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50th Anniversary: The Collection (Album of the Day)
Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek began as a young, wide-eyed trio that parlayed the runaway success of their #1 single "A Horse With No Name" into a string of hits in partnership with legendary producer George Martin. America celebrates its half-centennial this year with a compilation that follows the iconic Grammy-winning band to the top of the pop charts, across musical eras, and deep into the hearts of innumerable fans. The new 3-CD 50th ANNIVERSARY: THE COLLECTION brings the core of America's recorded legacy together with choice rarities like an early studio recording of “Ventura Highway,” a live performance of “Riverside,” and an unreleased demo for the #1 hit “Sister Golden Hair.” All seven albums that America recorded in the '70s with Warner Bros. Records are represented in the set, as are all of the band's Top 10 singles. For a limited time, Rhino.com will offer exclusive signed copies of 50th ANNIVERSARY: THE COLLECTION.
Originals (Album of the Day)
By the mid-1980s, Prince was dominating the charts even as a writer/producer with songs he'd composed and recorded for others. In addition to releasing nine of his most commercially successful full-length albums, he also wrote and recorded endless reels of material for proteges. Released last month, ORIGINALS features 15 tracks – all but one previously unreleased - that illuminate the vital, behind-the-scenes role Prince played in other artists' careers. Among the iconic songs here are “The Glamorous Life,” “Manic Monday,” “Jungle Love” and “Love... Thy Will Be Done,” which became considerable hits when recorded by Sheila E., The Bangles, The Time and Martika. ORIGINALS pulls back the curtain to reveal the origins of these familiar songs, in addition to deeper album cuts by such performers as Vanity 6, Jill Jones and Kenny Rogers.
Welcome to My Nightmare (Album of the Day)
If Alice Cooper didn't invent shock rock, he surely perfected it with such albums as WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE. The Coop's stage show is justifiably legendary, replete with boa constrictors, guillotines and other Grand Guignol theatrics, and this 1975 Atlantic collection is its aural equivalent - a loosely conceptual set exploring a child's dark dreams. With guitarists Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter supplying the firepower, this NIGHTMARE features plenty of hard rock (“Cold Ethyl,” “The Black Widow”), but there are also quieter moments like the hit ballad “Only Women Bleed,” and thanks to Bob Ezrin's elaborate production it all flows together perfectly. We wish you a happy Halloween with the Top Ten classic WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE.
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (Album of the Day)
David Bowie's first album of the 1980s, SCARY MONSTERS (AND SUPER CREEPS) offers both a backward glance and a look forward. It was the performer's final RCA album, co-produced by longtime collaborator Tony Visconti, and fans will hear echoes of “Heroes” and “Space Oddity” in “Teenage Wildlife” and hit single “Ashes to Ashes.” But as the Japanese vocals on opener “It's No Game (No. 1)” make clear, Bowie is out to challenge listeners as well. The end result is unusual but accessible art rock, pairing the singer with such top instrumentalists as guitarists Carlos Alomar and Robert Fripp and E Street Band keyboardist Roy Bittan. Halloween is the season for SCARY MONSTERS, so we'll give the acclaimed U.K. chart-topper another spin now...
Cabbage Alley (Album of the Day)
The Meters moved from the small Josie label to Reprise Records for CABBAGE ALLEY, a step up in distribution that brought a wider audience to New Orleans' greatest funk band. The group's Josie hits had largely been instrumentals but much of this 1972 collection, co-produced by the estimable Allen Toussaint, features the sturdy vocals of Art Neville. Though there's no shortage of funky grooves, The Meters broaden their sound considerably in both material and arrangements; the socially conscious “Lonesome and Unwanted People” and a Neil Young cover (“Birds”) touched on singer-songwriter territory, while Leo Nocentelli's fiery guitar leads on tracks like opener “You've Got To Change (You've Got To Reform)” reveal the influence of hard rock. The playing is terrific throughout CABBAGE ALLEY, further solidifying The Meters' reputation as one of the tightest bands on the planet.
Red Octopus (Album of the Day)
With RED OCTOPUS, Jefferson Starship had an album that could rival anything from their previous incarnation as Jefferson Airplane. The 1975 collection marked the return to the fold of that band's co-founder, Marty Balin, who brought with him several fine songs including the smash hit “Miracles.” As significant as his contribution is, the album is very much a team effort; Grace Slick provides such high points as follow-up single “Play on Love” and “Fast Buck Freddie,” and strong instrumentals from Papa John Creach and Pete Sears add variety to the ballad-laden track list. A supremely listenable hybrid of pop and AOR, RED OCTOPUS soared to the top of the Billboard chart, and we'll give the double-platinum set a spin to wish Slick a happy birthday.
ONE STEP BEYOND (Album of the Day)
Named after a Prince Buster song, Madness was among the most successful ska revival bands to emerge from England in the late 1970s. Released just over 40 years ago, debut album ONE STEP BEYOND captures the London sextet at its exuberant best (the collection also marks the debut of the Clive Langer - Alan Winstanley production team, who would later helm albums by Elvis Costello, Morrissey, David Bowie and others). “The Prince,” “Night Boat to Cairo” and the title track are but a few of the winners on the Sire set, which spent more than a year on the U.K. album chart, peaking at #2. Suggs and company declared their manic mash-up of styles “the heavy-heavy monster sound … the nuttiest sound around,” and if the gleeful ONE STEP BEYOND doesn't make you want to kick up your heels, you'd better check your pulse...
Paris Encounter (Album of the Day)
With an innovative 4-mallet technique and 7 Grammys to his name, Gary Burton is among the most distinguished vibraphonists in jazz. Violinist Stéphane Grappelli's tenure as a jazz great stretches back to his landmark recordings with guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 1930s. Burton and Grappelli joined forces in 1969 for PARIS ENCOUNTER, a superb set that makes you wish they'd collaborated more often. Joined by bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Goodwin, the two headliners mesh beautifully on a mix of originals (“Eiderdown”) and well-chosen standards (“Here's That Rainy Day,” “Coquette”). Perhaps the most accessible of Burton's Atlantic releases, PARIS ENCOUNTER was recorded in that city at Studio Europe Sonor 50 years ago today.
The Soft Parade (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (Album of the Day)
The Doors’ fourth studio album, THE SOFT PARADE, became the band’s fourth straight Top Ten album when it was released in 1969. Incorporating brass and string arrangements on several tracks, the Elektra collection features such favorites as “Wild Child” and Touch Me,” one of the group’s biggest hits. Rhino commemorates the album’s 50th anniversary with a new 3-CD/1-LP set that includes the original studio release newly remastered by longtime Doors engineer Bruce Botnick, B-side “Who Scared You” and more than a dozen unreleased songs (stripped down “Doors Only” versions of orchestrated tracks, rehearsals and outtakes among them). THE SOFT PARADE: 50TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION also includes a hand-numbered 36x18 lithograph of the interior vinyl gatefold artwork – but only if purchased at Rhino.com while supplies last.