Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#466 in the Series) is War, The World is a Ghetto I’m not sure if you heard that Jerry Lewis is no longer hosting the Labor Day Telethon.  The news got out last week.  Prior to that, it was announced that the show would not be its usual 21 hours.  Starting this year, it’s only going to be on for six hours.  I’m really bummed about this.  I really got a kick out of the stuff that would happen about three or four in the morning.  It could get really interesting at times.  One of the things that I’d see every year was War playing about a 10 minute medley of all their...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day(#395 in the Series) is The Meters, Look-Ka Py Py Today we’re going to take a look at The Meters’ classic album called Look-Ka Py Py. Classic you say? Well, for its genre it is. Actually you can probably say maybe even more than that.  We’ve referred to that Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of all-time list more than once in these parts. Well, The Meters had the #138 entry with Rejuvenation while Look-Ka Py Py was listed at #218.  So I guess they actually had a pair of classic albums. So you’re not familiar with The Meters you say and “what genre is that of you speak?” Yeah, I guess I’m getting a...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#362 in the Series) is Sly and the Family Stone, Stand! Unfortunately, Sly Stone has built one legacy. That legacy being, never showing up, or if he does, showing up very late for his gigs. I’ve heard these stories over and over.  Are they deserved, yeah, and they were not the only instances of bizarre behavior in his days.  Let’s not forget the weird exit at the Grammy’s just a few years ago. He left the stage near the end of a medley of some of his best works; strangely leaving “his” band to finish it off without him. I used the word unfortunately, why?  That’s because for some time, he was one...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#342 in the Series) is Prince, Purple Rain. I was on the Prince bandwagon very early.  I had the first two albums and was a huge fan of his third, Dirty Mind and it’s follow up, Controversy.  I had the chance to see him at the tiny Park West Theater in Chicago in 1980. One of the best shows I ever saw.  It was 1999 and then Purple Rain that made him a household name.  The movie and the album were monster hits.  Purple Rain sold 13 million units.  The movie grossed over 80 million back in 1984. Singles? You ask? The first release was “I Would Die 4U.” It peaked at #8....

Today’s Cool Album Of the Day (#278 in the Series) is Average White Band, AWB. The Average White Band, what a perfect mix of soul, funk, R + B, rock with just enough jazz tossed in.  All of this from a band from………Scotland!? Yeah, many people have forgotten that fact over the years, but yes indeed.  Founding members Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre are from Dundee.  As were the other original members, Malcolm “Molly” Duncan, Roger Ball and Robbie McIntosh. Hamish  Stuart was from Glasgow, he would play a major role with Paul McCartney in later years. Do not confuse this Robbie McIntosh with the man with the same name who was a long time ‘Pretender.’ Same name, different person....

Today’s Cool Album of the Day  is Funkadelic, Maggot Brain. A little ‘70s hard funk! This was a ground breaking album that combined parts of funk, jazz, soul, rock and roll, you name it. Funkadelic was led by vocalist George Clinton and keyboard man Bernie Worrell. ( Who later had a stint in Talking Heads.) It was produced by George Clinton and reached #108 on the Billboard charts. It was named #486 on Billboards top 500 of all time best albums. Funkadelic was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of Parliament-Funkadelic in 1997 Personnel Lead Guitar: Eddie Hazel Rhythm Guitar: Tawl Ross Keyboards: Bernie Worrell Bass: Billy Bass Nelson Drums: Tiki Fulwood Vocals: Parliament (George Clinton, Fuzzy Haskins, Calvin Simon, Grady Thomas, Ray Davis),...