Brand X “Product”
Today’s Cool Album of The Day (#582 in the Series) is Brand X, Product. Brand X was a band that wasn’t a band, well not at first were they a band, but then became a band. You Got it? Here’s the idea. Genesis drummer and new lead vocalist Phil Collins along with Atomic Rooster guitarist John Goodsall were looking for something to do as a side project. How long was it supposed to go on? Well not long really. Just do some jamming and maybe record a platter or two if the sound came together. This was in 1976. They added bassist Percy Jones and keyboard Robin Lumley to complete the band. They decided to release an album here and there....
NEU! “NEU! ’75”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#559 in the Series) is NEU!, NEU! ’75. While not a pro at reviewing albums, I fully understand that you are supposed to wait until the end of an article to pass final judgment on a record. In the case of NEU! ’75, I cannot. This is an all-time masterpiece. NEU! was formed in 1971 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Drummer Klaus Dinger and guitarist Michael Rother had just left an early version of Kraftwerk. Rother and Dinger did not want care for the synthesizer heavy direction that Kraftewerk were headed in and wanted to go in a more guitar oriented vein. NEU! was born. NUE! ’75 is the duo’s third release and bore...
Frank Zappa “Sheik Yerbouti”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day(#539 in the Series) is Frank Zappa’s Sheik Yerbouti. (Zappa Records) If you ask Frank Zappa fans which album of his is there favorite an I’ll guarantee, Sheik Yerbouti will get some votes. No It probably will not win, it might, but it will definitely be in the team picture. It’s a double album. (Why Not, Zappa and the Mothers of Invention’s Freak Out! Was the first double album in Rock and Roll History) Some songs are length, extended solo guitar pieces. Some songs are tight, shorter radio friendly hits. Well, for progressive stations that don’t mind a little twisted lyric here and there. What are we referring to there? How ‘bout...
The Edgar Winter Group “They Only Come Out at Night”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#465 in the Series) is The Edgar Winter Group, They Only Come Out at Night. This was a pretty big deal when I was in 8th grade. I always remember walking across the street because my friend Joe Moncada bought a couple new albums. To this day I remember it was this and Curtis Mayfield, Super Fly. They Only Come Out at Night was a HUGE album for Edgar Winter and his band in 1972. It contained two well known songs. They were the instrumental “Frankenstein” and “Free Ride.” The Edgar Winter Group was quite the band. Many of the names were or became quite well known. Rick Derringer and Ronnie Montrose were...
Pat Metheny “What’s It All About”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#409 in the Series) Is Pat Metheny, What’s It All About. What a surprise it was this week when this little nugget showed up. I didn’t know it was coming but I must say that I’m awfully glad it’s here. It’s always a good day when Pat Metheny released new material. Those days now number in the 40s. (How time flies) This one however is a little different. This album, What’s It All About is an album of cover tunes. Yeah, I know that’s become something quite popular, but not by a jazz guitarist doing songs from the late 60s and early 70s. Besides Pat’s wonderful playing, there’s a few things that I...
Chet Atkins and Les Paul “Chester and Lester”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#358 in the Series) is Chet Atkins and Les Paul, Chester and Lester We’re going to change direction today. You have to love a website that can segue from Nina Hagen to Chet Atkins and Les Paul. We strive for variety here! Chet Atkins and Les Paul were two of the greatest guitarist to ever strap it on. They played together live many times, however, this was one of the only recordings that they did together. Chester and Lester was released in 1975. It features some wonderful versions of great standards. One of my favorites here is their version of Duke Ellington’s “Caravan.” They also cover Sammy Cahn’s “It’s Been a Long, Long...
Rick Wakeman “Six Wives of Henry VIII”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#323 in the Series) is Rick Wakeman, Six Wives of Henry VIII Back in the early 70s I was really into art-rock. I don’t remember using the term, prog-rock yet. I guess progressive rock was tossed around a little. Mostly it was art-rock. I just couldn’t get enough of Yes; Emerson, Lake and Palmer, King Crimson, etc. This album was quite ground breaking. I don’t think I realized it when I was listening to it. I was just doing some reading on it this this week. Many experts credit Six Wives of Henry VIII as being one of the first albums to bring keyboards to the forefront in an art-rock setting. If you have feelings...
Robert Fripp “Exposure”
Today’s Cool Album Of the Day (#298 in the Series) Is Robert Fripp, Exposure. Robert Fripp had a plan in the late 70s. He wanted to have three albums released as a ‘Trilogy.’ They would be related releases and would share musicians, producers, song writers, etc. Not completely, but there would be enough overlapping to show the plan that Fripp had in his head. Besides Sacred Songs, the second album would have been Peter Gabriel’s second solo album, or as you may know it as ‘Scratches.’ We’ll be featuring that album soon enough. The third installment of the trilogy would be this one, Robert Fripp’s Exposure. Daryl Hall adds some great vocals on tracks like “North Star” and “You Burn...
Average White Band “AWB”
Today’s Cool Album Of the Day (#278 in the Series) is Average White Band, AWB. The Average White Band, what a perfect mix of soul, funk, R + B, rock with just enough jazz tossed in. All of this from a band from………Scotland!? Yeah, many people have forgotten that fact over the years, but yes indeed. Founding members Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre are from Dundee. As were the other original members, Malcolm “Molly” Duncan, Roger Ball and Robbie McIntosh. Hamish Stuart was from Glasgow, he would play a major role with Paul McCartney in later years. Do not confuse this Robbie McIntosh with the man with the same name who was a long time ‘Pretender.’ Same name, different person....
New Order “Power, Corruption and Lies”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#210 in the Series) is New Order, Power, Corruption and Lies. New Order was one of the more interesting acts to come out the 80s. They were often lumped into the synth acts that were quite popular in that era. New Order was more than that however as they did bring in a nice mix of guitar and drums in their music. Sure some of it was programmed but a large portion was not. They had one of the most well-known dance hits a few months earlier with ‘Blue Monday.’ It was one of the defining songs of early club tunes. It remains popular to this day. That was originally released as a...
