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Chicago X (Album of the Day)
The band's eighth studio album (with live and best-of sets among its predecessors), CHICAGO X boasted Grammy-winning cover art resembling a chocolate bar, and the music within still sounds sweet. The collection made good use of the group's many talents - Terry Kath supplied the opening rocker “Once Or Twice,” Robert Lamm penned the appealing single “Another Rainy Day In New York City,” and James Pankow and Lee Loughnane set aside their horns for rare lead vocal performances. But it was Peter Cetera's song “If You Leave Me Now” that stole the spotlight; later a Grammy winner, the track was the band's first No.1 hit in the U.S., and became its sole chart-topping single in the U.K. this month in 1976. Though that ballad was atypical of the album as a whole, CHICAGO X marks a key turning point in the band's public perception and musical evolution.
Confessions on a Dance Floor (Album of the Day)
Clubgoers have always loved Madonna and CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE FLOOR's mix of disco, EDM and dance-pop shows that the feeling is mutual. “I want to dance; I want to feel buoyant. And I want to give other people the same feeling. There's a lot of madness in the world around us, and I want people to be happy,” noted the performer of the 2005 collection, which offered a U-turn from its overtly political predecessor, AMERICAN LIFE. Made with producer Stuart Price in his home studio, the album flows together seamlessly like a DJ set, with song like “Sorry,” “Get Together” and “Hung Up,” a Top 10 hit whose ABBA sample is one of several nods to fellow dance music icons. A chart-topper in a record-setting 40 countries and a Grammy winner for Best Electronic/Dance Album, the platinum-certified CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE FLOOR proves that Madonna still has the magic touch.
4 (Album of the Day)
Foreigner started their career with a platinum-selling debut but somehow managed to surpass it four years later with 4. Co-produced by the great Mutt Lange, the collection topped the U.S. album chart and went six-times platinum on the strength of such songs as “Juke Box Hero,” “Break It Up” and Top 10 hits “Urgent” and “Waiting For A Girl Like You.” Singer Lou Gramm and guitarist Mick Jones are in fine form throughout, and though session aces had to cover for departing members Ian McDonald and Al Greenwood, it's tough to quibble when those session players include saxophonist Junior Walker and keyboardist Thomas Dolby (yep, the “She Blinded Me With Science” hitmaker). A model of consummately crafted arena rock, Foreigner's 4 stands as one of the most consistently listenable albums of the early 1980s.
Insight Out (Album of the Day)
INSIGHT OUT was the beginning of The Association's stint with Warner Bros. after two longplayers for Valiant, and it was a winning combination of group and label - the album reached the Top Ten and quickly went gold. It was also the sextet's first album with producer Bones Howe (who had helmed hits for The Turtles) and the first to lean on the session aces of The Wrecking Crew. With the band's focus on harmonies and material, The Association came up with a beautifully sung collection of folk-rock and sunshine pop, including such fine originals as “When Love Comes To Me” and the ambitious “Requiem for the Masses.” Of course the most famous tracks here are “Windy” and “Never My Love,” which hit the first and second slots, respectively, on the Billboard singles chart in the summer of 1967. Association drummer Ted Bluechell, Jr. was born on this day in 1942, so we'll cue up INSIGHT OUT in his honor.
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (Album of the Day)
The Flaming Lips built upon the success of THE SOFT BULLETIN with their first album of the new millennium, YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS. Even if it did later inspire a stage musical, the band deny that the 2002 Warner Bros. collection is concept album, preferring to describe it as “storytelling acid rock.” But that phrase only hints at the emotional resonance and inventive arrangements here; tracks like lead single “Do You Realize??,” “Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell” and Grammy-winning instrumental “Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)” rank with the Oklahoma alternative rockers' very best. Lips drummer Steven Drozd celebrates a birthday today, and we'll wish him a happy one with the critically hailed, gold-certified YOSHIMI BATTLES THE PINK ROBOTS.
Radio Fun (Album of the Day)
The title of The Hollies' RADIO FUN is an apt description of the 2012 compilation of BBC recordings. Spanning the U.K. group's early-1960s to early-1970s heyday, these 32 tracks display the evolution of their sound, with enthusiasm, brilliant harmonies and the desire to try new things a constant across the years. While there are plenty of live-at-the Beeb performances of familiar singles here – including “He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother,” “Bus Stop” and “If I Needed Someone” (which was released by the band on this day in 1965) – the song selection digs a little deeper to reveal The Hollies' love of U.S. R&B and their skill as writers on such less-heralded gems as “I've Got A Way Of My Own.” A terrific complement to the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' studio releases, RADIO FUN is a must for any British Invasion fan.
Stampede (Album of the Day)
The Doobie Brothers have a long string of hit singles to their credit, but dig deeper into their 1970s output and you'll find their albums are pretty strong as well. By the time of STAMPEDE, the NorCal band had perfected an irresistible blend of rock, country and soul; barring the Motown cover “Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me),” the 1975 collection is all-original, and tracks like “Sweet Maxine” and “I Cheat the Hangman” show that the group's Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons knew how to write memorable songs. While a pretty rootsy release, there are also some ambitious string arrangements here (Curtis Mayfield provided one) and the playing by the band, and guests including Ry Cooder and Bill Payne, is sublime. STAMPEDE is the first Doobies set to feature Jeff "Skunk" Baxter as a full member – he contributes the instrumental “Précis” - and we'll give the gold-certified album another spin to wish the guitarist a happy birthday.
Blue Lights in the Basement (Album of the Day)
Always a critical favorite, Roberta Flack had also become a commercial force by the time of her sixth studio album, BLUE LIGHTS IN THE BASEMENT, released on this day in 1977. Accordingly, Atlantic lavished plenty of attention on the set, recruiting a legion of top instrumentalists (like Hugh McCracken, Ronnie Foster and Steve Gadd) well attuned to the performer's distinctive blend of R&B, jazz and singer-songwriter intimacy. Co-producer Gene McDaniels penned three of the ten tracks, including standouts “Why Don't You Move in with Me” and “25th of Last December,” but it was the Donny Hathaway duet “The Closer I Get to You” that scored on the singles chart, reaching #2. On the album chart, BLUE LIGHTS IN THE BASEMENT made the Top 10, and the richly romantic collection is a great way to warm up a cold night.
Stormbringer (Album of the Day)
The second album from Deep Purple Mk III, STORMBRINGER, shows the legendary U.K. band adding a touch of R&B to their trademark hard rock attack. It would also see the group part ways with its guitarist, who wasn't entirely on board with the new sound but goes out in a blaze of glory nonetheless - as bassist Glenn Hughes put it, “Ritchie Blackmore is damn funky, whether he likes it or not. He played wonderfully on the album.” Vocalist David Coverdale is also at the top of his game, and such burners as “Lady Double Dealer,” “High Ball Shooter” and the title will put a smile on the face of any Purple fan. Released on this day in 1974, the gold-certified STORMBRINGER still brings the heavy metal thunder.
When Christmas Comes Around... (Album of the Day)
The original American Idol, a multi-million selling Grammy winner and a popular TV personality, Kelly Clarkson is among contemporary pop's most successful artists, and her new WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES AROUND continues the winning streak. The performer's second yuletide collection topped the Billboard Holiday Album chart and strikes the perfect balance between fresh spins on old favorites (“Santa Baby,” “Jingle Bell Rock”) and such originals as lead single “Christmas Isn't Canceled (Just You).” Ariana Grande and Chris Stapleton are among the guest stars on the Atlantic set, though the headliner's strong and versatile voice holds the spotlight throughout. If you're looking for some outstanding seasonal songs, Kelly Clarkson is the one to call WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES AROUND.