Warren Zevon “Excitable Boy” ..Today’ “Cool Album of the Day”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#579 in the Series) is Warren Zevon, Excitable Boy. I don’t usually pick an artist’s most popular release. But this one is just too darn good, and too darn cool. Yes, it contains “Werewolves Of London.” That track still sounds good. It was the song that you could say put Warren on the map with the mainstream. I once heard a great saying by a stand-up comedian. You can’t be considered a superstar until my mother knows who you are. Lets say that many mothers knew of Warren because of “Werewolves of London.” “Werewolves might have been the most popular track on the album, but it will have to get way back...
Christine McVie “Christine McVie”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#215 in the Series) is the self-titled release from Christine McVie. Christine McVie was released in 1984. It was her first album since her Christine Perfect album, which was released in 1970. I always loved her contributions to Fleetwood Mac. I’d have no interest in seeing them now and watching Stevie Nicks sing Christine’s songs. I know Stevie has a ton of fans, but give me Ms. McVie anytime. This album contained two hits. ‘Got Ahold on Me’ and ‘Love Will Show us How.’ Got a Hold on Me’ peaked at #10 while ‘Love Will Show us How’ reached #30. You can listen to both songs below. The Christine McVie album peaked at...
Darden Smith ‘Trouble No More”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#196 in the Series) is Darden Smith, Trouble No More. Yesterday we gave you one of the most popular singer songwriter/rockers that ever walked the planet. So today, I’m going to give you another great singer-songwriter. This time one that, I’m betting, not as many of you have heard. That man is named Darden Smith. He’s an Austin, Texas native. He’s been recording since the mid-80s. The most of his commercial success was a little after that period when he released a number of albums for Sony Music. This was another artist that I became aware of after receiving a promo of his latest effort. In this case it was this album, Trouble...
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young "Déjà Vu"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#158 in the Series) Is Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Déjà Vu. I was just sharing the story on Facebook about remembering buying Déjà Vu back in 1970. I purchased it at the famous Chicagoland record chain called Hegewisch Records. I was spending the summer at a cousin’s in Calumet City. We road our bikes to Hegewisch and quickly we were in the store. I plopped down my $3.49 and we we’re off. All their LPs were $3.49 back then. I still remember the sticker on the shrink wrap! On the way back I wiped out on the bike and the album went flying. Fear not, it was OK. I still remember the...
Joni Mitchell "Court and Spark"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#152 in the Series) is Joni Mitchell, Court and Spark. Court and Spark was the album that took Joni Mitchell from a pretty darn good selling artist to a star. It was a monster album. It reached #2 on the Billboard Album charts but had long time staying power on rock radio. It fit in perfectly with the singer/songwriter period which was very hot in 1974. Sure this was three or four years after she had written Woodstock, but it’s Court and Spark more often than not when people think Joni Mitchell. This album contains songs such as “Help Me,” “Free Man in Paris,” “Car on a Hill,” “Raised on Robbery” and the...
John Prine "Bruised Orange"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#139 in The Series) is John Prine, Bruised Orange. John Prine’s debut album, called simply John Prine is considered his masterpiece, and rightly so. It’s quite the feat when you think that he wrote Sam Stone, Illegal Smile, Donald and Lydia, Angel From Montgomery, Paradise, Six O’Clock News, You’re Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore and of course, Hello in There ALL before he was 25. Looking at that track list you can see why that album is held in such high regard. I am, however, going to feature Bruised Orange. I’m not sure why this album was always so high on my list of Prine classics. Part of it might...
Nils Lofgren "Nils"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#128 in the Series) is Nils Lofgren, Nils. Nils is the sixth solo album by guitarist Nils Logren, and and the fourth studio release. Nils came to prominence as a member of Crazy Horse and before that, Grin. He’s been a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street band for over 25 years. Nils was my favorite for a number of reasons but mainly for No Mercy. No Mercy is a boxing song written from the viewpoint of the victorious boxer as he feels sorrow for his soon to be defeated opponent. It’s quite the unique song. But there indeed many great pieces of music here. Others include I’ll Cry Tomorrow, and a great...
Tom Waits "Blue Valentine"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day is Tom Waits, “Blue Valentine.” What a piece of music this one is. I just love Tom Waits. This is yet another example of the album I love is the tour I saw. I can’t remember the name of the place. But there was a little roadhouse between Merrillville + Valparaiso, Indiana where I saw this tour. It had to be in 1978 or ‘79. The opening act was Leon Redbone who had laryngitis that night and did everything instrumental. He then held up a ‘thank you’ sign after every song. TW does an amazing version of ‘Somewhere” from West Side Story as an opening number on this album. It’s truly a remarkable...
Steve Goodman "Somebody Else’s Troubles"
Today’s Cool Album of The Day is Steve Goodman, “Somebody Else’s Trouble.” We’re going back to the Singer/Songwriter genre today. If you look up Singer/Songwriter in the dictionary you’d see Steve Goodman’s face on the description. He was one of the best. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone 26 years now. “Somebody Else’s Troubles” was Steve’s third album. It’s full of goodies! The album starts with one of his most well known songs, “The Dutchman.” It’s one of the few hits that Steve did not write. It was written by Michael Smith. Other tracks you might know include ‘Lincoln Park Pirates, Chicken Cordon Blues,’ and of course the title cut, ‘Somebody Else’s Troubles’ which features an uncredited Bob Dylan...
The Byrds "Sweetheart of the Rodeo"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day is the 1968 release by The Byrds, Sweetheart of the Rodeo. Quite simply, a masterpiece. Was it the first country rock album? That’s debatable. There has been so much written and discussed about this music that I’m not even going to try and invent an original idea. Just listen to the music. I’d have loved to have heard Roger McGuinn and Gram Parsons stay together longer. But then Gram might not have gone on to to record two other great pieces of music (Gram Parsons and GP). And maybe he wouldn’t have gone on to discover (along with Chris Hillman) EmmyLou Harris. The Byrds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of...
