Content tagged 'aod'

Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock star as sister witches trying to break a curse that kills men who fall in love with them in romantic comedy PRACTICAL MAGIC. The 1998 film strikes a variety of tones, so its soundtrack is an eclectic brew of genres and artists. Along with score by composer Alan Silvestri, the tracks include romantic favorites by country (Faith Hill), R&B (Marvin Gaye) and rock (Elvis Presley) hitmakers as well as off-the-beaten-path selections from singer-songwriters Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell. Musical enchantress Stevie Nicks contributes a pair of performances: “If You Ever Did Believe” and a new version of her “Crystal” (both of which feature back-up vocals by Sheryl Crow). As perfectly matched to their scenes as these songs are, they're also plenty of fun on their own, and PRACTICAL MAGIC (MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE) will cast a spell over listeners.

“And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?” The amazing “Once In A Lifetime” only hinted at the burst of creativity on Talking Heads' REMAIN IN LIGHT. The 1980 Sire album finds the quartet incorporating African polyrhythms into its music, as well as making innovative use of loops and samples as instrumental tracks. Brian Eno returns as producer (guitarist Adrian Belew and funk keyboard great Bernie Worrell also contribute to the album), helping strike an appealing balance between danceable grooves (“Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On),” “Crosseyed And Painless”) and more experimental fare (“Houses In Motion,” “The Overload”). While outlets ranging from Rolling Stone to Pitchfork to Slant have called REMAIN IN LIGHT one of the best albums of the 1980s, it has a thrilling sense of discovery that remains of-the-moment.

IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR would be Led Zeppelin's final studio album before the group disbanded in the wake of John Bonham's death. Its seven songs (which include such classic rock radio anthems as “In The Evening” and “All My Love”) show the quartet adding Latin and country touches to their powerful blues-based rock, and John Paul Jones' synthesizers are as prominent here as Jimmy Page's riffing guitars. While the group members were exploring new directions, they never abandoned their core strengths and the 1979 set is a highly satisfying swan song for the legendary band. We'll give IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR another spin now to wish John Paul Jones a very happy birthday.

As a composer, performer and arranger, Van Dyke Parks has championed the rich history of American popular music in all its forms for nearly half a century, and JUMP! is one of his most delightful creations. The 1984 Warner Bros. collection uses the Uncle Remus folktales of Joel Chandler Harris as a jumping-off point, with Br'er Rabbit and his brethren as central characters in a song cycle of the South. Like the soundtrack to a Broadway musical of your dreams, the album couches Park's witty wordplay in such styles as bluegrass, ragtime, hot jazz and Tin Pan Alley, with a strong studio band (including such friends as Jennifer Warnes, Danny Hutton and Jim Keltner) behind the singer-songwriter. As Van Dyke Parks just celebrated a birthday, it's the perfect time to JUMP! into this rewarding record.

X marked the spot on the Los Angeles punk map, and when the band's 1980 debut for Slash Records hit the streets, it made the quartet standard-bearers for “the unheard music.” While LOS ANGELES was a bracing look forward, it also cast a backward glance at the city's rich rock history; Ray Manzarek of The Doors produced the set and contributes keyboards to a cover of “Soul Kitchen.” John Doe and Exene Cervenka's tales of urban desperation (“Johnny Hit and Run Paulene,” “Nausea”) remain indelible thanks to their careening, intertwined vocals and the spare, rockabilly-flavored drive of guitarist Billy Zoom and drummer D.J. Bonebrake. Named one of the 500 greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone, the electrifying LOS ANGELES still captivates listeners far beyond the City of Angels.

Most bands who'd experienced the success that Van Halen had wouldn't mess with the formula; fortunately the L.A. quartet wasn't like most bands. “Eddie Van Halen discovered the synthesizer” was how producer Ted Templeman explained the remarkable success of 1984, released 35 years ago today. While the Warner Bros. collection doesn't skimp on the group's trademark hard rock (“Panama," “Hot for Teacher”), the keyboard-driven “Jump” and “I'll Wait” are just as exhilarating. The former was Van Halen's first No.1 hit single, and the good-time anthem will still make you jump for joy when singer David Lee Roth takes his place against the record machine for the chorus. The final album by the original foursome, 1984 was also one of Van Halen's biggest hits, selling more than 10 million copies in the U.S alone.

Rod Stewart started the new millennium on a new label, Atlantic, with his nineteenth studio album, HUMAN. Fittingly, the 2001 collection shows the performer trying on new styles, in this case contemporary R&B and dance music. Working with a team of producers, Stewart sourced 11 fine songs including “Run Back Into Your Arms,” the Adult Contemporary charting “I Can't Deny It” and "Don't Come Around Here." The last of these features Helicopter Girl as a duet partner; elsewhere Rod recruits guitarists Slash, Mark Knopfler and Jesse Johnson to lend their talents to the cause. The Expanded Edition of HUMAN adds five bonus tracks including a version of Prince's “Peach”; we'll give the album a spin now to wish Rod Stewart a happy birthday.

Charleston-born singer-songwriter-guitarist Edwin McCain came up through the South Carolina rock scene on the heels of Hootie and the Blowfish, eventually joining that band on Atlantic Records in 1995. McCain's take on soulful rock was a little more muscular but no less appealing than Hootie's, as demonstrated by the success of MISGUIDED ROSES two years later. Co-produced by alternative hitmaker Matt Serletic (Matchbox Twenty, Collective Soul), the collection reflects the performer's growing confidence as a vocalist and writer – except for a James Taylor cover, all the dozen songs here are original. Among the highlights are “Holy City” (one of two tracks featuring guest Michael McDonald) and “I'll Be,” a Top 10 hit that popped up in soundtracks for years afterward, and MISGUIDED ROSES remains a fan favorite for good reason.

On July 21, 1969 The Doors played two concerts to packed audiences at the Aquarius Theatre on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. The shows were recorded but only one song from the opening set saw release on ABSOLUTELY LIVE; fans had to wait more than three decades to hear the whole thing on LIVE AT THE AQUARIUS – THE FIRST PERFORMANCE. In the aftermath of the notorious Miami bust, Jim Morrison and company tread cautiously at first but that doesn't last long - after such early favorites as “Break On Through (To the Other Side)” and “Soul Kitchen,” the group launches into powerhouse versions of then-new songs including “Build Me A Woman.” With plenty of encouragement from the hometown crowd, LIVE AT THE AQUARIUS captures the legendary band on a great night, and we'll bring it back for an encore to wish Doors guitarist Robby Krieger a happy birthday.

Born on this day in 1938, Allen Toussaint was one of the guiding lights of New Orleans music; as an arranger, producer or songwriter, he helped craft hits for Lee Dorsey, LaBelle, the Pointer Sisters and many others. But Toussaint also cut several albums of his own, and SOUTHERN NIGHTS is among his very best. The 1975 Reprise collection paints portraits of Louisiana life linked with interstitial instrumentals, giving the set a concept album feel, and trippy production touches bring out the surreal magic of the swamp. An ace backing band (including members of funk greats the Meters) really delivers the goods on such gems as the title track and “What Do You Want the Girl to Do?” - later covered by Glen Campbell and Boz Scaggs, respectively. Allen Toussaint's name may not be as famous as theirs, but the magnificent SOUTHERN NIGHTS ensures him a place in the '70s R&B pantheon.