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His Band and the Street Choir (Expanded Edition) (Album of the Day)
On this day in 2003, Van Morrison was inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame, an honor the singer-songwriter's Warner Bros. years alone would justify. Following MOONDANCE's breakthrough success, HIS BAND AND THE STREET CHOIR arrived in November 1970. While its predecessors contemplated the cosmos and love's rich conundrums, the collection resonates with a purposefully loose ebullience on songs like the Top Ten hit “Domino,” “Blue Money” and “Call Me Up In Dreamland.” If the cover art suggests a dive into the mystic, the music here is simpler and earthier, informed by R&B of the American South (New Orleans, in particular), and Van's matchless vocals brim with Belfast soul. HIS BAND AND THE STREET CHOIR offers further proof that in the early 1970s, Morrison could do no wrong.
Love Man (Album of the Day)
Before his death in a 1967 plane crash, Otis Redding had recorded enough material for several posthumous releases, and LOVE MAN is the third of these. The material here might not have seen release before the 1969 Atco collection, but that doesn't mean it's sub-par; Redding's protean talent (and that of backing band Booker T. and the M.G.'s) beams from every one of these dozen songs. Originals make up the bulk of this set, with “Direct Me” “I'm A Changed Man” and the title track among the highlights, but even the covers (“A Lover's Question”) have an energy and commitment few singers of any era could equal. Released 50 years ago this month, Top Ten R&B album LOVE MAN is another jewel in the crown of the King of Soul.
Hearts (Album of the Day)
Anyone who takes the tuneful sounds of America for granted has probably never had to sweat over the creation of a hit single. One of several the band has cut, “Sister Golden Hair” went to No.1 on the U.S. chart on this day in 1975. It's the most famous song on the trio's 5th studio album for Warner Bros., but it's by no means the only thing worth a listen on HEARTS. The dozen America originals include additional singles “Daisy Jane” and the funky “Woman Tonight,” as well as three more tracks that got heavy FM airplay. With a strong set of songs to strike a variety of emotional chords and state-of-the-art pop craftsmanship (Beatles producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick helped in this regard), HEARTS reached #4 on the album chart and was RIAA-certified gold.
Rattus Norvegicus (Album of the Day)
The Stranglers may be less famous than some of their U.K. punk brethren, but they were there at the scene's beginning (the band opened at the first Ramones concert in England). Aging pub-rock types who actually knew how to play their instruments, The Stranglers didn't quite fit into the fast, roaring guitar mold that soon became punk orthodoxy. The quartet's debut, RATTUS NORVEGICUS, was released on this day in 1977 and included Doors-y keyboard work and even some prog rock touches on such grimy looks at London street life as “(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)” and the leering, bass-heavy hit “Peaches.” This is what U.K. punk actually sounded like back in the day - when The Stranglers were outselling The Sex Pistols and The Clash.
Live at the Rainbow '78 (Album of the Day)
After Foreigner's self-titled debut album had spent a year in the U.S. Top 20, rock's conquering heroes played a sold-out show at London's celebrated Rainbow Theatre on April 27, 1978. Now available, LIVE AT THE RAINBOW '78 features the classic lineup of guitarist Mick Jones, vocalist Lou Gramm, saxophonist Ian McDonald, keyboardist Al Greenwood, bassist Ed Gagliardi and drummer Dennis Elliott and captures the essence of a group who would go on to become one of the world's best-selling bands. Opening with "Long, Long Way From Home," the set includes magnificent performances of hit singles "Feels Like The First Time" and "Cold As Ice," as well as a preview of two tracks from the upcoming DOUBLE VISION album. “The audience was amazing that night,” notes Jones of LIVE AT THE RAINBOW '78. “We couldn't have wished for a better show.”
Sunbelt (Album of the Day)
Herbie Mann was one of the greatest flutists in jazz history, with a long string of successful albums for Atlantic Records. His 1979 release for the label, SUNBELT, features relaxing pop-jazz totally in keeping with the carefree beach cover art, with Brazilian influences that underline Mann's status as an early adopter of world music. Mann was also known as a popularizer, and while the 7 tracks here include versions of R&B hits “The Closer I Get to You” and “Let's Stay Together,” his groove-centered performances (and that of his band, which includes such ace instrumentalists as keyboardist Richard Tee and drummer Steve Gadd) are as nuanced as they are beautiful. Herbie Mann was born on this day in 1930, and we'll let SUNBELT shine in his honor.
Slave (Album of the Day)
Part of the Dayton, Ohio music scene that gave birth to the Ohio Players, Slave brought the funk in the 1970s. The horn-led collective was signed by Cotillion Records, releasing its self-titled debut in 1977. Cut in New Jersey (founder Steve Washington's stomping grounds) with producer Jeff Dixon, SLAVE got right to the point – opener “Slide” topped Billboard's R&B chart (and was also a Top 40 pop hit). As such titles as “Party Hardy” and “Screw Your Wig On Tite” suggest, uptempo grooves are the order of the day here, and the set is sure to keep you dancing. With a fine ballad (“The Happiest Days”) displaying the group's versatility, SLAVE is a terrific representation of the pre-Steve Arrington lineup's talents, and is mandatory listening for old school funk fans.
King Missile (Album of the Day)
New York-based art rock/avant-garde band King Missile were riding high on the success of their single “Detachable Penis” when they entered Manhattan's Baby Monster Studios to cut their eponymous sixth album. As the cover art suggests, it's a rather surreal collection, built around founder John S. Hall's poetry which, despite an occasional dark theme, is filled with wonderfully offbeat humor. Highlights of these 17 songs include opener “Love Is...,” “What If” and “Socks” - one of several tracks in the grunge-rock vein. Released 25 years ago today, KING MISSILE would prove to be the quartet's final album for Atlantic Records, and remains a tuneful and all-too-rare example of alternative rock that doesn't take itself too seriously.
Like A Prayer (Album of the Day)
Madonna's final album of the 1980s consolidated her success during the decade and remains one of the performer's very best. Dedicated to the singer's mother, "who taught me how to pray," LIKE A PRAYER is among the most personal and soul-searching she has ever recorded. All 11 songs were co-written and co-produced by Madonna in varied arrangements informed by classic rock and funk (Prince was one of her collaborators), and the collection spun off four Top 10 singles - “Express Yourself,” “Cherish,” “Keep It Together” and the title track, which reached the top of the Billboard chart 30 years ago today. The commercial success of the quadruple platinum No.1 album was matched by its critical acclaim; with the ambitious LIKE A PRAYER, Madonna's status as one of pop's greatest artists was undeniable.
Fairweather Johnson (Album of the Day)
Hootie & The Blowfish had their work cut out for them when they entered the studio to cut the follow-up to CRACKED REAR VIEW, one of the best selling albums of the 1990s, but FAIRWEATHER JOHNSON shows the South Carolina quartet building on the strengths of their debut. The Atlantic collection boasts thoughtful lyrics that belie Hootie's reputation for breezy singalongs, and passionate performances on such tracks as “Tucker's Town,” “Sad Caper” and “Old Man & Me (When I Get To Heaven)” underline the band's commitment to these songs. Released on this day in 1996, FAIRWEATHER JOHNSON debuted at No.1 and went double-platinum, and is in many ways an even more rewarding listen than its predecessor.