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A Collection (Album of the Day)
Emerging from San Francisco's alternative rock scene in the 1990s, Third Eye Blind signed to Elektra Records for a self-titled debut that went multi-Platinum. In celebration of 25 years as a band, 3EB’s 2006 greatest hits compilation, A COLLECTION, has just been released as a double LP. Available on vinyl for the first time, the set’s 19-tracks were selected from the group’s first three studio albums (1997-2003) and include their biggest singles mixed with a few rarities and fan favorites. From such Top 10 hits as “Semi-Charmed Life” and “Jumper” to deeper cuts like the version of “Slow Motion” with lyrics, A COLLECTION is an ideal introduction to a band whose music is as catchy as it is thoughtful.
Holy Diver (Super Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
Among the greatest heavy metal singers ever, Ronnie James Dio provided vocals and lyrics for iconic rock albums with Black Sabbath and Rainbow before establishing his own band Dio as a metal force with their 1983 debut HOLY DIVER. A Platinum-certified smash and one of the late singer-songwriter’s most groundbreaking achievements, the collection was both a critical and commercial success. Featuring timeless classics “Rainbow In The Dark” and the title track, the set ranks #16 on Rolling Stone’s current list of “100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time.” To celebrate what would have been Ronnie's 80th birthday, a Super Deluxe Edition of HOLY DIVER has just been released, including a new mix of the album made by Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Slipknot) and unreleased live performances, outtakes and single sides.
Songbird (Album of the Day)
Christine McVie was not only the songwriter and vocalist for many of Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hits, but she also released some stunning solo albums. The very first compilation to spotlight that side of her career, SONGBIRD (A SOLO COLLECTION) features choice selections from 1984’s CHRISTINE MCVIE and 2004’s IN THE MEANTIME, carefully remastered by legendary producer Glyn Johns. The set also includes previously unreleased studio recordings - “All You Gotta Do,” a duet with George Hawkins, “Slowdown,” originally slated for a film soundtrack, and a new orchestral version of the classic title track. Christine McVie just celebrated a birthday, and in her honor we'll let the new SONGBIRD sing.
Eagles Live (Album of the Day)
For the final album on their Elektra/Asylum contract, Eagles delivered their first concert recording, EAGLES LIVE. Drawn from several shows including 1976 L.A. Forum gigs with former member Randy Meisner, the 1980 double LP leans most heavily on meticulously recreated (and partially overdubbed) versions of favorites from HOTEL CALIFORNIA and THE LONG RUN. Beyond greatest-hits territory, there are also a couple of Joe Walsh solo songs and “Seven Bridges Road,” a showcase of the band's immaculate harmonies that became a Top 40 single - the album as a whole was a Top 10, multi-Platinum smash. Though Eagles eventually reunited, this was for many years the last word from the legendary group, and we'll cue it up now to wish singer-songwriter-drummer Don Henley a happy 75th birthday.
Rock 'N Soul (Album of the Day)
Jet magazine was right on the money when it called Solomon Burke the “King of Rock 'n' Soul” in January, 1964. The Philadelphia-born singer's debut album for Atlantic Records was released later that year and features rock, soul and even a little swamp pop, all sung in an inimitable voice that garnered Burke such admirers as The Rolling Stones. The set is sort of a “best-of” collection of his work going back almost three years, and most of its dozen tracks reached the Billboard Top 100 singles chart, including hits like “Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms),” “Cry to Me” and "If You Need Me.” Twenty years ago, this was declared “Solomon Burke Day” in Philadelphia but the outstanding ROCK ‘N SOUL is a monument to the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer that can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere.
Stay Hungry (Album of the Day)
STAY HUNGRY was an appropriate title for Twisted Sister's breakthrough album; the band had spent nearly a decade clawing its way up from the clubs of New York and New Jersey. The quintet's insistent glam metal was ready for its close-up by the time of the collection's 1984 release – and so was frontman Dee Snider, whose garish make-up and flamboyant costumes were perfect for the then-new MTV. None of that would have mattered if the set's nine originals didn't rock ferociously, but they sure did, with “The Price” and hit singles “I Wanna Rock” and “We're Not Gonna Take It” among the highlights. Twisted Sister's Jay Jay French just celebrated his 70th birthday, and we'll salute the guitarist by turning STAY HUNGRY up to 11.
The Party's Over (Album of the Day)
For U.K. New Wave faves Talk Talk, the party was just beginning with THE PARTY’S OVER. The London quartet's 1982 debut was helmed by Duran Duran producer Colin Thurston, and while the two groups earned frequent comparisons, Mark Hollis' vocals and his songs' rich emotional terrain were distinctive even at this early stage. “Mirror Man,” “Today” and “Talk Talk” were the singles, but superb musicianship and inventive arrangements ensure that quality remains high across this set. There's a new Rhino reissue of THE PARTY’S OVER out now on gray vinyl and any fan of sophisticated synth-pop would do well to pick it up.
Yes (Album of the Day)
Yes had been together for about a year when their self-titled debut was released on this day in 1969. The band's initial line-up featured Peter Banks on guitar and Tony Kaye on keyboards and its promise was clear on the Atlantic collection, an impressive mix of progressive rock, jazz and psychedelia. Along with such originals as “Sweetness” and “Looking Around,” the set includes knockout covers of The Beatles' “Every Little Thing” and The Byrds' “I See You,” and the quintet's vocal and instrumental virtuosity is on full display throughout. While the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers would scale even greater heights, this first longplayer remains rewarding; the great Lester Bangs called it “the kind of album that sometimes insinuates itself into your routine with a totally unexpected thrust of musical power” - to which we can only say YES.
Terrapin Station (Album of the Day)
After releases on their own label, Grateful Dead signed with then-new Arista Records to release TERRAPIN STATION on this day in 1977. Company president Clive Davis wanted something commercial and to that end enlisted Keith Olsen – formerly of The Music Machine and more recently Fleetwood Mac's producer – to work with the band. The orchestral and choral touches he added may have been unusual for the Dead, but top-notch material was not, and the collection includes such future concert staples as “Estimated Prophet,” the side-long title suite and an outstanding take on Rev. Gary Davis' “Samson and Delilah.” Following a two-year hiatus from touring, the set was a success, bringing the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers a Gold record. Next stop on their long, strange trip: TERRAPIN STATION.
Waiting for Columbus (Album of the Day)
The platinum-certified double album WAITING FOR COLUMBUS cemented Little Feat’s reputation as one of the premier live bands of the 1970s. Touching on songs from all six of the studio albums the group released between 1971 and 1977, the dynamic performances showcase the sextet’s inimitable fusion of blues, country, jazz and New Orleans R&B on signature tracks like “Fat Man In The Bathtub,” “Oh Atlanta” and “Sailin’ Shoes.” With singer-guitarist Lowell George front and center, the band recorded several shows in the U.K. and U.S. during their 1977 summer tour with the Tower of Power horn section in support. Out now, WAITING FOR COLUMBUS: SUPER DELUXE EDITION adds three previously unreleased concerts from that tour to a newly remastered version of the classic original set.