Content tagged ''
Butterfly (Album of the Day)
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
The final Hollies album before Graham Nash would take flight, BUTTERFLY shows the British quintet soaring to new heights. Recorded at Abbey Road studios (and released in America with a slightly different track listing as DEAR ELOISE/KING MIDAS IN REVERSE), the 1967 set features a dozen strong originals - including “Dear Eloise,” “Postcard” and the title track - that occasionally venture into psychedelia. The adventurous arrangements are the perfect complement to the matchless harmonies of Nash, Allan Clarke and Tony Hicks, and since so many fans point to BUTTERFLY as the Hollies' best, we'll give it another spin today in honor of Clarke's birthday.
THIS IS THE SEARCH INDEX RESULT TEMPLATE
The Secret Life Of Harpers Bizarre (Album of the Day)
Monday, April 4, 2016
With their third studio set for Warner Bros., THE SECRET LIFE OF HARPER'S BIZARRE, the Santa Cruz collective set their sights on the musical rear view mirror - though the songwriting credits include a smattering of contemporary composers (Randy Newman, Paul Williams), the emphasis is on more vintage material. Standards and show tunes by the likes of the Gershwins and Wizard of Oz lyricist E.Y. Harburg shape an eclectic set of 19 songs into a conceptual whole reflecting the daydreams of a host of everyday characters. With two future WB hitmakers at work (Lenny Waronker behind the boards and Ted Templeman in front of the microphone), the sophisticated arrangements and sparkling harmony vocals are immaculately crafted. Brimming with sunshine pop and groovy feelings, the ambitious THE SECRET LIFE OF HARPER'S BIZARRE is too good to keep secret.
THIS IS THE SEARCH INDEX RESULT TEMPLATE
The Rutles (Album of the Day)
Friday, April 1, 2016
Should it be any surprise that the greatest of rock bands would inspire the greatest of rock spoofs? The Rutles were the brainchild of former Monty Python member Eric Idle, and any resemblance to a certain quartet from Liverpool was strictly intentional. With Neil Innes (of The Bonzo Dog Band) supplying the musical vision, the soundtrack to THE RUTLES mockumentary features 20 spot-on parodies that are almost as wonderful as the Beatle originals; one listen to “Ouch!” or “Piggy In The Middle” and you'll never hear “Help!” or “I Am The Walrus” quite the same way again. In honor of April Fools' Day, take a tragical history tour with Nasty, Stig, Dirk and Barry of THE RUTLES!
THIS IS THE SEARCH INDEX RESULT TEMPLATE
Dance Into The Light (Deluxe Edition) (Album of the Day)
Thursday, March 31, 2016
1996's DANCE INTO THE LIGHT was Phil Collins' first album after leaving Genesis (and his sixth solo set overall). Co-produced with longtime collaborator Hugh Padgham, the Atlantic collection brought elements of world music to the fore, most notably with flourishes of Afrobeat-styled percussion on several tracks. Featuring a dozen originals (and a new take on Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'), the album reached the Top 10 across Europe and was Gold-certified in America. Part of the new "Take A Look At Me Now" reissue series curated by Collins himself, the Deluxe Edition of DANCE INTO THE LIGHT includes a bonus disc of B-sides and previously unreleased live and demo versions of album tracks.
THIS IS THE SEARCH INDEX RESULT TEMPLATE
Hello, I Must Be Going (Deluxe Edition) (Album of the Day)
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Phil Collins' second solo album, HELLO, I MUST BE GOING!, made good on the promise of his hit debut. The 1982 collection focused on a more organically produced sound than FACE VALUE, with lyrics on tracks such as "I Don't Care Anymore" and "Thru These Walls" providing a darker thematic core. By contrast, the album's biggest hit was Collins' upbeat interpretation of The Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love," which became his first solo No.1 single in his native U.K. The album itself went Top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic and brought the performer his first Grammy® and Brit Award nominations. The new Deluxe Edition of HELLO, I MUST BE GOING! includes a bonus disc compiled by Collins himself that includes previously unreleased live or demo versions of all but one of the album's 10 tracks.
THIS IS THE SEARCH INDEX RESULT TEMPLATE
Nothing's Shocking (Album of the Day)
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
From their earliest club gigs, Jane's Addiction was the talk of the L.A. music scene, and a band clearly destined for greatness. Signed to Warner Bros. Records, the group delivered on the advance buzz with its 1988 studio debut NOTHING'S SHOCKING – heavy metal, progressive and alternative rock combine powerfully on songs like “Summertime Rolls,” “Pigs In Zen,” “Mountain Song” and “Jane Says.” It's a strange mix that might have sunk if played by lesser performers but soars in the hands of guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery, drummer Stephen Perkins and banshee-voiced frontman Perry Farrell. Today is the singer's birthday, and we can't think of a better way to celebrate than with the platinum-certified classic NOTHING'S SHOCKING.
THIS IS THE SEARCH INDEX RESULT TEMPLATE
Whispers And Promises (Album of the Day)
Monday, March 28, 2016
Detroit-born Earl Klugh continues to blaze a distinctive trail within the smooth jazz scene; the acoustic guitarist has earned a dozen Grammy nominations in his 40-year career. WHISPERS AND PROMISES accounts for one of them (in the Best Pop Instrumental Performance category), and with one listen to the 1989 Warner Bros. collection, it's easy to see why. With multi-textured arrangements from conductor Don Sebesky framing Klugh's fluid fretwork, these 10 instrumentals evoke moods that are by turns romantic and refreshing, with opener "What Love Can Do," “Water Song” and the title track among the many highlights. If you want to unwind late at night, or listen to something that helps the day breeze by, just put some WHISPERS AND PROMISES in your ear.
THIS IS THE SEARCH INDEX RESULT TEMPLATE
The Power Station (Album of the Day)
Friday, March 25, 2016
Given the massive success of Duran Duran, its members earned the liberty to pursue side projects, and guitarist Andy Taylor and bassist John Taylor indulged their love of funk and hard rock in The Power Station. With singer Robert Palmer and drummer Tony Thompson of Chic rounding out the lineup, the supergroup's eponymous debut was released on this day in 1985 and soared into the Top 10, helping spark a career revival for Palmer. Named after the New York studio in which it was recorded, THE POWER STATION was produced by Chic’s Bernard Edwards and includes such hit singles as “Some Like It Hot,” “Communication” and a swaggering cover of Marc Bolan's “Get It On (Bang a Gong).” As its title suggests, the album's mix of new wave dance and glam rock bursts with an energy that will appeal to listeners well beyond the Duran Duran fanbase.
THIS IS THE SEARCH INDEX RESULT TEMPLATE
The Time (Album of the Day)
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Prince's contract with Warner Bros. allowed him to release side projects with other artists on the label; perhaps the most successful of these acts was The Time. The Minneapolis band included old friend Morris Day and the future production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, though other than Day's vocals, you won't hear much of them on 1981's THE TIME – employing the pseudonym “Jamie Starr,” Prince wrote most of the songs and played virtually all of the instruments. Consequently, the six long-ish tracks here feature salacious synth-funk that would sound right at home on the Purple One's DIRTY MIND. Both “Get It Up” and “Cool” reached the Top 10 on the R&B chart, and from uptempo dance songs to slinky slow jams, THE TIME remains an ideal album to play when it's party time.
THIS IS THE SEARCH INDEX RESULT TEMPLATE
The Elektra Years 1978-1987 (Album of the Day)
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
The five original members of The Cars - Ric Ocasek, the late Benjamin Orr, Greg Hawkes, Elliot Easton and David Robinson - recorded a half-dozen studio albums together, all of them with Elektra Records, and have sold more than 23 million albums in the U.S. alone. THE ELEKTRA YEARS 1978-1987 features all six of those classic collections (1978's THE CARS, 1979's CANDY-O, 1980's PANORAMA, 1981's SHAKE IT UP, 1984's HEARTBEAT CITY and 1987's DOOR TO DOOR), each one presented in a replica sleeve with original artwork. Among the 60 tracks are the band's biggest hits including "My Best Friend's Girl," "Let's Go," "Magic," "You Might Think" and "Drive." Ric Ocasek oversaw digital remastering for the set, and as it's The Cars frontman's birthday, we'll turn the ignition on to THE ELEKTRA YEARS.
THIS IS THE SEARCH INDEX RESULT TEMPLATE