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King Solomon (Album of the Day)
Monday, March 21, 2016
No less an authority than Atlantic Records' Jerry Wexler described Solomon Burke as "the greatest male soul singer of all time," and the Philadelphia-born performer is in a class with James Brown, Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett in all but chart success. One of Burke's final recordings for Atlantic, 1968's KING SOLOMON, displays not just his peerless vocals but his consummate wisdom when it came to choosing songs; the dozen tracks here were penned by some of the top R&B writers of the 1960s, Don Covay, Bert Berns and the team of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham among them. Like labelmate Percy Sledge, Burke had a knack for country-flavored material (“It's Been A Change,” “Detroit City”), but he gave everything he sang a down-home seasoning that was irresistible. As the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was born on this day in 1940, we'll give this fine album another spin in tribute to KING SOLOMON.
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In Philadelphia (Album of the Day)
Friday, March 18, 2016
Wilson Pickett made his name with gritty Southern soul sides cut at the Stax and Muscle Shoals studios, so his trip north for 1970's IN PHILADELPHIA was an unusual one. Though producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff are better known for slicker Philadelphia International hits from later in the decade, the pair prove perfect foils for The Wicked One on these ten tracks, which include Top 20 singles “Engine Number 9” and “Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You.” The singer's fiery performances fits these funky grooves and orchestrated settings like a glove, and the set throws in a couple of surprisingly effective Afro and psych moves for good measure. IN PHILADELPHIA was one of Wilson Pickett's last great albums for Atlantic Records, and we'll give it another spin today in honor of the performer's birthday.
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Keep An Eye On The Sky (Album of the Day)
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Any informed discussion of power pop is sure to include Big Star; the Memphis cult faves may not have sold many records during their initial 1970s incarnation, but anybody who bought one of the band's three albums became a true believer. The fervor of those fans was rewarded in 2009 with Rhino's Big Star boxed set, KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY, which features every song from #1 RECORD, RADIO CITY and THIRD (often in demo or alternate mix versions) as well as solo rarities and a 1973 live concert. An essential item for Big Star followers, the 4-disc set is also a good place for the uninitiated to start – the group's distinctive mix of Anglophilic pop precision, Southern soul and eccentricity shines through on every track. We'll KEEP AN EYE ON THE SKY today in memory of Big Star frontman Alex Chilton, who passed away on this day in 2010.
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The Complete Bearsville Album Collection (Album of the Day)
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Founded by Albert Grossman (the managerial force behind Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul and Mary), Bearsville Records was home to some of the most interesting artists of the 1970s, chief among them Todd Rundgren. After cutting his teeth with Philadelphia garage rockers Nazz, Rundgren went solo with 1970's RUNT, the first of 11 albums for Grossman's imprint now available on THE COMPLETE BEARSVILLE ALBUMS COLLECTION. These are the recordings upon which the singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist's lofty reputation rests, including such acclaimed tour-de-forces as SOMETHING/ANYTHING and A WIZARD, A TRUE STAR. Though the still-active Rundgren has released many albums since his 1982 departure from the Woodstock-based label, THE COMPLETE BEARSVILLE boxed set includes all his hits and showcases his many talents to dazzling effect.
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You Can't Stop Rock `N' Roll (Album of the Day)
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
If you've seen the recent “We Are Twisted F***ing Sister!” documentary, you know the long, hard-fought battle the New York quintet undertook to land a major label deal, but as they put it on their Atlantic Records debut, YOU CAN'T STOP ROCK 'N' ROLL. Cut in England with producer Stuart Epps behind the boards, this is heavy metal of the first order, with sharper performances and better songwriting than on their previous indie effort, UNDER THE BLADE. In “We're Gonna Make It,” “The Kids Are Back,” “I Am (I'm Me)” and the title track, the band had fist-pumping anthems of undeniable power, and the fiery performances show Twisted Sister was indeed “hungry.” Frontman Dee Snider celebrates a birthday today, and in his honor, we'll crank up YOU CAN'T STOP ROCK 'N' ROLL.
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A Boy Named Goo (Album of the Day)
Monday, March 14, 2016
With A BOY NAMED GOO, the Goo Goo Dolls made the jump from Metal Blade Records to Warner Bros., and this hugely enjoyable set shows the trio were ready for the major leagues. Cut in New York with producer Lou Giordano, the group's fifth studio album balances the energy of their early releases with melodic, radio-friendly tracks like “Naked,” “Long Way Down” and “Name,” the band's first big hit. Guitarist Johnny Rzeznik and bassist Robby Takac share vocal duties on these 11 originals (plus covers of favorites by The Enemies and Lime Spiders), and both are in great form. Released on this day in 1995, A BOY NAMED GOO was the Goo Goo Dolls' commercial breakthrough, eventually going double-platinum, and it remains a pop-punk classic.
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I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (Album of the Day)
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Can it be that I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY I LOVE YOU was Aretha Franklin's 11th studio album? That her debut for Atlantic Records was the one that finally catapulted her to fame speaks to the importance of having a savvy producer (Jerry Wexler) and the right studio environment (Muscle Shoals) to bring out the best in an artist. The Queen of Soul takes her throne on this remarkable set, which includes “Do Right Woman-Do Right Man,” “Baby, Baby, Baby” and the iconic No.1 hit “Respect.” Aretha Franklin’s protean talent was clear to everyone around her from the time she was a teenager, but with I NEVER LOVED A MAN THE WAY I LOVE YOU, released on this day in 1967, the whole world got the message.
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Ready To Die The Remaster (Album of the Day)
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
The debut album from The Notorious B.I.G. (and the inaugural release on Bad Boy Records), 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. The Notorious B.I.G. was gunned down on this day in 1997, but this hip-hop classic ensures that his name will live forever.
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In It For The Money (Album of the Day)
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
From the opening one-two punch of the title track and “Richard III,” it's clear that IN IT FOR THE MONEY is the work of a band in it for kicks. Supergrass' sophomore album still has the infectious sense of fun that made their debut so appealing, but there's also a newfound maturity – Brit-pop's boy wonders were on a musical growth spurt. The trio aren't afraid to vary the tempo here, and successfully spike the punch with sped-up guitars, horns and percussion loops. More important than these production flourishes, Supergrass also serve up one of their best sets of songs, including singles “Going Out,” “Sun Hits The Sky” and “Late In The Day,” and the collection went on to sell more than a million copies worldwide. Frontman Gaz Coombes turns 40 today, and we'll help him ring in the birthday with IN IT FOR THE MONEY.
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Da Capo (US Release) (Album of the Day)
Monday, March 7, 2016
With second album DA CAPO, Love was well on its way to the sublime synthesis of folk-rock, psychedelia and baroque pop it would achieve with FOREVER CHANGES. In fact, the requisite elements are all here: the driving “7 & 7 Is” is as fiery as anything on the L.A. group's debut, lyricist Arthur Lee is at his elliptical best on “Stephanie Knows Who” and “Orange Skies” shines a spotlight on Bryan Maclean's songwriting skills. And with the addition of drummer Michael Stuart and saxophonist Tjay Cantrelli on this album, Love's lineup was its strongest ever (there was impressive talent behind the boards as well – producer Paul Rothchild and engineer Bruce Botnick would soon find fame recording The Doors). Also including one of the first side-long songs in rock, DA CAPO is a brilliant encapsulation of the magic sounds of the Sunset Strip circa 1966, and an ideal way to remember Lee, born on this day in 1945.
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