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Learning to Crawl (Album of the Day)
The loss of a lead guitarist and a bassist in less than a year would have destroyed many bands, but Pretenders bounced back from tragedy with LEARNING TO CRAWL. The 1984 Sire set includes a magnificent tribute to the late James Honeyman-Scott (“Back On The Chain Gang,” a Top 10 hit), but the rest of the ten tracks show the band looking forward rather than backward. With producer Chris Thomas returning to the helm, frontwoman Chrissie Hynde came up with some of her best songs, ranging from fiery rockers (“Middle of the Road,” “My City Was Gone”) to tender balladry (Christmastime classic “2000 Miles”), with an ace cover of The Persuaders' “Thin Line Between Love and Hate” to round out the set. More than a triumph over adversity, the platinum-certified LEARNING TO CRAWL stands among the very best Pretenders albums, and today we'll give it another spin in honor of Hynde's birthday.
Gary Burton & Keith Jarrett (Album of the Day)
Chemistry is one of the most important, if unpredictable, elements of a jazz recording and it's clearly heard on the pairing of GARY BURTON & KEITH JARRETT. Veteran Atlantic producer Joel Dorn brought the vibraphonist and pianist to New York's A&R Studios on July 23, 1970 to cut these five tracks with guitarist Sam Brown, drummer Bill Goodwin and bassist Steve Swallow (who also provided a song, “Como en Vietnam”). The rest of the material is all penned by Jarrett, and its mix of pop, rock, country and the avant-garde is inventive and effortless. The 1971 release may seem unassuming at first, but the insinuating melodies and masterful instrumental work make GARY BURTON & KEITH JARRETT an album whose pleasures grow with each listen.
Soul Men (Album of the Day)
“Coming to you on a dusty road - Good loving, I got a truck load!” Among the most successful R&B duos of all time, Sam Moore and Dave Prater were at the top of their game on SOUL MEN. Recorded at Stax in Memphis, the album boasts strong support from the studio's ace instrumental outfit Booker T. & the MG's and producers Isaac Hayes and David Porter. The Hayes-Porter team also contributed material to the 1967 collection, most notably the Top 10 title track, which earned Sam & Dave a Grammy for Best R&B Group, Vocal or Instrumental. It's the most famous of these 11 songs, but far from the sole highlight; “Hold It Baby,” “Broke Down Piece Of Man” and “I've Seen What Loneliness Can Do” all put the performers' gritty, gospel-infused vocals to excellent use. There's not a dull moment on SOUL MEN.
Master of Puppets (Album of the Day)
By the time of their third studio release, MASTER OF PUPPETS, Metallica were absolute masters of thrash metal. The final set with bassist Cliff Burton, the 1986 collection was recorded in Copenhagen with producer Flemming Rasmussen, and its technically proficient sound and well-focused fury display an authority that belies its themes of powerlessness and alienation. The 8 originals here are more refined and complex than anything the band had written before, and are played with almost-unimaginable intensity, inspiring outlets like Rolling Stone and Time to cite the set as one of the greatest albums ever. There's new Metallica on the way - S&M2, a live album the band cut with The San Francisco Symphony, is available for pre-order at Rhino.com – but for now, we'll give MASTER OF PUPPETS another spin to wish vocalist James Hetfield a happy birthday.
Penthouse (Album of the Day)
With ex-Galaxie 500 leader Dean Wareham fronting a foursome including former Feelies and Chills members, Luna was something approaching an alternative rock supergroup, and the band's third album, PENTHOUSE, is worthy of that lineage. The Elektra collection adds a couple of guest stars on top of that (Television guitarist Tom Verlaine and Stereolab vocalist Laetitia Sadier), but the best of these 11 tracks - “Chinatown,” “Lost In Space” and “Kalamazoo” - highlight the cohesive playing of the core quartet. This is evocative, late-night music, with Wareham's skewed but witty lyrics offset by shimmering instrumentation. Released 25 years ago this week, PENTHOUSE shows Luna reaching new heights, and the collection was justifiably named one of the decade's best by Rolling Stone magazine.
Up On The Roof: The Best Of the Drifters (Album of the Day)
Following years with Clyde McPhatter as The Drifters' frontman, Ben E. King stepped to the microphone for 1959's "There Goes My Baby," one of the first R&B songs orchestrated for strings. The hit launched a new era for the group, who got their pick of pop-friendly songs penned by such top Brill Building writing teams as Pomus & Shuman, Goffin & King, Bacharach & David and Leiber & Stoller. Among the classics that resulted: “Sweets For My Sweet,” “Up On The Roof,” the No.1 smash “Save The Last Dance For Me” and “This Magic Moment” (which is currently having its own magic moment on TikTok). All the above classics, plus nine more favorites, are featured on UP ON THE ROOF: THE BEST OF THE DRIFTERS, a superb survey of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' most enduring music.
Alright, Still (Album of the Day)
Though she's the product of a show business family, Lily Allen's debut, ALRIGHT, STILL, is refreshingly free of glitz. While the 11 originals here are meticulously produced (by a team including Mark Ronson), there's bite beneath the bright surfaces as Allen offers cheeky rejoinders to ex-boyfriends (“Smile,” a U.K. No.1 hit), her slacker brother (“Alfie”) and others. Thanks to the singer's confidence and sense of humor, the put-downs are never off-putting, and the 2006 collection has tender and affirmative moments in the heartbreaking “Littlest Things” and urban anthem “LDN” to add variety. England was quick to embrace Allen's ska-tinged pop - the set just missed the top of the chart there – but the irrepressible ALRIGHT, STILL was a Top 20 success in America as well.
Beat & Soul (Album of the Day)
Like its predecessor, BEAT & SOUL finds the Everly Brothers delivering a set of superb rock and R&B covers. Regarding the former, the 1965 Warner Bros. set offers nods to Little Richard (“The Girl Can't Help It”) and Mickey & Sylvia (“Love Is Strange,” a minor U.K. hit), while the soul side includes then-recent songs by The Impressions (“People Get Ready”) and Rufus Thomas (“Walking the Dog”). The brothers contribute only one original, but it's a great one; “Man With Money” would itself be covered by several British beat groups. Phil & Don's immaculate harmonies are complemented here by instrumental work from a dream team of session players – James Burton, Glen Campbell, Leon Russell and Billy Preston among them. As BEAT & SOUL celebrates its 55th anniversary this month, it's time to give one of the Everlys' more underrated albums a closer listen.
Manna (Album of the Day)
Anyone remotely interested in pop songcraft has (or ought to have) a Bread best-of collection, but MANNA is proof that there was much more to the band than its signature singles. Of course this third studio set from the '70s hitmakers includes a Top 10 David Gates-penned ballad (“If”), but “Let Your Love Go” shows he could write rockers just as effectively. His songs alternate with those by James Griffin and Robb Royer, whose “Take Comfort” and “Live In Your Love” are also outstanding; adding a strong rhythmic backbone to all 12 tracks is Bread drummer Mike Botts. With its memorable melodies complemented by muscular performances, the gold-certified MANNA remains a slice of soft-rock heaven.
Invasion of Your Privacy (Album of the Day)
L.A. glam metal greats Ratt returned to record stores a year after their smash debut with 1985's INVASION OF YOUR PRIVACY. Producer Beau Hill is back behind the boards, adding radio/MTV-friendly polish to 10 originals including opener “You're in Love,” “Between the Eyes” and Top 40 hit “Lay It Down.” Driving and catchy with an appealing touch of sleaze, this music is an ideal showcase for Stephen Pearcy's commanding vocals and the twin-axe attack of Robbin Crosby and Warren DeMartini (whose solos here qualify him for guitar god status). INVASION OF YOUR PRIVACY was a double-platinum success, and the Atlantic collection is truly a ball for headbangers.