Johnny Cash “at Folsom Prison”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#373 in the Series) is Johnny Cash, at Folsom Prison. Rosanne Cash was on tour recently on a west coast tour, one of her stops was in Folsom, California. While there, she made a stop to the prison where her famous father recorded one of his most famous albums 44 years earlier. She played a few songs in the lunchroom, just as he once did. Many times I think about concerts and say “I wish I were there.” This is one that hearing a tape would be just as fine, thank you. Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison almost did not happen. It was in the works for some time and then some major...
Sly and the Family Stone ” Stand!”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#362 in the Series) is Sly and the Family Stone, Stand! Unfortunately, Sly Stone has built one legacy. That legacy being, never showing up, or if he does, showing up very late for his gigs. I’ve heard these stories over and over. Are they deserved, yeah, and they were not the only instances of bizarre behavior in his days. Let’s not forget the weird exit at the Grammy’s just a few years ago. He left the stage near the end of a medley of some of his best works; strangely leaving “his” band to finish it off without him. I used the word unfortunately, why? That’s because for some time, he was one...
Led Zeppelin “Led Zeppelin”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#356 in the Series) is the self-titled debut from Led Zeppelin. I remember back around 1977 or so. I had a friend named John Popenleur. I hope I’m spelling that correctly. One day he was going on and on about his new turntable and how much he liked it. ‘You have to hear this thing, you have to hear this thing,” he kept saying. OK, I finally agreed to check it out. To this day, I remember what he put on to show off its sound. He tossed the first Led Zeppelin album onto the turntable. He fired it up, loudly!!! I can still hear how cool “Good Times, Bad Times” sounded. It...
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass “Whipped Cream & Other Delights”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#337 in the Series) is Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Whipped Cream & Other Delights OK, A question for all the baby-boomer guys in the room. Do I even need to do a write-up for this album? I don’t think the music really mattered to us when we were curious young men! Back in 1965, Herb Alpert was the king of cool. This music was everywhere. It was in all the cool places as well. The popularity of this trumpet and brass driven jazz fit in well with the likes of the James Bond hits of the day. Think Casino Royale! As I’m guessing most of you know that the great band-leader,...
Elvis Presley “From Elvis in Memphis”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#330 in the Series) is Elvis Presley, From Elvis in Memphis. 1969. To the record buying public , the general perception was that Elvis’ career as a recording artist to be taken seriously was all but over. There’d simply been too many over sentimental ballads, too much pop/pap soundtrack dross and far too many terrible movies. He was a man out of step with the times , overtaken by the counter-culture , left behind by the likes of Dylan, The Beatles and The Stones. The ’68 Special had helped a bit but not nearly enough. He knew it, everyone around him knew it. Something had to change. A planned Nashville session for January...
The Jimi Hendrix Experience “Are You Experienced?”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#322 in the Series) is The Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced? I started making my notes and was thinking, “what can I say about an album that everyone pretty much knows already.” Well, there’s not much really. You know what jumped out at my first? What I noticed was the length of these tracks. Over the years we think about these long, guitar solo heavy Hendrix pieces. It’s funny to look at all these track lengths in the two minute and low three minute times. This was Jimi’s debut album. QUICKLY!!! How many official studio albums did he release? Again, it’s hard to believe, but there were only three Hendrix albums. Are You...
Paul Revere and the Raiders “Midnight Ride”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#320 in the Series) is Paul Revere and the Raiders, Midnight Ride. This is another album that was a staple during my formative years. My two older sisters didn’t bring home a ton of albums but this is one that they did. I played it to death. Well, in all actuality I played “Kicks” to death. I probably should have had them buy me the 45. It could have saved them some wear on their album. I only learned years later that the song was actually drug related. I just thought it was cool! This, as do many Paul Revere and the Raiders albums, falls into the same formula. That being, “Go ahead boys, feel free...
John Stewart “California Bloodlines”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#310 in the Series) is John Stewart, California Bloodlines By 1969 , John Stewart was 29 years old and had packed in a fair bit of living. He co-founded The Cumberland 3 , released three albums with them and moved on to become a member of The Kingston Trio , releasing numerous discs and playing hundreds of live shows . Fast forward to 1968 and we find him recording an album with his wife Buffy Ford and , just for good measure , he also managed to write a little song you may have heard of , “Daydream Believer” , a smash hit for The Monkees in ’67. For most people that would be...
The Beach Boys “Pet Sounds”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#308 in the Series and #2 in the Whale Wednesday Series) is The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds. Beach Boys, Pet Sounds and The Beatles, Sgt. Peppers. I think we know the relationship between these two albums. If you don’t, really quickly, Pet Sounds was released directly before Sgt. Peppers. The Beatles were heavily influenced by the Beach Boys use of structure and over dubbing. That story is well told, I’m not going to rehash it now. Paul McCartney has even been quoted as saying that “God Only Knows,” a Pet Sounds single, is his favorite song. (Hey Paul, if you’re reading… I’d lean towards “Caroline, No” actually.) This was another one of those...
The Beatles “Revolver”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#301 in the Series, and #1 in the new, Whale Wednesday Series) is The Beatles, Revolver Do I really need to say much about Revolver? I don’t think so. So I’ll keep it rather short so you can scroll down and check out some of the videos before the Apple Records minions have them removed! I know quite a few people that call Revolver their favorite Beatles album. Mine is “whichever one I’m currently playing!” I do like where this fits into their chronology. It’s not “early Beatles” it’s not “psychedelic Beatles” (well, maybe a little) and it’s not “later Beatles.” I believe that’s why so many people like it as much as...
