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Hip Hug-Her (Album of the Day)
Along with the Wrecking Crew and the Funk Brothers, Booker T and the MG's were the greatest backing group in popular music; unlike their L.A. and Detroit session counterparts, the “Memphis Group” were also hitmakers in their own right. The quartet's 1967 album HIP HUG-HER added the title track and a cover of The Rascals' “Groovin” to their roster of Top 40 singles. One of the better longplayers from the prolific instrumental group's Atlantic tenure, HIP HUG-HER has the sound of a band hitting its groove: Booker T. Jones makes his bow on the Hammond B-3 organ here, recent addition on bass Donald “Duck” Dunn has settled in nicely, and guitarist Steve Cropper - born on this day in 1941 – and drummer Al Jackson, Jr. are also firing on all cylinders.
Behaviour (Album of the Day)
Recorded with co-producer Harold Faltermeyer in Munich, Germany and completed at London's Sarm West Studios, BEHAVIOUR was Pet Shop Boys' fourth studio album and a bit of a departure for the British synth-pop duo. “It was more reflective and more musical-sounding,” said PSB's Neil Tennant of the collection, which emphasizes pop melody and emotional directness and features the singles “So Hard,” “How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously?” and the classic track “Being Boring.” Guitarist Johnny Marr and David Lynch's go-to arranger Angelo Badalamenti are among the guests lending their talents to this set, a No.2 hit in the U.K. that was eventually certified platinum there. BEHAVIOUR was released 30 years ago today and still stands as one of Pet Shop Boys' most moving and memorable records.
Hybrid Theory (20th Anniversary Edition) (Album of the Day)
Linkin Park had performed as HYBRID THEORY before using the name as the title for their debut, and the phrase is an apt description of the SoCal quintet's bracing mix of rap and metal. Over driving riffs and rhythms, Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda's tag-team vocals reflected a millennial anxiety that millions identified with, and the album became a huge hit, reaching Diamond sales status on the strength of singles “One Step Closer,” “Papercut,” “Crawling” (a Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy winner) and Top Ten “In the End.” Now available in several formats, HYBRID THEORY (20th ANNIVERSARY EDITION) features the classic original plus loads of rarities including B-sides, demos and live recordings from the era.
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 1976 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.” STRETCHIN' OUT IN BOOTSY'S RUBBER BAND is by common consensus one of Collin's very best, and we'll play it again now to wish the man a happy birthday.
Return of The Rentals (Album of the Day)
After Weezer's first two albums, bassist Matt Sharp headed out on his own; despite what the title may imply, RETURN OF THE RENTALS is his band's debut. The retro-futuristic typeface on the cover of the 1995 Maverick/Reprise collection is reflected by the use of Moogs, though that synthetic sound is leavened by endearing male-female vocals. Among the hook-filled originals are “The Love I'm Searching For,” “Waiting” and Modern Rock hit “Friends of P.,” an ode to Paulina Porizkova, whose husband Ric Ocasek had produced Weezer's “Blue” album. Ocasek's band, The Cars, is a good point of comparison for The Rentals, whose music is also a quirky, energetic and fun take on new wave. As RETURN OF THE RENTALS celebrates its 25th anniversary, its status as a lost '90s classic is clearer than ever.
Darklands (Expanded) (Album of the Day)
Featuring a distinctive mix of feedback and melody, The Jesus And Mary Chain's debut was a tough act to follow, but with DARKLANDS, the Scottish band rises to the challenge. While it still boasts plenty of buzzing electric guitars, the 1987 collection benefits from cleaner production and an increased emphasis on songcraft; in such originals as “April Skies,” “Happy When It Rains” and the title track, siblings Jim and William Reid have come up with true alt-rock classics. The Expanded Version of the album adds nearly two dozen bonus tracks including the “Some Candy Talking” EP, BBC sessions, B-sides and outtakes. William was born on this day in 1958, and we'll wish the older brother a happy birthday with another spin of DARKLANDS.
Chasin' Rainbows (Album of the Day)
Born Harold Lloyd Jenkins in Mississippi, Conway Twitty was a legendary performer whose three-decades-plus career earned him a place in both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. CHASIN' RAINBOWS was the singer's 50th studio album, and the Warner Bros. collection shows Conway in fine voice backed by a top-notch band on ten songs, including “All I Can Be Is A Sweet Memory” (with Vince Gill guesting on harmony vocals), Bread's “Baby I'm-A Want You” and Twitty original “I'm The Man In The Song.” Released 35 years ago, the set never made it to CD, but fortunately is now available digitally - CHASIN' RAINBOWS will lead country fans to a pot of musical gold.
Adrenaline (Album of the Day)
High school friends Chino Moreno (vocals), Stephen Carpenter (guitar) and Abe Cunningham (drums) formed Deftones in Sacramento in the late 1980s and in the time since have become one of alternative metal's most respected bands. The group's Maverick debut, ADRENALINE, took a while to take off but eventually rose to platinum status; as bassist Chi Cheng explained, “We've been together for almost eight years, on the road for two, and we do it with honesty and integrity - and the kids can tell.” Cut in Seattle with producer Terry Date, the set has the raw energy of a young band but also displays nuanced instrumental work and surprisingly sophisticated influences on its 11 originals, including such favorites as “Bored,” “7 Words” and “Engine No. 9.” Released 25 years ago this month, ADRENALINE is a blast of excitement that remains true to its name.
American Beauty 50th Anniversary Deluxe (Album of the Day)
Hot on the heels of the incredible success of WORKINGMAN'S DEAD in the summer of 1970, the Grateful Dead returned in the fall with the equally stunning AMERICAN BEAUTY. Recorded at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco with producer Stephen Quinn Barncard, the collection features some of the band's most iconic songs, including “Friend Of The Devil,” “Sugar Magnolia,” “Truckin’” and “Ripple.” Now available, the three-CD set AMERICAN BEAUTY: 50th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE EDITION includes the original album with newly remastered audio, plus an unreleased concert recorded on February 18, 1971 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, one of the most requested archival recordings in the Dead’s vault.
American Idiot (Album of the Day)
The phenomenally successful DOOKIE proved that the members of Green Day knew how to write great songs, but rock history is littered with groups who made a big initial splash and then vanished. AMERICAN IDIOT proved that the Bay Area pop-punk trio was a band headed for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Of course the 2004 collection has the requisite catchy singles: “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams,” “Holiday,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Jesus Of Suburbia” and the title track. And it was a big hit, reaching No.1 on the U.K. album chart and following suit in the U.S. But this Who-like rock opera is much more than the sum of its parts; AMERICAN IDIOT engages the post-9/11 political and cultural landscape with surprising insight and passion. But don't be an American idiot today – make sure to vote before the polls close!