Album of the Day

Alanis Morissette embarked on one of the most spectacular career reinventions in music history when she turned from the fluffy dance-pop of her first two (Canadian-only) albums to the ragingly cathartic JAGGED LITTLE PILL. Working with producer Glen Ballard in Los Angeles, Morissette's soul-baring songs struck a chord with millions of listeners; on this day in 1995, the album went to No.1 on the Billboard chart, occupying the top slot for 12 weeks (it would later be certified by the magazine as the best-selling pop album of the decade). While the collection burst with raw emotion, there was also consummate craftsmanship in its singles – the melodies and forceful arrangements of “You Oughta Know,” “Hand In My Pocket,” “Ironic” and “Head Over Feet” practically jumped out of the radio. A critical and commercial smash on original release, JAGGED LITTLE PILL has lost none of its power.