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Power, Corruption, & Lies Definitive (Album of the Day)
While traces of their Joy Division past can still be heard on POWER, CORRUPTION AND LIES, the 1983 collection marks the emergence of New Order as a great band in its own right. Recorded at Britannia Row Studios, Islington, the self-produced set mixes irresistible pop melodies, adventurous synthesizer sequences and danceable grooves on eight originals including such standouts as club classic “Age of Consent,” “The Village” and “Your Silent Face.” Now available, the new 1-LP/2-CD/2-DVD Definitive Edition of the album includes the remastered original, a disc of previously unreleased writing sessions and BBC recordings as well as rare live & TV performances. This is New Order frontman Bernard Sumner's birthday, and we'll wish him a happy one with another spin of POWER, CORRUPTION AND LIES.
TikTok Christmas (Album of the Day)
The latest technological innovation to send waves through the music industry is TikTok, whose billion-plus young users can create, comment on and share short videos on the app. Many of those videos feature music prominently, driving songs both old and new up the chart, and in that spirit we offer you TIKTOK CHRISTMAS. The new playlist is as diverse as the service's user base, ranging from vintage doo wop (The Drifters' “White Christmas”), country (Kenny Rogers' “Little Drummer Boy”) and classic rock (Pretenders' “2000 Miles”) to more contemporary holiday fare from Sia, CeeLo Green, Lily Allen and others. Many of these 49 songs have been TikTok trendsetters, but here you'll get full versions rather than 15-second snippets. We wish you a merry TIKTOK CHRISTMAS!
Rag Doll (Album of the Day)
Vocal group greats The Four Seasons rose to the challenge of the British invasion with RAG DOLL. The 1964 collection was the group's first of all-original material, and songwriter Bob Gaudio really delivers - Top 10 singles “Ronnie,” “Save It for Me” and the classic title track (inspired by a poor girl he'd seen on the streets of Manhattan) are just the tip of the iceberg. Frankie Valli and his fellow Seasons are in terrific voice throughout, and Bob Crewe's adventurous, dynamic production shows him on par with Phil Spector. Track for track, RAG DOLL is perhaps the strongest studio album of The Four Seasons' career, and we'll give it another spin now to wish Gaudio a happy birthday.
Love Songs (2020 Remix) (Album of the Day)
Whitesnake brings together some of the most-passionate music of its multi-platinum career on LOVE SONGS, a new collection that contains remixed and remastered versions of the group’s best love songs. The second release in the band’s “Red, White and Blues Trilogy,” the new collection includes a mix of hits and deep tracks that were originally released between 1987 and 2011 on five Whitesnake studio albums and David Coverdale’s third solo album, Into the LIGHT. “Pretty much all the songs I write are love songs in some way, shape or form,” notes band founder Coverdale. “Not all are ballads. Some are out-and-out rockers with powerful romantic themes … and of course … include heavy breathing in all of them!” Among the 15 tracks on LOVE SONGS are such Whitesnake favorites as “Is This Love,” “The Deeper The Love” and “Now You’re Gone.”
People Never Give Up (Album of the Day)
When Curtis Mayfield launched his solo career 50 years ago, America was at a crossroads as the revolt of the 1960s laid the groundwork for both progress and protest in the 1970s. The intense divisions in today’s political climate underline the relevance of Curtis’ music, highlighted in the new digital release PEOPLE NEVER GIVE UP. Curated by the Mayfield family and Rhino, the 13-track collection of Curtis Mayfield’s Civil Rights-era songs is a rich assemblage of culturally-important music that symbolizes an era of great social change, and stands as a reminder that the “People Have The Power.” Including such classics as “People Get Ready,” “We’re A Winner” and “We Got To Have Peace,” PEOPLE NEVER GIVE UP salutes the “gentle genius” whose music inspired such political leaders as John Lewis and Andrew Young and such fellow performers as Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin and Elton John.
Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics (Album of the Day)
One of the greatest stand-ups of all time, George Carlin became a counterculture icon in the 1970s with his famous “seven words you can't say on television” routine, and PARENTAL ADVISORY: EXPLICIT LYRICS is cut from the same cloth. Excerpted from an HBO special recorded in January 1990 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the album was released at a time when government censorship had again reared its head, and on such tracks as “Offensive Language,” Carlin puts the bluenoses in their place. Though the social satire is razor-sharp, the comedian's riffs on such apolitical topics as dogs, cancer and “Life's Little Moments” are just as thought-provoking and hilarious. PARENTAL ADVISORY: EXPLICIT LYRICS was released 30 years ago today, and if current events leave you in need of laughter, this set will provide a bellyful.
Summerteeth (Deluxe Edition) (Album of the Day)
Wilco’s third album, SUMMERTEETH, arrived in March 1999 to glowing reviews for its daring arrangements, lush harmonies and revealing lyrics. One of the best from the Chicago-based band, the collection introduced many fan-favorites that the group continues to play live today, including “I’m Always In Love,” “A Shot In The Arm” and “Via Chicago.” Now available, a four-CD Deluxe Edition of the album includes a Bob Ludwig 2020 remastered version of the original, along with an entire disc of unreleased studio outtakes, alternate versions and demos that chart the evolution of the set from songwriting demos to alternate arrangements to finished masters. SUMMERTEETH: DELUXE EDITION also includes a previously unissued live show recorded in Colorado's Boulder Theatre during the accompanying 1999 tour.
Happiness is Being With the Spinners (Album of the Day)
Having paid their dues at Motown, The Spinners were ready for their close-up when they signed with Atlantic Records in 1972, an association that would produce some of the greatest R&B records of the era. HAPPINESS IS BEING WITH THE SPINNERS was the quintet's fifth studio set for the label, and once again finds legendary Philly soul producer Thom Bell at the console. With the MFSB Orchestra and other top instrumentalists behind them, Philippé Wynne and his fellow vocalists soar on these eight tracks, which include such highlights as “The Clown,” “Toni My Love” and smash single “The Rubberband Man.” The feel-good collection was a Top 10 R&B hit upon release, and its title is as true now as it was in 1976 - HAPPINESS IS BEING WITH THE SPINNERS.
Loaded (2015 Remaster) (Album of the Day)
Before Lou Reed co-founded The Velvet Underground, he had worked at New York budget label Pickwick Records, penning knock-offs of Top 40 hits; if the Velvets were notorious for walking on the musical wild side, Reed never forgot the commercial lessons he had learned as a staff songwriter. Those lessons came to the fore on 1970's LOADED, the VU's final studio album with Lou, and a collection “loaded” with such potential hits as “Sweet Jane” and “Rock and Roll.” With top-notch production and Doug Yule's pop-friendly vocals on several songs, it's arguably the band's most accessible work, and was ranked by Rolling Stone among the 500 greatest albums of all time. Released 50 years ago this month, LOADED remains essential listening for anyone whose life was saved by rock and roll.
Rumours (Super Deluxe Edition) (Album of the Day)
Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks recorded RUMOURS against a backdrop of personal turmoil, chronicling their raw emotions in songs like “Go Your Own Way,” “Gold Dust Woman” and the band’s first number one smash, “Dreams,” a song whose popularity only continues to grow. The Warner Bros. collection made Fleetwood Mac one of the most iconic bands of the 1970s and garnered wide critical praise, earning the Grammy for Album of the Year; it has now sold more than 40 million copies worldwide since its debut. RUMOURS (SUPER DELUXE EDITION) pairs the iconic original with two discs of demos and alternate studio takes as well as a disc of live recordings from the 1977 tour; we'll give it a spin now to wish co-founder John McVie a happy 75th birthday.