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...
Howard Jones ‘Human’s Lib’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#441 in The Series) is Howard Jones, Human’s Lib I actually started a write up for Howard’s second album, Dream Into Action when I started doing some research. I wanted to know the usual, chart positions, songs I may have forgotten, how many other albums the artist had etc. So I saw it was his second and I took a peak back at the debut. I remembered how much I liked that album and called an audible! So now we’re going to do Human’s Lib. Not as successful as Dream Into Action, chart-wise, but a very good piece of music. Two songs received most of the airplay. They were, “New Song” and “What is Love.”...
The Nails “Mood Swing”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#408 in the Series) is The Nails, Mood Swing. One of the niceties of getting up “early” on Saturday is listening to WXRT here in Chicago and listening to four hours of their long running segment called “Saturday Morning Flashback.” Each Saturday they pick a year and play nothing but great music released during that time. They also give a little rundown of top movies, TV shows, who left us etc., etc. It really is a fun way to kill a morning. Today was 1984. What tunes we were treated too. “Working With Fire & Steel” –China Crisis; “Whisper to a Scream” – Icicle Works; “This is the Day” – The The; “A...
Talking Heads “Stop Making Sense”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#400 in the Series and #36 in the Live, Saturday Night Series) is Talking Heads, Stop Making Sense Yes, you read it correctly. Today marks the 400th entry to “Cool Album of the Day.” Wow, already. I’d get schmaltzy but I’ll save that for #500. I try to find something a little special for all the milestone numbers. I think I’ve done a pretty decent job finding one for #400. I remember Talking Heads, Stop Making Sense being a huge, huge deal when it was released in 1984. The concert form which this was taken was from December 1983. The main reason that this was hugely talked about was that it accompanied a...
Prince and The Revolution “Purple Rain”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#342 in the Series) is Prince, Purple Rain. I was on the Prince bandwagon very early. I had the first two albums and was a huge fan of his third, Dirty Mind and it’s follow up, Controversy. I had the chance to see him at the tiny Park West Theater in Chicago in 1980. One of the best shows I ever saw. It was 1999 and then Purple Rain that made him a household name. The movie and the album were monster hits. Purple Rain sold 13 million units. The movie grossed over 80 million back in 1984. Singles? You ask? The first release was “I Would Die 4U.” It peaked at #8....
John Hunter “Famous at Night”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#334 in the Series ) is John Hunter, Famous at Night. Famous at Night was John Hunter’s first of two solo releases for Private I /Epic Records. It was released in late 1984. It featured the top 40 hit “Tragedy” which you can hear below. John, of course, was also known as founder and leader of the 70s and early 80s band The Hounds. They found success with their single “Drug land Weekend.” In fact, John gives new life to “Horses” here. “Horses” was previously recorded for the their album Puttin’ on the Dog. While The Hounds were more hard rock and roll, John Hunter solo was more of a synth based pop....
Echo and The Bunnymen “Ocean Rain”
Today’s Cool Album Of the Day (#306 in the Series) is Echo and The Bunnymen, Ocean Rain. Echo and the Bunnymen were one of the leaders of the post punk movement of the early 80s. We previously discussed their great album from 1987. It was just self titled, “Echo and the Bunnymen.” That was my favorite album of that year. Today we’re going back a bit to 1984 and another one of their great releases, Ocean Rain. Ocean Rain was a little darker than the self-titled 1987 album. It featured some spectacular songs including one of their darkest, “Crown of Thorns.” Haunting is a word that could be used here as well. The title cut was another not to...
The dB’s “Like This”
Today’s Cool Album the Day (#273 in the Series) is The dB’s, Like This. Here’s a band that deserved a better fate. They released some of the best pop music of the 80s. They’re still playing music as well. The dB’s are led by its two front men, Chris Stamey and Peter Holsapple. This was one of their more popular releases. It featured two songs that did receive some decent recognition. They were ‘Love is for Lovers’ and ‘Spy in the House of Love’ I wasn’t able to find as many videos that I was hoping to find. But have no fear, you can listen to the album in its entirety via the ‘Cool Album of the Day’ MySpace...
Los Lobos “How Will The Wolf Survive?”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#270 in the Series) is Los Lobos, How Will The Wolf Survive? I’ve mentioned a few times before that my tastes have really been leaning towards the ‘Americana’ genre for quite some time now. What can be better than ‘Americana’ with a little ‘Tex-Mex’ added to spice it up a little! Los Lobos have been around steadily for well over thirty five years now. It’s a real testament to the band to see that their latest album, 2010’Tin Can Trust has the same line-up that recorded this 1984 release. Not to mention some before that as well. (That’s a live link to Tin Can Trust so check it out.) Los Lobo’s music is...
Don Henley “Building the Perfect Beast”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#247 in the Series) is Don Henley, Building the Perfect Beast. I’ve always had a weird ‘relationship’ with Henley and The Eagles. I go thru periods when I really like him/them and then there are times when I can’t stand him/them. It’s a long story, I won’t bore you with it. But one thing that never did waiver was the way I felt about Henley’s second solo album, Building the Perfect Beast. It was one of the best albums of 1984. I saw him on this tour as well. Alpine Valley Music Theater along with the Hooters as the support act. It was a great show. ‘The Boys of Summer’ was the biggest...
