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Song of the Day #6,406: ‘Shadowboxer’ – Fiona Apple

Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1996…

#5 – Tidal – Fiona Apple

It’s nice to discover a favorite artist right on the ground floor. Such was the case with Fiona Apple, whose debut album quickly became a staple for both my future wife and me. And while my wife didn’t stay onboard for Apple’s subsequent releases, I found them even more enchanting than this one.

Tidal does sound like a debut at times. It’s a bit overwritten and over-serious. It doesn’t have the playfulness or rhythmic experimentation of her next few records. But as an introduction to an extraordinary new talent, it’s a bracing and emotional work of art.

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Song of the Day #6,405: ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ – Dionne Warwick & Friends

It’s a real cheesefest this weekend. Just when you thought it was safe to come back to the blog after yesterday’s Barry Manilow offering, I’m serving up a little ‘That’s What Friends Are For.’

The week of January 18, 1986, was the first of a four-week stint at #1 for this collaboration between Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder. Written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager, the song was originally recorded by Rod Stewart for the soundtrack of the 1982 film Night Shift.

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Song of the Day #6,404: ‘I Write the Songs’ – Barry Manilow

Throwing back to the week of January 17, 1976, we find Barry Manilow atop the Billboard Hot 100 with ‘I Write the Songs,’ which spent a single week at #1 after debuting on the chart a month and a half earlier.

Two other versions of this song were released in 1975 — one by Captain & Tennille on their album Love Will Keep Us Together, and another by David Cassidy for his album The Higher They Climb. Neither was released as a single.

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Song of the Day #6,403: ‘Little Atoms’ – Elvis Costello

Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1996…

#6 – All This Useless Beauty – Elvis Costello

It’s a testament to the genius of Elvis Costello that this album, one I’m probably rank in the bottom half of his discography, is easily one of the best releases of its year.

All This Useless Beauty started as a project compiling Costello’s recordings of songs he’d written for other artists. About half of its final tracklist fits that description, including songs written for the likes of ‘Til Tuesday, Johnny Cash, Roger McGuinn, and June Tabor.

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Song of the Day #6,402: ‘Two Step’ – Dave Matthews Band

Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1996…

#7 – Crash – Dave Matthews Band

The Dave Matthews Band isn’t particularly hip anymore. Though they released a studio album as recently as 2023, it’s been 16 years since their last Platinum effort. And while the band still plays packed live shows to a legion of die-hard fans, many of whom travel along with them, their mainstream appeal has dwindled.

But in the mid-90s, these guys were the shit. The one-two punch of 1994’s Under the Table and Dreaming and 1996’s Crash brought their unique brand of eclectic jazzy pop to the masses, selling more than 13 million copies combined.

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