Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#362 in the Series) is Sly and the Family Stone, Stand! Unfortunately, Sly Stone has built one legacy. That legacy being, never showing up, or if he does, showing up very late for his gigs. I’ve heard these stories over and over.  Are they deserved, yeah, and they were not the only instances of bizarre behavior in his days.  Let’s not forget the weird exit at the Grammy’s just a few years ago. He left the stage near the end of a medley of some of his best works; strangely leaving “his” band to finish it off without him. I used the word unfortunately, why?  That’s because for some time, he was one...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#336 in the Series) Is Stevie Wonder, Innervisions. Innervisions was a #1 album in 1973. It also produced such hits as “Higher Ground”, “Too High,” “Living for the City” and my favorite on the disc, “Don’t You Worry ‘bout a Thing.” “Golden Lady” was also another track worth mentioning. Rolling Stone Magazine voted Innervisions the number 23 best album of all-time. When looking into this album, I was surprised to find out how much was just Stevie himself. He played nearly all the instruments on six of the nine songs. I’ve always been of fan of Stevie Wonder’s but never more than after watching him on the live broadcast of the Rock and...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#332 in the Series, and #26 in the Live, Saturday Night Series) is New York Rock and Soul Review, Live at the Beacon. I remember when I first heard about this project back in 1991. I was thrilled. For one, I knew it would be great.  However, the main reason I was thrilled was because it had been forever since I had a Steely Dan or a Donald Fagen fix! Steely Dan’s Gaucho was released in 1980. Donald Fagen’s The Nightfly was released in 1982. When Live at the Beacon was released we had been on a nine year drought. I was so excited. I was even more excited to hear about the...

Today’s Cool Album Of the Day (#326 in the Series) is Curtis Mayfield, Super Fly This album actually could be officially listed as the soundtrack to the film, Super Fly, but I’m going to list it as a Curtis Mayfield album. I mean, he did compose the whole darn thing! What a great piece of work he produced. Two albums really set the ground work for the R+B Soul-concept album era, Super Fly and Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On.  What’s Going On looked at life in the US from the eyes of a returning Vietnam veteran while Super Fly looked at life of those living on the drug torn streets. Two singles here made the top ten. “Freddie’s Dead”...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#268 is in the Series) is Sam Cooke, Ain’t That Good News Sam Cooke was one of Soul/R+ B/Rock and Roll’s greatest voices. That’s one of the benefits of writing these pieces. I get to remind myself of all these wonderful works. This in near the top of that the list. How well was Sam Cooke respected in the Rock and Roll field? As highly as one can be. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in the inaugural class of 1986. High praise indeed. I invite each of you to listen to the playlist below. Remind yourself that this ISN’T a greatest hits package either! Even if it...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#252 in the Series) is Otis Redding, The Dock of the Bay. I’ve felt that I’ve neglected the “Soul/R + B” genre for some time.  I’d really like to add more to this area.  I looked into a few albums I considered and while doing so, I stumbled upon a historical fact that I did not know. I’m guessing many of you did, but I’m almost ashamed to admit that I did not. I was not aware that Otis Redding recorded his masterpiece, “(Sitting on) The Dock of the Bay” only three days before he lost his life. In fact, the song was not even considered the finished product. Otis had not written...

Today’s Cool Album of The Day (#168 in the Series) is Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On? I have been neglect in my lack of Rhythm and Blues on our listings. I’m changing that today with what is arguably the best Rhythm and Blues album of all time. We usually stay away from blockbuster albums as well.  This album is just so good that sometimes gotta do what you gotta do! In fact, looking at the numbers, this album wasn’t a blockbuster.  It peaked at #6 on the Billboard Album Charts.  However, it did spend nine weeks at #1 on the R+B Charts. I see it on tons of lists of best albums of all time.  In fact it’s ranked...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day is Luther Vandross, “The Night I Fell In Love.” We’re going back to some R + B today. This is about as good as it gets for some wonderful, smooth, R+B. An absolute masterpiece of the genre. “The Night I Fell In Love” has eight tracks. They are all easily assessable. I’ll highlight a few even thou as I mentioned, they’re all great. ‘Till My Bady Comes Home, If Only For One Night’ and ‘Wait For Love’ are just great! This was released in 1985. It was right before Luther became a crossover star. Give your self some variety and give a listen to Luther Vandross “The Night I Fell In Love.” It...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day  is Funkadelic, Maggot Brain. A little ‘70s hard funk! This was a ground breaking album that combined parts of funk, jazz, soul, rock and roll, you name it. Funkadelic was led by vocalist George Clinton and keyboard man Bernie Worrell. ( Who later had a stint in Talking Heads.) It was produced by George Clinton and reached #108 on the Billboard charts. It was named #486 on Billboards top 500 of all time best albums. Funkadelic was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Parliament-Funkadelic in 1997 Personnel Lead Guitar: Eddie Hazel Rhythm Guitar: Tawl Ross Keyboards: Bernie Worrell Bass: Billy Bass Nelson Drums: Tiki Fulwood Vocals: Parliament (George Clinton, Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, Grady Thomas, Ray Davis),...