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Believe (Album of the Day)
Among the most enduring artists in pop history, Cher reinvented herself yet again with BELIEVE. The 1998 Warner Bros. collection saw the performer embrace Euro-disco with spectacular results; its title track topped more than 20 charts worldwide, becoming one of the best selling singles ever. There's plenty more beyond that hit; reinforced by such top talent as producer Todd Terry and songwriter Diane Warren, Cher turns both dancefloor fillers (“Strong Enough”) and ballads (“Dov'e L'Amore”) into anthems of empowerment. Dedicated to ex-husband Sonny Bono (who had passed away that year), the set was nominated for three Grammy Awards, winning for Best Dance Recording. Listening to the multi-platinum album, you can't help but BELIEVE in Cher, and we'll give it another spin now to wish the singer a happy birthday.
Kill Uncle (Remastered) (Album of the Day)
Unwilling to be hamstrung by The Smiths' legacy, Morrissey experimented with new approaches on his second solo album, KILL UNCLE. Longtime producer Stephen Street is out, replaced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley behind the board, and Fairground Attraction guitarist Mark E. Nevin serves as a songwriting collaborator. The 1991 collection includes enough odd effects and unusual instrumentation to distinguish it from a Smiths record, but the sly turns of phrase here (“(I'm) The End Of The Family Line,” “There Is A Place In Hell For Me And My Friends”) could only have come from the pen of Morrissey. Featuring Modern Rock hits “Our Frank” and “Sing Your Life,” KILL UNCLE remains one of the most underrated albums by the mercurial performer, and we'll give it a spin now to wish him a happy birthday.
Cactus (Album of the Day)
An American supergroup, Cactus drew its rhythm section from Vanilla Fudge (bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice), its guitarist from The Detroit Wheels (Jim McCarty) and its singer from The Amboy Dukes (Rusty Day). The Long Island quartet mined the same musical territory that Led Zeppelin was exploring across the pond, and Cactus' first album remains a classic of heavy blues-rock. That eponymous 1970 Atco debut features six originals plus terrific covers of Mose Allison’s "Parchman Farm" and Willie Dixon’s "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover,” all of which offer the guys plenty of room to strut their vocal and instrumental stuff. Hard rock fans would do well to give this underrated quartet a listen – CACTUS will stick with you...
State of the World Address (Album of the Day)
Biohazard's third studio album, STATE OF THE WORLD ADDRESS, helped lift the Brooklyn band from underground favorites to mainstream commercial contenders. Helmed by Ramones producer Ed Stasium, the 1994 collection was the group's first for Warner Bros. Records, and their first to make the Billboard chart - though the quartet's mix of hardcore, metal and hip-hop remained as ferocious as ever. As you'd guess from the title, the music is also politically aware, and originals like the title track, “Down For Life” and “How It Is” (featuring Cypress Hill's Sen Dog) are blistering dispatches from the urban jungle. The final Biohazard album before the departure of founding guitarist Bobby Hambel, STATE OF THE WORLD ADDRESS was released 25 years ago today, and has lost none of its power.
And Then…Along Comes (Album of the Day)
On this day in 1967, viewers were treated to the TV debut of The Association, a harmony pop/folk-rock band then conquering the charts. The song that provided the title for the previous year's AND THEN … ALONG COMES THE ASSOCIATION had been a Top 10 single, and the album's centerpiece ballad “Cherish” reached the No.1 slot. But there's a lot more to love about the group's debut beyond these two songs; “Your Own Love,” "Changes," and “Standing Still” are just a few outstanding originals you might not hear on a greatest hits collection. Future Millennium mastermind Curt Boettcher produced the set, giving the sextet's soaring vocals (and some of L.A.'s top session players) plenty of room to shine. AND THEN … ALONG COMES would prove to be The Association's most successful studio album, and its consistent quality places it in the highest echelons of '60s pop.
Private Dancer (30th Anniversary) (Album of the Day)
Tina Turner's PRIVATE DANCER spurred one of the greatest comebacks of the 1980s – or perhaps “coming out” is a more appropriate description for the set that once and for all pulled the performer from the shadow of ex-husband/musical partner Ike Turner. As inspiring as its backstory of female empowerment is, the collection's huge success (it was certified 5x platinum in the U.S. alone) was all about the music. Originally released on this day in 1984, the album shows Turner embracing slicker pop/rock production without sacrificing any of her passion as a singer, and such songs as “What's Love Got to Do With It,” “Better Be Good To Me,” “Let's Stay Together” and the title track all became Top 40 hits. The PRIVATE DANCER - 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION includes the original album remastered along with a second disc of 12" mixes, B-sides, three non-album singles and a duet with Bryan Adams ("It's Only Love").
Physical Graffiti (Deluxe Edition) (Album of the Day)
Certified 16x platinum in the U.S., the commercial success of Led Zeppelin's PHYSICAL GRAFFITI was equaled by its critical reception. Generally regarded as one of the greatest double albums of all time, the original 15 tracks represent a creative tour de force that explores the band’s dynamic musical range, from the driving rock of “Custard Pie” and acoustic arrangement of “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp” to the Eastern raga of “Kashmir” and funky groove of “Trampled Under Foot.” The 40th anniversary Deluxe Edition of the classic collection was newly remastered by guitarist and producer Jimmy Page and includes a companion audio disc with seven unreleased tracks. Drummer John Bonham was born on this day in 1948 and in his honor, we'll fire up PHYSICAL GRAFFITI.
Back To Oakland (Album of the Day)
Tower of Power followed its 1973 self-titled album with BACK TO OAKLAND a year later, and the Warner Bros. collection might be even better than its breakthrough predecessor. Of course the Bay Area band's justly legendary horn section performs superbly, but the rhythm section kicks out some pretty tough grooves as well, and vocalist Lenny Williams really comes into his own here. Bookended by the wonderful “Oakland Stroke,” the gritty, soulful originals include such highlights as “Time Will Tell,” instrumental favorite “Squib Cakes” and Top 40 single “Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream).” Released 45 years ago and still mighty funky, BACK TO OAKLAND captures Tower of Power in its prime.
The Hollies Sing Dylan (Album of the Day)
Graham Nash may have left the band to focus on self-penned material, but don't hold that against THE HOLLIES SING DYLAN. With new recruit Terry Sylvester in place, the Manchester quintet apply their trademark harmonies to a dozen tracks covering the preeminent songwriter of their generation. It's a well-selected line-up of material; while there are a couple of famous folk-era favorites here, the set also includes two songs from the BLONDE ON BLONDE sessions (“Just Like A Woman,” “I Want You”) and three then-unreleased compositions that would later appear on THE BASEMENT TAPES. The Parlophone collection reached #3 on the U.K. album chart, and as it celebrates its 50th anniversary, THE HOLLIES SING DYLAN is ripe for rediscovery.
Celebration (Deluxe Edition) (Album of the Day)
The Warhol-esque pop-art cover of CELEBRATION salutes an artist whose 15 minutes of fame have now stretched to nearly 40 years. The career-spanning 2009 double-disc collection was Madonna's last for longtime label Warner Bros., distilling her output for the company to 36 highlights selected with input from fans. All the essentials are here along with a pair of single-only sides and two new songs: “Revolver” (with rapper Lil Wayne) and the Dance Club chart-topping title track. Sequenced for flow rather than chronology, the lineup offers a breathtaking parade of hits including “Holiday,” “Music,” “Express Yourself” and “Vogue.” In CELEBRATION of Pride 2019, we're turning up the volume on this Top 10, Gold-certified best-of from Madonna