Black History Month Featured Albums: Week Two

Happy Black History Month! Every day in the month of February, WXPN is taking to the airwaves to highlight an essential album from the stylistic spectrum of Black music history from the 1960s to present. You can reconnect with old favorites and discover new classics, beginning with the week one rundown below. Keep listening all month long for more explorations!

February 8: Voodoo by D’Angelo

After a successful solo breakthrough in ‘95 with Brown Sugar, D’Angelo returned to shake things up with the expansive, funk-rooted Voodoo. His sophomore record that would be the artist’s final until 2014, won the Grammy for Best R&B Album and further cemented the legacy of The Soulquarians collective, including co-producer Questlove at Electric Lady Studios. (Listen: Spotify / Apple / Tidal) – Paige Walter

February 9: At Last! by Etta James

From the sweeping cinematic strings to the captivating vocals, Etta James’ 1960 song “At Last” is so timeless and iconic, it’s tough to imagine that it was once a cut on a musician’s debut album. The Los Angeles-rooted James had been working hard, making music and releasing singles for six years at that point, and the album of the same name collected ten heavy-hitters from across genres — blues, doo-wop, jazz, and R&B — and packaged them into a classic for Argo Records. The record hit number 12 on the Billboard album charts, and included other James staples like her renditions of “Stormy Weather” and “A Sunday Kind Of Love,” establishing her as a formidable voice in pop music. (Listen: Spotify / Apple / Tidal) – John Vettese

February 10: It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back by Public Enemy

An explosion of high-tempo breakbeats, densely driving funk, turntablist sound collage, crate-digging samples, and uncompromising lyricism by Chuck D, Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back is nothing short of revolution in musical form. After establishing themselves with their 1987 debut Yo! Bum Rush the Show, Public Enemy sought with their second album to create the hip-hop equivalent of Marvin Gaye’s socially and politically conscious masterpiece What’s Going On. With songs celebrating Black pride, taking down white supremacy, and critiquing the often-exploitative music industry, its a heavy listen that reveals new layers each time through. It charted high on Billboard and went on to Platinum status in America, changed the shape of hip-hop and influenced innumerable artists in its wake, and continues to do so.  (Listen: Spotify / Apple / Tidal) – J.V.

February 11: Bad Girls by Donna Summer

After spending much of the 70s as the reigning queen of disco, thanks to her propulsive synth-driven collaborations with Giorgio Moroder like “I Feel Love,” “Love To Love You Baby,” and “Last Dance,” Donna Summer was in search of her next chapter as the decade came to a close. Flowing with the stream of incredibly popular styles that surrounded her, 1979’s Bad Girls incorporated fierce rock guitar and jumping funk rhythms across the scope of a double LP, making for her most eclectic — and successful — release up to that point. Its accolades are many: six weeks at the top of the Billboard 200, as well as high ranks on the R&B and disco charts; double-platinum sales in America, with even more worldwide; multiple Grammy nominations and one win for “Hot Stuff.” And in June of 1979, when that song fell to number two on the Billboard chart and the title track rose to number three, Summer became the first woman to have two songs in the top three of the Hot 100. (Listen: Spotify / Apple / Tidal) – J.V.

February 12: Rejuvenation by The Meters

Anchored by bassist George Porter Jr. and drummer Zigaboo Modeliste, with Art Neville on keys and Leo Nocentelli on guitar, New Orleans icons The Meters were a funk force in the 70s, and their fifth album, Rejuvenation, is their second release after moving from instrumentals to songs with vocals. “It Ain’t No Use” and “Africa” are highlights — the latter was covered by Red Hot Chili Peppers on 1985’s Freaky Styley — and the dazzling pop art album cover of a woman on a couch surrounded by vinyl LPs is as classic as the record itself.  (Listen: Spotify / Apple / Tidal) – J.V.

February 13: A Love Supreme by John Coltrane

Critically received as his magnum opus, Coltrane’s A Love Supreme is a touchstone of American music and a spiritual breakthrough in free jazz. The record finds the legendary saxophonist exploring his connection to God via music, and reaching beyond the shackles of addiction. A student of Miles Davis and collaborator of Thelonius Monk, John Coltrane is a canonical figure in music history, and his suite A Love Supreme stands tall in his discography. (Listen: Spotify / Apple / Tidal) – P.W.

February 14: Songs In The Key Of Life by Stevie Wonder

How is it possible that this many bangers, this many timeless classics, can coexist on one record? “Love’s In Need Of Love Today,” “Sir Duke,” “I Wish,” “Pastime Paradise,” “Isn’t She Lovely,” the immortal epic “As.” The pinnacle of Stevie Wonder’s early 70s “genius period” — his unbelievable run of classic albums from 1971 to 1976 — Songs In The Key Of Life is deeply rooted in love, spirituality, empathy, and compassion. Song lyrics in Zulu mix with Spanish and English, songs are funky and soulful and packed with kaleidoscopic theatrical bombast, delivering depictions of struggle and resilience the world around. A new record contract going into Key Of Life‘s production gave Stevie complete creative control on his albums, and so expansive was his creative vision that even a double-LP could not contain it: early pressings of the album came packaged with a bonus 7″ EP, A Something’s Extra, containing another four songs and 20 minutes of music. (Listen: Spotify / Apple / Tidal) – J.V.