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INFINITE TUESDAY: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL RIFF (Album of the Day)
Michael Nesmith's half-century-and-counting career has seen him rise from Texas troubadour to stardom with “The Monkees” to acclaimed solo releases and pioneering work in music video and virtual reality. As an audio companion to his new autobiography of the same name, Rhino has just released INFINITE TUESDAY: AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL RIFFS. This 14-track set showcases Nez's best, beginning in 1965 with "The New Recruit" (cut under the pseudonym Michael Blessing) and such Monkees favorites as “Papa Gene's Blues.” The collection focuses on the numerous solo albums that Nesmith recorded during the 1970s, including his country-rock collaborations with The First National Band (Top 40 hit “Joanne”) and concept album THE PRISON, before finishing with more recent songs that show Michael Nesmith remains a strong creative force.
The Head On The Door (Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
Malo (Album of the Day)
Originally a Bay Area R&B group called The Malibus, Malo was among the first wave of Latin-influenced rock bands in the early 1970s. Headed by vocalist Arcelio Garcia and guitarist Jorge Santana (Carlos' brother), the band signed to Warner Bros. and promptly produced a classic self-titled debut album. MALO's half-dozen originals each stretch past six minutes without ever dragging, thanks to arrangements that move effortlessly from Chicago-esque horn hooks to driving electric guitar riffs to salsa rhythms. Highlights include “Nena,” “Café” and Top 20 single, “Suavecito,” which decades later would be sampled in Sugar Ray's chart-topping “Every Morning.” The only album by the original line-up (a version of the group remains active today), MALO is the band's high-water mark, and essential listening for any fan of Latin music.
Parade (Music from the Motion Picture Under the Cherry Moon) (Album of the Day)
Prince's second movie may not have made quite the splash that his first did, but its music is another matter. Though PARADE served as the soundtrack to Under The Cherry Moon, the collection stands quite effectively on its own, blending some of the psychedelia of his preceding studio album with taut funk tracks. Highlights among the latter include “Girls and Boys,” “New Position” and “Kiss,” which reached No.1 on the U.S. singles chart on this day in 1986. The set covers a lot of ground stylistically, and owes much of its success to the fine playing of The Revolution; this would be their final album backing the Purple One. Named album of the year by British music weekly NME, the Platinum-selling PARADE remains among the most rewarding of Prince's catalog.
Feelin' Groovy (Album of the Day)
Originally known as The Tikis, this Santa Cruz collective was rechristened Harpers Bizarre upon their signing to Warner Bros., and would become (together with The Association) the label's leading exponent of sunshine pop. The quintet had a hit right out of the box with a Simon & Garfunkel cover, “59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy),” that would provide the title of their debut album. FEELIN' GROOVY also includes another Top 40 single in opener “Come To The Sunshine,” penned by Van Dyke Parks, who also plays piano on it; others who lend their talents to this collection include arranger Leon Russell and writer Randy Newman, who contributes three songs. FEELIN' GROOVY was released 50 years ago this month, and with its buoyant harmonies and inventive instrumentation, it still feels pretty groovy.
A Different Kind Of Tension (Special Edition) (Album of the Day)
Bricks Are Heavy (Album of the Day)
If 1990s grunge brings to mind unshaven guys in thrift-store flannel shirts, L7 will make you think twice; the female foursome rocks as relentlessly as the men on BRICKS ARE HEAVY. The 1992 Slash Records set was the band's third, and though it benefits greatly from the focused production of Butch Vig (then fresh off the success of Nirvana's NEVERMIND), it's the ferocious performances and strong material that make the collection so memorable. Driven by the twin guitar attack of Donita Sparks and Suzi Gardner, L7 rages against the machine (“Wargasm”), displays a wicked sense of humor (“Diet Pill”) and flirts with mainstream accessibility (Modern Rock hit “Pretend We're Dead”) across these 11 originals. BRICKS ARE HEAVY celebrates its 25th anniversary today, and if that makes any of you feel old, just crank up the music and let the fire of L7's best album melt away the years.
TANGO IN THE NIGHT (Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
After topping the U.S. charts in 1982 with MIRAGE, Fleetwood Mac returned five years later with TANGO IN THE NIGHT, to date the final studio album released by the quintet of Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie and Stevie Nicks. The second-best selling record of the band's career, the collection topped the album chart in Britain and peaked at #7 in America, selling more than 15 million copies worldwide. It's easy to see why - the dozen originals here include four Billboard Top 20 singles: “Little Lies,” “Big Love,” “Everywhere” and “Seven Wonders.” Timed to coincide with the album’s 30th anniversary, the new TANGO IN THE NIGHT: DELUXE EDITION expands on the original with bonus discs of demos, outtakes, B-sides and 12” versions as well as several music videos.
Mwandishi (Album of the Day)
MWANDISHI was a Swahili name Herbie Hancock adopted in the late 1960s, when he was helping pioneer fusion as a member of Miles Davis' band, and it's an appropriate one for this stunning blend of jazz, electronic, funk and African musics. The 1971 Warner Bros. collection marks the beginning of the more progressive style that would result in the keyboardist's breakthrough two years later with HEAD HUNTERS, and covers an amazing amount of ground in its three songs: “Ostinato,” with its insistent 15/8 time riff, the ethereal “You'll Know When You Get There” and the side-long “Wandering Spirit Song,” driven by spellbinding rising crescendos. Herbie Hancock was born on this day in 1940, and we'll celebrate the birthday with one of his masterpieces, MWANDISHI.
Sudan Village (Album of the Day)
Jim Seals and Dash Crofts were among the most popular duos of the 1970s, with eight Top 40 singles during the decade. That the pair were a bit more ambitious than the average soft-rockers is clear from their sole live album, SUDAN VILLAGE, which doesn't include any of those hits. Instead, the 1976 collection features deep album cuts like the beautiful “Advance Guards” and new material, including successful single “Baby I'll Give It To You.” The latter track is basically a studio recording, and while there's some post-concert sweetening in other places as well, banter with the audience and the crowd-pleasing fiddle hoedown that closes the set convey the feel of a Seals & Crofts show quite effectively. Essential for fans, SUDAN VILLAGE is also a rewarding listen for anyone interested in exploring the duo's work beyond a greatest hits album.