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MINGUS MOVES (Album of the Day)
Among jazz history's most imposing figures, Charles Mingus blazed trails as a bassist, composer and bandleader. After a decade at other labels, he returned to Atlantic Records and producer Nesuhi Ertegun for MINGUS MOVES, which ranks as a late-career high point. His new combo on the 1973 collection included pianist Don Pullen, saxophonist George Adams and trumpeter Ronald Hampton, with drummer Dannie Richmond back in the fold after several years away – and they're firing on all cylinders throughout. The set pairs such outstanding Mingus originals as “Canon,” “Opus 3” and “Opus 4” with tracks by the rest of the group, all of which provide plenty of space for stellar instrumental work. Transferred from the original half-inch four-channel masters, the new Quadio issue of MINGUS MOVES sounds better than ever.
SPINNERS (Album of the Day)
Spinners had cut several records for Motown but the Detroit vocal group didn't really hit its stride until signing with Atlantic Records; the quintet's eponymous 1973 debut for the label was nothing less than a masterpiece. Recorded with producer Thom Bell, the album epitomized the “Philly soul” sound that would dominate airwaves for much of the decade - a seamless blend of passionate vocals and nimble orchestration. The set features impeccable harmonizing, with recent arrival Philippé Wynne leading the way on the classic “I'll Be Around.” Both that and “Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" were Top 10 singles, and in "One of a Kind (Love Affair)" and “Ghetto Child,” the group had two more signature songs. SPINNERS captures this great band at the peak of its powers, and the R&B chart-topper is now available in Quadio.
IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR (Album of the Day)
IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR would be Led Zeppelin's final studio album before the group announced – on this day in 1980 - that it was disbanding in the wake of drummer John Bonham's death. The collection shows the group adding Latin and country touches to their powerful blues-based rock, and John Paul Jones' synthesizers are as prominent here as Jimmy Page's riffing guitars. While the group members were exploring new directions, they never abandoned their core strengths – the set brims with classic rock radio anthems including “In The Evening,” “All My Love” and “Fool in the Rain." If one can't help but wonder where Led Zeppelin would have gone next, IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR is nonetheless a highly satisfying swan song for the legendary band.
THE AGE OF PLEASURE (Album of the Day)
Five years after the acclaimed DIRTY COMPUTER, Janelle Monáe returns to record stores with THE AGE OF PLEASURE. Setting a celebratory tone, the 14 originals on the new Atlantic collection had been play-tested at get-togethers with friends; as the performer noted, “if the songs can't work at the party, they're not going on the album.” Highlighted by such tracks as “Float,” “Lipstick Lover” and “Water Slide,” this garden of earthly delights is a seamless mix of Afrobeat, reggae and soul and finds Monáe joined by fellow revelers including the legendary Grace Jones. THE AGE OF PLEASURE has just been nominated for an Album of the Year Grammy, and we'll cue it up now to wish Monáe a happy birthday.
CHICAGO IX: CHICAGO’S GREATEST HITS (Album of the Day)
Chicago is the first American band to release Top 40 albums in five successive decades, and it certainly seems like they've been making hits forever. CHICAGO IX, the group's first best-of collection, topped the Billboard album chart this month in 1975 – it was their fifth No.1 album (and spent five weeks at that position). The set culls 11 highlights from the band's first five years, including “25 Or 6 To 4,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is” and “Saturday In The Park.” While the Peter Cetera-led balladry of the next decade would bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers even more Gold records, these are the hits that put Chicago on the musical map.
MARQUEE MOON (Album of the Day)
Television helped turn CBGB into a punk mecca, but when it came time to cut their debut album, the quartet were anything but fast and furious. Frontman Tom Verlaine (born on this day in 1949) meticulously mapped out the record, and when the band entered the studio, they were so well-rehearsed that most songs were recorded in one or two takes. Which isn't to say that MARQUEE MOON is sterile; guitarists Verlaine and Richard Lloyd bring a spirit of exploration that’s akin to the best jazz improvisation, even if the songs themselves - from opener “See No Evil” to “Prove It,” “Friction” and the near 10-minute title track - aren't far from garage rock. In the years since its 1977 release, outlets like Rolling Stone and NME have championed MARQUEE MOON as one of the greatest albums of all time.
MORRISON HOTEL - 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Album of the Day)
With legal problems dogging their lead singer and a cool critical response to their previous album, The Doors were on the ropes in February 1970 when they came back swinging with MORRISON HOTEL. Rooted in R&B, the Elektra collection starts with the classic “Roadhouse Blues” and rarely lets up from there; “Peace Frog,” “Land Ho!” and “You Make Me Real” are among the other highlights. The 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of the quartet's fifth studio album includes multiple unreleased takes of the opener and “Queen of the Highway” as well as tough versions of Muddy Waters' “Rock Me” and Motown chestnut “Money (That’s What I Want).” Frontman Jim Morrison was born 80 years ago today and we'll mark the occasion with a visit to MORRISON HOTEL.
STRANGEWAYS HERE WE COME (Album of the Day)
The Smiths performed their last concert on this day in 1986; some 10 months later, the U.K. quartet's fourth and final album arrived in stores. The title of STRANGEWAYS HERE WE COME references a notorious Manchester prison and if it was recorded as the band was splintering, you wouldn't know it from the music, which stands as the group's most varied and elaborately produced. On the strength of such tracks as “Girlfriend in a Coma,” “I Started Something I Couldn't Finish” and “Stop Me if You Think You've Heard This One Before,” the collection went Gold on both sides of the Atlantic. Frontman Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr and drummer Mike Joyce have all called STRANGEWAYS HERE WE COME the best Smiths album - tt's a terrific finale for the indie icons.
FOXTROT (Album of the Day)
Genesis' fourth studio set, FOXTROT, did much to raise the progressive rockers' profile – it became their first album to chart in the U.K. and secured their first show in the U.S. (on this day in 1972). While the whimsical tone of past releases is still present, it's bolstered by the band's most forceful and focused playing yet. From punchy opener “Watcher of the Skies” to the near-side-long “Supper's Ready” closing suite, this ambitious collection touches on sci-fi, mythology, English history and social commentary with some of Peter Gabriel's most imaginative lyrics. Allmusic rightly said of FOXTROT “This is the rare art-rock album that excels at both the art and the rock, and it's a pinnacle of the genre (and decade) because of it.”
VERITIES & BALDERDASH (Album of the Day)
On his fourth studio set, Harry Chapin served up an appealing mix of VERITIES & BALDERDASH. The nine originals on the 1974 Elektra album range from the romantic (“I Wanna Learn a Love Song”) to the topical (“What Made America Famous”) to the comedic ("30,000 Pounds of Bananas"), with a No.1 hit - “Cat's In The Cradle” - included for good measure. With producer Paul Leka at the helm, the collection benefits from polished, ambitious arrangements and the work of top studio musicians; all of Chapin's other albums feature his touring band. The versatile singer-songwriter was born on this day in 1942, and we'll remember Harry Chapin with his most commercially successful release, VERITIES & BALDERDASH.