Linda Ronstadt “Heart Like a Wheel”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#393 in the Series) is Linda Ronstadt, Heart Like A Wheel Laurel Canyon is a stretch of Los Angeles wonderland that runs through the Hollywood Hills from the Sunset Strip to the San Fernando Valley. That curving, stretching, boulevard of hipness and “California Noir” is where Carole King escaped to create her “Tapestry” masterpiece. It was in Laurel Canyon, while living on Lookout Mountain with Joni Mitchell, that Graham Nash wrote “Our House”. Leading the “Soft Parade” of Laurel Canyon artists, musicians, singers, and songwriters that included Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Warren Zevon, The Mamas and the Papas, the various incarnations of The Flying Burrito Brothers including Gram Parsons, most of The Eagles,...
Harry Nilsson “Pussy Cats”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#386 in the Series) is Harry Nilsson, Pussy Cats “Over The Rainbow” was the name of the exclusive members- only, club, bar, hangout, and hideaway for the Los Angeles, Rock and Roll, and Hollywood debauched elite that was located in the upstairs section of the “Rainbow Room”, the iconic Sunset Strip music venue. If you were lucky enough to be granted entrance back in 1973/1974 you might have been indulging and imbibing next to the likes of Keith Moon, Ringo Starr, Alice Cooper, Dennis Hopper, John Lennon, and even Groucho Marx….You Bet Your Llfe. It is here, most probably, that the original idea for John Lennon to produce a Harry Nilsson album was...
Supertramp “Crime of the Century”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#321 in the Series) is Supertramp, Crime of the Century Crime of the Century was Supertramp’s third album. It was the first one that actually started putting the band in our ears. Their first album Supertramp peaked at #158 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart while the next album, Indelibly Stamped didn’t even chart. Crime of the Century charted as high as #38. It featured a couple of hit singles; “Bloody Well Right” did hit the Top 40. Its raise ended at #35. I’d consider its success more as an FM hit however. The same could be said for “Dreamer. Dreamer” did not hit the singles charts but was definitely, a hit...
Queen “Sheer Heart Attack”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#289 in the Series) is Queen, Sheer Heart Attack. Well, I guess it’s time we get to Queen. Sometimes it’s a hard task to find an act that were ‘huge’ sellers but also can remain high on the ‘cool’ rating! Queen, Sheer Heart Attack was indeed a successful release. But it wasn’t one of the mega albums that they recorded. Those would come in the next two with Night at the Opera and Day at the Races. This was no slouch, don’t get me wrong. It included a few of the classic Queen tracks, ‘Killer Queen’ and ‘Now I’m Here.’ ‘Killer Queen’ was the bands first international hit. It was one of the...
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....
Lou Reed “Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#276 in the Series) is Lou Reed, Rock and Roll Animal. For those of you that did not know or are a new visitor, we feature a ‘live’ album every Saturday. This live project from Lou Reed was released in 1974. Five songs here, that’s it, five. Five influential songs? You bet. Lou Reed had broken up his band, The Velvet Underground, four years before this. I know, they did some things with a new vocalist (Doug Yule) but come on, if you want to recognize that as part of the band’s career then knock yourself out. This album went a long way to giving life to some of Velvet Underground’s classic songs....
Marshall Tucker Band “Where We All Belong”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#211 in the Series) is Marshall Tucker Band, Where We All Belong. I’ve been thinking about featuring Marshall Tucker for a little while now. Today I started listening to some of their old music and I learned something. I’d forgotten how good these guys really are. I liked but didn’t love most of their biggest hits. (There’s an upset, huh) Some of the songs on this album however are simply outstanding. Not to mention that they were a little different than your typical 70s southern rock or country rock act. They had just a little bit of jazz in their stretched out tunes which also included a reed player. Give a listen especially...
Emerson, Lake and Palmer “Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends, Ladies and Gentlemen…”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#206 in the Series) is Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends, Ladies and Gentlemen… ELP were larger than life to me during my high school years. I just loved this band. I still do. This three album live set got a ton of play on my old Marantz. This 1974 release of a 1973 tour, had just about everything I wanted by them. It was about as close as you could get to a full concert experience on a live album. The only things that were obviously missing were two of their most well-known pop hits, they being “Lucky Man” and “Still…You Turn Me On.”...
Jeff Beck “Blow By Blow”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#189 in the Series) is Jeff Beck, Blow By Blow. I once heard a great quote. It’s from a TV personality I can’t stand so I’m not going to give him credit. Sorry. Email me if it’s that important for you to know who it is. He said, “You’re not a house-hold name until my Mother knows who you are.” I love that quote! It’s pretty true. Jeff Beck really was a ‘known’ guitarist after playing in the Yardbirds. He also had released a few nice solo albums under the Jeff Beck Group banner. His work with ‘Beck, Bogert and Appice’ was also received very well. Next up was his great album, Blow...
Loggins and Messina “On Stage”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#185 in the Series and) is Loggins and Messina, On Stage. Loggins and Messina was a VERY good 70s band that history has not treated as well as it should. Why, my guess is that Kenny Loggins solo success, especially in the soundtrack realm, has had the most to do with it. Plus I don’t think their largest hit, ‘Your Momma Don’t Dance,’ was a very good representation of their sound. As good as it was, I always like others better. But do you ever hear Loggins and Messina on classic rock stations, hardly. Not even great stations like WXRT play them nearly as much as they used to, if at all. I’d...
