Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#533 in the Series) is the self-titled debut album from The Little Willies (Milking Bull/Parlophone Records) Have you ever heard an album well after it was released and wondered “How did I miss this one? This is right in my wheel-house.”  No, I’m not talking about an artist that does not get any recognition. It happens all the time with them, some of them are even new acts. It’s easy to get turned onto them the first time years later. I’m talking about an artist that gets a nice amount of play, is on radio and in this case, even performed one of these tracks on late night TV. Well, the “better late...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#493 in the Series) is Glen Campbell, Ghost on the Canvas (Surfdog Records) And then it comes to this… Glen Campbell heads into the studio to record one final album before Alzheimer’s disease strips him of his mind and yes, sadly enough, his final days.  Always one of the most under-appreciated musicians, he gives us this final record and it’s simply masterful. Would I feel differently about these songs if his circumstances were different? To be honest? Probably yeah, but that’s all part of the deal here. His illness led to many of these writings. His illness led to many of these words.  You can’t separate one from the other. It’s all part...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#438 in the Series) is Jimmy Buffett, A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean Well it took us well over 400 albums but we have our first Jimmy Buffett entry.  Not only that, but we’re going way back, all the way back to 1973.  This was before he broke out. He was just getting out of playing folk clubs. Here in Chicago he was still hanging out with all the folkies like John Prine, Steve Goodman, Fred + Ed Holstein etc.  In fact, Steve Goodman was a ‘Coral Reefer’ for this album. He played some really nice lead acoustic on it.  Also, this album was the first time that Jimmy used the...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#434in the Series) is Carlene Carter, I Fell in Love Youngsters from musical families have a huge advantage over the majority of society.  Not only is music given to them via their genes, but having it in their ears from before birth is just a wonderful way to grow up. A dear friend of mine was from a musical family.  He’s a guitar player/singer/songwriter etc. etc. He married a singer/dancer and yes, their two children have grown up to be extremely musical in their own write.  In fact the daughter has been headlining places like the Rainbow Room and Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles all this summer. But what else makes...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#426 in the Series) is Chip Taylor, Chip Taylor’s Last Chance Every single person that I’ve mentioned this album to has invariable replied: “Chip Taylor? Never heard of him ” Of course you have, you just don’t know it yet! That’s because: Chip Taylor wrote a little song that became a big hit in the 60’s – “Wild Thing” as recorded by The Troggs. He then had another top effort with “Angel Of The Morning”, a smash for Merrilee Rush. Plus many more, he’s been a busy fella over the years, “Try (just a little bit harder) by Janis Joplin? Chip again. And I suppose i really should mention that his real name is...

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...

Gram Parsons has been gone for over 35 years now. Yet his influence on Emmylou Harris isn’t just hinted at in her sound. No, every so often, she gathers up that internal feeling and writes another great song to honor her dear friend. See: Boulder to Birmingham. I want to make sure that people know the other side of the story. We always hear how much Gram had to do with Emmylou’s early career. I want to make sure that people realize that this wasn’t a one way street. Emmylou may have helped Gram even more. Yes, you read it right. I’m referring to the Flying Burrito Brother era of Gram’s career and even into the period where he...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#358 in the Series) is Chet Atkins and Les Paul, Chester and Lester We’re going to change direction today. You have to love a website that can segue from Nina Hagen to Chet Atkins and Les Paul.  We strive for variety here! Chet Atkins and Les Paul were two of the greatest guitarist to ever strap it on. They played together live many times, however, this was one of the only recordings that they did together. Chester and Lester was released in 1975. It features some wonderful versions of great standards. One of my favorites here is their version of Duke Ellington’s “Caravan.” They also cover Sammy Cahn’s “It’s Been a Long, Long...

Want to see Justin Townes Earle this summer? Well you’ll get your chance. Here are tour dates though early August, Highlights include The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Hangout Music Festival and also a free show in downtown Chicago! UPCOMING DATES: April 29 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Tickets April 30 Oxford, MS Double Decker Arts Festival Tickets May 1 Chattanooga, TN Rhythm & Brews Tickets May 2 Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy Center Tickets May 13 Nelsonville, OH Nelsonville Music Festival Tickets May 14 Beaufort, NC Beaufort Music Festival Free May 20-22 Gulf Shores, AL Hangout Music Festival Tickets May 29 Newport, KY Southgate House Tickets May 30 Chicago, IL Pritzker Pavilion – Millennium...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#259 in the Series) is Skeeter Davis and NRBQ, She Sings, They Play. I’m really disappointed that I couldn’t find more videos for this album. This one is really special to me. NRBQ is one of my favorite all time bands. I love when bands do something totally out of their element. That’s what we have here. Skeeter Davis was a country/pop star from the early to mid-sixties. She was best known for the huge hit she had in 1963 called ‘The End of the World.” NRBQ has often been called the world’s best bar band or world’s best garage band etc. They were much more than that. Some of their fans include...