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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.
Movements (Album of the Day)
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Johnny Harris had racked up a long list of credits as composer, producer and arranger for other artists before getting his own record deal with Warner Bros. His 1970 debut for the label, MOVEMENTS, drew raves from Melody Maker and Disc & Music Echo, which enthused “Here are some of the best arrangements ever hear from a British band, on a well-balanced selection of hits and originals.” Among the former are radical reworkings of “Give Peace A Chance” and “Paint It Black”; among the latter are such highlights as “Fragment Of Fear,” “Footprints On The Moon” and the flute-driven “Stepping Stones.” MOVEMENTS is jam-packed with funky grooves, strong melodies and memorable breaks, and stands among the very best U.K. instrumental albums of its era
Never Say Die! (Remastered Edition) (Album of the Day)
Despite its title, NEVER SAY DIE! proved to be the final album from the original lineup of Black Sabbath until the group's reunion some 20 years later. The 1978 collection was recorded in the bitter cold of Toronto under difficult circumstances; frontman Ozzy Osbourne had briefly quit the band before sessions began, and left again shortly after the set's release. As beleaguered as the quartet may have felt in the studio, many Sabbath fans (including Soundgarden's Kim Thayil) have a soft spot for the underrated album, and such highlights as the experimental “Air Dance,” “Hard Road” and the storming title track show why. If you're looking for a Black Sabbath record to play on Halloween, ignore the obvious choices and give another listen to the gold-certified NEVER SAY DIE!
SONG OF THE DAY - "Werewolves of London" (Album of the Day)
Before he'd achieved stardom, one of Warren Zevon's day jobs was performing in the Everly Brothers backing band; at one point, Phil Everly mentioned a horror movie he'd seen the night before and the seed of “Werewolves Of London” was planted. Initially written as a goof, the song was later performed in concert by T-Bone Burnett and Jackson Browne, encouraging Zevon to commit it to tape himself. Cut for 1978's EXCITABLE BOY album, the track required numerous attempts and a rotating cast of musicians (Fleetwood Mac's John McVie and Mick Fleetwood play bass and drums here) to finally get right. The resulting single spent a month in the Top 40, becoming the singer-songwriter's most famous recording, and to wish you a happy Halloween, “Werewolves Of London” is our Song of the Day.
Solo Anthology: The Best of Lindsey Buckingham (Album of the Day)
A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and 3-time Grammy winner, Lindsey Buckingham is best known as the producer, guitarist, vocalist and chief songwriter for Fleetwood Mac and as a widely celebrated solo artist. The latter aspect of his illustrious career is the focus of the 3-disc set SOLO ANTHOLOGY: THE BEST OF LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM. The new collection includes album, live and alternate versions drawing from 1981's LAW AND ORDER, his 2017 collaborative album with Christine McVie and all points in-between. The set also highlights the performer's film work (like “Holiday Road” from National Lampoon's Vacation) and live versions of Fleetwood Mac favorites. Even more exciting for fans, Buckingham's SOLO ANTHOLOGY features two new songs, “Hunger” and “Ride This Road.”