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Running on Empty (Remastered) (Album of the Day)
Jackson Browne went on tour in 1977 with a remarkable group of musicians to create an album about the road, on the road; the result was RUNNING ON EMPTY, an album that is as brutally honest as it is achingly beautiful. Browne and his band (guitarist Danny Kortchmar; David Lindley on fiddle and lap steel guitar; keyboardist Craig Doerge; bassist Leland Sklar; drummer Russ Kunkel; and background vocalists Doug Haywood and Rosemary Butler) took an unconventional and, profoundly innovative approach to recording these 10 songs, opting for such natural settings as a Holiday Inn hotel room, a backstage rehearsal space and a tour bus as well as concert stages. Browne's biggest-selling album, the collection peaked at #3 on the Billboard chart and has been certified 7x Platinum by the RIAA. Released last month on CD and 180-gram vinyl, a new version of RUNNING ON EMPTY features meticulously remastered sound and a faithful reproduction of the original artwork.
The Sound of Wilson Pickett (Album of the Day)
That Alabama-born soul shouter Wilson Pickett could do no wrong in 1967 is borne out by THE SOUND OF WILSON PICKETT. Comprised of recent singles, the Atlantic collection was cut at Muscle Shoals' Fame Studios with Rick Hall, Tom Dowd and Jerry Wexler handling production chores and guitarist Chips Moman and keyboardist Spooner Oldham among the ace players backing Pickett. The Wicked One really sinks his teeth into these 11 songs, which include sizzling performances of “You Can't Stand Alone,” his old Falcons hit “I Found A Love” and Top 10 single “Funky Broadway.” Allmusic said THE SOUND OF WILSON PICKETT “may be his finest album performance of the entire decade,” and its consistent quality makes it hard to argue the point.
Prisoner in Disguise (Album of the Day)
Linda Ronstadt's final Capitol album was a commercial breakthrough for the performer, and PRISONER IN DISGUISE builds on that success. The 1975 Asylum album was another platinum-certified, Top 10 hit and it's easy to see why, from the well-chosen material to the terrific accompaniment to the matchless lead vocals. Producer Peter Asher convened a who's who of L.A. musical talent to join Linda in the studio, including Emmylou Harris, David Lindley, James Taylor, Lowell George and J. D. Souther - the last three of whom also supplied songs to the collection. The 11 tracks include a pair of Motown classics, country (“I Will Always Love You”) and even a reggae ballad (“Many Rivers to Cross”), all of which Ronstadt makes uniquely her own. We'll give PRISONER IN DISGUISE another spin now to wish the singer a happy birthday.
David Bowie (Album of the Day)
David Bowie's second album, self-titled like his first, brought the singer-songwriter a step closer to the sound and vision that would make him world famous. Co-produced by Tony Visconti, the 1969 collection features nine dense originals including “Memory of a Free Festival,” “Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed” and “Cygnet Committee,” hewing closer to hippie folk than the cabaret stylings of his debut and finally placing Bowie firmly in the rock camp. By far the most famous track here is “Space Oddity,” a U.K Top 10 single that would've been a hit even without the topicality provided by the Apollo 11 moon landing. The album was reissued under that title to greater success in 1972, and while DAVID BOWIE was not yet Ziggy Stardust, it's a major turning point in the career of one of music's greatest artists.
50th Anniversary: The Collection (Album of the Day)
Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek began as a young, wide-eyed trio that parlayed the runaway success of their #1 single "A Horse With No Name" into a string of hits in partnership with legendary producer George Martin. America celebrates its half-centennial this year with a compilation that follows the iconic Grammy-winning band to the top of the pop charts, across musical eras, and deep into the hearts of innumerable fans. The new 3-CD 50th ANNIVERSARY: THE COLLECTION brings the core of America's recorded legacy together with choice rarities like an early studio recording of “Ventura Highway,” a live performance of “Riverside,” and an unreleased demo for the #1 hit “Sister Golden Hair.” All seven albums that America recorded in the '70s with Warner Bros. Records are represented in the set, as are all of the band's Top 10 singles. For a limited time, Rhino.com will offer exclusive signed copies of 50th ANNIVERSARY: THE COLLECTION.
Originals (Album of the Day)
By the mid-1980s, Prince was dominating the charts even as a writer/producer with songs he'd composed and recorded for others. In addition to releasing nine of his most commercially successful full-length albums, he also wrote and recorded endless reels of material for proteges. Released last month, ORIGINALS features 15 tracks – all but one previously unreleased - that illuminate the vital, behind-the-scenes role Prince played in other artists' careers. Among the iconic songs here are “The Glamorous Life,” “Manic Monday,” “Jungle Love” and “Love... Thy Will Be Done,” which became considerable hits when recorded by Sheila E., The Bangles, The Time and Martika. ORIGINALS pulls back the curtain to reveal the origins of these familiar songs, in addition to deeper album cuts by such performers as Vanity 6, Jill Jones and Kenny Rogers.
Welcome to My Nightmare (Album of the Day)
If Alice Cooper didn't invent shock rock, he surely perfected it with such albums as WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE. The Coop's stage show is justifiably legendary, replete with boa constrictors, guillotines and other Grand Guignol theatrics, and this 1975 Atlantic collection is its aural equivalent - a loosely conceptual set exploring a child's dark dreams. With guitarists Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter supplying the firepower, this NIGHTMARE features plenty of hard rock (“Cold Ethyl,” “The Black Widow”), but there are also quieter moments like the hit ballad “Only Women Bleed,” and thanks to Bob Ezrin's elaborate production it all flows together perfectly. We wish you a happy Halloween with the Top Ten classic WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE.
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (Album of the Day)
David Bowie's first album of the 1980s, SCARY MONSTERS (AND SUPER CREEPS) offers both a backward glance and a look forward. It was the performer's final RCA album, co-produced by longtime collaborator Tony Visconti, and fans will hear echoes of “Heroes” and “Space Oddity” in “Teenage Wildlife” and hit single “Ashes to Ashes.” But as the Japanese vocals on opener “It's No Game (No. 1)” make clear, Bowie is out to challenge listeners as well. The end result is unusual but accessible art rock, pairing the singer with such top instrumentalists as guitarists Carlos Alomar and Robert Fripp and E Street Band keyboardist Roy Bittan. Halloween is the season for SCARY MONSTERS, so we'll give the acclaimed U.K. chart-topper another spin now...
Cabbage Alley (Album of the Day)
The Meters moved from the small Josie label to Reprise Records for CABBAGE ALLEY, a step up in distribution that brought a wider audience to New Orleans' greatest funk band. The group's Josie hits had largely been instrumentals but much of this 1972 collection, co-produced by the estimable Allen Toussaint, features the sturdy vocals of Art Neville. Though there's no shortage of funky grooves, The Meters broaden their sound considerably in both material and arrangements; the socially conscious “Lonesome and Unwanted People” and a Neil Young cover (“Birds”) touched on singer-songwriter territory, while Leo Nocentelli's fiery guitar leads on tracks like opener “You've Got To Change (You've Got To Reform)” reveal the influence of hard rock. The playing is terrific throughout CABBAGE ALLEY, further solidifying The Meters' reputation as one of the tightest bands on the planet.
Red Octopus (Album of the Day)
With RED OCTOPUS, Jefferson Starship had an album that could rival anything from their previous incarnation as Jefferson Airplane. The 1975 collection marked the return to the fold of that band's co-founder, Marty Balin, who brought with him several fine songs including the smash hit “Miracles.” As significant as his contribution is, the album is very much a team effort; Grace Slick provides such high points as follow-up single “Play on Love” and “Fast Buck Freddie,” and strong instrumentals from Papa John Creach and Pete Sears add variety to the ballad-laden track list. A supremely listenable hybrid of pop and AOR, RED OCTOPUS soared to the top of the Billboard chart, and we'll give the double-platinum set a spin to wish Slick a happy birthday.