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Another Year (Album of the Day)
You wouldn't guess it from such chart-toppers as “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing,” but Leo Sayer started out specializing in musical character sketches a la Al Stewart. The British singer-songwriter's third album, ANOTHER YEAR, is filled with bedsitter images of drifters, dreamers and lovers on 10 originals penned by Sayer in collaboration with Supertramp alum Frank Farrell. The 1975 collection was produced by 1960s star Adam Faith and his former Roulettes cohort Russ Ballard, who frame such fine songs as “The Kid's Grown Up,” “Only Dreaming” and successful single “Moonlighting” with intimate, appealing arrangements. A Top 10 U.K. hit, ANOTHER YEAR is an album fans frequently cite as one of Leo Sayer's very best, and we'll give it another spin now to wish the performer a happy birthday.
The Reprise Studio Recordings (Album of the Day)
Any decent list of the 10 – or even 5 – greatest figures in jazz history will include Duke Ellington. Frank Sinatra understood this and signed the legendary composer, pianist and bandleader to his label in 1962; Ellington would only remain there for three years, but the brilliance of his output shines on THE REPRISE STUDIO RECORDINGS. The nine albums range from tributes to the big band era, interpretations of pop, rock and soundtrack hits of the day, symphonic and violin-based arrangements and world music (including the masterful AFRO-BOSSA set). Ellington was a magnet for talent, and Cootie Williams, Johnny Hodges and Stephane Grappelli are among the stellar players soaring here. “The king of all – Sir Duke” passed away on this day in 1974, and we'll remember a genius beyond category with THE REPRISE STUDIO RECORDINGS.
Shine On (Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
Three years after a platinum debut catapulted them into the musical spotlight, Jet returned with SHINE ON. The 2006 Atlantic collection finds the Australian quartet a little older and a little wiser - lyrics address such topics as the price of sudden fame and, in the title track, the death of Nic & Chris Cester's father - while remaining “another joyfully old-fashioned rock 'n' roll album immersed in the classics,” as NME put it. With returning producer Dave Sardy behind the boards, the boys sound equally at ease with uptempo strutters (“Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is,” “Come on Come On”) and ballads (“Bring It On Back,” “Eleanor”). The Deluxe Edition of SHINE ON adds nine bonus tracks to the original album, including single B-sides and demos.
The Wild Heart (Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
As a member of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks was already part of one of the world's most popular rock groups when she launched her solo career in 1981 with BELLA DONNA, a worldwide hit. Nicks proved that success was no fluke with her follow-up, THE WILD HEART, which peaked at #5 on the album chart and has been certified double platinum. The 1983 collection produced hits like “Stand Back,” “Nightbird” and “I Will Run To You,” which features Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. THE WILD HEART: DELUXE EDITION builds on the original album with tracks like an unreleased version of “All The Beautiful Worlds,” a session version of “Wild Heart” and “Garbo,” the B-side to “Stand Back” - and we'll give it a spin now to wish Stevie a happy birthday.
Electronic (Album of the Day)
Electronic resulted from the teaming of Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr in 1987. "We were two musicians who wanted to get away from the suffocating politics of the band,” noted Marr. “At the same time, it was OK for duos and DJs and non-groups to make records, and that really appealed to Bernard and me.” The pair's self-titled debut encompasses the experimental dance-pop of New Order, the full-bodied jangle of The Smiths and much more on such originals as “Get The Message,” “Feel Every Beat” and “Getting Away with It” (featuring guest vocals by Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant). Released 30 years ago today, ELECTRONIC was met with huge acclaim and stands up as one of the most important electronica albums of all time.
Deja Vu (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (Album of the Day)
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s DÉJÀ VU was the most-anticipated new album in America in 1970; a half-century later, it’s one of the most famous in rock history with legendary songs (including “Carry On” and “Teach Your Children”) that still resonate today. Rhino honors the intense creative journey that led to this musical milestone with a multi-disc collection that adds nearly two-and-a-half hours of bonus tracks including demos, outtakes and alternate takes – most of which are previously unreleased. DÉJÀ VU: 50TH ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION also features liner notes by writer/filmmaker Cameron Crowe, who says the original album “might just be the legendary band’s most accurate portrait of their fiery individualism.” Now in stores, the 4-CD/1-LP set is also available across 5 LPs of 180-gram vinyl exclusively at CSNY50.com and Rhino.com.
Codes and Keys (Album of the Day)
Seven albums into their illustrious career, the members of Death Cab For Cutie decided to try a new direction on CODES AND KEYS. “Living off in the woods for a month away from family isn't something we want to do,”explained frontman Ben Gibbard; the solution was to record in short bursts at eight different studios along the West Coast. The Atlantic collection is also unusual for its emphasis on keyboards over guitars and a brighter lyrical outlook (that may owe something to Gibbard's marriage to actress Zooey Deschanel). What hasn't changed is Death Cab's knack for the thoughtful, melodic songwriting displayed on “You Are a Tourist,” “Home Is a Fire” and the title track. Released 10 years ago today, CODES AND KEYS was a Top 10 Billboard debut and earned a well-deserved Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album.
Stretchin' Out In Bootsy's Rubber Band (Album of the Day)
William “Bootsy” Collins came to prominence as part of James Brown's band before boarding the George Clinton mothership, and the bassist is joined by several others who left the J.B.'s for P-Funk in Bootsy's Rubber Band. The group's debut for Warner Bros., STRETCHIN' OUT IN, was co-produced by Clinton at Detroit's United Sound Systems, and it's clear from first listen that a star has been born. With an irrepressible personality and nimble fingers pumping out grooves, Bootsy stretches from uptempo floor-fillers to balladry across these 7 originals, including such highlights as the R&B hit title track, “Psychoticbumpschool” and the much-sampled “I'd Rather Be With You.” Released 45 years ago this month, STRETCHIN' OUT IN BOOTSY'S RUBBER BAND is by common consensus one of Collins' very best.
Tom Tom Club (Album of the Day)
In the wake of REMAIN IN LIGHT, Talking Heads bassist Tina Weymouth and drummer Chris Frantz launched a side project that proved lighter in tone but equally alluring. Drawing their name from a dancehall in the Bahamas, the pair convened a small collective of like-minded musicians (including guitarist Adrian Belew) at Nassau's Compass Point Studios to cut their self-titled 1981 debut. Fun is the order of the day on the gold-certified TOM TOM CLUB, a gleeful fusion of new wave and hip-hop. The Sire set includes a cover of “Under the Boardwalk” and a pair of No.1 Dance Chart hits in “Wordy Rappinghood” and “Genius of Love”; the latter's breathy vocals and chirpy electronic keyboard riff would be sampled frequently over the years.
Narrow Stairs (Album of the Day)
After two years of touring behind their major label debut, alt-rockers Death Cab For Cutie returned with 2008's NARROW STAIRS. Guitarist Chris Walla's production brings the quartet back to its indie roots, though the melodies and instrumentation retain the upbeat appeal of PLANS. Thematically, things are a different story. NARROW STAIRS descends to some rather dark places; as singer-lyricist Ben Gibbard put it, “So much of the negativity in my life got funneled into it.” The 11 tracks here include tales of a natural disaster (“Grapevine Fires”), a melancholy bride (“Cath...”) and an 8-minute epic about a stalker (“I Will Possess Your Heart”) - and those were deemed singles. Despite the heavier subject matter, NARROW STAIRS was a success, becoming the band's first No.1 album and earning two Grammy nominations, and it's our pick of the day in honor of Gibbard's birthday.