Content tagged ''
Bare Trees (Album of the Day)
In the years before Fleetwood Mac became a household name, the British/American band spotlighted a succession of blues-inspired guitar aces, and on BARE TREES, that slot is held down by Danny Kirwan. “It's a well-rounded album,” noted drummer Mick Fleetwood of the 1972 Reprise set. “Like Lindsey [Buckingham], Danny had the chops with layering techniques, and the ability to know what's right and wrong in the studio.” Kirwan also penned half of the 10 songs here, including the terrific “Dust,” but Christine McVie and fellow guitarist Bob Welch also contribute winners in “Spare Me a Little of Your Love” and “Sentimental Lady,” respectively. If you have any interest in exploring the music of the Mac before the Buckingham-Nicks era, make BARE TREES your first stop.
Lick My Decals Off, Baby (Album of the Day)
Born Don Van Vliet on this day in 1941, Captain Beefheart was one of music's most gifted eccentrics, serving up a surreal blend of rock, blues and jazz with guttural force and instrumental precision. It's a tough sound to label, and to judge from the title of LICK MY DECALS OFF, BABY, the Captain wouldn't have it any other way. The 1970 follow-up to TROUT MASK REPLICA is less fragmentary and more accessible (if sometimes darker) than its revered predecessor, but Beefheart's playful humor is ever present (the 15 originals include such songs as “I Wanna Find a Woman That'll Hold My Big Toe Till I Have to Go”). Championed by the likes of Lester Bangs and John Peel, LICK MY DECALS OFF, BABY was also a personal favorite of Beefheart's, so we'll cue it up again as we mark the man's birthday.
The Beckies (Album of the Day)
This one-off, self-titled album from studio group The Beckies is the last major recording from Michael Brown, the ill-starred genius behind 1960s baroque-rock hitmakers The Left Banke. Brown co-produced the 1976 Sire collection, plays keyboards and co-wrote all 11 songs, which include the terrific melodies and occasional classical influences for which he's best known while falling squarely into power pop territory. Such highlights as “Can’t Be Alone,” “On the Morning That She Came” and “The Other Side of Town” rank with prime Raspberries or Rundgren, and one can only wonder what might have happened had this set gotten a little more exposure upon issue. But thanks to the recent digital release of THE BECKIES, this longtime favorite of the power pop cognoscenti is now poised for rediscovery...
The Complete Trio Collection (Album of the Day)
Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt had long been a mutual admiration society when they announced, on this day in 1979, that they would record together. But each was already an established solo artist, and the demands of separate careers delayed an album release until 1987. TRIO was well worth the wait, however; with stellar instrumental support from the likes of guitarists Albert Lee and David Lindley and Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne, the threesome harmonize beautifully on such hits as “Making Plans” and “To Know Him Is To Love Him.” TRIO topped the Country album chart for five consecutive weeks, eventually selling more than 4 million copies worldwide and earning a pair of Grammy awards; the Warner Bros. collection remains a highlight of all three artists’ catalogs.
Straight Shooter (Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
Comprised of former members of Free, Mott The Hoople and King Crimson, Bad Company started at the top from its formation some 40 years ago. The British band’s second longplayer, STRAIGHT SHOOTER, rose to #3 on the U.S. album chart and was certified 3x platinum behind the hit singles “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” as well as the rock radio staple “Shooting Star.” The Deluxe Edition of the arena rock classic includes 14 bonus tracks, all previously unreleased except the B-side “Whiskey Bottle.” Among the standouts is a stripped-down version of “Shooting Star,” a remix of “Good Lovin’ Gone Bad” with alternative guitar and vocals tracks, as well as two lost gems: “See The Sunlight” and “All Night Long.” Carefully remastered using the original tapes, bad never sounded as good as it does on STRAIGHT SHOOTER.
Live: The Way We Walk Vol. Two: The Longs (Album of the Day)
Genesis was one of Britain's top progressive rock bands in the 1970s before becoming superstars in the next decade with a stronger pop emphasis - a dichotomy that was reflected on the group's 1992 tour, which spawned two concert albums. LIVE: THE WAY WE WALK, VOL. 2: THE LONGS focuses on extended compositions including “Driving the Last Spike,” “Domino,” “Home by the Sea” and a medley of Peter Gabriel-era songs. Recorded at shows in Hannover, Germany, these six tracks feature the superb instrumental work that has always distinguished the band, with the core trio of keyboardist Tony Banks, guitarist Mike Rutherford and singer/drummer Phil Collins ably assisted by Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson on guitar and percussion, respectively. Released 25 years ago this month, THE WAY WE WALK, VOL. 2 is sure to please fans of Genesis' more progressive side.
Who Do We Think We Are (Album of the Day)
“Deep Purple get piles of passionate letters either violently against or pro the group,” noted drummer Ian Paice in 1972. “The angry ones generally start off 'Who do Deep Purple think they are...'” The U.K. hard rock heroes used the phrase the following year as the title of their seventh studio album, which includes “Mary Long” (a jab at finger-wagging moralists), the dynamic “Rat Bat Blue” and riff-driven single “Woman From Tokyo” (inspired by the group's recent Japanese tour) among the highlights. The set was recorded in Rome and Frankfurt at the tail end of relentless touring that pushed the quintet to the breaking point, and WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE would be the final album from the classic “Mark II” lineup of Deep Purple.
A Minute To Pray, A Second To Die (Album of the Day)
Among the vanguard of late-1970s Los Angeles punk bands, The Flesh Eaters were the brainchild of poet Chris Desjardins, aka Chris D, who enlisted some of the city's leading musical lights to join its rotating line-up. Check out the credits on A MINUTE TO PRAY, A SECOND TO DIE; the group's 1981 album includes John Doe and D. J. Bonebrake of X as well as Dave Alvin, Bill Bateman and Steve Berlin of The Blasters – none of whom play as though they're merely moonlighting. Vocalist and primary lyricist Chris D has a dark vision that leans toward psychobilly in places (“Digging My Grave” and “Satan's Stomp” are a couple of the titles here), though his bandmates' affinity for intense roots rock can be heard throughout. Surely The Flesh Eaters' finest hour, A MINUTE TO PRAY, A SECOND TO DIE is a testament to the power and possibilities of the first wave of punk.
Django Reinhardt NY Festival [Live At Birdland] (Album of the Day)
Born on this day in 1910, Django Reinhardt has been a touchstone for jazz guitarists for decades, his gypsy-influenced finger picking all the more remarkable given that two of those fingers were paralyzed. The performer was remembered in 2000 with tribute concerts held at famed New York nightclub Birdland, the cream of which can be heard on DJANGO REINHARDT NY FESTIVAL. A couple of the players have ties to Django – his son Babik contributes a couple of tracks, and the bassist on most of these dozen selections, Jon Burr, worked for years with Reinhardt cohort Stephane Grappelli. But mostly the soloists are here simply because they're demons on the strings; young phenom Jimmy Rosenberg leads the charge with superb support from Frank Vignola, Birelli Lagrene and Bucky Pizzarelli. DJANGO REINHARDT NY FESTIVAL LIVE AT BIRDLAND is truly a master class in jazz guitar.
Deep In The Night (Album of the Day)
A true legend of R&B, Etta James was discovered by Johnny Otis in the mid-1950s and launched on a 50-plus year career that would eventually put her in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While James' biggest hits were recorded for the Chess family of labels, her 1978 Warner Bros. album DEEP IN THE NIGHT ranks among her best. Produced by the great Jerry Wexler, the 10-track collection draws from a wide range of sources including rock (“Only Women Bleed,” “Take It To The Limit”) as well as gospel and soul. Surrounded by such top-flight instrumentalists as guitarist Cornell Dupree and saxophonist Plas Johnson, James makes all these songs her own with powerhouse performances. “Miss Peaches” was born on this day in 1938, and we'll remember the singer with the unheralded gem DEEP IN THE NIGHT.