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Matters Of The Heart (Album of the Day)
Tracy Chapman's breakthrough 1988 debut announced the arrival of a major talent in no uncertain terms, and four years later MATTERS OF THE HEART showed her continued growth as a singer-songwriter. As you might guess from its title, the 1992 Elektra set shifts some of the performer's focus from societal problems to personal concerns, but Chapman's nuanced lyrics and passionate delivery remain as compelling as ever. Stylistically, the collection touches upon blues, jazz and world musics while remaining listener-friendly; several seasoned hitmakers (including members of the Heartbreakers, the E Street Band and Bobby Womack) lend their instrumental skills to these ten originals. MATTERS OF THE HEART celebrates its 25th anniversary today, and this direct and powerful album still cuts straight to the heart.
Ain't No 'Bout-A-Doubt It (Album of the Day)
After helping create the rhythms for innumerable Sly & The Family Stone classics, bassist Larry Graham ventured out on his own in the early 1970s as the leader of Graham Central Station. The Bay Area collective released a string of albums for Warner Bros. that decade, among the most enjoyable of which was AIN'T NO 'BOUT-A-DOUBT IT. The 1975 set, cut at Wally Heider's San Francisco studio, features such infectiously funky originals as opener “The Jam,” “It's Alright,” “Water” and No.1 R&B single “Your Love.” The sextet lays down formidable grooves throughout, with some appealing melodies and oddball production touches (like backwards tape loops) thrown in for good measure - there's little doubt that AIN'T NO 'BOUT-A-DOUBT IT will hit the spot for '70s R&B fans.
The Biggest Twang of Them All (Album of the Day)
King of the Blues Guitar (Mono) (Album of the Day)
Born on this day in 1923, Albert King was a major influence on both blues and rock guitar players. A Mississippi native, he launched his career in Arkansas and performed all over the Midwest, but the guitarist's best recordings were made for the Memphis-based Stax label and feature backing from house band Booker T. & The M.G.'s. THE KING OF THE BLUES GUITAR compilation rounds up the axeman's best '60s sides for Stax, including the classic BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN album (“Laundromat Blues,” “Crosscut Saw”) and six single sides (like the wonderful talking blues “Cold Feet”). If you don't know the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's work, this is the place to start – all hail the King!
Pretenders II (Album of the Day)
The glamour shot on the sleeve of PRETENDERS II underlines the stardom the band had achieved with their remarkable debut. Producer Chris Thomas returned for the 1981 Sire set, which like its predecessor combines moments of tender beauty (“Talk Of The Town”) with tough-as-nails rockers (“Message Of Love,” “The Adultress”) and a Kinks cover for good measure (“I Go To Sleep”). Though the album went Top Ten in the U.S., its high quality was somewhat taken for granted upon original release - until the deaths the following year of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bassist Pete Farndon closed the book on the original quartet. Released 35 years ago today, PRETENDERS II shows one of the greatest groups of the 1980s firing on all cylinders.
One Quiet Night (Album of the Day)
Among contemporary jazz's most gifted guitarists, Pat Metheny may be best known as a group leader and fusion specialist, but ONE QUIET NIGHT shows he's just as impressive in solo acoustic mode. Built on an improvised session cut in the performer's home studio, the 2003 Warner Bros. collection features eight new compositions plus distinctive takes on Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why," Keith Jarrett's "My Song,” Gerry and the Pacemakers' "Ferry Cross the Mersey" and the Metheny Group's earlier "Last Train Home.” Played on a baritone guitar in an unusual low tuning, these songs are soulful, intimate and perfect for a relaxing evening. Today we wish Pat Metheny a happy birthday with Best New Age Album Grammy winner ONE QUIET NIGHT.
Tarantula (Expanded) (Album of the Day)
By the time of Ride's fourth studio album, primary songwriters Andy Bell and Mark Gardener were barely speaking, and the quartet's break-up was announced shortly before TARANTULA arrived in stores in March of 1996. Needless to say, the album got little promotion and quickly vanished – which is a shame, as it includes some fine music (even if these riff-driven songs are closer in spirit to the Brit-pop of the day than the shoegaze of the band's first recordings). Bell carries most of the weight here, as writer and lead vocalist on 9 of the 12 originals, among them such highlights as “Black Nite Crash” and “Dead Man.” The Expanded Edition of TARANTULA includes a trio of B-sides as bonus tracks, and we'll give the set another spin today in honor of Andy Bell's birthday.
Like A Virgin (Album of the Day)
While Madonna's debut was a big hit, it was on her follow-up, LIKE A VIRGIN, where she truly grabbed the reins of superstardom. Produced by Chic's Nile Rodgers (and featuring instrumental work from that band's Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson), the album was a savvy mix of Madonna originals and outside material including such singles as “Angel,” “Dress You Up,” “Material Girl” and the title track. With iconic videos of the last two songs in heavy rotation on MTV, the set soared to No.1 on the U.S. chart, becoming the first solo album by a female artist to sell more than 5 million copies on this day in 1985. Diverse, ambitious and endlessly listenable, LIKE A VIRGIN is one of the defining albums of the decade.
Vision Thing (Album of the Day)
For 1990's VISION THING, Sisters of Mercy served up a critique of contemporary politics, drawing its title from one of President George H. W. Bush's remarks. The U.K. band's sardonic take on the subject is perfectly matched by the music here, a dark but danceable mix of goth, industrial and metal. With group mainstay Andrew Eldritch's deep vocals couched in heavy guitar riffs and insistent beats (from drum machine “Doktor Avalanche”), songs like “Ribbons,” “More” and the title track become instant Sisters classics. Recorded with the lineup in flux, the outstanding VISION THING is the group's last studio set to date, and has just been given a vinyl boxed set reissue with the original album joined by three 12" singles from the era.