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Back to Bedlam (Album of the Day)
James Blunt was a promising British songwriter with a publishing deal when Linda Perry took him under her wing as a performer. With a terrific falsetto and equally strong material, Blunt's BACK TO BEDLAM quickly became one of the best sellers in U.K. pop history. If heartfelt ballads like “Goodbye My Lover” and “You're Beautiful” (which topped the British singles chart on this day in 2005) dominate the proceedings, the singer-songwriter has more than just romance on his mind here; “No Bravery” deals with Blunt's service in Kosovo as a member of the Royal Armed Forces in 1999. A striking debut that sold more than 11 million copies around the world, BACK TO BEDLAM weaves a wistful spell that continues to entrance listeners a decade later.
The Baby Huey Story (Album of the Day)
James Ramey may have been nicknamed “Baby Huey” after a cartoon character, but when he opened his mouth to sing, listeners took him seriously. A popular act on the Chicago R&B circuit, Baby Huey and his band the Babysitters caught the attention of Curtis Mayfield, who produced THE BABY HUEY STORY: THE LIVING LEGEND for his Curtom label. Released in 1971, about a year after Ramey’s untimely death, the set’s slightly psychedelic soul and playful rhymes would win fans among hip-hoppers years later, and “Listen to Me,” “Mighty Mighty” and “Hard Times” (the latter two penned by Mayfield) have been sampled frequently. With a pair of originals and memorable covers of “California Dreamin’” and Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Going to Come,” THE BABY HUEY STORY ensures the performer’s legend will live for decades to come.
Communique (Album of the Day)
COMMUNIQUE means an official announcement, and the message that Dire Straits' 1979 album sent was that the success of the quartet's eponymous debut was no fluke. Cut in the Bahamas with veteran producers Barry Beckett and Jerry Wexler at the helm, the Warner Bros. collection offers nine lean, laid-back originals brimming with thoughtful lyrics and Mark Knopfler's intricate guitar lines. Opener “Once Upon a Time in the West,” “Portobello Belle” and minor hit single “Lady Writer” may be the first tracks to grab your attention, but the set's consistent quality ensures you'll find new favorites with each spin. The gold-certified COMMUNIQUE hit the Top 10 in the band's native U.K., and just missed it in the U.S., and we'll cue it up now to wish Knopfler a happy 70th birthday.
Mourning In The Morning (Album of the Day)
Otis Rush would be a legend if only for his 1950s Cobra recordings, but the Chicago-based singer-guitarist hit a couple more peaks later in his career including MOURNING IN THE MOURNING. Recorded at Muscle Shoals' Fame Studios with Electric Flag members Nick Gravenites and Mike Bloomfield handling production chores (and providing half the songs), the 1969 Cotillion collection adds a touch of soul and rock to Rush's razor-sharp performances. Highlights include Otis' own “It Takes Time,” B.B. King cover “Gambler's Blues” and “Reap What You Sow,” one of a few tracks featuring guest guitarist Duane Allman's masterful fretwork. Largely overlooked upon original release, the album's stock has risen in the years since - MOURNING IN THE MOURNING is cause for celebration for any blues fan.
Let's Get Small (Album of the Day)
“Well excuuuuse me!” Before he became a Hollywood movie star, Steve Martin was a white-suited, banjo-playing comedian with a fake arrow through his head – a chapter of his career perfectly captured on LET'S GET SMALL. The performer's 1977 debut album was recorded at The Boarding House club in San Francisco, and the crowd is clearly in his corner as Martin launches zingers at showbiz (“Vegas”), drugs (the title track), family relationships (“Mad at My Mother”) and more. Less dependent on social commentary than many other stand-ups of the day, the surreal humor here is still riotously funny, and the Warner Bros. collection was a Top 10, platinum-certified hit. LET'S GET SMALL was where it all began for Steve Martin, and we'll play the set again to wish the man a happy birthday.
We Have Come For Your Children (Album of the Day)
First-wave punk rockers Dead Boys burned bright but fast; the Cleveland quintet's final studio album, WE HAVE COME FOR YOUR CHILDREN, arrived in stores just a year after their debut. The 1979 Sire set was cut at Miami's Criteria Studios with producer Felix Pappalardi (of hard rock band Mountain), whose efforts to make the Boys mainstream-friendly never dampen their anarchic spirit. Just listen to Stiv Bators spit out lyrics over Cheetah Chrome's riffs on “Flame Thrower Love,” “Ain't It Fun” or “(I Don't Wanna Be No) Catholic Boy” and you'll know why the band was a favorite at CBGB. Joey and Dee Dee Ramone sing back-up on that last track, and Guns N' Roses later put their stamp of approval on the collection with a cover of “Ain't It Fun.” The underrated WE HAVE COME FOR YOUR CHILDREN is a must for anyone who likes their music young, loud and snotty.
Aretha Now (Album of the Day)
Any proclamation by the Queen of Soul should command your attention, but ARETHA NOW is particularly noteworthy. Cut at New York's Atlantic Studios with the venerable Jerry Wexler behind the boards, the 1968 collection includes a pair of iconic Top 10 singles: opener “Think” is an original while “I Say a Little Prayer” illustrates Aretha's ability to make any song her own (and it's not easy to steal the spotlight from Dionne Warwick). Outstanding performances of “See Saw” and “You Send Me” further that argument, and the album, which includes appearances from the likes of guitarist Bobby Womack, keyboardist Spooner Oldham and saxophonist King Curtis, was named one of the best of the 1960s by Pitchfork. Aretha Franklin passed away a year ago today, and while the Queen is gone, ARETHA NOW ensures her voice will sing forever.
YES: 50 Live (Album of the Day)
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Yes celebrated their 50th anniversary over the last year with an extensive tour that included shows in Europe, North America and Japan. A new double live album recorded during that anniversary tour, YES 50 LIVE, features 13 concert versions of key songs that helped make Yes the most enduring, ambitious and virtuosic progressive band in rock history. The performances seamlessly weave together several eras from the group's past with songs from 10 different studio albums recorded between 1970 and 2011, and former members including Tony Kaye and Patrick Moraz joined the current line-up for a Philadelphia show featured here. For a limited time, Rhino.com will also have an exclusive colored vinyl pressing of YES 50 LIVE available while supplies last.
Vulgar Display of Power (Album of the Day)
For their follow-up to COWBOYS FROM HELL, Pantera set out to make the heaviest record of all time, and in VULGAR DISPLAY OF POWER, the Texas quartet succeeded. The punch-in-the-face cover to the 1992 Atco album sets the tone for 11 hard-hitting originals, including “Mouth for War,” “Walk” “Hollow” and “This Love.” Phil Anselmo's deep, growling vocals sound like something out of The Exorcist (the album title is drawn from that movie), and “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott's pummeling riffs sound just as possessed. Abbott was born on this day in 1966, and we'll remember the late guitarist with the double-platinum VULGAR DISPLAY OF POWER – arguably Pantera's finest hour, and certainly one of the 1990s' most influential metal albums.
Todd Rundgren's Utopia (Album of the Day)
Todd Rundgren is famed as a solo hitmaker and producer, but his tenure in bands The Nazz and Utopia is equally impressive. Largely drawn from musicians he'd played with on past albums (and including no less than three keyboardists), Todd Rundgen's Utopia was designed to scratch the man's progressive rock itch, and the group's eponymous debut emerged in 1974 on Bearsville. The opening “Utopia Theme” was recorded live at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, and while the punchy “Freedom Fighters” recalls Rundgren's earlier output, both “Freak Parade” and “The Ikon” are ambitious epics – the latter passing the 30-minute mark. Featuring memorable melodies, arrangements ranging from symphonic to hard rock and terrific instrumental performances throughout (Todd's guitar work really shines), TODD RUNDGREN'S UTOPIA is a paradise for prog fans.