Day 189: New York's a go-go and everything tastes right...

Album 635/1031

N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton (1988)

• All songs were produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Performer(s)	Samples[48][49]	Length
1	"Straight Outta Compton"	Ice Cube MC Ren The D.O.C. Eazy-E	Ice Cube MC Ren Eazy-E	"Funky Drummer" by James Brown "You'll Like It Too" by Funkadelic "West Coast Poplock" by Ronnie Hudson and the Street People "Get Me Back on Time, Engine No. 9" by Wilson Pickett "Amen, Brother" by The Winstons "One for the Treble" by Davy DMX	4:18
2	"Fuck tha Police"[50]	Ice Cube MC Ren Eazy-E	Dr. Dre (the judge) The D.O.C. (the lawyer) Ice Cube MC Ren Eazy-E	"Funky President (People It's Bad)" by James Brown "It's My Thing" by Marva Whitney "Boogie Back" by Roy Ayers "Feel Good" by Fancy "Funky Drummer" by James Brown "Ruthless Villain" by Eazy-E "Be Thankful for What You Got" by William DeVaughn	5:45
3	"Gangsta Gangsta"	Ice Cube Eazy-E MC Ren	Ice Cube Eazy-E MC Ren	"Weak at the Knees" by Steve Arrington "Troglodyte" by Jimmy Castor Bunch "Be Thankful for What You Got" by William DeVaughn "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers "N.T." by Kool & the Gang "Funky Worm" by Ohio Players "Prison" by Richard Pryor "My Philosophy" by Boogie Down Productions (KRS-One) "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick "Girls" by Beastie Boys "Ruthless Villain" by Eazy-E Take the Money and Run by Steve Miller Band	5:36
4	"If It Ain't Ruff"	MC Ren	MC Ren	"A Star in the Ghetto" by Average White Band "Quiet on tha Set" and "Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A "Ruthless Villain" by Eazy-E "Don't Believe the Hype" by Public Enemy	3:34
5	"Parental Discretion Iz Advised"	The D.O.C. (also for Dr. Dre) Eazy-E MC Ren Ice Cube	The D.O.C. Dr. Dre MC Ren Ice Cube Eazy-E	"I Turned You On" by The Isley Brothers and Dave "Baby" Cortez	5:15
6	"8 Ball (Remix)"	Ice Cube Eazy-E	Eazy-E	"It's My Beat" by Sweet Tea "Be Thankful for What You Got" by William DeVaughn "Yes, We Can Can" by The Pointer Sisters "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)", "The New Style", "Girls", "Paul Revere", and "Hold It Now, Hit It" by Beastie Boys "Terminator X Speaks With His Hands" and "Too Much Posse" by Public Enemy "Hollywood Swinging" by Kool & the Gang "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye "Go See the Doctor" by Kool Moe Dee "Boyz-n-the-Hood" by Eazy-E "My Melody" by Eric B. & Rakim	4:52
7	"Something Like That"	MC Ren (also for Dr. Dre)	MC Ren Dr. Dre	"Down on the Avenue" by Fat Larry's Band "Take the Money and Run" by Steve Miller Band "I Think I'll Do It" by Z. Z. Hill	3:35
8	"Express Yourself"	Ice Cube	Dr. Dre	"Express Yourself" by Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band "Dopeman" by N.W.A	4:25
9	"Compton's N the House (Remix)"	MC Ren (also for Dr. Dre)	MC Ren Dr. Dre	"Something Like That" by N.W.A	5:20
10	"I Ain't tha 1"	Ice Cube	Ice Cube	"The Message (Inspiration)" by Brass Construction	4:54
11	"Dopeman (Remix)"	Ice Cube Eazy-E	Ice Cube Eazy-E	"Dance to the Drummer's Beat" by Herman Kelly and Life "Funky Worm" by Ohio Players "My Posse" by C.I.A.	5:20
12	"Quiet On tha Set"	MC Ren	MC Ren	"Down to the Grissle" by Cool C "Funky Drummer" by James Brown "I Get Lifted" by George McCrae "Rock Creek Park" by The Blackbyrds "Take the Money and Run" by Steve Miller Band "Straight Outta Compton" by N.W.A "On the Bugged Tip" by Big Daddy Kane "Rebel Without a Pause" by Public Enemy	3:59
13	"Something 2 Dance 2"	Arabian Prince	Arabian Prince DJ Yella Dr. Dre Eazy-E	"You're the One for Me" by D-Train "Dance to the Music" by Sly and the Family Stone	3:23

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Outta_Compton

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! There is no real excuse for some of the rather neanderthal notions expressed in the lyrics, with the benefit of nearly 30 years of critical perspective. But there are few better examples of gangsta rap than this and it still retains and positively exudes righteous indignation and rage.

Maire's verdict: Still sounds very fresh - hard to believe it's almost 30 years old. I actually really enjoyed it.

Album 636/1031

Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones (1983)

Side one

1. "Underground" – 1:58
2. "Shore Leave" – 4:12
3. "Dave the Butcher" (instrumental) – 2:15
4. "Johnsburg, Illinois" – 1:30
5. "16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought-Six" – 4:30
6. "Town with No Cheer" – 4:22
7. "In the Neighborhood" – 3:04

Side two

1. "Just Another Sucker on the Vine" (instrumental) – 1:42
2. "Frank's Wild Years" – 1:50
3. "Swordfishtrombone" – 3:00
4. "Down, Down, Down" – 2:10
5. "Soldier's Things" – 3:15
6. "Gin Soaked Boy" – 2:20
7. "Trouble's Braids" – 1:18
8. "Rainbirds" (instrumental) – 3:05

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swordfishtrombones

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Another challenging, but incredibly rewarding album. 

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! I absolutely adore his voice. Found 'Dave the Butcher' a bit challenging but the rest of the album was fantastic.

Album 637/1031

U2 - Achtung Baby (1991)

All lyrics written by Bono; all music composed by U2.

No.	Title	Producer	Length
1.	"Zoo Station"	Daniel Lanois	4:36
2.	"Even Better Than the Real Thing"	Steve Lillywhite, with Brian Eno and Lanois	3:41
3.	"One"	Lanois with Eno	4:36
4.	"Until the End of the World"	Lanois with Eno	4:39
5.	"Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses"	Lillywhite, Lanois, and Eno	5:16
6.	"So Cruel"	Lanois	5:49
7.	"The Fly"	Lanois	4:29
8.	"Mysterious Ways"	Lanois with Eno	4:04
9.	"Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World"	Lanois with Eno	3:53
10.	"Ultraviolet (Light My Way)"	Lanois with Eno	5:31
11.	"Acrobat"	Lanois	4:30
12.	"Love Is Blindness"	Lanois	4:23

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achtung_Baby

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! It's easy to forget that U2's post Joshua Tree is actually not that bad. This album (and 'Zooropa' that followed it shortly after) is full of more hits than misses and 'One' and 'The Fly' are amongst their very best.

Maire's verdict: There are some absolute classics and if they'd removed 4 or 5 of the filler tracks this would undoubtedly be a hidden gem. They didn't do it isn't.

Album 638/1031

Brian Wilson - SMILE (2004)

All tracks written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, except where noted.

Movement one ("Americana")
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Our Prayer / Gee" (Brian Wilson, William Davis/Morris Levy)	2:09
2.	"Heroes and Villains"	4:53
3.	"Roll Plymouth Rock"	3:48
4.	"Barnyard"	0:58
5.	"Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine" (Haven Gillespie/Beasley Smith, Jimmie Davis)	1:04
6.	"Cabin Essence"	3:27

Movement two ("Cycle of Life")
No.	Title	Length
7.	"Wonderful"	2:07
8.	"Song for Children"	2:16
9.	"Child Is Father of the Man"	2:18
10.	"Surf's Up"	4:07

Movement three ("The Elements")
No.	Title	Length
11.	"I'm in Great Shape / I Wanna Be Around / Workshop" (Wilson/Van Dyke Parks, Johnny Mercer/Sadie Vimmerstedt, Wilson)	1:56
12.	"Vega-Tables"	2:19
13.	"On a Holiday"	2:36
14.	"Wind Chimes"	2:54
15.	"Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" (Wilson)	2:27
16.	"In Blue Hawaii"	3:00
17.	"Good Vibrations" (Wilson/Tony Asher/Michael Love)	4:36

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Wilson_Presents_Smile

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Nearly 40 years of gestation, but this proved well worth waiting for. 'Heroes and Villains', 'Surf's Up' and 'Good Vibrations' are the highlights but it's a curate's egg full of rewarding material.

Maire's verdict: Gorgeous harmonies but, to be honest, I prefer The Beach Boys.

Album 639/1031

David Bowie - Aladdin Sane (1973)

All tracks written by David Bowie, except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Watch That Man"	4:30
2.	"Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)"	5:06
3.	"Drive-In Saturday"	4:33
4.	"Panic in Detroit"	4:25
5.	"Cracked Actor"	3:01

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"Time"	5:15
7.	"The Prettiest Star"	3:31
8.	"Let's Spend the Night Together" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)	3:10
9.	"The Jean Genie"	4:07
10.	"Lady Grinning Soul"	3:54

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aladdin_Sane

Golf's verdict: It's a mighty fine album, just not one of my Bowie favs. 

Maire's verdict: Not an album I've really listened to before although I do know some of the tracks. I enjoyed it.