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 Ramones “It’s Alive”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#470 in the Series #46 in the Live Saturday Night Series) is The Ramones, It’s Alive Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members The Ramones performed 2,263 concerts in their career. They picked one of the best to record and use as a live album and eventually a concert video. The show was New Year’s Eve in 1977. It would take until April of ’79 to get this released. The double album contains 28 songs and there’s not a bad one in the mix. When this was recorded the band had released three classic albums, The Ramones, Ramones Leave Home and Rocket to Russia. Those three albums are represented heavily on the live...
Ian Hunter “You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#424 in the Series) is Ian Hunter, You’re Never Alone with a Schizophrenic Remember when ABC ran “In Concert” every weekend? Midnight Special” was on as well. There was one band that I could swear that was on every week. They were on so often that I really started not liking them, they of course were Mott the Hoople. Yup, every week I’d turn it on and sure enough, there would be this goofy looking band with a guy or two wearing these strange looking boots. I was young and didn’t know much about them. As I got slightly older I got to like the band as I actually started listening to the music. ...
Cheap Trick “at Budokan: The Complete Concert”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#394 in the Series) is Cheap Trick, at Budokan: The Complete Concert. Cheap Trick’s first album, which was simply self-titled, did OK here in the States. Their second release, In Color gave the band a whole new audience as it stepped them up a notch. Dream Police, the same deal, they went up another notch but not a real big deal. Then came Cheap Trick at Budokan, after this was released, they became stars. All that was referring to the United Stated, beginning in late ’77, they had become a huge act in Japan. How did that happen? Mainly it was because they had done two big tours of the island. One as...
Graham Parker “Squeezing Out Sparks”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#307 in the Series) is Graham Parker, Squeezing Out Sparks. Graham Parker, Squeezing Out Sparks….Is this Graham’s Best album? Many believe it is. I’m not going to say that it isn’t. I’m a big fan of his Steady Nerves album as well but the list of course doesn’t end there in fact you can name a number of his albums as “the” best but for today however, we’re going to check out 1979’s Squeezing Our Sparks. Some highlights worth noting are “Local Girls,” “Passion is No Ordinary Word,” “Saturday Night is Dead” and “Waiting for the UFOs.” Another song worth noting is Graham’s anti-abortion track called “You Can’t Be Too Strong.” It’s a...
U.F.O. “Strangers in the Night”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#304 in the Series and #22 in the Live, Saturday Night Series) is UFO, Strangers in the Night. UFO, Strangers in the Night has long been considered one of the best live hard rock albums. I’d love to know how much money I spent on live albums from 1975 to 1979! I know I had Lynyrd Skynyd, REO, Frampton, Genesis, The Outlaws, Rush, Nils Lofgren, Thin Lizzy etc. All from that short period. It was really a fun era. The best thing about this live album is that UFO chose the exact proper time to release it. They absolutely nailed it. It was after the “Lights Out” and “Obsession” albums and before the...
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...
The Clash “London Calling”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#267 in the Series) is The Clash, London Calling “The Only Band That Matters” that is one of the names that was given to the The Clash. Some people could also say that London Calling was the only album that mattered. London Calling was the The Clash’s 1979 (1980 in the US) double album. It contained many of their most well-known songs. The title cut plus, ‘Spanish Bombs, Lost in the Supermarket, Clampdown’ and ‘Train in Vain’ are just some of the highlights. There really isn’t a bad track amongst the 19 on this double album release. One of the few bands that I missed seeing. There were not many! Joe Strummer passed...
Joe Jackson “I’m the Man”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#254 in the Series ) is Joe Jackson, I’m the Man. I’m The Man was Joe Jackson’s second album. It was a follow up to his debut Look Sharp! In many ways it could even be considered a continuation. The title cut is one of Joe’s best. Other highlights included ‘It’s Different for Girls’ and ‘On The Radio.’ It was produced by David Kershenbaum. He also produced Look Sharp! He is also known for working with such acts as Duran Duran, Supertramp and Cat Stevens. He obviously had an ‘in’ with A+M Records since all those artists recorded for that label. Look Sharp!, I’m The Man and their follow ups, Beat Crazy made...
Squeeze “Cool For Cats”
Today’s Cool album of the Day (#246 in the Series) is Squeeze, Cool for Cats. How could a website called “Cool Album of the Day” not have included an album called Cool for Cats until now? Well here it is. Cool for Cats is early Squeeze and many consider it to be one of their best efforts. It contains two of their biggest hits, “Cool for Cats” and “Up the Junction.” Both hit #2 on the UK singles chart. Two other singles were released, “Goodbye Girl’ and “Slap and Tickle.” No other Squeeze album had as many hit singles. Squeeze was mainly Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford. They are the only two members that have been with Squeeze from...
