Content tagged ''
Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front (Album of the Day)
After debuting with Leaders of the New School, Brooklyn-born Busta Rhymes quickly emerged as one of the most inventive performers in hip-hop. Going solo in the mid-1990s, Busta signed with Elektra for a string of acclaimed albums, of which EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT: THE FINAL WORLD FRONT was his third. If its themes run toward the apocalyptic (the cover image was reportedly inspired by disaster movie Deep Impact), Rhymes rings in the end of the world with a wild party. And it's a party with a pretty broad guest list; film composer Bernard Herrmann is sampled on “Gimme Some More,” Ozzy Osbourne joins in on “This Means War!!” and Top 10 hit “What's It Gonna Be?!” features Janet Jackson. EXTINCTION LEVEL EVENT was released 30 years ago this week, and Busta delivers some of his fastest, most outrageous rhymes on the platinum-certified, Grammy-nominated collection.
The Best is Yet to Come (Album of the Day)
Born on this day 75 years ago, saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. was a pioneer of smooth jazz whose records remain wonderful listening. Case in point: 1982's THE BEST IS YET TO COME, which reached the R&B Top 10 as well as the No.1 slot on the Jazz chart. As with Washington's earlier WINELIGHT, the collection includes an irresistible single; the title track is driven by one of Patti Labelle's best-ever vocals. While Bobby McFerrin is also among the guest singers (“Things Are Getting Better”), it's the instrumental work by Grover and company – bassist Marcus Miller, keyboardist Richard Tee and percussionist Ralph McDonald are among the players here – that keeps the grooves flowing. Mellow, soulful and featuring a variety of tempos and arrangements that are always light on their feet, THE BEST IS YET TO COME is a terrific display of Washington's talents as songwriter, producer and performer.
Movements (Album of the Day)
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Johnny Harris had racked up a long list of credits as composer, producer and arranger for other artists before getting his own record deal with Warner Bros. His 1970 debut for the label, MOVEMENTS, drew raves from Melody Maker and Disc & Music Echo, which enthused “Here are some of the best arrangements ever hear from a British band, on a well-balanced selection of hits and originals.” Among the former are radical reworkings of “Give Peace A Chance” and “Paint It Black”; among the latter are such highlights as “Fragment Of Fear,” “Footprints On The Moon” and the flute-driven “Stepping Stones.” MOVEMENTS is jam-packed with funky grooves, strong melodies and memorable breaks, and stands among the very best U.K. instrumental albums of its era
Never Say Die! (Remastered Edition) (Album of the Day)
Despite its title, NEVER SAY DIE! proved to be the final album from the original lineup of Black Sabbath until the group's reunion some 20 years later. The 1978 collection was recorded in the bitter cold of Toronto under difficult circumstances; frontman Ozzy Osbourne had briefly quit the band before sessions began, and left again shortly after the set's release. As beleaguered as the quartet may have felt in the studio, many Sabbath fans (including Soundgarden's Kim Thayil) have a soft spot for the underrated album, and such highlights as the experimental “Air Dance,” “Hard Road” and the storming title track show why. If you're looking for a Black Sabbath record to play on Halloween, ignore the obvious choices and give another listen to the gold-certified NEVER SAY DIE!
SONG OF THE DAY - "Werewolves of London" (Album of the Day)
Before he'd achieved stardom, one of Warren Zevon's day jobs was performing in the Everly Brothers backing band; at one point, Phil Everly mentioned a horror movie he'd seen the night before and the seed of “Werewolves Of London” was planted. Initially written as a goof, the song was later performed in concert by T-Bone Burnett and Jackson Browne, encouraging Zevon to commit it to tape himself. Cut for 1978's EXCITABLE BOY album, the track required numerous attempts and a rotating cast of musicians (Fleetwood Mac's John McVie and Mick Fleetwood play bass and drums here) to finally get right. The resulting single spent a month in the Top 40, becoming the singer-songwriter's most famous recording, and to wish you a happy Halloween, “Werewolves Of London” is our Song of the Day.
Solo Anthology: The Best of Lindsey Buckingham (Album of the Day)
A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and 3-time Grammy winner, Lindsey Buckingham is best known as the producer, guitarist, vocalist and chief songwriter for Fleetwood Mac and as a widely celebrated solo artist. The latter aspect of his illustrious career is the focus of the 3-disc set SOLO ANTHOLOGY: THE BEST OF LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM. The new collection includes album, live and alternate versions drawing from 1981's LAW AND ORDER, his 2017 collaborative album with Christine McVie and all points in-between. The set also highlights the performer's film work (like “Holiday Road” from National Lampoon's Vacation) and live versions of Fleetwood Mac favorites. Even more exciting for fans, Buckingham's SOLO ANTHOLOGY features two new songs, “Hunger” and “Ride This Road.”
Loving the Alien (Album of the Day)
DAVID BOWIE LOVING THE ALIEN (1983-1988) is the fourth in a series of award-winning and critically acclaimed boxed sets spanning the legendary performer's career from 1969. Focusing on Bowie's most commercially successful period, the new 11-CD collection includes remastered versions of LET'S DANCE, TONIGHT, NEVER LET ME DOWN and the live GLASS SPIDER. The set also features a disc of contemporaneous dance remixes and one of rare non-album sides and soundtrack songs. LOVING THE ALIEN has plenty of previously unreleased material as well – a concert recording from the 1983 Serious Moonlight tour and a brand new production of NEVER LET ME DOWN overseen by Bowie producer/engineer Mario McNulty.
SONG OF THE DAY - "Walk Right Back" (Album of the Day)
Elvis wasn't the only rock and roller drafted into the Army; former Crickets guitarist Sonny Curtis was performing in the Everly Brothers' backing band when he got the call in 1959. Curtis was also a talented songwriter, and when he got a 3-day pass during basic training at Fort Ord, he paid the Everlys a visit in Hollywood and played them his latest song: “Walk Right Back.” Phil & Don quickly worked up their trademark harmonies, entered a recording studio – on this day in 1960 – and emerged with a Top 10 hit. Later covered by artists including Anne Murray, Andy Williams and The Move, “Walk Right Back” is an early rock evergreen, and it's our Song of the Day.
Chicago II - Live On Soundstage (Album of the Day)
Originally released in January 1970, CHICAGO II was a major breakthrough for the legendary rock band with horns and features some of the group's biggest hits, including the Top 10 singles “25 Or 6 To 4,” “Make Me Smile” and “Colour My World.” Nominated for three Grammy awards and certified double-platinum, the set is also known for several extended song cycles. Chicago went home to its namesake city last year to record a live version of the album at the historic WTTW-TV studios; the performance features every song from that classic collection, several of which haven't been played live since the 1970s. Now available, a collector's edition of CHICAGO II: LIVE ON SOUNDSTAGE comes with the Soundstage performance on CD and DVD, as well as the original CHICAGO II album remixed by acclaimed producer Steven Wilson.
SONG OF THE DAY - "Le Freak" (Album of the Day)
Chic masterminds Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers weren't yet dance music kingpins when Grace Jones invited the pair to New York's Studio 54 in late 1977 – and they were denied entrance to the club because Jones had neglected to notify the doorman. Edwards and Rodgers channeled their frustration into songwriting, and had the last laugh when “Le Freak” became a No.1 hit. Graciously name-checking the notoriously exclusive nightspot (and a predecessor, the Savoy), the song celebrates the joys of dancing the night away, propelled by an insistent guitar riff and the irresistible chant “freak out!” Named one of Billboard's all-time Top 100 Songs in 2013, the multi-million-selling “Le Freak” is one of the greatest anthems of the disco era, and in honor of Nile Rodgers' birthday, it's our Song of the Day.