Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1017 in the Series) is Mark Knopfler and EmmyLou Harris, Real Live Roadrunning. To this day, I can still kick myself for not seeing this tour. EmmyLou Harris and Mark Knopfler .  This was 2006; I had just seen Mark in 2005. Yes, that was a fantastic show, but I decided I’d pass on this tour.  Then I listened to the album. I should have known!  Often if you miss an act’s tour, well, you can just catch the next one.  This is why I’m so angered about missing this tour.  I’m nearly positive that this was a one in a lifetime chance.  Do we really expect that they’ll team up and...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1010 in the Series) is Buddy Guy, Damn Right I’ve Got the Blues The process of selecting a blues album to review is not an easy one.  First of all, a lot of people will not think they like the blues or will say they don’t know enough about the blues.  The real answer to both of these questions is that if you listen to music at all, and like music, then you are by definition a fan of the blues.  All of the great rock & rollers of today were heavily influenced by the blues in one form or another. “I’m a King Bee,” “Walking the Dog,” and “Now I’ve Got a...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#957 in the Series) is Dire Straits, Brothers in Arms. Brothers in Arms was one of the first albums that was completely digitally recorded. It was released in May of 1985. Right about this time I was itching to get my first CD player.  They had just started to get to a price level that ‘cattle’ like myself could afford one.  I knew the day was coming soon where I would have a player, so I grabbed a couple CDs that I could bring when I went player searching. I needed two discs that I liked. I needed two discs that had a sound quality so good, that when I heard them blasting...

Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Skateaway” by Dire Straits Today’s Song Of The Day comes from Dire Straits’ third album Making Movies. The album was co-produced by Jimmy Iovine whom Mark Knopfler contacted because he liked the production sound he gave to Patti Smith’s single “Because The Night,” and Iovine brought a similar New Wave sheen to Making Movies. David Knopfler left the group during the making of this album, and Iovine brought Roy Bittan (of The E Street Band) into the fold on keyboards to help fill the void. It was the first time that Dire Straits had ever worked with a keyboard player, and Bittan expanded the band’s musical palate especially on the songs...

      Mark Knopfler’s facebook page shared some bad news for his US fans today.  Hopefully this will put some pressure on Warner Brothers to work out a deal. Here’s the statement Privateering will not be released in the US. There is a contractual dispute between Mark and Warner Brothers which has resulted in the current situation. The record has been released in all other territories in the world as usual by Universal Music. We are disappointed that Mark’s record won’t be released in the US and if the situation changes an updated statement will be issued. Very many thanks for your continued support. Below Mark tells us about Privateering.   Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend...

      Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler have announced an upcoming tour for this fall.  It was also announced that Bob’s new album will be released in September 11th It wll be titled “Tempest.” Mark’s also has a new album coming.  The double CD release titled “Privateering” is scheduled for the same month. Dylan and Knopfler did some European shows last year.  It is not know if this is the complete tour or just the beginning. Both acts will be bringing their full bands. They also toured together last year in Europe. Mark did join Bob during his sets.  There is a video of them performing “Forever Young” below. Bob Dylan/ Mark Knopfler 2012 Tour Dates 10/5/12 – Winnipeg,...

  Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#722 in the Series) is Dire Straits, Love Over Gold It’s hard to believe that Dire Straits only released six studio albums. They had such a reach and such an impact on music that it seems that they were one of those acts that would spit them our year after year.  That was actually true for the early part of their career when they indeed released their first four albums in a short period of five years. That was from 1978 through 1982.  They then took a couple years off before releasing their most popular album sales-wise that would be Brothers in Arms. After that album’s success they would really lay low,...

Today’s Cool Album of the day (#144 in the Series) is the self titled album by, The Notorious Cherry Bombs. OK, who knows who these guys are? I’ll explain.

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#439 in the Series and #21 in the Whale Wednesday Series) is Eric Clapton, Slowhand  Slowhand was a major, major release for Mr. Clapton.  It was one of the few that featured some strong radio friendly top 40 hits.  Now there is a thing where something can be a top 40 hit and still be a good song.  So, so many times hear from people that think just because something is a huge hit that it’s no longer a quality piece of music.  Well let me tell you, those are usually the hardest songs to write. OK, so maybe this wasn’t the usual blues guitar heavy rock album that we had grown accustom...

Today’s Cool album of the Day is the Dire Straits debut album, “Dire Straits.” Do you remember the first time you heard this album? The very first time you heard it? You just might. Why, because you KNEW this was something special. You KNEW, this was one of those bands that was going to be around for a long time. You KNEW they were going to be making special music for a long time. That was in 1978. You were right. If not Dire Straits, but leader Mark Knopfler is still releasing viable, relevant music 32 years later. The first song I heard was the single, ‘Sultans of Swing.’ Funny enough, The very first time I heard it I...