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Go! (Album of the Day)
Named after a childhood pen pal of frontwoman Kay Hanley, Letters To Cleo was among the most appealing bands to emerge from Boston in the 1990s. Blending alternative rock and power pop hooks, the group cut three albums for Warner Bros. subsidiary Giant Records, the last of which was 1997's GO! With new drummer Tom Polce behind the kit (and The Cars' Greg Hawkes playing keyboards on a few tracks), the Peter Collins-produced collection has the feisty energy of the quintet's acclaimed debut, and such Hanley originals as “I Got Time,” “Veda Very Shining” and “Find You Dead” sound upbeat even when the lyrics aren't. As GO! celebrates its 20th anniversary, it's the perfect time to reopen Letters To Cleo.
Chrome Dreams II (Album of the Day)
When you've got 28 studio albums under your belt – as Neil Young did when he released CHROME DREAMS II ten years ago today – you've no doubt got a few leftover songs, and the Reprise collection kicks off with three great ones, most notably the 18-plus minute epic “Ordinary People.” And though Young is working here with longtime collaborators including guitarist Ben Keith, bassist Rick Rosas and Crazy Horse drummer Ralph Molina, this isn't just a journey through the past; the singer-songwriter also penned strong new material in a variety of styles ranging from country-folk (“Ever After”) to gospel (“Shining Light”) to electric rockers (the Grammy-nominated “No Hidden Path”). While its title references a legendary unreleased album from 1977, CHROME DREAMS II doesn't have a stylistic or thematic focus, and that's kind of the point; it's an album that revels in driving all over the map.
Simple Dreams (40th Anniversary Edition) (Album of the Day)
Linda Ronstadt released one of the most successful albums of her career in 1977 with the #1 Grammy-winning smash SIMPLE DREAMS. It was the singer's eighth studio album and would go on to sell more than three million copies in the U.S. alone. The set spawned two Top 10 hits thanks to Ronstadt's covers of Buddy Holly's "It's So Easy" and Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou"; several additional tracks would emerge as fan favorites, like the singer's takes on Warren Zevon's "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" and The Rolling Stones' "Tumbling Dice." In addition to remastered sound, the new 40th anniversary Expanded Edition of SIMPLE DREAMS also includes bonus live recordings of "It's So Easy," "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" and "Blue Bayou." All three are taken from a concert recording that originally aired on HBO in 1980 and are available here for the first time as standalone audio tracks.
Olias Of Sunhillow (Album of the Day)
As frontman of Yes during the band's 1970s heyday, Jon Anderson had one of the most famous voices in progressive rock, and it's put to excellent use on his solo debut, OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW. The 1976 Atlantic collection, painstakingly produced by the singer-songwriter over the better part of a year, is of a piece with classic Yes albums but features enough twists to remain distinct. There's lavish cover art (though by David Roe rather than Roger Dean), virtuoso instrumental work (almost all by Anderson himself) and a fantastical unifying concept (an alien race led to a new world by the title character). Yes members have released their share of solo sets over the years, and OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW ranks among the very best of them; we'll give it another spin now to celebrate Jon Anderson's birthday.
The Atco Albums Collection (Album of the Day)
Mac Rebennack had paid his dues as one of New Orleans' most respected session pianists before taking the name “Dr. John” in the mid-1960s and beginning his rise to solo stardom. The performer signed to the Atco label, initially adopting a flamboyant hoodoo man persona before emerging as the Crescent City's leading musical ambassador in the 1970s. THE ATCO ALBUMS COLLECTION charts the evolution of Dr. John on more than 60 tracks, including the studio albums GRIS-GRIS, BABYLON, REMEDIES, THE SUN, MOON & HERBS, DR. JOHN'S GUMBO, IN THE RIGHT PLACE and DESITIVELY BONNAROO in their entirety. From early sides like “I Walk On Guilded Splinters” to such hits as “Iko Iko,” “Right Place, Wrong Time” and “Such A Night,” THE ATCO ALBUMS are the reason Dr. John has a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Some Great Reward (Album of the Day)
Depeche Mode were still a few years away from conquering the world in 1984, but with SOME GREAT REWARD, the band was turning the tide - in their native U.K., the set reached #5, and it broke the Top 100 in the U.S, a first for the group. As critics were quick to note, Dave Gahan had made dramatic strides forward as a singer, and with “People Are People” and “Blasphemous Rumours,” songwriter Martin Gore served up two of the quartet's most enduring anthems. The pairing of synth-pop bounce with industrial despair that would soon endear the band to millions of teens can be heard to excellent effect throughout the nine originals, all intensely emotional songs colored by Alan Wilder's adventurous arrangements. A mandatory purchase for Depeche Mode fans, SOME GREAT REWARD remains a rewarding listen for anyone who enjoys '80s new wave and dance music.
The Singles (Album of the Day)
Released last month to mark The Doors’ 50th anniversary, THE SINGLES shows the creative chemistry shared by drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and vocalist Jim Morrison as they became one of America’s most iconic and influential rock bands. The new collection features singles released from all six of the original quartet's studio albums, including classics like “People Are Strange,” “Love Her Madly” and “Riders On The Storm,” as well as mono radio versions of such hits as “Hello, I Love You” and “Touch Me” unavailable since their original release. The B-sides – many of which make their CD debut – add another dimension to the band’s legacy. THE SINGLES also features songs released after Morrison’s passing in 1971 as well as live selections from posthumous releases to provide a broader picture of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.
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.
For Sale: Live At Maxwell's 1986 (Album of the Day)
The Replacements were notoriously uneven as a live band – some nights they were a drunken mess, on others utterly transcendent - FOR SALE: LIVE AT MAXWELL'S 1986 captures the quartet on a particularly good night. The sole official live album by the band other than the cassette-only THE SHIT HITS THE FANS, the double-disc set was cut with a 24-track mobile studio set up at the Hoboken, NJ club, and the pristine recording captures one of the last great performances by the four original members. The fiery 29-song concert featured tracks from all of the band’s albums to date (leaning heavily on such new TIM songs as “Bastards Of Young,” “Left Of The Dial” and “Kiss Me On The Bus”) along with B-sides and covers. FOR SALE: LIVE AT MAXWELL'S 1986 arrives in stores today just in time for bassist Tommy Stinson's birthday, and it's an essential look at one of rock and roll’s greatest bands.
Tusk (Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
After RUMOURS became one of the biggest sellers of the 1970s, Fleetwood Mac earned creative carte blanche for their next album and put it to good use on TUSK. The expansive 1979 collection is the most experimental release in the Mac catalog, though the music remains highly accessible - both “Sara” and the title track were Top Ten singles, and the Grammy-nominated album sold more than four million copies worldwide. The Deluxe Edition of the seminal set delves deep into the vaults with five CDs including the remastered original, an alternate version of the album made up of session outtakes (most previously unissued), an assortment of singles, demos and remixes, and two discs of unreleased performances from London, Tucson, and St. Louis stops on the supporting tour - a more than brilliant way to celebrate Lindsey Buckingham's birthday.