Thin Lizzy ‘UK Tour ’75’
Today’s Cool Album of The Day (#815 in the Series) is Thin Lizzy, UK Tour ’75 Everyone knows Thin Lizzy. The music world is awash with their albums, and there are enough bootlegs, greatest hits, extended versions, live albums, compilations, radio cuts, cover bands, and even versions of the band itself out there to choke the airwaves for the rest of time. Of course, almost every music lover is familiar their “big” rock albums Jailbreak, Johnny the Fox, Bad Reputation, and their touring masterpiece Live and Dangerous; all albums filled with rock radio staples we know and love. But to me, their finest and most interesting period was just before Jailbreak and all-conquering single “The Boys Are Back...
The Kinks “The Kinks Present a Soap Opera”
Today’s Kool Album of the Day (#773 in the Series) is The Kinks, The Kinks Present a Soap Opera Kronikling a Kool & Kollectable Kinks Klassic “The Kinks Present A Soap Opera” Emerging on the first tidal wave of the British Invasion, The Kinks quickly established themselves as one of the greatest bands to kome out of London. Rather than following the footsteps of Liverpool’s Finest, like so many other akts who kopied the Merseybeat and Liverpudlian sounds, The Kinks took about defining a sound that remains unique in Pop and Rock musik. Along with Amerikan producer Shel Talmy, The Kinks went on to kreate The POWERKHORD … even beating The Who-> to play the first POWERKHORD with...
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...
Rush “Caress of Steel”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#612 in the Series) is Rush, Caress of Steel Rush really started making a name for themselves with the 1976 release of their classic album 2112. That really started things going for them and it progressed another huge step forward a year later with the live release of All the World’s a Stage. Before that however they have three albums that laid the groundwork for what was to come, you had to get stuff for the live album from somewhere. The first album was simply called Rush. What’s that album know for? Quite simply, it’s known for being the album that didn’t include Neil Peart as a band member. “Finding My Way”...
Neil Young “Tonight’s The Night”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day is Neil Young, Tonight’s The Night. Happy 65th birthday wishes go out to Neil Young today as we feature his touching album Tonight’s The Night. Neil lost two close friends to drug deaths, only about six months apart. One was the guitarist of his backing band, Crazy Horse, Danny Whitten. The other, Bruce Berry, was a long time roadie for Neil. Bruce was also the brother to Jan, of ‘Jan and Dean’ fame. Much of this album was a direct response to those losses. Both of those men died shortly before Neil started writing this album. Bruce Berry is mentioned by name in the title track while Danny Whitten can be heard on...
NEU! “NEU! ’75”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#559 in the Series) is NEU!, NEU! ’75. While not a pro at reviewing albums, I fully understand that you are supposed to wait until the end of an article to pass final judgment on a record. In the case of NEU! ’75, I cannot. This is an all-time masterpiece. NEU! was formed in 1971 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Drummer Klaus Dinger and guitarist Michael Rother had just left an early version of Kraftwerk. Rother and Dinger did not want care for the synthesizer heavy direction that Kraftewerk were headed in and wanted to go in a more guitar oriented vein. NEU! was born. NUE! ’75 is the duo’s third release and bore...
UFO “The Chrysalis Years (1973-1979)”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (# 553 in the Series) is UFO, The Chrysalis Years, (1973-1979). I am going to delay with the normal album review inroduction and substitute it with: IT’S ALL HERE! ALL YOU COULD WANT FROM THIS SEMINAL 1970’S HARD ROCK JUGGERNAUT. AND IT COSTS LESS THAN NINETEEN DOLLARS ON LINE! Now that I have that out of my system…… UFO was a great heavy rock band that my friends and I worshipped as teenagers in suburban Chicago. My first show was UFO at the Aragon Ballroom on October 10, 1975. This group had everything. UFO possessed the piledriving rhythm section of Peter Way (bass) and Andy Parker (drums). They featured serviceable short term...
Fleetwood Mac “Fleetwood Mac”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#526 in the Series and #33 in the Whale Wednesday Series) is the self-titled album from Fleetwood Mac. Has any band been through more incarnations than Fleetwood Mac? This was their 11th release. It was also the start of the Buckingham/Nicks era as they replaced Bob Welch who left after the previous album, Heroes Are Hard to Find. Do you remember that one? Heroes was actualy their most popular album to date. It reached #34 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. All that changed when the band left their blues/rock sound. The Fleetwood Mac album and its pop sound would eventually sell 5 million units in the States and would be their...
The Doobie Brothers “Stampede”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#525 in the Series) is The Doobie Brothers, Stampede In my self-appointed, largely ignored role as The Commissioner of Rock & Roll I am often called upon to provide an opinion, mediate a dispute, and generally regulate some of the finer points of the music industry to ensure certain rules are not violated, musical commandments are not broken, and the purity and essence of the art form is maintained. One very important aspect of this position is to provide a ruling as to what happens to a band name once the lead singer catches the dreaded LSS disease (lead singer syndrome) and leaves the band for seemingly greener pastures, band members quit, are...
Nazareth “Hair of the Dog”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#516 in the Series) is Nazareth, Hair of the Dog Listening to this album, along with good classic “old school” rock music in general, triggers a certain internal emotion that makes one long for the simpler times. A time when being “face booked” meant waking up at 6:30 on a Sunday morning, naked, with your face planted in the unshaven arm pit of a chick named Shasta or Magnolia, neither of which could be correct since most of your brain cells were probably so fried that morning you were rendered incapable of remembering whether or not you even knew her name in the first place. A time when you did not need mountains...
