91.3fm Wyep: Discumentary

By 2007, The Dap Kings were rising stars in music, due to their appearance on Amy Winehouse’s “Back in Black” a year earlier. With Sharon Jones on vocals, the group released their 3rd album that year. Recorded on all analog equipment, the album sounds like an old classic, while still remaining fresh.

Cat Stevens’ reinvented himself with his 1970 album “Mona Bone Jakon”, and quickly followed it up with this classic release. Even returning with the same band and producer from his previous album, Stevens carried his reinvention further. This album features his smash hit “Wild World”.

After the break up of alt-country pioneers Uncle Tupelo, Jay Farrar formed Son Volt. This is the band’s debut which continues on a darker path somewhere between country and rock and roll. Well received by critics, it is considered by many to be one of the best albums of 1995.

“Time Out of Mind” is Dylan’s 29th studio record and first album since 1990. Produced by Daniel Lanois (U2, Brian Eno) the album featured dark lyrics and more blues and country style songs. It marked a comeback for Dylan in the 90’s and spawned the hits “Lovesick” and “Not Dark Yet”.

Bob Dylan’s second album is a true classic. Whereas his debut album contained many covers, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” is when he unveiled his gift for songwriting. Containing funny, political and romantic songs, this is the album that introduced Bob Dylan to the world.

" In the early 90’s Emmylou Harris experienced diminishing success as a country music artist. With “Wrecking Ball” she re-invented herself musically, with help from U2 producer Daniel Lanois. Moody and atmospheric, the album also features guest performances from Steve Earle, Larry Mullen Jr., The McGarrigle Sisters and Neil Young."

Arcade Fire’s 2004 debut took many by surprise. Funeral shows the Canadian 5-piece band with their fascinating arrangements and a big sound for an indie-rock band. Funeral set the stage for Arcade Fire to grow bigger musically and become one of the most successful acts of recent years.

With only a small cult following in the U.S., Sarah McLachlan released this album and watched her star rise. The album features one of her best-known songs, “Posession” about obsession from a stalker’s perspective.

Janis Ian’s seventh album was released in 1975, when she was just 24 years old. It won her two Grammy Awards and contains her best known song, “At Seventeen”. Ian wrote all of the song for the album, and did most of the arrangements.

The second of two albums released by the Grateful Dead in 1970, American Beauty is the first album to feature the band’s collaboration with mandolin player David Grisman. It is considered among the Dead’s greatest albums, and features the hit “Truckin”.

This is Richard Thompson’s 7th solo studio album. He teamed up with producer Mitchell Froom, and the result was a more “polished” effort than Thompson’s previous work. This album broadened Thompson’s appeal and earned him a Grammy nomination. It features “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”, one of Thompson’s most beloved songs.

U2’s debut album is considered to be one of the finest first albums of any band in the 1980’s. It set the stage for the band’s future mega-stardom.

“Raising Sand” features the unlikely duet of Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, and bluegrass queen Alison Krauss. It was the winner of 5 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.

The B-52's were unlike anything out there when they released their debut album, the band's unique approach made them a hit, and had songs like "Rock Lobster" and "Planet Claire" spinning at parties all over the world.

For his fifth album, Peter Gabriel teamed up with producer Daniel Lanois to produce his most upbeat and fun album, titled “So”. Gabriel also recruited the help of musicians such as Kate Bush, African singer Youssou N’Dour and The Police’s Stewart Copland. The album became Gabriel’s breakout success, including many top 10 hits such as “Sledgehammer”, “Red Rain”, and “In Your Eyes”.

Billy Bragg’s 4th album highlights the two subjects for which he is best known, socialist politics and bittersweet love. Opening with “She’s Got a Brand New Spell” and ending with “Waiting For the Great Leap Forward” Bragg rails against capitalism and the vulgarities of love.

This collaboration between Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo was many years in the making. Spiraling off the success of the single “Crazy”, the album was considered among the best of the year’s due to it’s hybrid of rock, soul and hip-hop.

Neil Young’s fourth solo album, Harvest, was the best selling album of 1972. For the recording of the album, he enlisted the help of several artists including Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, and Crosby, Stills and Nash. The hit song “Heart of Gold” remains Young’s only #1 song.

For Nick Drake's second album, Bryter Later, he re-teamed with producer Joe Boyd to produce a more upbeat and lush record. This CD also features musicians from Fairport Convention, The Velvet Underground, and The Beach Boys. Although not a big seller in it's time, Bryter Later (along with the other 2 albums Drake released in his lifetime), has gone on to be considered among the finest folk-rock albums of all time.

The youthful and curious album, "The Mysterious Production of Eggs" marks the first album in which Andrew Bird plays guitar and not just the violin. The album received rave reviews and is considered to be one of his best albums to date.