Deep Purple “Made in Japan”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#568 in the Series) is Deep Purple, Made in Japan. 40 years ago today, Dec. 3, 1971, Frank Zappa was playing the Montreux Casino. That night, some stupid with a flare gun, burned the place to the ground… I think you may have heard about that…. One of the all-time, classis live hard rock albums is the perfect way to describe Deep Purple’s release, Made in Japan. The oddity of it all is that this album wasn’t even supposed to happen. Deep Purple had just released their super successful album, Machine Head in March of 1972. The support tour for that album brought the band to Japan. The Japanese wing of their label at...
Black Sabbath “Paranoid”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#292 in the Series) is Black Sabbath, Paranoid. Black Sabbath, Paranoid…… I don’t think I need to say much about this one now do I? This was one of the very first metal albums that I owned. I have a feeling that many of us can say that. Hey, and we turned out alright, didn’t we? I went to a rather conservative catholic high school in suburban Chicago. We had a bus driver that had hooked up a pair of speakers about half way back towards the ceiling. He looked like George Carlin. He used to blast the 8-track of this on the way to school about 8:00 in the morning. How cool was...
Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane “Rough Mix”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#563 in the Series) is Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane, Rough Mix (MCA US, Polydor UK) Ronnie Lane was, along with Steve Marriott, one of the founding members of the seminal rock group The Small Faces. Pete Townshend is the back-bone of what can easily be considered one of the top four rock bands of all time, The Who. Together in 1977 while Pete was on a musical vacation between The Who By Number sand what probably should have been their swan song Who Are You, and Ronnie was making yet another attempt to revitalize his solo career after four mostly critically acclaimed yet publicly ignored solo albums with his appropriately named...
Dennis Wilson “Pacific Ocean Blue”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#562 in the Series) is Dennis Wilson, Pacific Ocean Blue The only member of the Beach Boys who actually surfed, Dennis Wilson always had that little brother chip on his shoulder. Even though he was the middle brother, he had an undeserved reputation as the Fredo Corleone to Carl’s Sonny and Brian’s Michael, along with a somewhat deserved reputation as the “Bad Boy” of the group. Showing up late for gigs and hanging out with Charles Manson did little to dissuade his detractors, and the almost “Ringo-esque” way he was spoon-fed songs to feature on Beach Boys albums did not help to spotlight his songwriting talent and his ability to stand alone...
NEU! “NEU! ’75”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#559 in the Series) is NEU!, NEU! ’75. While not a pro at reviewing albums, I fully understand that you are supposed to wait until the end of an article to pass final judgment on a record. In the case of NEU! ’75, I cannot. This is an all-time masterpiece. NEU! was formed in 1971 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Drummer Klaus Dinger and guitarist Michael Rother had just left an early version of Kraftwerk. Rother and Dinger did not want care for the synthesizer heavy direction that Kraftewerk were headed in and wanted to go in a more guitar oriented vein. NEU! was born. NUE! ’75 is the duo’s third release and bore...
The Band “Rock of Ages”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day(#555 in the Series and #58 in the Live, Saturday Night Series) is The Band, Rock of Ages. (Capitol) Rock of Ages is the first of four “official” live albums by The Band. Most people regard the expansive box set of The Last Waltz to be The Band’s most impressive live statement, but I think a closer listen to Rock of Ages will give an argument that this is not only The Band’s best live album but perhaps one of the top 10 live albums that has ever been released. I’m usually a purist when it comes to original releases vs. reissues. I felt for years that the original double LP released in...
UFO “The Chrysalis Years (1973-1979)”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (# 553 in the Series) is UFO, The Chrysalis Years, (1973-1979). I am going to delay with the normal album review inroduction and substitute it with: IT’S ALL HERE! ALL YOU COULD WANT FROM THIS SEMINAL 1970’S HARD ROCK JUGGERNAUT. AND IT COSTS LESS THAN NINETEEN DOLLARS ON LINE! Now that I have that out of my system…… UFO was a great heavy rock band that my friends and I worshipped as teenagers in suburban Chicago. My first show was UFO at the Aragon Ballroom on October 10, 1975. This group had everything. UFO possessed the piledriving rhythm section of Peter Way (bass) and Andy Parker (drums). They featured serviceable short term...
Bonnie Raitt “Give It Up”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#551 in the Series) is Bonnie Raitt, Give it Up. Give it Up was her second album, released in September of 1972. Far from suffering the “sophomore slump” jinx of second albums that so many artists seem to, Give it Up remains to this day one of Bonnie’s most complete and thoroughly satisfying collections. Many don’t know of her early work, not really hearing of her until the mid to late 80’s and early 90’s with albums like Nick of Time and Luck of the Draw. Do yourself a favor and check out this wonderful recording from her early days. Give it Up is a mix of blues, folk ballads and funk...
Budgie “I Were Brittania I’d Waive The Rules”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#550 in the Series is) Budgie, If I were Brittania I’d Waive the Rules. Budgie was a Welsh loud rock band that recorded most of their catalog in the 70’s. I always liked them because their sound always had a unique vibe to me. A little metal here, a little blues rock there, a little prog-rock here, etc. I always loved bands that you just can not pigeon hole. They had about six definitive albums. It was not the best reviewed, nor the best accepted, but for some reason I was always partial to Brittania. The main reason was one song, one that I always loved. (Whenever I had parties I used...
Harry Nilsson “Nilsson Schmilsson”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#546 in the Series) is Harry Nilsson, Nilsson Schmilsson Although he had a wonderfully provocative voice that could go up several ranges, Harry Nilsson always thought of himself as a songwriter first and a singer second having written the song “One” which became hit for Three Dog Night as well as several minor hits for Phil Spector that were recorded by the Ronettes, and “Ten Little Indians” for the later-stage Yardbirds. The irony of course, was that Harry was at his best, and became famous for interpreting songs written by other artists including the brilliantly performed classic “Everybody’s Talking” that was written by Folk-Rock singer Fred Neil. With the release of Nilsson...
