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 to get your name in front of people back in 1986. This was the indie rock of the time period. This was an Indie rock act back when you didn’t have the internet to help promote the little guy. It...
Cheap Trick ‘In Color’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#980 in the Series) is Cheap Trick, In Color The mid to late 70s were really a fun time to be a music fan for me. Seeing bands in clubs around Chicago, and then seeing some of them release albums and becoming even more successful, some of those success stories would even reach world-wide. Cheap Trick was one of those bands. They would make the 90 minute or so trip from their Rockford, Illinois home to Chicago every so often. Once or twice they’d even play tiny “Luigi’s” in Chicago Heights. We were underage but we’d get in. The first Cheap Trick album was released in early ’77. To me it’s never been...
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 (banjo, vocals.) Can I name a stand out cut? No, not really since EVERY track is a must listen. There’s no filler on this classic. This live album was recorded and released in October, 1973. One you should be familiar...
10,000 Maniacs ‘The Wishing Chair’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#963 in the Series) is the 10,000 Maniacs, The Wishing Chair. I actually remember when I first purchased this album. I was looking for something different. Local radio played a few tunes off this and I loved the sound. I distinctly remember making the trip to trusty ole’ Hegewisch Records to see if they had it. It was good news/bad news when I got to the store. It was a little more popular than I expected. The vinyl was sold out so I had to buy it on cassette. Okay, I didn’t have to but I did. Say what you want about those old cassettes, but there was actually something good about...
Dust ‘Dust/Hard Attack’
Today’s Cool Albums of the Day (#863 and #864) in the series are Dust, Dust & Hard Attack (We’re going to do something a little differently and bring you both of these albums on one piece since they were just rereleased together on one Compact Disc.) Forty-two years ago (wow!), this skinny, longhaired, 12-year-old future metal head (thank you, Steppenwolf & Blue Cheer!) opened his trusty Circus magazine and read a small story about a new band called Dust. I don’t recall any specifics, but I assume the words “hard,” “heavy,” and, quite probably, “power trio” were used to describe this rather surly-looking threesome. Imagine Motörhead in 1971… Like most, I’m always up for new music. So, off I...
Bill Quateman "Bill Quateman"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#669 in the Series) is the debut self-titled album by Singer / Songwriter Bill Quateman. In 1972 I heard a song on WXRT called ‘Changing of the Guard.’ ‘XRT has always given a run down on what they had just played. Usually as a set. I loved the song and waited to hear who it was by. Well That’s when I first heard the name Bill Quateman. So made my trek to Hegewisch Records and bought his debut. Mind you I didn’t look at the song list. Well somehow I got the album wrong. The song I heard was Steely Dan. But I screwed up what I was looking for and ended...
Aphrodite’s Child “666”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#666 in the Series) is Aphrodite’s Child, 666 Well you knew we’d have to come up with something special for entry #666 didn’t you? Ok, you my friend are correct. I remember always looking at this album when I’d walk past it at good ol’ Hegewisch Records. For some odd reason, it always seemed to be in front of the bin, staring at you, challenging you to pick it up and look at it. The bright scarlet red cover with those giant black outlined 666 letters just jumped out at you. It was kind of spooky actually. Then when you finally did pick it up you were surprised. It was darn heavy!...
Rush “All the World’s a Stage”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#213 in the Series, #9 in the Live, Saturday Night Series) is Rush, All the World’s a Stage. We did 2112 earlier. So I might be repeating some things here. All the World’s a Stage was the top of the rock candy mountain for me as far as Rush was concerned. I remember buying this album at old Hegewisch Records back in the Day. Many people loved Rush for years. I fell off not long after this point. Nothing day did wrong, my tastes just started to change a little. Plus sometimes, especially back then, it was more fun to follow a band when it seemed like only you and your friends were...
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young "Déjà Vu"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#158 in the Series) Is Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Déjà Vu. I was just sharing the story on Facebook about remembering buying Déjà Vu back in 1970. I purchased it at the famous Chicagoland record chain called Hegewisch Records. I was spending the summer at a cousin’s in Calumet City. We road our bikes to Hegewisch and quickly we were in the store. I plopped down my $3.49 and we we’re off. All their LPs were $3.49 back then. I still remember the sticker on the shrink wrap! On the way back I wiped out on the bike and the album went flying. Fear not, it was OK. I still remember the...
Dust ‘Dust/Heart Attack’ .. Today’s ‘Cool Albums of the Day’
Today’s Cool Albums of the Day (#863 and #864) in the series are Dust, Dust & Hard Attack (We’re going to do something a little differently and bring you both of these albums on one piece since they were just rereleased together on one Compact Disc.) Forty-two years ago (wow!), this skinny, longhaired, 12-year-old future metal head (thank you, Steppenwolf & Blue Cheer!) opened his trusty Circus magazine and read a small story about a new band called Dust. I don’t recall any specifics, but I assume the words “hard,” “heavy,” and, quite probably, “power trio” were used to describe this rather surly-looking threesome. Imagine Motörhead in 1971… Like most, I’m always up for new music. So, off I...
