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Soul Brothers/Soul Meeting (Album of the Day)
Sixty years ago today, Ray Charles and Modern Jazz Quartet vibraphonist Milt “Bags” Jackson convened in Atlantic Record's New York City studio to cut the title track to SOUL BROTHERS with producer Nesuhi Ertegun. The performers also teamed for 1961's SOUL MEETING, and this handy two-fer gathers all the recordings they made together. In spite of the titles, the music leans more toward jazz than R&B, but the smooth and relaxing sounds here are just as effective as Brother Ray's more raucous hits. The chemistry between the two men is strong on these 14 predominantly original tracks, and both prove versatile instrumentalists - keyboardist Charles blows a mean alto saxophone on "Soul Brothers” and Jackson lights up the frets on “Bag's Guitar Blues.” With stellar support (from such virtuosos as bassist Oscar Pettiford and guitarist Kenny Burrell), SOUL BROTHERS/SOUL MEETING is a great way to hear “the Genius” after hours...
Ready To Die The Remaster (Album of the Day)
Released on this day in 1994, The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album READY TO DIE is a landmark of East Coast gangsta rap. Biggie and producer Sean "Puffy" Combs had begun work on such songs as “Gimme the Loot,” “Things Done Changed” and the title track the preceding year for another label; by the time they returned to the studio to cut these versions, the rapper's confidence and flow had improved immeasurably. A look at the allure and danger of the thug life, the album tells its frequently grim tales with the cinematic detail and emotional perspective that could only come from a veteran of the streets. READY TO DIE has been cited by the likes of The Source, Rolling Stone and Time as one of the greatest albums of the 1990s; the remastered version adds bonus tracks “Who Shot Ya” and “Just Playing (Dreams)” to the original.
Homogenic (Album of the Day)
After establishing herself as one of alternative music's most eclectic and unpredictable artists, Bjork decided to make an album of “only one flavour,” and thus was born HOMOGENIC. Recorded in Spain with such producers as Mark Bell and Howie B behind the boards, the 1997 collection features soundscapes defined by techno beats, the Icelandic String Octet … and some bleak emotional depths. Recent personal upheavals leave their mark on such melancholic songs as “Hunter” and “Bachelorette,” though rays of light still shine through in the Icelandic ode “Jóga” and closing “All Is Full Of Love.” The set drew near universal acclaim upon release, and today we'll give the gold-certified HOMOGENIC another spin to wish Bjork a happy birthday.
The Clovers (Album of the Day)
Longtime members of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Clovers came together in Washington, D.C. shortly after WWII. By 1951 the band had landed a contract with Atlantic Records; their self-titled debut album followed five years later and, like the label's other early longplayers, strung together existing single sides. Though cut with several different group lineups, THE CLOVERS is consistently strong, and all but three of the 14 tracks were Top 10 R&B hits, including “Devil Or Angel,” “Hey, Miss Fannie,” “Ting-A-Ling” and “Love, Love, Love.” Whether on ballads or uptempo cuts, the smooth harmonizing, rambunctious rhythms and bluesy guitar playing of Bill Harris rarely miss, and anyone interested in the roots of 1950s rock should pick up THE CLOVERS.
It's My Life (Album of the Day)
With their second album, 1984's IT'S MY LIFE, British band Talk Talk continued to grow beyond their synth-pop roots, successfully incorporating live instruments and world music grooves. Following the departure of their original keyboardist, the group was technically a trio, but the arrival of Tim Friese-Greene, who produced the set and co-wrote three of its 9 songs, more than compensates. Highlights include “Dum Dum Girl,” “Such A Shame,” “Does Caroline Know?” and the title track, which would eventually become the group's most successful U.K. single (and would famously be covered by No Doubt years later). Hinting at Talk Talk's future experimentation while remaining accessible, IT'S MY LIFE was a Top Ten hit in much of Europe upon release, and has just been reissued on vinyl here in America.
Shabooh Shoobah (Album of the Day)
As INXS continued its climb to rock stardom, SHABOOH SHOOBAH represents the point where the summit first came into view for the Australian sextet; the 1982 collection was their first to be released worldwide, and reached the upper half of the Billboard 200. INXS was already a powerful live act, and veteran hard rock producer Mark Opitz capitalizes on that energy, giving the group more punch than most of their New Wave contemporaries. The 10 originals show the band members – guitarist Andrew Farriss and singer Michael Hutchence in particular – coming into their own as songwriters, and “The One Thing” and “Don't Change” both charted in America. Hutchence passed away 20 years ago today, and we'll remember the dynamic frontman with SHABOOH SHOOBAH.
Portrait Of Carmen (Album of the Day)
Among the 20th century's most revered jazz vocalists, Carmen McRae recorded nearly 60 albums across four decades, and PORTRAIT OF CARMEN falls near the middle of that illustrious output. Recording sessions for the set, the singer's third for the Atlantic label, began in Los Angeles 50 years ago today, and capture soulful performances informed by the tumultuous changes in the air in 1967. McRae's mastery of phrasing (and occasional subtle irony) is brought to bear on 11 well-chosen tracks ranging from contemporary pop ("Elusive Butterfly"), standards ("Day By Day") and a pair of songs by Gene Di Novi, part of a team of top-flight arrangers and accompanists that also includes such greats as Benny Carter, Buddy Collette and Earl Palmer. On PORTRAIT OF CARMEN, McRae fills a broad musical canvas with passion and sophistication.
Sunshine On Leith (Album of the Day)
The Proclaimers are identical twins Craig and Charlie Reid, and the brothers' hometown in Scotland inspired the name of their second album, SUNSHINE ON LEITH. Sunny vibes pervade most of these stirring 13 songs, whose stripped-down pub rock is enlivened by Scottish folk influences. The track that shines brightest is surely "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" which, some five years after the album's 1988 release, became a No.3 U.S. hit thanks to its inclusion in the Benny & Joon soundtrack. But there's plenty more to enjoy beyond that well-known single, with fine originals like "I'm On My Way," "Oh Jean" and the title track joined by a pair of appealing covers (Steve Earle's "My Old Friend The Blues" and Roger Miller's "King Of The Road"). SUNSHINE ON LEITH was re-released last month on vinyl, and remains invigorating from beginning to end.
Hallowed Ground (Album of the Day)
The average band would've followed up a successful first album with something similar, but Violent Femmes are hardly average, and HALLOWED GROUND is distinct from the trio's classic debut but just as engrossing. Cut at New York's Secret Sound Studio with producer Mark Van Hecke, the 1984 Slash set features cathartic folk-punk tinged with dark Americana, and opener "Country Death Song" sets the tone for the Femmes' approach here. To judge from such harrowing originals as "Never Tell," singer-songwriter Gordon Gano still carries scars from his religious upbringing (his father was a Baptist minister), and the brisk rhythms of bassist Brian Ritchie and drummer Victor DeLorenzo add to the songs' impact. HALLOWED GROUND stands as one of the 1980s' starkest and most powerful alternative rock albums.
San Siro 2007 (Album of the Day)
Among the most successfully pop vocalists in Italy, Laura Pausini was cutting records before she got her high school diploma, and has so far sold more than 70 million albums worldwide, singing in Italian and Spanish. On June 2, 2007, Pausini became the first female artist to sell out the San Siro soccer stadium in Milan, a performance released on CD and DVD as SAN SIRO 2007. The singer–songwriter's second live collection features songs from her two most recent albums along with medleys of hits, offering an excellent distillation of her career to that point. The mezzo-soprano is in superb form, the 70,000-strong crowd appreciative and the sound pristine throughout – despite a rainstorm during the concert. SAN SIRO 2007 was released 10 years ago today, and if you're curious about the global phenomenon that is Laura Pausini, it's a good place to start.