,” a U.K Top 10 single that would've been a hit even without the topicality provided by the Apollo 11 moon landing. The album was reissued under that title to greater success in 1972, and while DAVID BOWIE was not yet Ziggy Stardust, it's a major turning point in the career of one of music's greatest artists.