The Meters “Look-Ka Py Py”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day(#395 in the Series) is The Meters, Look-Ka Py Py Today we’re going to take a look at The Meters’ classic album called Look-Ka Py Py. Classic you say? Well, for its genre it is. Actually you can probably say maybe even more than that. We’ve referred to that Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of all-time list more than once in these parts. Well, The Meters had the #138 entry with Rejuvenation while Look-Ka Py Py was listed at #218. So I guess they actually had a pair of classic albums. So you’re not familiar with The Meters you say and “what genre is that of you speak?” Yeah, I guess I’m getting a...
Sly and the Family Stone ” Stand!”
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...
Led Zeppelin “Led Zeppelin”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#356 in the Series) is the self-titled debut from Led Zeppelin. I remember back around 1977 or so. I had a friend named John Popenleur. I hope I’m spelling that correctly. One day he was going on and on about his new turntable and how much he liked it. ‘You have to hear this thing, you have to hear this thing,” he kept saying. OK, I finally agreed to check it out. To this day, I remember what he put on to show off its sound. He tossed the first Led Zeppelin album onto the turntable. He fired it up, loudly!!! I can still hear how cool “Good Times, Bad Times” sounded. It...
Elvis Presley “From Elvis in Memphis”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#330 in the Series) is Elvis Presley, From Elvis in Memphis. 1969. To the record buying public , the general perception was that Elvis’ career as a recording artist to be taken seriously was all but over. There’d simply been too many over sentimental ballads, too much pop/pap soundtrack dross and far too many terrible movies. He was a man out of step with the times , overtaken by the counter-culture , left behind by the likes of Dylan, The Beatles and The Stones. The ’68 Special had helped a bit but not nearly enough. He knew it, everyone around him knew it. Something had to change. A planned Nashville session for January...
John Stewart “California Bloodlines”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#310 in the Series) is John Stewart, California Bloodlines By 1969 , John Stewart was 29 years old and had packed in a fair bit of living. He co-founded The Cumberland 3 , released three albums with them and moved on to become a member of The Kingston Trio , releasing numerous discs and playing hundreds of live shows . Fast forward to 1968 and we find him recording an album with his wife Buffy Ford and , just for good measure , he also managed to write a little song you may have heard of , “Daydream Believer” , a smash hit for The Monkees in ’67. For most people that would be...
The Flying Burrito Brothers “The Gilded Palace of Sin”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#216 in the Series) is The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Gilded Palace of Sin. I was looking at the track listing. I was trying to figure out which songs to mention first. It’s nearly an impossibility to determine one over another. This album is that good. It should go down in the history of American music as one a ground breaking piece of music. It’s that good. I’ve loved the solo work that Gram Parson did after leaving the band. The work here that he created along with Chris Hillman, “Sneaky” Pete Kleinow and Chris Ethridge is unmatched in the world of Americana or country-rock. ‘Christine’s Tune (aka She’s a Devil in Disguise),...
It’s a Beautiful Day "It’s a Beautiful Day"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day is the self titled album, It’s a Beautiful Day. How many remember this one? It’s a Beautiful Day was one of the great ‘hippie-rock psychedelic bands’ of the 60s. This was released in 1969. You’d have pegged them as a San Francisco band but they actually were from Seattle. Well Seattle when they started. Band leaders David and Linda LaFlamme actually moved around quite a bit. They were known mainly for the epic song, ‘White Bird.’ Ah, now you remember! They also had a decent follow up called ‘Hot Summer Day.’ Track listing Side one “White Bird” (6:06) “Hot Summer Day” (5:46) “Wasted Union Blues” (4:00) “Girl With No Eyes” (3:49) Side two...
