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Phases and Stages (Album of the Day)
Willie Nelson's career in country music started conventionally enough as a songwriter in Nashville. But when most of his Music Row cohorts turned a deaf ear to the rock revolution of the late 1960s, Willie adopted one of its innovations, the concept album. His 1974 collection PHASES AND STAGES is a triumph of the form, tracing the dissolution of a marriage with a side of songs from each spouse's point of view; the 11 fine tracks include “Bloody Mary Morning,” which has since become a standard. Cut at Alabama's Muscle Shoals studios with Atlantic Records' Jerry Wexler behind the boards, PHASES AND STAGES helped Willie Nelson launch a new phase as a leader of Outlaw Country.
In the Dark (Album of the Day)
The Grateful Dead had been making music for more than 20 years before their 12th studio set, IN THE DARK, finally put them in the Top 10. The material on the 1987 collection is outstanding, with many of the originals having been workshopped by the group in concert for years; among the highlights are “Hell in a Bucket,” “Throwing Stones” and “Touch of Grey,” the band's sole Top 40 single. The album's title reflects its recording at Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium, where the house lights were turned down as though an audience was present. “Everybody played their parts in real time, together,” recalled drummer Bill Kreutzmann. “When we took breaks, we'd go into the wings by the stage door and sit there and talk about what we'd just done … the analysis served the songs and the camaraderie served the band.” IN THE DARK captured lightning in a bottle and became a double-platinum hit.
Tormato (Album of the Day)
TORMATO was the final album of the 1970s from Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Yes. Recorded in London following an exhaustive tour behind comeback set GOING FOR THE ONE, the sessions strained the group - vocalist Jon Anderson and keyboardist Rick Wakeman would depart soon afterward - but resulted in some wonderful music. Housed in a distinctive Hipgnosis-designed cover, the platinum-selling collection features immaculate performances (with several new instruments broadening the quintet's sound) and such strong songs as “Release, Release,” “Onward” and popular single “Don't Kill the Whale.” Coupling epic lyrical fantasies to forceful arrangements, the 1978 set was called “one of Yes' strongest and most important albums” by the Los Angeles Times upon release, and TORMATO is a must for progressive rock fans.
+ (Album of the Day)
Ed Sheeran's high school classsmates voted him “most likely to be famous” and within a few years he proved them right – the British singer-songwriter has become one of the world's best-selling artists. Following several self-released E.P.s and indefatigable gigging, his debut album PLUS (or +) was released in 2011, and the talent that turned the likes of Jamie Foxx and Elton John into Sheeran boosters is on full display. Shifting skillfully from melodic balladry to hip-hop beats, these dozen originals are sure to strike a chord with listeners, and “The A Team,” “You Need Me, I Don't Need You” and “Lego House” were all Top 10 U.K. singles. The album helped the performer earn a pair of Brit Awards and was a hit stateside as well, reaching the Billboard Top 10. We'll give the platinum-certified PLUS another spin now to wish Ed Sheeran a happy birthday.
The Very Best of Curtis Mayfield (Album of the Day)
Among the pioneers of soul music with The Impressions in the 1960s, Curtis Mayfield's solo career was equally distinguished as a hitmaker, producer and label owner (of Curtom Records). THE VERY BEST OF CURTIS MAYFIELD is an inspiring display of the singer-songwriter's sweet falsetto, socially conscious lyrics and funky arrangements. The 1997 collection includes such classics as “(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go,” “The Makings of You” and “Freddie's Dead,” a Top 10 single from the Super Fly soundtrack. These 16 tracks are an ideal introduction to the work of the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, and for Black History Month, THE VERY BEST OF CURTIS MAYFIELD has just been re-released on sky-blue vinyl.
So So Satisfied (Album of the Day)
While songwriters Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson penned enough hits at Motown to last a lifetime, the creative well was far from dry when the duo signed to Warner Bros. as performers in the mid-1970s. SO SO SATISFIED was the husband-and-wife team's fourth longplayer for the label, and opener “Tried, Tested And Found True” is an apt description of the set's superb songcraft, rich orchestration and lushly romantic atmosphere. “Over and Over,” “Destiny” and the title track are other highlights of the self-produced album, which set the stage for a trio of gold records that followed. Out now on spring-green vinyl, this 1977 collection will leave R&B fans SO SO SATISFIED.
Dire Straits (Album of the Day)
Mark Knopfler didn't always get “money for nothing”; after his divorce, he moved in with his brother David to save on rent, prompting a friend to dub their new band “Dire Straits.” They might not have had much cash, but they put what they did have to good use – it took all of £120 to record their first major label single, “Sultans Of Swing,” which became a Top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic. That ode to cool club combos may be the most famous of the 9 tracks on DIRE STRAITS, but the album is filled with sharply sketched gems like “Water Of Love,” “Down To The Waterline” and “Wild West End.” Knopfler's lean guitar licks and Dylanesque delivery add a kick to the band's intoxicating blend of roots, jazz and pub rock sounds, and one listen to DIRE STRAITS makes clear that these sultans were swinging for the fences.
Stellar Fungk: The Best of Slave/Steve Arrington (Album of the Day)
Part of the Dayton, Ohio music scene that gave birth to the Ohio Players, Slave knew how to bring the funk. The horn-powered collective was founded in 1976 by trumpeter Steve Washington and trombonist Floyd Miller, but within a few years, drummer Steve Arrington emerged as frontman; STELLAR FUNGK features highlights of the group's 1970s and '80s output along with choice solo sides from Arrington. The 1994 Rhino set includes such R&B Top 10 singles as “Slide,” “Just a Touch of Love,” “Watching You” and “Snap Shot,” and the compilation made the R&B album chart. STELLAR FUNGK: THE BEST OF SLAVE FEATURING STEVE ARRINGTON returns to stores tomorrow on red vinyl for Black History Month.
Homework (Album of the Day)
Has it really been a year without Daft Punk? While the robotic duo officially disbanded on this day in 2021, their music remains, starting with debut HOMEWORK. “We made the record at home, very cheaply, very quickly, and spontaneously, trying to do cool stuff,” noted Thomas Bangalter, who with bandmate Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo had been focused on making singles before realizing they had enough strong tracks to fill an album. Among the instant classics here are “Alive,” “Around The World” and “Da Funk” - the latter two both topped Billboard's Hot Dance/Club Play chart. Rolling Stone hailed the 1997 collection as the greatest EDM album of all time, and you too will give HOMEWORK an A+.
The Time (Album of the Day)
Prince's contract with Warner Bros. allowed him to release side projects with other artists on the label; perhaps the most successful of these acts was The Time. The Minneapolis band included old friend Morris Day and the future production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, though other than Day's vocals, you won't hear much of them on THE TIME – employing the pseudonym “Jamie Starr,” Prince wrote most of the songs and played virtually all of the instruments. Consequently, the six long-ish tracks here feature salacious synth-funk that would sound right at home on the Purple One's DIRTY MIND, and both “Get It Up” and “Cool” reached the Top 10 on the R&B chart. From uptempo dance songs to slinky slow jams, THE TIME remains an ideal album to play when it's party time, and the 1981 classic is now available on red/white vinyl at Rhino.com.