The Sensational Alex Harvey Band “Live”
Today’s Cool Album of The Day (#769 in the Series) is The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Live. The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Live, (aka SAHB) was a Scottish band formed in 1972 during the glam/theatrical period that brought us the likes of David Bowie, Genesis, The New York Dolls, Alice Cooper and many more. While not quite as theatrical as some of their peers, Alex Harvey always managed to weave some great storytelling into his songs. The guitarist, Zal Cleminson was known for always taking the stage wearing mime makeup. Alex was almost always seen in his black and white striped t-shirt and leather jacket. Double live albums were de rigueur during this period but SAHB managed to squeeze...
Dave Mason “Certified Live”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#428 in the Series and #40 in the Live, Saturday Night Series) is Dave Mason, Certified, Live Back in the mid-seventies Dave Mason had a really nice run. In 1976 he had a nice hit record with this release, Certified Live, and then he followed that up a year later with one of, if not the most popular album of his solo career, Let it Flow. Certified Live was another double live album. They were the rage in the mid-70s. You can thank Frampton Come Alive for that. If you were a decent selling artist in that period that did OK but needed a little kick to break out, you released a double...
Rick Wakeman “Six Wives of Henry VIII”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#323 in the Series) is Rick Wakeman, Six Wives of Henry VIII Back in the early 70s I was really into art-rock. I don’t remember using the term, prog-rock yet. I guess progressive rock was tossed around a little. Mostly it was art-rock. I just couldn’t get enough of Yes; Emerson, Lake and Palmer, King Crimson, etc. This album was quite ground breaking. I don’t think I realized it when I was listening to it. I was just doing some reading on it this this week. Many experts credit Six Wives of Henry VIII as being one of the first albums to bring keyboards to the forefront in an art-rock setting. If you have feelings...
Genesis “Seconds Out”
Today’s Cool Album Of the Day (#311 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 the Gabriel era works. For some reason I missed it when it was happening. I remember seeing all those ads about them playing the Auditorium for three nights. I can kick myself now for not going. I guess I did...
Talk Talk “The Party’s Over”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#244 in the Series) is Talk Talk, The Party’s Over. Talk Talk was another one one of those ‘New Romantic’ genre bands that emerged in the early 80s. As mentioned earlier, I was a big fan of that sound. I listened to a large amount of music from artists like Talk Talk, Icehouse, Ultravox, Echo and the Bunnymen etc. In 1982 Genesis did the only reunion show that they’ve ever done since Peter Gabriel left seven years earlier. Talk Talk, while still in their infancy, was the opening band. They were NOT received well at all. But oddly enough, about four years down later many Genesis fans would become fans as Talk Talk’s...
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 out but you didn’t know about, until now. I’ve combined different listings to form this list. I’ve even contacted band members and did poster research to find others. It’s the best list on the ‘net! If you were never...
Genesis "Selling England By The Pound"
Congratulations Genesis on today being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Your 1973 recording of Selling England by the Pound is Today’s Cool Album of the Day. Genesis is one of my favorite bands. Genesis IS my favorite live band. My seeing them at an “Invitation Only: Full Dress Rehearsal Show” for a hand full of people in 2007 will most likely never be topped as a music experience! ‘Selling England By The Pound was the penultimate album with Peter Gabriel as their costume wearing front man. He left the machinery two years later after recording and touring for The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Selling contains two of my favorite pieces. “The Cinema Show” and...
