You can listen to Jolene by Dolly Parton on iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, and Amazon, although it’s probably best on vinyl.
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Tag: Bob Dylan
You can listen to Jolene by Dolly Parton on iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, and Amazon, although it’s probably best on vinyl.
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First, let’s get something out of the way. This is an album podcast. It always will be, first and foremost. Therein lies some limitations around how to talk about some of the early pioneers of rock and roll and pop music. Many of them “released” albums that were nothing more than a collection of disparate singles. Or they loosely put together a collection of songs, threw a cover on it and called in an “album.” Elvis Presley was no different. However, with “From Elvis in Memphis,” The King had an opportunity to present a new version of himself — one buoyed by his recent comeback TV success. And instead of crooning for screaming fans, Elvis instead sang for himself, eschewing soundtracks and going back, in many ways, to his roots. This “Memphis sound” Elvis is full of soul, country, gospel and blues — all the things that made him HIM. The results are a gutsy album of perhaps Elvis at his best. And the last song on the original release was a heartfelt ode to the disenfranchised that was – and still is – perhaps his greatest song: “In the Ghetto.”
You can listen to From Elvis in Memphis on iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, and Amazon.
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There’s more than a 50/50 chance you actually own this album — or did at some point in your life. (Especially if you’re a kid of the 80s/90s and the CD/cassette clubs like BMG or Columbia House.) There’s a very good reason why Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “Legend” was in so many disc changers back in the day — and continues to be in regular rotation for many. As far as greatest hits compilations go, this one may be the greatest of them all. It contains 10 of Marley’s UK top 40 hits including and features classics like “No Woman, No Cry,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Redemption Song” and more. But this isn’t just a feelgood summer album (although it is that, too). Never before or since has a Caribbean artist conquered the known world like Marley did. He wrote protest songs that would make Pete Seeger smile, he gave hope to his fellow Jamaicans, and he opened up the minds of people all over the world to the types of lives that were available to those in the poorer sections of paradise. He just happened to do it all to a danceable, reggae sound.
You can listen to Legend by Bob Marley on iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, YouTube, and Amazon.
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You can listen to Arrested Development on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon.
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You can listen to Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon.
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You can buy or stream August and Everything After by Counting Crows online at iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon.
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One of the most unique and also most successful fans to come out of the Research Triangle area of North Carolina in the early- to-mid-1990s was Ben Folds Five. Led by Ben Folds, this three-piece (yes, just three of them) crafted clever, cynical jabs at mainstream society — as well as at themselves. But the songs were beautiful, catchy and well crafted, and were pulled from pop, punk, jazz and even classical music. They would find major success on their next album (and Folds would go on to a stellar critical and commercial solo career) but their debut offers us a glimpse at their wild and free beginning.
You can buy or stream the debut album by Ben Folds Five online at iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon.
You can buy or stream We Are The World by U.S.A. For Africa online at iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon.
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It’s only natural that Matt & Matt kick off Season 4 of Finest Worksongs with a non-charting song of covers by a country artist, right? But Emmylou Harris’ 1995 album “Wrecking Ball” deserves any and all recognition. It was a vast departure for the seasoned country songstress; that’s gonna happen when you partner with Daniel Lanois. “Wrecking Ball” — which includes collaborations with Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch and others, did for Emmylou what Johnny Cash’s “American Recordings” did for the Man In Black: it rejuvenated a career and opened a whole new audience to the splendor of one of music’s all-time greats.
You can buy or stream Wrecking Ball by Emmylou Harris online at iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon.
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It’s the classic “full creative control” story. Artist earns the respect (and the right) to do things as he wants. He goes against the grain to bring his vision to light. But upon hearing the final product, the record executives can’t believe it’s actually final. Sorry, bub. Creative control means creative control. And in this case, Willie Nelson’s 1975 album, “Red-Headed Stranger,” not only proved to be one of the most successful country albums of all time, but also one of the most successful — and celebrated — ALBUMS of all time. It’s a sparsely-produced, under-budget, concept album about a preacher that essentially goes on a killing spree. And it changed country music forever.
You can buy or stream Red-Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson online at iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon.
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When one thinks of the top rock albums of 1991, undoubtedly some classics come to mind. Nirvana’s “Nevermind.” Pearl Jam’s “Ten.” “Achtung Baby” by U2. Metallica’s so-called “Black Album.” Guns’n’Roses even released “Use Your Illusion I & II” that year. But when Spin magazine unveiled its best album of the year, that honor went to Scotland’s Teenage Fanclub for their “Bandwagonesque.” And for good reason. Combining early-90s crunch and distortion with odes to the pop goodness of the likes of Big Star, “Bandwagonesque” is as complete and inspiring as anything else that came out that year. We dare you to listen to it and not be drawn in by the melodic hooks, syrupy harmonies, or the relatable lyrics. Teenage Fanclub may be the most underrated-yet-influential band of the last 30 years. And this album shows why.
You can buy or stream Bandwagonesque by Teenage Fanclub online at iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon.
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You can buy or stream Wildflowers by Tom Petty online at iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon.
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When The Beatles returned to Abbey Road to record their sixth album, they were exhausted from constant touring and releasing at a pace of two albums a year. They also had virtually no songs prepared. But when it was completed, their sixth album was Rubber Soul, arguably the first actual album, not just a collection of songs. This was the turning point; it’s the album that bridges the British Invasion Beatles to Revolver and Sgt. Pepper. It’s the album that turned the music world on its rear, forcing the band’s rivals and contemporaries like the Beach Boys and Rolling Stones to step up their games. In essence, with Rubber Soul, the Beatles were just getting started.
You can buy or stream Rubber Soul by the Beatles online at iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon.
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It’s the quintessential breakup album, full of heartache and remorse, remembrance and longing. “Blood on the Tracks” is quintessential Bob Dylan at his most poetic — and beautiful.
You can buy or stream Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan online at iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and Amazon.
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