Content tagged ''
SONG OF THE DAY - World In Motion (Album of the Day)
“This should be the last straw for Joy Division fans,” said New Order singer Bernard Sumner of “World In Motion,” the band's improbable 1990 hit. It's hard to imagine anything further from the quartet's post-punk roots than this football anthem, written to support England's team in its World Cup bid, but the song's success underlines New Order's skill and versatility. Co-written with comedian Keith Allen, the track frames an anti-hooligan message (and a rap by athlete John Barnes) with buoyant alternative rock based on a BBC theme penned by the band's Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert. “World In Motion” became New Order's sole U.K. No.1 single, and as the FIFA World Cup kicks off again, it's our song of the day.
The Shape of Jazz to Come (Album of the Day)
THE SHAPE OF JAZZ TO COME may have seemed a bold title for Ornette Coleman's Atlantic Records debut, but the music on the 1959 collection absolutely justifies it. With an emphasis on melody and improvisation over chords and harmony (Coleman called his approach “harmolodic”), these six originals introduce the standard “Lonely Woman,” and offer the quartet – which includes future stars Don Cherry on cornet and Charlie Haden on bass - plenty of room to strut their instrumental stuff. A cornerstone of the free jazz movement, the album was initially controversial, but its landmark status is now unquestioned, and it has been named to both the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. Ornette Coleman passed away on this day in 2015 and we'll remember the pioneering performer with THE SHAPE OF JAZZ TO COME.
SONG OF THE DAY - "Mary Don't You Weep" (Album of the Day)
“Mary Don't You Weep” has been performed by artists ranging from the Swan Silvertones to Bing Crosby to Pete Seeger, but few have brought the 19th-century spiritual to life better than Prince. With its message of hope and perseverance, the song was an anthem of the Civil Rights era, and Prince included it on the home studio recording recently released as PIANO & A MICROPHONE 1983. A raw, intimate recording cut right before the performer achieved international stardom, its spare vocal-plus-keyboard arrangement only amplifies the song's power. Underlining that impact, Prince's version of “Mary Don't You Weep” is featured during the end credits of Spike Lee's new film, BlacKkKlansman, and the track is our Song of the Day.
All the Love: The Lost Atlantic Recordings (Album of the Day)
Along with numerous 1960s hits as both a performer and a writer, Jackie DeShannon's storied career includes a fine 1972 album for Atlantic Records, JACKIE. The next year saw extensive sessions for a follow-up, but most of that work remained unheard for decades; ALL THE LOVE: THE LOST ATLANTIC RECORDINGS finally presents the material in its entirety. The music encompasses pop, soul, country and more with a mix of originals and covers including Dylan's “Don't Think Twice It's Alright” and Christine McVie's "Spare Me a Little of Your Love." While most of these 18 tracks were helmed by JACKIE producer Tom Dowd, the collection includes several collaborations with Van Morrison (who can be heard on backing vocals). Eclectic and masterfully crafted, THE LOST ATLANTIC RECORDINGS will delight both longtime fans and newcomers to Jackie DeShannon, and today we'll give it a spin to celebrate the singer-songwriter's birthday.
From the Choirgirl Hotel (Album of the Day)
Among the most intense singer-songwriters to emerge during the 1990s, Tori Amos explores raw emotional terrain few performers would dare touch, and FROM THE CHOIRGIRL HOTEL is no exception. The miscarriage Amos suffered shortly before recording the 1998 collection crops up in several places, but as painful and personal as these dozen originals sometimes get, their strength and resilience remains universal. Cut in Cornwall, England, the self-produced Atlantic set features an equally tough sound, and though Tori's trademark piano can be heard throughout, it's framed in tighter rock band arrangements than on previous albums. “Spark,” “Jackie's Strength” and the Grammy-nominated “Raspberry Swirl” are some of the highlights of the platinum-certified set, cited by many fans as their favorite. This is Tori Amos' birthday, and we'll mark the occasion with music FROM THE CHOIRGIRL HOTEL.
SONG OF THE DAY - "King Tut" (Album of the Day)
White suits, banjos and arrows-through-heads; rarely have comedy acts been more absurd, or more popular, than Steve Martin's. The wild and crazy guy's first two albums both went platinum, and his Top 20 single “King Tut” was certified Gold on this day in 1978. Performed with the “Toot Uncommons” (comprised of members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), the song pokes fun at the epic Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibit then touring museums across the country (Martin's performance of the single on Saturday Night Live was also epic, ranking among the TV show's most expensive productions). Let us salute the man who was born in Arizona and moved to Babylonia - “King Tut” is our Song of the Day.
Tracy Chapman (Album of the Day)
Tracy Chapman breathed new life into the singer-songwriter genre with her eponymous debut for Elektra Records. With spare production that places Chapman's strong voice front-and-center, the set recalls the sound of such early-'70s bards as James Taylor and Joni Mitchell as well as the political engagement of the early-'60s folk movement. While “Fast Car” was the album's biggest hit, all 11 songs are of a remarkably high quality, driving the album to multi-platinum status and bringing Tracy three Grammy Awards. Thirty years ago today, TRACY CHAPMAN was at No.1 on the U.S. album chart, and its clear vision and passionate performances still shine brightly.
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (Album of the Day)
Produced by Brian Eno, Devo's debut, Q: ARE WE NOT MEN? A: WE ARE DEVO!, was playfully subversive from the smiling image of pro golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez on its cover to the herky-jerky version of “(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction” in its grooves. Though the principles of de-evolution would be further described on future releases, the Ohio quintet lay the groundwork for their skewed vision of reality on such songs as “Mongoloid” and “Jocko Homo.” Released 40 years ago today, the gold-certified Q: ARE WE NOT MEN? A: WE ARE DEVO! has only risen in critical stature since then, and both Pitchfork and Rolling Stone have cited the set as one of the 1970s' greatest.
Get Born (Album of the Day)
Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Jet brought '70s-styled classic rock crunch into the new millennium with their debut, GET BORN. While the quartet wears such influences as the Rolling Stones, AC/DC and Oasis proudly on their sleeve, brothers Nic and Chris Cester and guitarist Cameron Muncey came up with a baker's dozen originals that give those influences exciting new vitality. There's plenty of punch in “Rollover DJ,” “Cold Hard Bitch” and Top 40 hit “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” (an MTV Video Award winner on this day in 2004), but the Elektra collection also has plenty of variety - “Look What You've Done” is among the most affecting rock ballads in years. With more than 3 million copies sold worldwide, GET BORN launched Jet skyward, and the album remains irresistibly catchy.
Third Eye (Album of the Day)
With a love of trash culture and a sound that encompasses hair metal, glam and power-pop, Redd Kross are among L.A. rock's greatest unsung heroes. THIRD EYE was the band's third album of original material and their first for a major label (Atlantic), and the 1990 collection captures the group near its peak. Brothers Jeff and Steve McDonald and guitarist Robert Hecker serve up a wide variety of styles here, and though there's a sense of humor at work on the soundtrack cuts (“1976”), J-pop tributes (“Shonen Knife”), sugary songs (“Bubblegum Factory”) and Alternative charters (“Annie's Gone”) heard here, the trio backs it up with serious musical chops. Packed with hooks and memorable melodies played with joyful abandon, THIRD EYE never blinks.