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Aretha in Paris (Album of the Day)
Following Aretha Franklin's breakthrough success, Atlantic Records decided to try a live recording; ARETHA IS PARIS shows the Queen of Soul getting a regal reception before a French audience at her May 7, 1968 Olympia Theatre performance. Produced by Jerry Wexler, the collection features the singer and her regular late-'60s touring group (including sister Carolyn on backing vocals) bringing songs from her last three albums and affiliated singles on the road. The baker's dozen tracks include such classics as “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” and “"Baby, I Love You,” and Franklin's vocals are awe-inspiring throughout. ARETHA IN PARIS proves that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was one of our greatest musical ambassadors.
Meteora (Album of the Day)
Alternative metal band Linkin Park shot out of the gate in 2000 with HYBRID THEORY, which sold over 10 million copies. Following a remix album, the band's hybrid of hard rock and rap returned in full force three years after their debut with METEORA. Led by the intense interplay of vocalists Chester Bennington and Mike Shineda, the album's 13 tightly wound tracks include such MTV and radio favorites as “Somewhere I Belong,” “Breaking The Habit” and “Numb,” all of which crossed over to pop chart success. Linkin Park's Rob Bourden was born on this day in 1979, and we'll wish the drummer a happy birthday with another spin of the 7x platinum METEORA.
Still (Album of the Day)
Joy Division's catalog is as influential as it is brief; the Manchester quartet cut just two studio albums before the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis. The posthumous Joy Division collection STILL closed the book on the band with rare material from the post-punk greats. The set was originally a double album with the first disc devoted to studio recordings like “Glass” and the previously unreleased “Dead Souls” (plus a great live version of The Velvet Underground's “Sister Ray”), while the second disc featured the band's final gig at England 's Birmingham University in May 1980. Thanks to successor group New Order, Joy Division's stature has only risen since its demise, and STILL adds significantly to the band's legacy.
In honor of the 40th anniversary, the official New Order store is featuring a limited-edition crystal clear vinyl version. Grab a copy while you can.
Angel Dust (Album of the Day)
On the heels of their breakthrough THE REAL THING, Faith No More headed into San Francisco's Coast Recorders with longtime producer Matt Wallace to cut this defiantly weird 1992 follow-up. Unlike its predecessor, ANGEL DUST features the full songwriting participation of frontman Mike Patton, whose twisted sense of humor finds a home in kindergartens, RV parks and operating rooms here. The rest of the band is equally inspired, with particularly fine work from keyboardist Roddy Bottum and guitarist Jim Martin (who would leave Faith No More after this album) augmented by a wild selection of samples. Highlighted by singles “Midlife Crisis,” “A Small Victory” and “Everything's Ruined,” ANGEL DUST reached the Top 10, and we'll give it another spin now to wish Mr. Patton a happy birthday.
Fleetwood Mac (Album of the Day)
A rhythm section that had honed their skills on British blues. A keyboardist who was also a talented singer-songwriter. A California couple steeped in folk-rock. Perhaps it was their disparate backgrounds that made it all work, but when these five musicians converged in 1975, the results were magic - FLEETWOOD MAC went to No.1 on the album chart and sold more than five million copies in America. One look at the set's track listing will explain its success; “Rhiannon,” “Over My Head,” “Say You Love Me,” “Landslide” and “Monday Morning” were all tailor-made for pop radio. While they would scale even greater heights with their follow-up, the superb FLEETWOOD MAC deserves a place in every music collection.
Rumours (Album of the Day)
After starting out as part of the mid-‘60s British blues boom, Fleetwood Mac decamped to California in the mid-‘70s to become one of the most successful AOR bands in history. With a hit self-titled album under their belts already, the “classic” lineup of Mick Fleetwood, John & Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks topped it with their second, RUMOURS. The 1977 collection was recorded while two romantic relationships within the band were disintegrating – a situation that would’ve produced disaster in most cases but produced a masterpiece in this one, as the raw emotions were channeled into songs like “Go Your Own Way,” “Don't Stop” and the band’s first number one smash, “Dreams.” 45 today, RUMOURS garnered wide critical praise upon release, earning the Grammy for Album of the Year, and has now sold more than 40 million copies worldwide.
Tight Shoes (Album of the Day)
The bright, day-glo colors on the cover of TIGHT SHOES are somewhat of a giveaway that Foghat had discovered new wave. While the British band hadn't entirely checked out of the boogie motel - “Slow Ride” guitar hero Rod Price was still bending the strings here, though he would depart after this 1980 Bearsville set – there was definitely a bit more pop added to their trademark blues-rock. Produced by the band with Don Berman and Tony Outeda at Foghat Studios in Port Jefferson, New York, the collection features top-notch musicianship and such appealing tracks as single “Stranger in My Home Town,” “Baby I Can Change Your Mind” and “No Hard Feelings.” Frontman Dave Peverett penned all eight songs here; “Lonesome Dave” passed away on this day in 2000, and in his honor we'll put on TIGHT SHOES one more time.
Nicolette (Album of the Day)
Walking The Dog (Mono) (Album of the Day)
Rufus Thomas was one of the true greats of Memphis music, recording for the legendary Sun label in the 1950s and scoring a string of hits the following decade - by which time he was in his forties and his daughter Carla was already an established hitmaker. Cut at Stax with the studio's great house band and later released through Atlantic, WALKING THE DOG captures Thomas' raw R&B and sense of humor on a dozen songs split between originals and spirited covers of favorites from the likes of Lee Dorsey, Chris Kenner and John Lee Hooker. Among the originals are the Top 10 title track as well as “Can Your Monkey Do The Dog” and “Mashed Potatoes” - this 1964 collection is filled with good times and tight grooves from the days of dance craze and answer records. On this day in 2001, Rufus Thomas passed away at age 84, and we'll remember “the world’s oldest teenager” with WALKING THE DOG.