Doug Dillard & Gene Clark ‘The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1052 in the Series) is Doug Dillard & Gene Clark, The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark They may have only recorded together for (roughly) eighteen months but in that short but productive period of time Dillard & Clark made some of the best music you’ll ever hear, two albums and a single which still sound fantastic all these years later. Best of the material though is undoubtedly this superb debut album from October 1968. It’s an album which is a definitive document, and a cornerstone release, of the (then) burgeoning country-rock movement, an album which took the traditional forms of bluegrass, country and folk, gave them a shake, added electric instruments...
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...
Old Man Markley ‘Down Side Up’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#854 in the Series) is Old Man Markley, Down Side Up (Fat Wreck Chords) There is an interesting thing happening in the pop music world these days. The more things change, the more they stay the same….and yet they still keep changing. Not entirely sure what that means, but this much is true: traditionally defined genres are blending, sometimes being deconstructed altogether, and new fusions are emerging. Especially in the Nashville/ACM scene, groups like Gloriana and Lady Antebellum have managed to get mass market crossover appeal while still winning several critical accolades with a not-exactly-country, not-exactly-pop, just pretty-darn-good sound. Enter Old Man Markley, with a style dubbed “newgrass.”.Energetic without being overly gritty...
The Seldom Scene ‘It’s All Over Now Baby Blue’
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” by The Seldom Scene They sure love their bluegrass in Virginia! I lived in Alexandria for five years, and during that time I was exposed lots of great bluegrass music via a weekly local Sunday morning radio show. As is still the case now, the best venue to go see live bluegrass music was at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. And from the late ‘60s through the late ‘80s, The Seldom Scene played there every Thursday night to mostly sold out audiences with guest like Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, John Prine, Lowell George and Vince Gill sitting in. I was saddened to hear of...
Eric Lambert on the Move After The Henhouse Prowlers
Since leaving the bluegrass music band The Henhouse Prowlers in January, guitar-master, singer/songwriter, and music educator, Eric Lambert, has been on the move. From Chicago, IL, Eric Lambert has built a distinguished career writing, performing, recording, and teaching music, spanning 15 countries and with talented artists such as George Strait, Virgil Kane, Valerie Smith, and Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer Tom Constanten. Eric is currently touring the Midwest with Terrapin Flyer featuring Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer Tom Constanten and members of Cornmeal. Eric Lambert has been pickin’ and grinnin’ his way into people’s hearts for over 40 years. Specializing in the fiery art of flatpicking. Traces of rock, folk, bluegrass, country, and blues can be...
Jerry Douglas “Traveler”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#726 in the Series) is Jerry Douglas, Traveler I’m guessing that some of you may have never heard of Jerry Douglas, but as a music lover he has been a part of your acoustic life for more than a decade. As THE premier slide dobro player in the business today and a genre spanning artist, he seamlessly flows between Pop, Country, Folk, Bluegrass, and Indie Rock without ever breaking a sweat. Jerry Douglas is to the dobro what Zamfir is to the pan flute. Supporting the likes of Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, and even more contemporary artists including his new BFF’s Mumford and Sons, he has lent his...
Earl Scruggs, Country Music Hall of Fame Member has Died, He was 88.
Country music pioneer and legend has died at age 88. He passed away today, Wednesday in a Nashville Hospital. Earl was born in 1924 near Shelby, North Carolina. He popularized what became known as the “three-finger picking” banjo style of playing. Bluegrass might not have been the same without it. Much of his career was played with his partner Lester Flatt. Flatt passed away in 1979. His first big break came when he joined Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys in 1945. Flatt was a member there as well. He stayed with them until they left to form a duet. They originally called the new group the Foggy Mountain Boys. The name would eventually be changed to simply Flatt and Scruggs....
Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks “Where’s The Money?”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#639 in the Series) is Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, Where’s The Money? What do I look for in a band? Some of the elements that I like to see to make me really like an artist are 1) Great Musicianship. 2) Great Writing 3) Uniqueness, and a little 4) Sense of Humor for good measure. When you throw all those in the pot you usually get something that’s fairly entertaining to listen to. One of my all-time favorite bands that easily qualifies on all four fronts is NRBQ and another one would be these guys Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks. In fact I’m giving this great album another listen...
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band “Will The Circle Be Unbroken-Vol. II”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#588in the Series) is The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Volume II. Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol II is, obviously, the follow up to the 1971 album. If you’re not familiar with the two, they were a pair of albums released by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band that featured a roomful of guest stars. The original album gave us names like Roy Acuff, Merle Travis, Vassar Clements etc. Volume II continued the tradition. Some wonderful names are on this release. Here we find, Johnny Cash, Sam Bush, Bruce Hornsby, EmmyLou Harris, Levon Helm, John Denver (Before he made a big splash), John Hiatt, John Prine, Rosanne Cash, Randy Scruggs, Roger...
Chris Hillman “The Other Side”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#468 in the Series) us Chris Hillman, The Other Side. I think most people that are frequent visitors to the Cool Album of the Day site are familiar with our love for “Americana” music are probably familiar with Chris Hillman. I’m not going to take for granted that that means you! So before we talk about this 2005 project called The Other Side, allow me to give you a little background on this talented musician. I’m not going to start from the very beginning, that would take hours. Believe me though when I say it’s a fascinating story. You would not be wrong by saying that he was one of the originators of the...
