R.E.O. Speedwagon “Live, You Get What You Play For” .. Today’s “Cool Album of the Day”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#6xx in the Series) is R.E.O. Speedwagon, Live, You Get What You Play For 888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 Track listing “Like You Do” (Gary Richrath) – 6:54 “Lay Me Down” (Richrath, Gregg Philbin) – 3:39 “Any Kind of Love” (Richrath) – 3:34 “Being Kind (Can Hurt Someone Sometimes)” (Kevin Cronin) – 6:35 “Keep Pushin'” (Cronin) – 4:06 “(Only A) Summer Love” (Richrath) – 6:05 “Son of a Poor...

Herb Alpert’s ‘Whipped Cream Lady’ is a lovely 82 Years Old….

Boomer Guys, the girl of your teen dreams is now 82 years old Her name is Dolores Erickson and she has been living in the Seattle for around 40 years, after a career that included being an Eileen Ford model in New York. She appeared at a Seattle record store recently and wants to tell you teen dreamers, “Enjoy the memories.” You don’t know her by name — maybe as the “Whipped Cream Lady” — but certainly by the...

Digital Sex ‘Essence’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1050 in the Series) is Digital Sex, Essence Do you know this one? No you say? I somewhat expected that. No, not because the band wasn’t good enough or deserving enough because they indeed were. They were quite good but they were unfortunate to be another one of those talented acts that fell through the cracks. I don’t remember seeing them on MTV and that was the quickest and easiest way...

Jesus Christ Superstar – Original London Cast

Today’s Cool Album of the Day is the Original London Cast recording of Jesus Chris Superstar. It”s now our Cool Album of the Day every Easter Sunday. Don’t give me the knock-offs. Give me the original 1971 release featuring Ian Gillian as Jesus. I remember playing the hell out of this back in the day. To me this has always been the definitive version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock opera. It’s the Original London Concept Recording. Yes, I...

Nomad Planets ‘You’re Never Lost Until You Panic’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1033 in the Series) is Nomad Planets, You’re Never Alone Until You Panic The following was originally posted back about seven years ago. Let’s read it again shall we… This is a piece that I’ve been meaning to write for quite some time. What’s taken so long? That’s an easy one. I love this album so much that I never thought I could do it justice with words. I still don’t think...

The ‘Nirvana Baby’ is Now All Grown Up. Who is He? What Is He Doing Now?

Let’s check out this post that we ran a few years ago. Spencer is now nearly 30 years old. You’ve seen him but you probably never knew his name. The famous three month old pee-pee baring baby on the cover of the Nirvana Nevermind album is now a thirty something year old man. His name is Spencer Elden. He told MTV News a few years back “it’s kind of creepy that that many people have seen me...

Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom. The Most Complete Listing of Shows from the 60s thru the 90s

Ah the Aragon Ballroom. This is a fun listing for the old Rock ‘n’ Rollers that visit the Cool Album of the Day site. Here’s a list of just about ever show that was held at the Aragon Ballroom in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. If you went there, have fun looking thru this list. Look for the shows that you saw. Feel ‘bummed’ about the ones you missed. Be angry about the ones that you would have checked...

Phil Lucafo ‘One Block East’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1023 in the Series) is Phil Lucafo, One Block East. One Block East is the first solo album by former Heartsfield co-lead guitarist/co-lead vocalist Phil Lucafo. (Full disclosure: One Block East was released by Cool Album Productions which is also owns this website.) Phil was responsible or partly responsible for many of Heartsfield’s better known songs such as “The Only Time I’m Sober Is When You’re Gone,” “Pass Me By,” “Gypsy Rider,”...

“Cool Album of the Day” is Looking for Contributors

If you follow the Cool Album of the Day website I’m guessing that you are a little bit of a music fan. Excellent! Have you ever wanted to be published? Well if you are, we at Cool Album of the Day are always looking for contributors. You know what we do here. Like I mentioned, we’re always looking for people that would like to do a write up on some of their favorite albums. We’d also love people that would...

The Reconstructed “Great North Wind” NEW MUSIC REVIEW

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1005 in the Series) is The Reconstructed Great North Wind. When first approached by the CEO of Cool Album of The Day to write this review I was met with great trepidation. My exact words were “I’d feel foolish writing a record review for an album recorded by a good friend.” After some serious introspection while out mowing my lawn it occurred to me that people need to hear this album! So...

Mudcrutch "Mudcrutch"

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#981 in the series) is the debut self-titled album by Mudcrutch. I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve never been the biggest Tom Petty fan. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s OK, I do like him. I’ve seen him and really enjoyed the show. (Althought I liked the opening band the del Fuegos better) I’ve liked some of this work but I think the best thing he ever did was his...

Old & In The Way “Old & In The Way”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#978 in the series.) is Old and In The Way. Five great musicians getting together for some great pickin’ and singin.’ I guess you could call it bluegrass but there’s more than a hint of old fashioned mountain music thrown in. For those of you not familiar with this project, Old and In the Way were Peter Rowan (guitar, vocals), David Grisman (mandolin, vocals), John Kahn (bass), Vassar Clements (fiddle) and Jerry Garcia...

Nanci Griffith “One Fair Summer Evening”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#977 in the Series ) is Nanci Griffith, One Fair Summer Evening. “Variety; Learning about different types of music; bringing different genres to different people.” These were just some of the objectives that we publically discussed when we started this project just about a year ago. We’re most definitely going to continue in that direction tonight. This is one of those albums that requires you to “be in the proper” mood. However, when...

Genesis “Seconds Out”

Today’s Cool Album Of the Day (#976 in the Series) is Genesis, Seconds Out. How much do I like this album? Well, if I could only take ten albums to a desert island, I might have to take two copies of this and then eight others. This was the album that made me fall in love with Genesis. I don’t know why I didn’t get into them earlier. After this was released I did go back and loved all...

Warren Zevon ‘The Wind’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#975 in the Series) is Warren Zevon, The Wind In the final episode of season 2 of the hit Showtime series Californication, down on his self-inflicted luck, writer Hank Moody has just finished a book project and is ready to begin his post-project ritual. “Every time I finish a book, It’s Whiskey, Weed and Warren Zevon, It’s the little things” he says, while ”Keep Me in your Heart” plays delicately in the background....

Blood, Sweat and Tears “3”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (# 974 in the Series) is Blood, Sweat and Tears, 3. In many ways, this album had more to do with long love affair with music, than any other album ever released. When I was a wee lad, my sister gave me copy of this. It was actually on cassette. It was right when those lovely pre-recorded cassettes first hit the market. I had a player and played it over and over...

Justin Townes Earle “Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#973 in the Series) is Justin Townes Earle, Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now (Bloodshot Records) When your father is one of the best singer-songwriters in the business and you are named after another about whom Steve Earle once said “Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I’ll stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that”, the expectations are...

Richard & Linda Thompson ‘I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#972 in the Series) is Richard & Linda Thompson, I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight. This is an album I’ve went back to recently and it’s captivated me, full to the brim as it is with wonderfully bleak, world-weary and fascinating songs. I actually found my old cassette copy of it and realized that I hadn’t played the full album in years, most of my Richard Thompson stuff is on...

Hal Ketchum “Past The Point Of Rescue”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#971 in the Series) is Hal Ketchum, Past the Point of Rescue. I don’t know what it is. I’ve always been a sucker for those songs when an artist takes a known track, their’s or possibly another artists, and recreates it using a slower tempo. I’m thinking of tracks like Joe Jackson’s live version (played as part of the Big World tour) of “Steppin’ Out” or Loey Nelson’s take on “To Sir with...

Jellyfish ‘Bellybutton’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#970 in the Series) is Jellyfish, Bellybutton. My guess is that a good number of you don’t know this album or even this band. In one word, “you should!” They were one of the best power-pop bands of the early nineties, Jellyfish. One of those bands that you ask yourself, Why wasn’t this all over radio, why were they not more popular? They definitely had some radio friendly songs, a good look a...

The Pixies ‘Surfer Rosa’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#969 in the Series) is The Pixies, Surfer Rosa Playing my Surfer Rosa album last night reminded me that the album is not just The Pixies first album, but my favorite album as well. It also reminded me why I keep my record collection in my room away from my kids- the album’s cover features a topless woman who I remember swooning over when it first came out. In case anyone is...

Ten Years After ‘A Space in Time’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#968 in the Series) is Ten Years After, A Space In Time When you are three pints in, and the conversation as it inevitably does, turns to the greatest guitar players of all time, and the usual suspects Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and the rest are shouted out from around the bar, the name Alvin Lee is largely and criminally ignored. As one of the early pioneers of Blues Rock,...

Sebastian Cabot, actor; Bob Dylan, poet ‘A Dramatic Reading with Music’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#959 in the Series) is Sebastian Cabot, actor; Bob Dylan, poet. A Dramatic Reading with Music. ..Like one of our favorite comedy troupes once proclaimed…”And Now For Something Completely Different.” You’d be hard pressed to find something as different as this. What I like about this album is the fact that it’s of course a novelty album, a “what the heck, why not album” yet it has a redeeming quality that makes...

Johnny Cash “American Recordings V: A Hundred Highways”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day is Johnny Cash, American Recordings V: A Hundred Highways The year was 1994, and it was not the best of times for Johnny Cash. His health, starting to fail from a series of illnesses and decades of hard living, was seemingly bringing “The Man in Black” much closer to the end than he was ready to admit. His latest major record label, Mercury Records had dropped him after one last commitment record, The...

Shadowfax “Watercourse Way”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#955 in the Series) is Shadowfax, Watercourse Way When you look at a listing of the best bands Chicagoland has produced it better have Shadowfax included, if it doesn’t find a new list. Are you familiar with Shadowfax? If not, let me go back a ways. The origins of this eventual Grammy-winning band begin in the early 70s in south-suburban Crete, Illinois. That’s where the band lived in a farmhouse popularly known as...

Alice Cooper "Billion Dollar Babies"

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#953 in the Series) is Alice Cooper, Billion Dollar Babies. About three years ago I listened to this album for the first time in about 12 years. I could not believe how great it still sounded. Of all the early 70s things that I loved, this one still kicked as good, if not better, than almost anything else I’d played in quite sometime from that old era. The quality of the tracks stood...

The Doobie Brothers “What Were Onces Vices Are Now Habits”

Today’s Cool album of the Day (#952 in the Series) is The Doobie Brothers, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. Can you believe that this little gem was released 41 years ago this week!! I really enjoy the decade or so tradition of bands playing one of their albums in its entirety. I know it would probably never happen, but if the Doobie Brothers were to do add join that tradition, then they should play “What Were Once...

Billy Joe Shaver ‘Long in the Tooth’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#948 in the Series) is Billy Joe Shaver, Long in the Tooth On the Mount Rushmore of 70’s Highwayman Icons, a zip code that includes Willie Nelson,Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristoffersons, Billy Joe Shaver could very well be considered the fifth Beatle, the under the radar cowboy that jump-started the movement with Honky Tonk Heroes in 1973, and in the process put the outlaw in Outlaw Country, reshaped the image...

Complete Footage of “The Last Waltz” Concert Surfaces

Yes, you read that headline correctly. The full nearly four hour performance of the 1976 Thanksgiving night concert by The Band has made it’s way to the public. It includes, previously unreleased tunes by The Band such as “WS Wolcott Medicince Show,” “Georgia on My Mind,” “Arcadian Driftwood,” “Rag Mama Rag,” and also “The Weight” which in the film was represented only by the live in studio version. No overdubs here either. Songs by some of the guest...

The Most Popular Songs Played By Musicians In Each State

MADISON, WI – March 19, 2014 – Dialect, cuisine and fashion tastes can vary by state, and the songs people like to play are no different, according to a recent list of the distinctively best-selling sheet music titles by Musicnotes.com, the world’s top digital sheet music e-retailer and publisher. Musicnotes crafted a list of the “Uniquely Popular Sheet Music by State (Plus D.C.)” to expound on the breadth of its sheet music catalogue, as well as the diversity of...

Springsteen Continues to Cover Australian Acts During Down Under Tour. Inxs ‘Don’t Change,’ AC/DC, Bee Gees and Lorde in the Mix as Well

Bruce Springsteen continues to pull out some cool surprises on his current tour down under. He’s been including some great tunes by the locals into his mix. We’ll post videos when we can. I’ll add them as I get them. So far they’ve included Inxs’ “Don’t Change.” AC/DC “Highway to Hell” (wth Eddie Vedder) and Lorde’s “Royals.” The Easybeats “Friday on My Mind” and even the Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive.” I’m really hoping for some Split Enz!!! Tom Morello...

Robert Downey Jr is ‘Driven To Tears’ with Sting!

Robert Downey Jr. Joins Mr. Sting on Stage I didn’t see this one coming? Did you? Who knew Robert Downey Jr. had musical talent. He should sit in with Black Sabbath too. I have an idea what song he could sing with Ozzie! Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post

AMAZING! – Watch 32 Discordant Metronomes Achieve Synchrony in a Matter of Minutes

from io9.com If you place 32 metronomes on a static object and set them rocking out of phase with one another, they will remain that way indefinitely. Place them on a moveable surface, however, and something very interesting (and very mesmerizing) happens. The metronomes in this video fall into the latter camp. Energy from the motion of one ticking metronome can affect the motion of every metronome around it, while the motion of every other metronome affects the motion...

What Were Kurt Cobain’s Favorite Fifty Albums? Here’s His Handwritten List.

I’m sure you’ve all been wondering what the late Kurt Cobain’s favorite fifty albums were. Here is his own hand written list. Now you know. I’m sure you feel better. Oh, while you here. Have you ever wondered how the baby was on the cover of Nirvana’s debut Nevermind? He’s now all grown up and we have a story on who he is and what he’s doing now. He even recreated that famous album cover. Well, kind of…...

Vince Gill Shares His Thoughts on Today’s Country Music..and He’s Right On!

For quite some time now I’ve been harsh on today’s country music, or more specifically, the state of today’s country radio. Now I’ve been joined by Vince Gill in its critique. It’s sad when Taylor Swift can dominate country radio and Merle Haggard can’t get a sniff. And I’m not talking about Merle’s old great albums I’m referring to his last couple of albums. They’ve been great yet completely ignored. Justin Townes Earle’s “Harlem River Blues” also did...

Music: How we bought it through the years. Plus: ‘What is an ‘album?’

Albums? No, an ‘album’ does NOT mean vinyl. For years our radio friends would refer to the music they played as ‘albums.’ Stick around for something from the new Genesis album, or That was ”Song For My Brother’ from the Shadowfax album, ‘Watercourse Way.’ Then as the 80s were ending, so was the way that radio gave us our music. They were making the transition from playing vinyl to compact disc. It cost them a good penny and they...

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R.E.M. "Murmur"

Posted 06 Sep 2010 in 80s, Albums of 1983, Albums of the 80s, Rock + Roll, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#131 in the Series is) R.E.M., Murmur. (I.R.S.) I’m actually surprised it took me until the 131st entry to feature this album. Why, well you’ve all heard of Desert Island Discs. Those would be the ten albums that you’d take to an island if you only were able to live with ten. Well, this would be one of the first I’d toss into the boat if I was starting a three hour tour. I had heard REM’s Chronic Town EP a few times when this was released. So I was aware of them. I was quickly falling in love with their Rickenbacker led jangly guitar riff sound. Murmur was REM’s first full length...

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Listen To The New Bob Dylan Album “Tempest” For Free via iTunes

Posted 04 Sep 2010 in Uncategorized

Would you like to listen to the new Bob Dylan album? Ok, well here you go. Bob and iTunes are allowing you to do just that for a week. What a surprise, you can pre-order it there as well. Here’s the link. Bob Dylan Tempest (SORRY, the time period for this free listen has expired) You can also see the video for the first single “Duquesne Whistle” below. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post

Mike Rutherford "Smallcreep’s Day"

Posted 04 Sep 2010 in 80s, Albums of 1980, Albums of the 80s, Prog-Rock, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#130 in the Series) is Mike Rutherford, Smallcreep’s Day. OK, it’s time to go a little more obscure. Not as much obscurity in the artist, but in the material chosen. Smallcreep’s Day is the first solo work by guitarist Mike Rutherford. Rutherford is known, of course, mainly for his work with Genesis. But like all members in that band, he’s done work outside the group. His main solo project that he’s known for is Mike and the Mechanics. They had some popular songs in the mid eighties. “All I Need is a Miracle” and “The Living Years” being the best known of them. Smallcreep’s Day was more of a progressive album as compared...

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UFO "Force It"

Posted 03 Sep 2010 in 70s, Albums of 1975, Albums of the 70s, Hard Rock, Metal, Rock + Roll

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#129 in the Series) is UFO, Force It. I haven’t featured a good old fashioned, rock and roll album for some time. So here it is for you, UFO, Force It. A good ‘play it loud, listen to the scorching guitar, rock and roll classic album. UFO was an 80s metal band that featured some of the best players of that era. Michael Schenker on guitar. Phil Moog, Vocals, Andy Parker, Drums. Pete Way, Bass. Chuck Churchill was a guest musician that added, and for the first time, keyboards on a UFO album. Force It was the beginning of a three album run that, while quite popular, also marked the beginning of the end...

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Nils Lofgren "Nils"

Posted 02 Sep 2010 in 70s, Albums of 1979, Albums of the 70s, Rock + Roll, Singer / Songwriter

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#128 in the Series) is Nils Lofgren, Nils. Nils is the sixth solo album by guitarist Nils Logren, and and the fourth studio release. Nils came to prominence as a member of Crazy Horse and before that, Grin. He’s been a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street band for over 25 years. Nils was my favorite for a number of reasons but mainly for No Mercy. No Mercy is a boxing song written from the viewpoint of the victorious boxer as he feels sorrow for his soon to be defeated opponent. It’s quite the unique song. But there indeed many great pieces of music here. Others include I’ll Cry Tomorrow, and a great...

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NBC News Mistakenly Reports the Death of ‘Astronaut Neil Young’

Posted 25 Aug 2010 in Uncategorized

“First Man on the Harvest Moon!” – Stephen Dalrymple NBC News were the first to report the death of astronaut Neil Armstrong, which is obviously a huge story, but in the frenzy to get the first full story up on their website they made a mistake in their headline. They originally reported the death of ‘Astronaut Neil Young’. NBC News first reported Armstrong’s death in a tweet . That’s where most people first heard the news. Armstrong’s wife Carol told NBC’s Jay Barbree about her husband’s passing and that’s how word got out. Barbree broke the story, and he’s getting praised for it. In the minutes after, the NBC News website was frantically trying to get their story up. In their haste, a mistake was...

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Ultravox “Vienna”

Posted 21 Aug 2010 in 80s, Albums of 1980, Albums of the 80s, New Romantics

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#125 in the Series) is Ultravox, Vienna Ultravox was one of my favorite bands in the 80s. Great albums, great live shows. I was lucky enough to see them at the Aragon Ballroom when they toured a few years after this release. They were out on the road for “Quartet” when I saw them. A real interesting show. EVERYTHING was gray. The guitars the backdrop, the amplifiers, the guitar chords, the drums, the clothes. I don’t know what they were trying to say, but the music was superb! “Vienna” housed some of Ultravox best songs. “Quartet” had the hottest single, ‘Reap the Wild Wind’ so it sold the most. But give me “Vienna.”...

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Grateful Dead “Terrapin Station”

Posted 21 Aug 2010 in 70s, Albums of 1977, Albums of the 70s, Jam Band

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#126 in the Series) is Grateful Dead, Terrapin Station. You hardly ever hear people mention this album when they talk about the Dead, well maybe a little but it doesn’t get it due. What Terrapin Station is known for is the full sided title track that is side two. The sixteen plus minute song, and one that was performed in it’s entirety many times by the band. It’s broken into six parts: –Lady With a Fan –Terrapin Station –Terrapin –Terrapin Transit –At a Siding –Terrapin Flyer –Refrain Two songs on side one did get some actual airplay. They were Bob Weir’s ‘Estimated Prophet’ and their take on the traditional favorite “Sampson and Delilah.” “Dancin’ in...

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Tom Waits "Blue Valentine"

Posted 21 Aug 2010 in 70s, Albums of 1978, Albums of the 70s, Americana, Blues, Rock + Roll, Singer / Songwriter

Today’s Cool Album of the Day is Tom Waits, “Blue Valentine.” What a piece of music this one is. I just love Tom Waits. This is yet another example of the album I love is the tour I saw. I can’t remember the name of the place. But there was a little roadhouse between Merrillville + Valparaiso, Indiana where I saw this tour. It had to be in 1978 or ‘79. The opening act was Leon Redbone who had laryngitis that night and did everything instrumental. He then held up a ‘thank you’ sign after every song. TW does an amazing version of ‘Somewhere” from West Side Story as an opening number on this album. It’s truly a remarkable...

Prefab Sprout "Two Wheels Good"

Posted 17 Aug 2010 in 80s, Albums of 1985, Albums of the 80s, Rock + Roll

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#115 in The Series) is Prefab Sprout, “Steve McQueen” (or as it was called in the United States, “Two Wheels Good.” There’s a good chance that you might not be familiar with this band, but let me tell ya, they’re real good! This is the first time I’ve had a release with two different titles. But Prefab Sprout was not allowed to call their album entitled “Steve McQueen” do to a legal conflict. It was called “Two Wheels Good” here in the US. Many great tracks here. ‘Faron Young, Bonny, Appetite’ and the single that you might know, ‘When Love Breaks Down.’ Prefrab Sprout was from England. This album peaked there at #21...

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