Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach “Painted From Memory”
Today’s Cool album of the Day (#948 in the Series) is Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach, Painted From Memory Reviewers hated this album. I call it the “Album to Never Listen to When Going Through a Breakup” simply because it’s heartfelt and full of emotion. Someone said to me, I’m hurting, and I said be sure to not listen to this then. I grew up with Burt Bacharach, and as a semi-adult I became smitten with all that Elvis Costello did. This “marriage” was a dream coming true. I love this album so much. Add Steve Nieve (keyboards) to it and it makes it close to perfect. Elvis is a crooner at heart, despite his “punk rock”...
Eva Cassidy ‘Songbird’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day is Eva Cassidy’s, Songbird. I’m not sure how many of you have heard of this young lady. I’m asking you to please read her story and listen to her music. Eva Cassidy has, quite possibly, the best voice I’ve ever heard on a woman pop singer. A few years back I was unaware of her. Then on a slow news night, ABC’s Nightline, did a feature on this young lady named Eva Cassidy. She was a singer songwriter from Washington D.C. She had released a couple of albums on a tiny local label that never really did much. (Note: I’ve posted the NightLine episode below. It’s really a great watch) In 1996 she passed...
Neil Finn ‘Try Whistling This’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#859 in the Series) is Neil Finn, Try Whistling This By my inexact and rough estimation of my somewhere near 3000 records, CDs, 8-tracks and cassette tapes, tough as it may be, I would probably rank this my number one. I bought it in 1998 when it came out and I lived in Framingham, MA. and listened to it attentively and intensely and truly believe this is as close to a Lennon/McCartney composition that exists since that duo stopped writing and playing. I have recommended this to many and will tell you a small sample called me wrong, but I don’t care. It didn’t hurt that I got to see him do...
Chris Isaak ‘Speak of the Devil’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#825 in the Series) is Chris Isaak, Speak of the Devil This is the 9th record of the California rocker and for me stands out as one of his best. His voice is an instrument in an obvious Roy Orbison tribute kind of way. His songwriting and guitar playing make these 14 songs fun to listen to in a way that makes me think, did Elvis Presley ever comes this close to being great. I know I may offend some with that thought, but put this on the old phonograph and from the first track, “Please” compare it to anything the King did and you will hear where I am coming from....
Dave Alvin “Blackjack David’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#808 in the Series) is Dave Alvin, Blackjack David I’d like to write a little about Dave Alvin. Because I LOVE Dave Alvin. Not in a physical way you understand, I don’t even know the man after all and neither of us are that way inclined (as far as I’m aware). Nevertheless, as a fan, an admirer and purchaser of his superb music, an attendee of (sadly only) one of his shows, I love Dave Alvin. The guy’s bloody brilliant. Oh and, specifically, I’d like to write a little bit about Dave’s crowning glory, his masterpiece, and of the very best albums of the last 20 years or so – Blackjack David....
Cheap Trick “at Budokan: The Complete Concert”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#394 in the Series) is Cheap Trick, at Budokan: The Complete Concert. Cheap Trick’s first album, which was simply self-titled, did OK here in the States. Their second release, In Color gave the band a whole new audience as it stepped them up a notch. Dream Police, the same deal, they went up another notch but not a real big deal. Then came Cheap Trick at Budokan, after this was released, they became stars. All that was referring to the United Stated, beginning in late ’77, they had become a huge act in Japan. How did that happen? Mainly it was because they had done two big tours of the island. One as...
