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Concert in the Virgin Islands (Album of the Day)
Duke Ellington and his orchestra made a tour stop in the Virgin Islands in the mid-1960s and it must have been a memorable one to have inspired CONCERT IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS (which, despite its name, is a studio recording). “We wrote some of the music while we were down there, and finished it shortly after we returned home,” recalled the jazz icon. “We found a certain flavor there, musically and otherwise, that is genuinely unique.” The Caribbean groove that Ellington discovered comes through beautifully on the opening four songs (the “Virgin Islands Suite”), but even the older compositions are irresistibly buoyant, with such players as violinist Ray Nance, clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton and trumpeter Cat Anderson clearly having a ball. With excellent fidelity to match the performances, the 1965 CONCERT IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS is a desert-island disc for any big band buff.
Nightmares…And Other Tales From The Vinyl Jungle (Album of the Day)
The J. Geils Band may have seen more success in the 1980s, but ask a true fan about their earlier Atlantic recordings and they'll talk your ear off. NIGHTMARES … AND OTHER TALES FROM THE VINYL JUNGLE captures the bad boys from Boston in their '70s prime on eight Peter Wolf-Seth Justman originals (and a cover of Andre Williams' “Funky Judge” with a cameo by old-time comedian George Jessel). Cut in New York with Eagles producer Bill Szymczyk, this action-packed set delivers on every level, from heart-wrenching ballads (“I'll Be Coming Home”) to party-starters (“Stoop Down #39”) to an actual hit single (“Must of Got Lost”). Pulsing with the intense energy of a J. Geils Band concert, NIGHTMARES … AND OTHER TALES FROM THE VINYL JUNGLE is a dream come true.
City to City (Album of the Day)
Born on this day in 1947, Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty had tasted success as part of The Humblebums in the late 1960s, and in Stealers Wheel (“Stuck In The Middle With You”) a couple of years later, but it was CITY TO CITY that truly put him on the musical map. The 1978 solo album features the song most associated with the multi-talented performer, “Baker Street,” a tale of discomfort with the music industry's star-making machinery that paradoxically became a No.2 U.S. single. With another hit in “Right Down the Line,” the collection went to No.1 on the U.S. chart, eventually going platinum. Any good best-of will include those two highlights - but maybe not “Whatever's Written In My Heart,” “Mattie's Rag” or “Home And Dry”; this album shines from start to finish with outstanding pop craftsmanship. Surely Rafferty's finest hour, CITY TO CITY is well worth another visit.
D-Sides (Special Edition) (Album of the Day)
A collaboration between former Blur frontman Damon Albarn and graphic artist Jamie Hewlett, Gorillaz are undoubtedly the most successful virtual band in history. Second album DEMON DAYS debuted at the top of the chart in the group's native U.K. and went on to sell more than 8 million copies worldwide, and it's a testament to the creativity of this rotating cast of musicians that the accompanying D-SIDES compilation is also outstanding. The 2007 double-disc set gathers B-sides, bonus tracks, remixes and unreleased recordings from the DEMON sessions, and the varied selection suits the eclectic Gorillaz mix of alternative rock, dub, hip-hop and electronica perfectly. Such superb songs as “68 State,” “Hong Kong” and “Stop The Dams” ensure that D-SIDES can stand alone as an album essential for fans and inviting for new listeners as well.
Diamond Dogs (Album of the Day)
DIAMOND DOGS was David Bowie's third U.K. No.1 album and his first Top 10 hit in America. If George Orwell's estate had been more amenable, the set would have been a concept album based on 1984, and that book's dystopian outlook runs through many of these songs - most directly in “1984” and “Big Brother.” “In a way, it was a precursor to the punk thing,” Bowie later noted of the characters in “Diamond Dogs.” But the real unifier here is the swaggering rock of that title track and iconic single “Rebel Rebel”; having recently retired his Spiders from Mars, the collection would be the last Bowie would make in his signature glam style. With frequent collaborator Tony Visconti returning to supply string arrangements, the gold-certified DIAMOND DOGS is a striking summation of this phase of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's career.
Benefit (Collector's Edition) (Album of the Day)
When Jethro Tull released BENEFIT fifty years ago today, it signaled a new, more progressive musical direction for the U.K. band. Their third studio set left behind the blues-based sound of earlier work for English folk textures that would come to define the group, and though there are plenty of driving riffs from guitarist Martin Barre, the addition of John Evans on piano and organ was a pivotal one. “John has added a new dimension musically and I can write more freely now,” said singer-songwriter Ian Anderson. “In fact anything is possible with him at the keyboard.” A Top 10 hit in England (it just missed that status in America), this was Tull's first million seller, and the 2-CD/DVD-Audio Collector’s Edition of the acclaimed album includes newly remastered versions of rare tracks and singles recorded around the same time as BENEFIT, such as “Teacher” and “Sweet Dream” in both stereo and mono.
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (Album of the Day)
KISS ME, KISS ME, KISS ME finds The Cure on a strong career upswing – the 1987 collection put the band in the U.S. Top 40 for the first time, and into the Top 10 in their native England and numerous other countries. Originally a double album, the set bursts with varied, adventurous arrangements, wild mood swings and frontman Robert Smith's best batch of songs to date; “Why Can't I Be You?,” “Catch,” “Hot Hot Hot!!!” and the classic “Just Like Heaven” were the singles, but there's not a dud to be heard here. Any good list of The Cure's best albums includes KISS ME, KISS ME, KISS ME near the top, and we'll give the platinum seller another spin now to wish Smith a happy birthday.
Woke Up With a Monster (Album of the Day)
Yes, Cheap Trick cut an album for Warner Bros. but unless you're a hardcore fan you might never have heard of WOKE UP WITH A MONSTER. Issued around the time of a major executive shake-up at the label, the 1994 set got little promotion - which is a shame, as its back-to-basics attack recalls the smart power pop of their '70s classics. Part of the credit goes to veteran producer Ted Templeman (Van Halen), who emphasized a heavier guitar sound, but mostly it's the hook-filled material the quartet has dreamed up: “My Gang,” “You're All I Wanna Do” and “Girlfriends” are just a few picks to click on this disc. The band's Rick Nielsen called WOKE UP WITH A MONSTER “the first album in the second half of our career,” and you can hear the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' renewed energy in every song.
The Fifth Avenue Band (Album of the Day)
The Fifth Avenue Band only made one album, but virtually anyone who's heard it wishes the Greenwich Village-based group had been more prolific. Produced by Zal Yanovsky and Jerry Yester of the Lovin' Spoonful, the 1969 Reprise collection has an irresistibly sunny vibe to it, though it's hardly sunshine pop; highlights including “Angel,” “Country Time Rhymes,” “Fast Freight” and “Nice Folks” range from folk to rock to jazz and beyond. With strong songs, tasteful arrangements and expert singing and playing throughout, THE FIFTH AVENUE BAND has broad appeal while never getting flashy - it's a real grower.
Go to Heaven (Album of the Day)
Despite what you might conclude from the cover art, the Grateful Dead haven't gone disco on GO TO HEAVEN. While the choice of Gary Lyons (Foreigner, Aerosmith) to produce surely reflects Arista Records' desire for a commercial hit, the Dead again deliver road-tested, roots-infused jam rock as only they can. Highlights include “Alabama Getaway,” “Saint of Circumstance,” “Althea” and the traditional “Don't Ease Me In,” a staple of the group's repertoire going back to their Warlocks days. Released 40 years ago, the collection was the first with keyboardist-singer-songwriter Brent Mydland, who introduced synthesizers to the Dead's sound and would remain with them throughout the 1980s. “If you go back and (re)listen to it, you’ll find that time has been very kind to GO TO HEAVEN,” reflects drummer Bill Kreutzmann, and we're in total agreement.