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Islands (Album of the Day)
Though it may sound nonsensical, the name Kajagoogoo means '80s new wave fun to countless listeners. The British band's second album, ISLANDS, was helmed by Colin Thurston, who’d produced the group's debut, and includes such catchy singles as “Big Apple,” “Melting The Ice Away” and “Turn Your Back On Me” (a remix of the latter hit No.2 on the U.S. dance chart). Following the departure of singer Limahl, bassist Nick Beggs steps to the microphone for this 1984 collection, which adds some jazz and spiritual touches to their peppy synth pop. ISLANDS was released in America in modified form as Extra Play with band's name shortened to Kaja – but these new wave faves will always be Kajagoogoo to us.
Live (Album of the Day)
The 1970s represented a golden age for both arena rock and live albums, and the two intersect to magnificent effect on FOGHAT LIVE. The half-dozen songs on the Bearsville collection push blues 'n' boogie into overdrive, offering plenty of room for "Lonesome" Dave Peverett's rafter-rattling vocals and Rod Price's slide guitar to stretch out. Recorded at the peak of Foghat's popularity, the concert included all their best-known songs, with fresh arrangements that often surpass the studio versions: “I Just Want to Make Love to You,” “Fool For The City” and “Slow Ride,” which hit the Billboard singles chart on this day in 1976. The double-Platinum FOGHAT LIVE was the U.K. quartet's best-selling album, and one listen makes it easy to hear why.
It's Everly Time (Album of the Day)
Coming on the heels of eight Top 10 hits for Cadence, the Everly Brothers signed a $1 million contract with Warner Bros. and Phil & Don did not disappoint their new label; their WB debut reached No.9 on the chart. IT'S EVERLY TIME includes a dozen fine songs (half of them by the Boudleaux and Felice Bryant writing team that had served the brothers so well in the past), leading off with Don's great “So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad).” Cut in Nashville, the set has a country feel in places, but also touches pop and R&B bases, and as tracks like “Sleepless Nights” show, no one could top these two for romantic balladry. NME named the pair their number one vocal group on this day in 1959, and the brilliant harmonizing of IT'S EVERLY TIME makes it one of the duo's very best albums.
Scattered, Smothered and Covered (Album of the Day)
Hootie & The Blowfish's earliest performances in the clubs, bars and frat houses surrounding the University of South Carolina no doubt included many covers, and the band had a soft spot for these songs even after its multi-platinum 1994 breakthrough. SCATTERED, SMOTHERED AND COVERED gathers 15 tracks originally recorded by other artists and previously unavailable except on B-sides, various artist compilations and foreign-issue bonus cuts. The band's taste is pretty broad, including not just country (Vic Chesnutt's “Gravity of the Situation”), R&B (Bill Withers' “Use Me”) and classic rock (Led Zeppelin's “Hey Hey What Can I Do”), but surprisingly effective takes on favorites from R.E.M., The Smiths and Tom Waits. With Darius Rucker's soulful vocals front and center, the band's committed performances make their love of this music plain for all to hear. The title of SCATTERED, SMOTHERED AND COVERED was inspired by a southern restaurant chain's savory hash browns, and the 2000 Atlantic collection is mighty tasty itself.
Pretenders II (Album of the Day)
The glamour shot on the sleeve of PRETENDERS II underlines the stardom the band had achieved with their remarkable debut. Producer Chris Thomas returned for the 1981 Sire set, which like its predecessor combines moments of tender beauty (“Talk Of The Town”) with tough-as-nails rockers (“Message Of Love,” “The Adultress”) and a Kinks cover for good measure (“I Go To Sleep”). Though the album went Top Ten in the U.S., its high quality was somewhat taken for granted upon original release - until the deaths the following year of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bassist Pete Farndon closed the book on the original quartet. Released 35 years ago today, PRETENDERS II shows one of the greatest groups of the 1980s firing on all cylinders.
One Quiet Night (Album of the Day)
Among contemporary jazz's most gifted guitarists, Pat Metheny may be best known as a group leader and fusion specialist, but ONE QUIET NIGHT shows he's just as impressive in solo acoustic mode. Built on an improvised session cut in the performer's home studio, the 2003 Warner Bros. collection features eight new compositions plus distinctive takes on Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why," Keith Jarrett's "My Song,” Gerry and the Pacemakers' "Ferry Cross the Mersey" and the Metheny Group's earlier "Last Train Home.” Played on a baritone guitar in an unusual low tuning, these songs are soulful, intimate and perfect for a relaxing evening. Today we wish Pat Metheny a happy birthday with Best New Age Album Grammy winner ONE QUIET NIGHT.
Tarantula (Expanded) (Album of the Day)
By the time of Ride's fourth studio album, primary songwriters Andy Bell and Mark Gardener were barely speaking, and the quartet's break-up was announced shortly before TARANTULA arrived in stores in March of 1996. Needless to say, the album got little promotion and quickly vanished – which is a shame, as it includes some fine music (even if these riff-driven songs are closer in spirit to the Brit-pop of the day than the shoegaze of the band's first recordings). Bell carries most of the weight here, as writer and lead vocalist on 9 of the 12 originals, among them such highlights as “Black Nite Crash” and “Dead Man.” The Expanded Edition of TARANTULA includes a trio of B-sides as bonus tracks, and we'll give the set another spin today in honor of Andy Bell's birthday.
Like A Virgin (Album of the Day)
While Madonna's debut was a big hit, it was on her follow-up, LIKE A VIRGIN, where she truly grabbed the reins of superstardom. Produced by Chic's Nile Rodgers (and featuring instrumental work from that band's Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson), the album was a savvy mix of Madonna originals and outside material including such singles as “Angel,” “Dress You Up,” “Material Girl” and the title track. With iconic videos of the last two songs in heavy rotation on MTV, the set soared to No.1 on the U.S. chart, becoming the first solo album by a female artist to sell more than 5 million copies on this day in 1985. Diverse, ambitious and endlessly listenable, LIKE A VIRGIN is one of the defining albums of the decade.
Vision Thing (Album of the Day)
For 1990's VISION THING, Sisters of Mercy served up a critique of contemporary politics, drawing its title from one of President George H. W. Bush's remarks. The U.K. band's sardonic take on the subject is perfectly matched by the music here, a dark but danceable mix of goth, industrial and metal. With group mainstay Andrew Eldritch's deep vocals couched in heavy guitar riffs and insistent beats (from drum machine “Doktor Avalanche”), songs like “Ribbons,” “More” and the title track become instant Sisters classics. Recorded with the lineup in flux, the outstanding VISION THING is the group's last studio set to date, and has just been given a vinyl boxed set reissue with the original album joined by three 12" singles from the era.