Phil Lucafo’s One Block East, the first solo album from one of the founding members of the legendary country-rock band Heartsfield is finally here! 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,” “I Like It A Lot” and “Rock and Roll Farm.” “The Only Time I’m Sober Is When You’re Gone” was just recently covered by a new band called Buck Satan and the 666 Shooters featuring Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen and Ministry’s Alain Jourgensen. Yes, all these years later and Phil and co-writer Perry Jordan’s song is indeed still relevant. One Block East  features some Indie Folk-Rock/Pop songs...

  “If You’re Not Moving Forward Then You’re Going Backwards.” That saying has long been vibrating off many of our eardrums. Yes, it’s even bounced off ours here at “Cool Album of the Day” when those eardrums weren’t vibrating with good music.  Hence we officially announce the formation of our independent record label branded “Cool Album Productions.” Our first release with be April 30th with the first solo album titled One Block East from former Heartsfield lead guitarist, songwriter, lead vocalist Phil Lucafo. More releases are plan and will be announced in the future. Phil Lucafo 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,”...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#365 in the Series) is the self-titled debut from Heartsfield Happy Birthday to Us, Happy Birthday to Us, Happy Birthday Dear “Cool Album of the Day.” Happy Birthday to You!!!  Well, not exactly.  This is our 365th entry. So we’re going to call this our birthday! Yeah, we may have started a little over a year ago but we did miss a few days early, but since this is # 365, it’s our birthday. Keeping that in mind, I’m going to feature another album by my dear friends, Heartsfield. Yes, we’ll be getting back to some more current goodies very soon, but since it’s our birthday, I’m going to give myself this gift...

  Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#648 in the Series) is Buck Satan and the 666 Shooters, Bikers Welcome, Ladies Drink Free Life is just full of surprises. I know you’ve heard that one before.  I particularly enjoy when those surprises come at you from the field of music. I’ve been a fan of good music since I was a wee lad.  I guess you can say that music has played a large part in my life for over 45 years.  I can honestly say that without a doubt one of the biggest surprises I’ve ever had in the field of music is this new album from Buck Satan and the 666 Shooters Bikers Welcome, Ladies Drink Free.  I say...

  Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#554 in the Series) is Styx, Styx II All I have to do is look at that Styx II album cover and I immediately feel a smile forming on my face as all these wonderful childhood memories return. I was raised in the far Southside neighborhood of Chicago called Roseland.  A place that while part of a huge metropolis, still felt like small town America to us. It was a small town that was made up of many immigrant families.  There was a Polish area, a Mexican area, a Lithuanian area (that gave us director Robert Zemeckis. Back to the Future, Forest Gump) an area called “Bum Town” (that gave us Elliot...

  Today’s Cool Live album of the Day (#544 in the Series and #57 in the Live Saturday Night Series) is Gram Parsons & the Fallen Angels, Live ‘73 (Sierra Records) Today we look at this special album by this special artist on a special day, for today, Gram Parsons would have been 65 years of age.  I look at it as a bittersweet day, for as I celebrate his birthday I cannot help but wonder what would have been.  What kind of music would Gram have been producing if those that were troubled and in need of help back in the early 70s could have received the help that they do today.  Not that we have all the...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#334 in the Series ) is John Hunter, Famous at Night. Famous at Night was John Hunter’s first of two solo releases for Private I /Epic Records. It was released in late 1984. It featured the top 40 hit “Tragedy” which you can hear below. John, of course, was also known as founder and leader of the 70s and early 80s band The Hounds.  They found success with their single “Drug land Weekend.”  In fact, John gives new life to “Horses” here. “Horses” was previously recorded for the their album Puttin’ on the Dog. While The Hounds were more hard rock and roll, John Hunter solo was more of a synth based pop....

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#328 in the Series) is the self-titled album from Joan Armatrading. There are so many great Joan Armatrading albums in which to choose.  I almost went with Show Some Emotion, since I think that’s my favorite song from this British singer-songwriter.  I also could have gone with later works such as Me, Myself I or Walk Under Ladders, also great works.  In fact, I’m sure through time, we’ll get to them as well. Today however, it’s her self-titled third album, Joan Armatrading. She did have two earlier releases but this was the first time she tasted success, sales-wise.  It was the first album that really let me hear her voice and songs as...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#214 in the Series) is The Who, Who By Numbers. OK, I know. I actually did write this one up when this site was just the facebook page. In fact, it was one of the first ones I did. I also know that I recently did Pete Townshend’s White City: A Novel. There is a reason why I’m coming back to The Who so quickly. There is a reason why I’m doing this album in particular. That reason is today’s date, December 5th. Because on December 5th, 1975. (That’s 35 years ago, I did the math already for you.) I saw my first real concert.  Real, meaning that I’m not counting little things,...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#154 in the Series) is Merle Haggard, I Am What I Am. I was REAL late coming to the Merle Haggard appreciation society.  I’ve loved traditional country for many years.  But for some reason Merle slid though the cracks for me. That changed due to his classic song, “Sing Me Back Home.”  About five years ago I started noticing all these artist I really respected had covered it. The Grateful Dead, Flying Burrito Brothers, Heartfield, Gram Parsons and Keith Richards together, The Everly Brothers, etc etc. I had to look in on it.  Then I started checking out all these old albums and wow.  I sure missed quite a bit. Instead of featuring...