cover for XTC's album Oranges & Lemons: XTC perform on bendy psychedelic instruments illustrated in a style similar to the Beatles' Yellow Submarine animated film.

OTD in 1989, XTC released the remarkable Oranges & Lemons. It's a full hour of solid songs, featuring "Mayor of Simpleton," which belongs on any short list for Best Pop Song Ever. Other favorites include "Scarecrow People," "King for a Day," and the (more!) Beatle-y "The Loving."

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Forgot to add #AlbumsWorthOwning

cover to Peter Gabriel's 1977 self-titled debut album (aka "Car"): Peter Gabriel sits in the front passenger seat of a blue car. His eyes are closed and rain is falling on the hood and windshield.

OTD in 1977, #PeterGabriel released his solo debut, known as "Car," this was (like his next 3 albums) called Peter Gabriel. This one is all over the place (in the best way), and features "Solsbury Hill," (surely the biggest hit ever written in 7/4 time). Produced by Bob Ezrin.

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cover to Phil Ochs' album There and Now: Live in Vancouver 1968 - a photo of Phil Ochs performing taken from the side of stage.

back cover of Phil Ochs' There and Now, including the track listing.

OTD in 1991, the #PhilOchs album There and Now: Live in Vancouver 1968 was released. The solid performance and near perfect set list makes this a fantastic way to introduce someone to Ochs' amazing work, and includes my favorite version of "Crucifixion." His banter is great, too.

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cover to Wild Strawberries album Bet You Think I'm Lonely: a photograph of a girl dancing (presumably with her father) at a picnic. The photo has a blue filter.

OTD in 1994 #WildStrawberries released their masterful third album. In the 90s, #CFNY had several songs on heavy rotation, including "Life Sized Marilyn Monroe," "Crying Shame," "The Way it Goes," and the title track, but "California" remains my favorite track.

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cover to Joe Jackson's debut album Look Sharp! - close up shot of white shoes and black pants. Light appears to be coming from the shoes, illuminating the floor in front of the figure.

OTD in 1979, #JoeJackson blessed us with Look Sharp! On the short list of debut albums with the strongest opening three tracks: One More Time, Sunday Papers, and Is She Really Going Out With Him?

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cover to John Wesley Harding's debut album It Happened One Night: Wes rests his right hand in the collar of his denim shirt and stare at the camera.

Nearly 40 years (and over 20 excellent albums) later, It Happened One Night is still a great way to introduce yourself to #JohnWesleyHarding. His solo acoustic live debut album was released OTD in 1988. Most of these songs were never released on a studio album.

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cover to Elvis Costello and the Attractions album Trust: Elvis peers over his sunglasses, looking like a mix of Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly

cover to David Bowie album Station to Station: Bowie walks onto a stage, emerging from what appears to be futuristic sound proofing foam.

cover to Camel album Nude: an empty suit (opened on hinges) stands on a tiny island, with a mountain behind it.

cover to Talis Kimberley album Archetype Cafe: a doll of woman reaches up at a black bird that is flying toward a shaft of light.

Some great albums came out OTD!

#DavidBowie - Station to Station (1976)
#ElvisCostello and the Attractions - Trust (1981)
#Camel - Nude (1981)
@taliskimberley.bsky.social - Archetype Cafe (2000)

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cover to Jon Brion's album Meaningless: seemingly in an effort to prove that every copy was bought for the music alone, this cover is a solid pastel blue with small white writing that says (in the most boring font you can imagine) "Jon Brion; meaningless"

OTD in 2001, #JonBrion released his solo debut Meaningless. I dig his soundtrack work, but really want more of this. If you love your #powerpop sad, you just found your new favorite album. Fans of #AimeeMann should definitely check this one out.

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cover to Gowan's album Strange Animal: an aged image of footprints and old photos of a man walking

Mostly known as a member of #Styx, OTD in 1985 #Gowan released #StrangeAnimal, one of the best records you've never heard (assuming you're not Canadian). Gowan worked with #PeterGabriel 's band (Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta, David Rhodes) so if you love PG you'll like this.

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cover to Lou Reed's album Magic and Loss: a black and white photograph of Lou, wearing sunglasses and dressed in an all-black suit, stands with his hand over his heart. The background is a black and white impressionistic painting, with the artist and album title printed in red all around the image.

Transformer is rightly #LouReed 's most famous solo work, but #MagicandLoss (released OTD in 1992) is my favorite. One of the great unheard rock albums, this is an astonishing meditation on death and grief. Lyrics and music come together with power and conviction.

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cover to David Bowie's album Low: Bowie in profile, a shot taken from the set of The Man Who Fell to Earth

If 80s synth-pop appeared on an episode of Maury Povich, #DavidBowie's #Low would almost certainly hear Maury shout “You are the father!” It’s got the perfect balance of pop art (side A) and electronic experimentation (side B).

Released OTD in 1977.

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cover to the Seventy Sevens album Pray Naked: a photograph of three older men. They are naked, their genitals covered by a large photo of the being held up by the man in front. The two men behind him hold their hands to their chests in prayer.

OTD in 1992, #TheSeventySevens (or, if you must, the #77s) released their second self-titled album (that fans know was actually titled #PrayNaked). Highlights include "Smiley Smile," "Phony Eyes," "Happy Roy," and the stunning "Look."

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cover to the Platinum Blonde album Standing in the Dark: the power trio poses wearing solid red, white, and black outfits. They are standing on beach (in the dark, naturally) with a white door and cabinet placed oddly behind them.

Before they expanded and became Canada's Duran Duran, #PlatinumBlonde tried to be Canada's The Police with their debut album Standing in the Dark, released OTD in 1984. Singer Mark Holmes' bass playing drives a high energy power trio sound, with great guitar from Sergio Galli.

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cover to the Andy Breckman album Don't Get Killed: an illustration of a bearded man standing on the ground, wearing a noose tethered to a tree that he is watering.

OTD in 1990, #AndyBreckman released his debut album Don't Get Killed. You probably know him as a screenwriter, comedy writer (SNL, David Letterman), or creator of the TV show Monk. No one would argue his voice or guitar playing are brilliant, but his songs (and banter) sure are!

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cover to Murray Head's album Say It Ain't So: a close up photo of Murray Head in a crowd, looking away from the camera.

OTD in 1976, #MurrayHead released Say It Ain't So, containing songs from the unproduced musical "Atlantis." This album makes it clear that Head is as good a songwriter as he is a singer. And his voice has never sounded better. Younger brother Anthony contributes backing vocals!

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cover to Genesis' album Wind & Wuthering: a grey illustration of a lone tree surrounded by clouds and white. The band name and album title are surrounded by dying leaves, the only real color in the cover.

OTD in 1976, #Genesis released #Wind&Wuthering, their second album of the year, and their final album with #SteveHackett, who goes out with a bang, contributing mightily as a composer and musician.

Best bits: 11th Earl of Mar, Blood on the Rooftops, and the final three tracks.

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cover to The Swirling Eddies' album Let's Spin - a series of semi-circles, alternating red and green in color, expands from the lower left of the cover. The top half of each members face is set within the semi-circles.

OTD in 1988, The #SwirlingEddies released their debut album Let's Spin! They seemed to come out of nowhere, and held a "Guess the Eddies" contest, but a casual listen made it pretty clear (to me, at least) that this was (a sillier version of) #DanielAmos.

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cover to the Lowest of the Low album Shakespeare My Butt - a black and white photo of the band wearing white blindfolds placed on top of a brown map.

OTD in 1991, The Lowest of the Low's Shakespeare My Butt was released. No lie: this album changed my life. Sad and beautiful power pop perfectly performed with melodies as strong as the lyrics. Pretty much if a @jamesgunn.bsky.social screenplay was an album.

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cover to Steve Goodman's album Santa Ana Winds: Steve stands leaning on an acoustic guitar, a glorious desert sky behind him.

OTD in 1984, #SteveGoodman 's Santa Ana Winds was released. Goodman finished this album shortly before his death. It's as close to a country album as he would produce, but the arrangements are pleasingly eclectic, as best heard on his version of "The Big Rock Candy Mountains."

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cover to Crosby Still & Nash's album Replay: A boxed illustration of Crosby Still & Nash (finally in the correct order, with Crosby playing an acoustic guitar) set within an orange background.

OTD in 1980, #CrosbyStillsandNash repleased Replay, their second compilation album. This includes CSN songs not on So Far as well as some solo singles. The version of "Carry On" omits Questions and adds a guitar solo. This is how I first heard "Cathedral," my favorites CSN track.

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cover to the Magnolia soundtrack album: A magnolia flower with eight of characters images on the petals.

OTD in 1999, the Magnolia soundtrack was released. The 9 songs by @aimeemann.bsky.social helped determine the tone of #P.T.Anderson 's screenplay, with some of the lyrics appearing as dialogue and the entire cast singing along to "Wise Up." "Save Me" was nominated for an Oscar.

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cover to the Beatles' Rubber Soul album - a photo of the Beatles, shot from below them and mildly distorted. Their hair is slightly longer than previous, and none of them are smiling, indicative of things to come.

OTD in 1965, #TheBeatles released #RubberSoul, the first of many albums that seemed light years ahead of its predecessor. I grew up with this album on vinyl, but it was the US release, missing "Drive My Car," "Nowhere Man," "What Goes On," and "If I Needed Someone"

1/2

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cover to Pink Floyd's album The Wall - A white brick wall with the words "Pink Floyd The Wall" scrawled across it.

OTD in 1979, #PinkFloyd released #TheWall. This album was monumentally important to me in the early 80s, but I'm not sure if I'd like it were I to hear it for the first time today.

#RogerWaters does the heavy lifting, but #DavidGilmour still steals the show.

1/2

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cover to the Ron Hawkins and the Rusty Nails album Crackstatic - a horizontal split cover with a photograph of several woman lined up holding handguns in the top 2/3 and illustrations of three pairs legs dancing on the lower 1/3, with the band name and album title between the images.

OTD in 2000, #RonHawkins and the Rusty Nails released their album #Crackstatic. If you like brilliant songwriting with the style and edge of early #ElvisCostello, you need to check this album out.

My band #ViaBella performed the title track during our very first concert.

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cover to The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour album - The Beatles appear wearing outrageous animal masks, Ringo, George, and John wearing white fur costumes and Paul wearing a black fur costume. (The Walrus is Paul.) The word "Beatles" appears above them, made of stars. "Magical Mystery Tour" appears below them in rainbow lettering. Unusually, the track listing is also included on the cover. Text: "Includes 24-page full color picture book"

cover to George Harrison's album All Things Must Pass - Black and white photos of George (with long hair and a beard, wearing a large brimmed hat and boots) sits in an open field surrounded by statues of reclining gnomes.

The US album version of the #Beatles #MagicalMysteryTour was released OTD in 1967. This gets lost in the Sgt. Pepper / White Album / Abbey Road shuffle, but it would be any other band's best album.

#GeorgeHarrison also released the triple album #AllThingsMustPass OTD in 1970!

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cover to Steve Taylor's album Squint - a photograph of Steve Taylor standing near a camel with his hand open and stretched toward the camera. This image is presented four times, each image rotated 90 degrees, with the word squint placed in the center of all four images.

OTD in 1993, #SteveTaylor released Squint. Clearly influenced by grunge, but without sacrificing the power pop melodies and clever lyrics that made him (in)famous in CCM circles.

Favorite tracks:

The Lament of Desmond R.G. Underwood-Frederick IV
Smug
Cash Cow

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front and back cover of Genesis album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. A shirtless Rael stands in front of six panels that illustrate the story of the album. Design by Hipgnosis

cover to The Beatles (aka "The White Album") - a stark white cover with "The Beatles" printed haphazardly toward the center and a number stamped in the lower right

cover to The Kinds Are the Village Green Preservation Society - A desaturated photo of the Kinks facing the viewer with a series of concentric circles forming a target over the image

What a day for monumental double album releases! OTD in 1974 #Genesis released The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and the #Beatles White Album *and* the #Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society both came out OTD in 1968!

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cover of Duran Duran's album Seven and the Ragged Tiger - The five members of Duran Duran post in high fashion suits (many in leather)

I unapologetically love @durandurancom.bsky.social 's Seven and the Ragged Tiger. You know the hits (Reflex, Union of the Snake, New Moon on Monday) but the album tracks are also great, The Seventh Stranger being my favorite #DuranDuran song. Released OTD in 1983.

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