Peter Gabriel is Preparing Special 25th Anniversary Edition of his “So” Album, and He’d Like Your Help
2012 marks the 25th anniversay of Peter Gabriel’s classic So album. That’s the one that introduced us to songs like “Red Rain,” “Sledgehammer,” ” In Your Eyes,” ” Big Time,” and the Kate Bush duet “Don’t Give Up.” The Gabriel camp has announced that they will be releasing a 25th anniversary package and they’d like your help on it. Here’s what they’re looking for: “We would love to see your memorabilia from back in 1986. Do you have any original So merchandise, posters and tickets for the So tour? Your photos relating to the album release or the concerts? Even a diary entry from 25 years ago which tells a special story about the album release or So...
Asia “Asia”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#577 in the series) is eponymous debut from Asia. Well let’s see what’s going to happen with this choice of albums. I think some people may not find it as “Cool” as I did. Not that I feel like I need to justify any entry, what’s cool to one person might not be cool to another, and that’s cool, but I’m going to write this regarding how I felt about this release in early 1982. Not how I felt about it or them down the road years later. That’s not what I do. When I first head of this new band Asia I was so excited. Emerson, Lake and Palmer was one...
A Flock of Seagulls “A Flock of Seagulls”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#569 in the Series) is the self-titled debut from A Flock of Seagulls. A Flock of Seagulls were always one of my favorite “new wave, techno-pop,””what have you” bands of the early eighties. Why did I like them? I think it was because I always felt a little connection to the progressive rock bands that I was listening to at the time. The biggest difference was the obvious, most of their music was played over a straight up dance rhythm, but I really believe that in the body of a dance band layed the heart of a prog band. Why do I feel this way? The main reason would be guitarist Paul...
The Monroes…. and the story about “What Do All the People Know”
This is a little something different that I’m going to do today. No, this isn’t our Cool Album of the Day, in fact it wasn’t even an album, it was an EP. This is about The Monroes. They were the band that I think may just have had the best, new wave, pop song of the 80s, and how, if you don’t know about it or them, then you need to. The Song that I’m referring to is, “What Do All the People Know.” A pure classic, a marvelous song, unfortunately, it also was a perfect example of what happens when you fall into bad label, bad contract hell. The Monroes recorded for a label called Alfa. Alfa...
Modern English “After the Snow”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#566 in the Series) is Modern English, After the Snow. Modern English was given a double-dose of good luck in 1982. You can’t find a bigger break than having one of your first singles included in a hit picture movie. This was the case when “I Melt With You” was part of the mix of “Valley Girl.” The second piece of good luck, well that’s easy. That piece would be the complete idiotic way that record companies and contract lawyers went about trying to secure deals for an official movie soundtrack. “I Melt With You” wasn’t the only great song in this movie. You also had The Payola$, “Eyes of a Stanger”,...
Aztec Camera “High Land, Hard Rain”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#564 in the Series) is Aztec Camera, High Land, Hard Rain This was the first record from Roddy Frame. Roddy, then 19, wrote and produced all 13 songs. A few of the songs were even written a few years before that tender age. His work on the acoustic guitar is most impressive. This is evident right from the opening track, that being the very catchy “Oblivious.” It was actually the only popular song on the album, at least State side. Roddy’s thoughtful lyrics are accompanied by his underappreciated voice. He’s also backed by a chorus of background singers. His sense of humor is always quite evident live. When I saw him years...
The Motels “All Four One”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#557 in the Series) is The Motels, All Four One There were a ton of acts that were tossed into the catch-all genre of “New Wave” during the decade of the 80s. Many of them, quite frankly sucked. Why, because if you had a little hook, you could play a good day’s worth of new wave with-out needing a whole day’s worth of talent. What that did however, was allow the bands that had superior talent to really climb above the rest. I’m of course referring to bands like Missing Persons, Split Enz, The Cars, Haircut 100, the Furs etc. They had loads of talent. So did The Motels. Martha Davis was...
Split Enz “Time + Tide”
Today’s Cool Album of The Day(#530 in the Series) is Split Enz, Time + Tide. In a year that included many great albums, (Joe Jackson Night and Day, Utopia, Marshall Crenshaw, Richard and Linda Thompson Shoot Out the Lights, etc) the Split Enz, Time + Tide was clearly my favorite. The show that I saw from this tour at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City was also one of my favorites of all time. It never ceases to amaze me that Split Enz, nor the follow up band Crowded House has never hit it big here in the States. What the heck are our radio station music directors thinking? Time and Tide had many, many AOR friendly tracks. For...
Joe Jackson “Night and Day”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#528 in the Series) is Joe Jackson, Night and Day Just recently, I looked at the great self-titled Fleetwood Mac album from 1975. I asked the question “Has any band been through more incarnations than Fleetwood Mac?” Joe Jackson’s story is similar. This hasn’t been a band going through different incarnations, his story is about a musician who has over and over, reinvented myself. His early stuff was chalk full of great post-punk rock and roll. He’s also done some great swing in his Jumpin’ Jive release. This was released the next year and almost had a Cole Porter feel to it. Heck, that’s where he got the title after all. I hadn’t plopped...
Dire Straits “Alchemy-Dire Straits Live”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#517 in the Series, and #53 in the Live Saturday Night Series) is Dire Straits, Alchemy Dire Straits Live I’ve been now lucky enough to see Dire Straits (on the Brothers in Arms tour at The Mecca in Milwaukee) and Mark Knopfler (in 2005 at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago). Both shows were unbelievably entertaining and fine exhibitions to true musicianship. I’m not sure how many of you are familiar with the Auditorium Theater. It is a 3000 or so seat venue or absolute magnificence. I would be hard pressed to find another small theater sized venue that can match it. It was built as an opera house in 1889. Remember, you didn’t...
