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Van Halen II (Album of the Day)
Treading similar ground as their debut but with even greater confidence, Van Halen's second album was released on this day in 1979. With producer Ted Templeman back behind the boards, the SoCal quartet serves up 10 hard rock anthems with deceptive ease, including “Beautiful Girls,” “Somebody Get Me a Doctor” and the irresistible “Dance the Night Away.” Eddie Van Halen's fretwork is dazzling throughout (in particular on acoustic instrumental “Spanish Fly”), and frontman David Lee Roth's humor and energy give the collection appeal far beyond headbangers. A Top 10 hit that eventually went 5x platinum, VAN HALEN II is a near-perfect party record.
How The West Was Won (Deluxe) (Album of the Day)
HOW THE WEST WAS WON highlights the best performances from Led Zeppelin's legendary concerts at the Los Angeles Forum and Long Beach Arena on June 25 and 27, 1972. Originally released in 2003, the celebrated live album was sequenced to replicate a single concert from beginning to end, and captures the band at the height of its formidable powers. Standouts include a 25-plus minute version of "Dazed And Confused" and a 21-minute medley based around "Whole Lotta Love." The performances also introduced songs from the quartet's HOUSES OF THE HOLY album, which would be released nine months after these shows. Now available, a 3-CD/4-LP/DVD Deluxe Edition of HOW THE WEST WAS WON features audio remastered by guitarist Jimmy Page along with a book filled with rare and previously unpublished photos.
Wonderland (Album of the Day)
After auspicious but brief stints with Depeche Mode and Yaz, keyboardist Vince Clarke teamed with singer Andy Bell to form Erasure, a partnership still ongoing today. The duo's distinctive 1986 debut, WONDERLAND, showcases their dance-friendly synth-pop at its poppiest, with bright vocals, rousing choruses and hooks to burn. Produced by Flood, the Sire set spun off such singles as "Heavenly Action,” "Who Needs Love (Like That)" and “Oh L'Amour”; the latter two songs would each reach the U.K. Top 20 years after their original release. Though they may have gone on to scale even greater heights, the gloriously upbeat WONDERLAND is a pretty wonderful beginning for Erasure.
Shine (Album of the Day)
Estelle Swaray was dealing discs at a London hip-hop emporium when her co-workers suggested she might be better off making records than selling them. The British singer took the advice, and though her debut album wasn't a smash, it caught the ear of John Legend, who signed Estelle to his Homeschool label for her follow-up, SHINE. Featuring production from the likes of Wyclef Jean, will.i.am and Mark Ronson, the 2008 album is an ideal showcase for Estelle's singing, rapping and songwriting skills, and its “American Boy” (featuring vocals from Kanye West) topped the U.K. singles chart before racking up a pair of Grammy nominations. From dancehall ("Magnificent") to balladry ("Substitute Lover") to rap ("More Than Friends"), the versatility displayed on SHINE marks Estelle as a leading light of post-millennial R&B.
Good God's Urge (Album of the Day)
Following the dissolution of Los Angeles alternative rock band Jane's Addiction, vocalist Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins launched Porno For Pyros. The group's second and final studio album, GOOD GOD'S URGE, shows the quartet in a mellower mood than on their debut, though the laid-back vibes are offset at times by such powerful tracks as radio hit “Tahitian Moon.” Other highlights include “Freeway” (featuring Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers), “100 Ways” (with Mike Watt of The Minutemen on bass) and “Porpoise Head” (featuring most of Love & Rockets). GOOD GOD'S URGE reached the Top 20 on Billboard's album chart, and we'll give the collection another spin now to celebrate Perry Farrell's birthday.
Crossroads (Album of the Day)
Tracy Chapman followed her star-making self-titled debut a year later with CROSSROADS. Given the singer-songwriter's previous success, the 1989 Elektra collection was cut in Hollywood with some pretty impressive SoCal musical guests, including guitarist Danny Kortchmar, drummer Russ Kunkel and Neil Young. But as before, Chapman's considerable appeal lies in her heartfelt performances and incisive lyrics, and from such songs as “Subcity,” the Nelson Mandela-themed “Freedom Now” and the titular Modern Rock hit, these 10 originals do not disappoint. Tracy Chapman was born in this day in 1964, and we'll wish her a happy birthday with the platinum-certified CROSSROADS.
Luxury Liner (Album of the Day)
“Something became fully formed at that point,” recalled Emmylou Harris of the personnel and performances on LUXURY LINER. “The instrumentation of the Hot Band reached a kind of peak.” You can't help but be impressed by the credits on the 1976 collection, which include guitarists James Burton, Albert Lee and Rodney Crowell, fiddler Ricky Skaggs and supporting vocalists Dolly Parton and Nicolette Larson. The talent in the studio was matched with first-class material ranging from country and rock chestnuts (“Hello Stranger,” “(You Never Can Tell) C'est la Vie”) to more contemporary compositions like former mentor Gram Parsons' title track and Townes Van Zandt's “Pancho and Lefty,” which remains a staple of Harris' concerts to this day. LUXURY LINER is the singer's best-selling solo record to date as well as a personal favorite, making it the perfect way to wish Emmylou Harris a happy birthday.
The Best of the Grateful Dead Live (Album of the Day)
The Grateful Dead forged its legend on the road, traveling countless miles between 1965 and 1995 to perform a world record 2,318 shows, and the band's refusal to ever play a song the same way twice has endeared them to generations of fans. Made for die-hards and newbies alike, THE BEST OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD LIVE is the ultimate concert collection, a two-disc set with recordings selected from the band's official live albums on Warner Bros. and Arista, plus a few tracks from their many archival live releases. From "St. Stephen" (off the group's first official live album, 1969's LIVE/DEAD) to the poignant "So Many Roads" from the band's final concert at Chicago's Soldier Field in July of 1995, the 19 tracks on THE BEST OF THE GRATEFUL DEAD LIVE confirm that "there is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert."
Boys In The Trees (Album of the Day)
Two years after her previous album (and on the heels of a popular James Bond theme song), Carly Simon made a triumphant return with BOYS IN THE TREES. The 1978 Elektra set was produced by Arif Mardin, who brought a touch of R&B and the cream of New York session players to the proceedings. Also joining Carly in the studio were husband James Taylor (who co-wrote two numbers and harmonizes on the Everly Brothers classic “Devoted to You”) and Doobie Brother Michael McDonald (on Top 10 hit duet “You Belong to Me”). With such well-crafted originals as the title track, Simon's songwriting skills also came to the fore, and BOYS IN THE TREES is still insightful and moving 40 years after its release.
Stay With The Hollies (Album of the Day)
Manchester beat group The Hollies were performing in Liverpool when a rep from The Beatles' label, Parlophone, caught their act and signed them up. Cut at Abbey Road Studios, the quintet's debut, STAY WITH THE HOLLIES, arrived in 1964. The collection reflects the band's live set with plenty of rock and R&B favorites from across the Atlantic, including “Talkin' 'Bout You,” “Lucille” and the group's first U.K. Top 10 hit, “Stay,” as well as a terrific original (“Little Lover”). And if the band's trademark harmonies had yet to fully blossom - Allan Clarke's voice dominates here – the instrumental work is strong throughout. STAY WITH THE HOLLIES offers an exciting look at the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' beginnings, and we'll give it another spin now to celebrate Clarke's birthday.