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Song of the Day #5,514: ‘Back Where You Belong’ – Sinéad O’Connor

I was hoping Sinéad O’Connor’s final two albums would be worthy successors to her great early work, and I’m happy to say that her penultimate album, How About I Be Me (and You Be You)?, definitely meets the challenge. I’ll have to wait for tomorrow to see if the final one does.

This one was released in 2012, a full five years after Theology. She kept a pretty low profile between the releases, but suffered a nervous breakdown right as this album was coming out. It’s touching and bittersweet to read old YouTube comments on the songs wishing her well and hoping she recovers.

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Song of the Day #5,513: ’33’ – Sinéad O’Connor

After two albums of covers, Sinéad O’Connor released her first collection of original material in seven years with 2007’s Theology.

The album, which as the title suggests is focused on religious themes, is split into two discs: Dublin Sessions and London Sessions. Each disc contains recordings of the same 10 songs, with the Dublin sessions entirely acoustic and the London sessions featuring a full band and string section. The first disc adds a 45-second, a cappella sung prayer, while the second features a cover version of ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’ from Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Jesus Christ Superstar.

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Song of the Day #5,512: ‘Downpressor Man’ – Sinéad O’Connor

Sinéad O’Connor announced her retirement in 2003, a year after releasing her sixth studio album, and dropped a compilation of old demos as a farewell offering.

That retirement proved temporary as she released her next studio album just two years later. 2005’s Throw Down Your Arms was O’Connor’s third album of covers. After tackling jazz standards and traditional Irish ballads, she now turned her attention to classic reggae.

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Song of the Day #5,511: ‘The Parting Glass’ – Sinéad O’Connor

Sinéad O’Connor followed up Faith and Courage with an album even closer to her heart. Sean-Nós Nua features a baker’s dozen of traditional Irish songs. The title means “new old style,” reflecting her contemporary sensibility merging with tunes first performed hundreds of years ago.

If you’re a fan of old-fashioned Irish ballads, this is the album for you. Sean-Nós Nua doesn’t take many chances in its production or arrangement — the key here is O’Connor’s wonderful voice, paired with lilting acoustic instruments.

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Song of the Day #5,510: ‘The Morning After’ – Maureen McGovern

The week of August 4, 1073, saw Maureen McGovern’s recording of ‘The Morning After’ reach the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100, where it would remain for two weeks. This was McGovern’s first single and her only career #1.

‘The Morning After’ was the love theme of the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure, and was performed in the movie by the ship’s singer (Carol Lynley played the role but Renée Armand dudded her vocals). McGovern released her own version of the track several months after the film came out. The song won Best Original Song at that year’s Academy Awards.

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