The Silencers ‘A Letter From St. Paul’
Today’s Cool Album of The Day (#783 in the Series) is The Silencers, A Letter From St. Paul I’m curious as to how many of you are familiar with The Silencers. A show of hands please..one, two , three, four… oh, I see a few more in the back, not bad! Plus I know a few of our friends from Scotland know of them! That’s where they call home. This one is a little more obscure here in the States. This album was released in 1987. “Painted Moon” actually did get some play. To me though, the title cut, “A Letter From St. Paul” was the song not to miss. You can hear most of this one below. If...
Simple Minds “Sparkle in the Rain”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#776 in the Series) is Simple Minds, Sparkle in the Rain The band simple minds were one of those acts that really had to stick it out to find success. They first got together toward the end of the 70s. Their first album, Life in a Day did quite well in the UK peaking at #30. It didn’t get a whiff of play here in the states outside of a couple very progressive stations and some college radio. It would take three years and five more releases before an album even charted here. That would be New Gold Dreams which featured the hit “Promised You a Miracle.” Still, the album only reached #69...
The (English) Beat “I Just Can’t Stop It”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#754 in the Series) is The (English) Beat, I Just Can’t Stop It. OK, why, for the first time have we used parenthesis in one of our headlines? Well, because The (English) Beat has two names. I don’t think I’m breaking news here. It has been well documented that this band’s real name is The Beat. American musician Paul Collins already had a successful band here called The Beat. So that’s why we know them Stateside as The English Beat. Oh, and If you were wondering, Paul Collins band is known as The Paul Collins Beat overseas. That is, if they’re still known at all. The names, however were not the only difference...
Bonnie Raitt "Nick of Time"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#753 in the Series) is Bonnie Raitt, Nick of Time. In 1988, Bonnie Raitt was one of many performers that would continuously pound out good release after good release but never really popped! We’ve seen a ton of these acts. “Wow is she good. I’m surprised that she’s not better known.” There was the odd “Me and the Boys” or “Angel From Montgomery,” but the lady from California still wasn’t a household name. Heck she might not have been as well-known as her stage star father John Raitt. Don’t get me wrong. She did have a nice following, she just wasn’t a star. Then she met Don Was. Don was a producer...
Paul Simon “Hearts and Bones”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#750) is Paul Simon, Hearts and Bones. Hearts and Bones could be considered the “Lost Paul Simon Album.” It wasn’t Simon and Garfunkel. It wasn’t Still Crazy, It wasn’t Graceland. It was between all those classics and never received it’s proper due. Well not until now. I myself hadn’t even played this for quite sometime. Recently I was on facebook and saw a video by Al Di Meola. In the thread beneath it, there was a comment that mentioned how Di Meola had “the most pick control” of anyone he could think of. Then I thought, “Al Di Meola and pick control, hmmm” .. I could only think of one solo. ...
Foster and Lloyd “Foster and Lloyd”
This was their debut album. I actually started this write up planning to do their second release, Faster and Llouder, but I couldn’t find many videos for that album. I really wanted you to be able to check out some of the album. I was able to find some for the first album so I made the switch. One of the things I’ve always liked about Foster and Lloyd was the little taste of The Everly Brothers that they’ve thrown in. Make sure you listen to ‘What Do You Want From Me This Time.’ You’ll hear some heavy Everly Brothers influence in that track! ‘Crazy Over You’ did well for the band as well. As did ‘Sure Thing’ and...
The Blasters “The Blasters”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#707 in the Series) is the The Blasters. How strong of a debut album this is! Some might not consider it The Blasters debut; they did have one earlier with many of the same songs, but we’re calling it their major label debut at least. Oddly enough, this wasn’t originally a major label album. It was picked up by the Warner Brothers -distributed Slash label (BoDeans, Rank and File etc.) as word about The Blasters and their hot live shows got out. Just think….a new band playing a retro sound in the early 80’s, and they throw five hits at you! It’s very rare to see success like that. Part Americana, part rockabilly...
Bangles "All Over The Place"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#693 in the Series) is The Bangles, All Over The Place I remember when this one was just released. It was too early in the girl-band genre to admit that a 26-year-old male was a fan. It still had to be a guilty pleasure that you played when no one was around. Heck, I even remember when I bought the first Pretenders album. I looked around the record store to make sure none of my buddies were watching, and that wasn’t even a girl band. The Go-Go’s had much to do with that. Yes, they were a very good band, but they were marketed very much for the young girl record buyer. The...
The Neville Brothers “Yellow Moon”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#688 in the Series) is The Neville Brothers, Yellow Moon. Yellow Moon was the sixth album and fifth studio album by the New Orleans based Neville Brothers. The Neville Brothers were indeed four brothers, Aaron, Art, Charles and Cyril. It was released in 1989 and peaked at #66 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart. The song “Healing Chant” won the band a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. The title cut, “Yellow Moon” received the most airplay. The band did some interesting covers on this album. They included songs by Bob Dylan “With God on Our Side” and “The Ballad of Hollis Brown,” Link Wray “Fire and Brimstone” and Sam Cooke...
The Call “Reconciled”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#672 in the Series) is The Call, Reconciled. One topic that I tend to revisit often is about the “Band That Didn’t Get Their Due.” The Call fits that line as well as any act on these pages. Despite some great songs, a decent label push and some nice guest stars, Reconciled got some airplay but didn’t click like it should have I believe. Two tracks received most of the play. ‘They were the first two tracks on the disc, “Everywhere I Go” and “I Still Believe.” I once heard an old saying around record stores. “If you’re thinking of buying a album and don’t know much about it. Don’t buy it if...
