Digital Sex ‘Essence’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1050 in the Series) is Digital Sex, Essence Do you know this one? No you say? I somewhat expected that. No, not because the band wasn’t good enough or deserving enough because they indeed were. They were quite good but they were unfortunate to be another one of those talented acts that fell through the cracks. I don’t remember seeing them on MTV and that was the quickest and easiest way...

Jesus Christ Superstar – Original London Cast

Today’s Cool Album of the Day is the Original London Cast recording of Jesus Chris Superstar. It”s now our Cool Album of the Day every Easter Sunday. Don’t give me the knock-offs. Give me the original 1971 release featuring Ian Gillian as Jesus. I remember playing the hell out of this back in the day. To me this has always been the definitive version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock opera. It’s the Original London Concept Recording. Yes, I...

Nomad Planets ‘You’re Never Lost Until You Panic’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1033 in the Series) is Nomad Planets, You’re Never Alone Until You Panic The following was originally posted back about seven years ago. Let’s read it again shall we… This is a piece that I’ve been meaning to write for quite some time. What’s taken so long? That’s an easy one. I love this album so much that I never thought I could do it justice with words. I still don’t think...

The ‘Nirvana Baby’ is Now All Grown Up. Who is He? What Is He Doing Now?

Let’s check out this post that we ran a few years ago. Spencer is now nearly 30 years old. You’ve seen him but you probably never knew his name. The famous three month old pee-pee baring baby on the cover of the Nirvana Nevermind album is now a thirty something year old man. His name is Spencer Elden. He told MTV News a few years back “it’s kind of creepy that that many people have seen me...

Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom. The Most Complete Listing of Shows from the 60s thru the 90s

Ah the Aragon Ballroom. This is a fun listing for the old Rock ‘n’ Rollers that visit the Cool Album of the Day site. Here’s a list of just about ever show that was held at the Aragon Ballroom in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. If you went there, have fun looking thru this list. Look for the shows that you saw. Feel ‘bummed’ about the ones you missed. Be angry about the ones that you would have checked...

Phil Lucafo ‘One Block East’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1023 in the Series) is Phil Lucafo, One Block East. One Block East is the first solo album by former Heartsfield co-lead guitarist/co-lead vocalist Phil Lucafo. (Full disclosure: One Block East was released by Cool Album Productions which is also owns this website.) Phil was responsible or partly responsible for many of Heartsfield’s better known songs such as “The Only Time I’m Sober Is When You’re Gone,” “Pass Me By,” “Gypsy Rider,”...

“Cool Album of the Day” is Looking for Contributors

If you follow the Cool Album of the Day website I’m guessing that you are a little bit of a music fan. Excellent! Have you ever wanted to be published? Well if you are, we at Cool Album of the Day are always looking for contributors. You know what we do here. Like I mentioned, we’re always looking for people that would like to do a write up on some of their favorite albums. We’d also love people that would...

The Reconstructed “Great North Wind” NEW MUSIC REVIEW

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1005 in the Series) is The Reconstructed Great North Wind. When first approached by the CEO of Cool Album of The Day to write this review I was met with great trepidation. My exact words were “I’d feel foolish writing a record review for an album recorded by a good friend.” After some serious introspection while out mowing my lawn it occurred to me that people need to hear this album! So...

Mudcrutch "Mudcrutch"

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#981 in the series) is the debut self-titled album by Mudcrutch. I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve never been the biggest Tom Petty fan. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s OK, I do like him. I’ve seen him and really enjoyed the show. (Althought I liked the opening band the del Fuegos better) I’ve liked some of this work but I think the best thing he ever did was his...

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...

Nanci Griffith “One Fair Summer Evening”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#977 in the Series ) is Nanci Griffith, One Fair Summer Evening. “Variety; Learning about different types of music; bringing different genres to different people.” These were just some of the objectives that we publically discussed when we started this project just about a year ago. We’re most definitely going to continue in that direction tonight. This is one of those albums that requires you to “be in the proper” mood. However, when...

Genesis “Seconds Out”

Today’s Cool Album Of the Day (#976 in the Series) is Genesis, Seconds Out. How much do I like this album? Well, if I could only take ten albums to a desert island, I might have to take two copies of this and then eight others. This was the album that made me fall in love with Genesis. I don’t know why I didn’t get into them earlier. After this was released I did go back and loved all...

Warren Zevon ‘The Wind’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#975 in the Series) is Warren Zevon, The Wind In the final episode of season 2 of the hit Showtime series Californication, down on his self-inflicted luck, writer Hank Moody has just finished a book project and is ready to begin his post-project ritual. “Every time I finish a book, It’s Whiskey, Weed and Warren Zevon, It’s the little things” he says, while ”Keep Me in your Heart” plays delicately in the background....

Blood, Sweat and Tears “3”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (# 974 in the Series) is Blood, Sweat and Tears, 3. In many ways, this album had more to do with long love affair with music, than any other album ever released. When I was a wee lad, my sister gave me copy of this. It was actually on cassette. It was right when those lovely pre-recorded cassettes first hit the market. I had a player and played it over and over...

Justin Townes Earle “Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#973 in the Series) is Justin Townes Earle, Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now (Bloodshot Records) When your father is one of the best singer-songwriters in the business and you are named after another about whom Steve Earle once said “Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I’ll stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that”, the expectations are...

Richard & Linda Thompson ‘I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#972 in the Series) is Richard & Linda Thompson, I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight. This is an album I’ve went back to recently and it’s captivated me, full to the brim as it is with wonderfully bleak, world-weary and fascinating songs. I actually found my old cassette copy of it and realized that I hadn’t played the full album in years, most of my Richard Thompson stuff is on...

Hal Ketchum “Past The Point Of Rescue”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#971 in the Series) is Hal Ketchum, Past the Point of Rescue. I don’t know what it is. I’ve always been a sucker for those songs when an artist takes a known track, their’s or possibly another artists, and recreates it using a slower tempo. I’m thinking of tracks like Joe Jackson’s live version (played as part of the Big World tour) of “Steppin’ Out” or Loey Nelson’s take on “To Sir with...

Jellyfish ‘Bellybutton’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#970 in the Series) is Jellyfish, Bellybutton. My guess is that a good number of you don’t know this album or even this band. In one word, “you should!” They were one of the best power-pop bands of the early nineties, Jellyfish. One of those bands that you ask yourself, Why wasn’t this all over radio, why were they not more popular? They definitely had some radio friendly songs, a good look a...

The Pixies ‘Surfer Rosa’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#969 in the Series) is The Pixies, Surfer Rosa Playing my Surfer Rosa album last night reminded me that the album is not just The Pixies first album, but my favorite album as well. It also reminded me why I keep my record collection in my room away from my kids- the album’s cover features a topless woman who I remember swooning over when it first came out. In case anyone is...

Ten Years After ‘A Space in Time’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#968 in the Series) is Ten Years After, A Space In Time When you are three pints in, and the conversation as it inevitably does, turns to the greatest guitar players of all time, and the usual suspects Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and the rest are shouted out from around the bar, the name Alvin Lee is largely and criminally ignored. As one of the early pioneers of Blues Rock,...

Sebastian Cabot, actor; Bob Dylan, poet ‘A Dramatic Reading with Music’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#959 in the Series) is Sebastian Cabot, actor; Bob Dylan, poet. A Dramatic Reading with Music. ..Like one of our favorite comedy troupes once proclaimed…”And Now For Something Completely Different.” You’d be hard pressed to find something as different as this. What I like about this album is the fact that it’s of course a novelty album, a “what the heck, why not album” yet it has a redeeming quality that makes...

Johnny Cash “American Recordings V: A Hundred Highways”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day is Johnny Cash, American Recordings V: A Hundred Highways The year was 1994, and it was not the best of times for Johnny Cash. His health, starting to fail from a series of illnesses and decades of hard living, was seemingly bringing “The Man in Black” much closer to the end than he was ready to admit. His latest major record label, Mercury Records had dropped him after one last commitment record, The...

Shadowfax “Watercourse Way”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#955 in the Series) is Shadowfax, Watercourse Way When you look at a listing of the best bands Chicagoland has produced it better have Shadowfax included, if it doesn’t find a new list. Are you familiar with Shadowfax? If not, let me go back a ways. The origins of this eventual Grammy-winning band begin in the early 70s in south-suburban Crete, Illinois. That’s where the band lived in a farmhouse popularly known as...

Alice Cooper "Billion Dollar Babies"

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#953 in the Series) is Alice Cooper, Billion Dollar Babies. About three years ago I listened to this album for the first time in about 12 years. I could not believe how great it still sounded. Of all the early 70s things that I loved, this one still kicked as good, if not better, than almost anything else I’d played in quite sometime from that old era. The quality of the tracks stood...

The Doobie Brothers “What Were Onces Vices Are Now Habits”

Today’s Cool album of the Day (#952 in the Series) is The Doobie Brothers, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. Can you believe that this little gem was released 41 years ago this week!! I really enjoy the decade or so tradition of bands playing one of their albums in its entirety. I know it would probably never happen, but if the Doobie Brothers were to do add join that tradition, then they should play “What Were Once...

Billy Joe Shaver ‘Long in the Tooth’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#948 in the Series) is Billy Joe Shaver, Long in the Tooth On the Mount Rushmore of 70’s Highwayman Icons, a zip code that includes Willie Nelson,Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristoffersons, Billy Joe Shaver could very well be considered the fifth Beatle, the under the radar cowboy that jump-started the movement with Honky Tonk Heroes in 1973, and in the process put the outlaw in Outlaw Country, reshaped the image...

Complete Footage of “The Last Waltz” Concert Surfaces

Yes, you read that headline correctly. The full nearly four hour performance of the 1976 Thanksgiving night concert by The Band has made it’s way to the public. It includes, previously unreleased tunes by The Band such as “WS Wolcott Medicince Show,” “Georgia on My Mind,” “Arcadian Driftwood,” “Rag Mama Rag,” and also “The Weight” which in the film was represented only by the live in studio version. No overdubs here either. Songs by some of the guest...

The Most Popular Songs Played By Musicians In Each State

MADISON, WI – March 19, 2014 – Dialect, cuisine and fashion tastes can vary by state, and the songs people like to play are no different, according to a recent list of the distinctively best-selling sheet music titles by Musicnotes.com, the world’s top digital sheet music e-retailer and publisher. Musicnotes crafted a list of the “Uniquely Popular Sheet Music by State (Plus D.C.)” to expound on the breadth of its sheet music catalogue, as well as the diversity of...

Springsteen Continues to Cover Australian Acts During Down Under Tour. Inxs ‘Don’t Change,’ AC/DC, Bee Gees and Lorde in the Mix as Well

Bruce Springsteen continues to pull out some cool surprises on his current tour down under. He’s been including some great tunes by the locals into his mix. We’ll post videos when we can. I’ll add them as I get them. So far they’ve included Inxs’ “Don’t Change.” AC/DC “Highway to Hell” (wth Eddie Vedder) and Lorde’s “Royals.” The Easybeats “Friday on My Mind” and even the Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive.” I’m really hoping for some Split Enz!!! Tom Morello...

Robert Downey Jr is ‘Driven To Tears’ with Sting!

Robert Downey Jr. Joins Mr. Sting on Stage I didn’t see this one coming? Did you? Who knew Robert Downey Jr. had musical talent. He should sit in with Black Sabbath too. I have an idea what song he could sing with Ozzie! Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post

AMAZING! – Watch 32 Discordant Metronomes Achieve Synchrony in a Matter of Minutes

from io9.com If you place 32 metronomes on a static object and set them rocking out of phase with one another, they will remain that way indefinitely. Place them on a moveable surface, however, and something very interesting (and very mesmerizing) happens. The metronomes in this video fall into the latter camp. Energy from the motion of one ticking metronome can affect the motion of every metronome around it, while the motion of every other metronome affects the motion...

What Were Kurt Cobain’s Favorite Fifty Albums? Here’s His Handwritten List.

I’m sure you’ve all been wondering what the late Kurt Cobain’s favorite fifty albums were. Here is his own hand written list. Now you know. I’m sure you feel better. Oh, while you here. Have you ever wondered how the baby was on the cover of Nirvana’s debut Nevermind? He’s now all grown up and we have a story on who he is and what he’s doing now. He even recreated that famous album cover. Well, kind of…...

Vince Gill Shares His Thoughts on Today’s Country Music..and He’s Right On!

For quite some time now I’ve been harsh on today’s country music, or more specifically, the state of today’s country radio. Now I’ve been joined by Vince Gill in its critique. It’s sad when Taylor Swift can dominate country radio and Merle Haggard can’t get a sniff. And I’m not talking about Merle’s old great albums I’m referring to his last couple of albums. They’ve been great yet completely ignored. Justin Townes Earle’s “Harlem River Blues” also did...

Music: How we bought it through the years. Plus: ‘What is an ‘album?’

Albums? No, an ‘album’ does NOT mean vinyl. For years our radio friends would refer to the music they played as ‘albums.’ Stick around for something from the new Genesis album, or That was ”Song For My Brother’ from the Shadowfax album, ‘Watercourse Way.’ Then as the 80s were ending, so was the way that radio gave us our music. They were making the transition from playing vinyl to compact disc. It cost them a good penny and they...

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Midge Ure “The Gift”

Posted 25 Jan 2011 in 80s, Albums of 1985, Albums of the 80s, Rock + Roll, Techno

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#266 in the Series) is Midge Ure, The Gift. One of the worst things about this album is that it’s really very close sounding to an Ultravox album. One of the best things about this album is that it’s very close sounding to an Ultravox album! Especially if you’re an Ultravox fan like I am. I’m guessing if you didn’t know by now, Midge Ure is also the singer for the great British band, Ultravox. This was a side project, he didn’t leave the band. In fact, an new Ultravox album is in the works. The song that got the most play was ‘If I Was.’ Also getting some good recognition was ‘That...

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Kayak “Royal Bed Bouncer”

Posted 24 Jan 2011 in 70s, Albums of 1975, Albums of the 70s, Prog-Rock

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#265 in the Series) is Kayak, Royal Bed Bouncer. OK, I really wanted to run with something not completely obscure, but not a household name either. I want something in ‘Progressive Rock,’ let’s say something that might challenge some of you a little. I really want to stay away from things that everyone knows. There are plenty of sights that just have the huge hit records. Well How ‘bout Kayak, Royal Bed Bouncer. I really like the fact that I couldn’t even find a good clear photo of their original cover. I had to use a picture of an actual vinyl LP cover. I really like that. In fact, if I can find...

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Hothouse Flowers “People”

Posted 23 Jan 2011 in 80s, Albums of 1988, Albums of the 80s, Rock + Roll

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (*#264 in the Series) is Hothouse Flowers, People The Hothouse Flowers are an Irish rock band that was formed in 1985. People was their debut album and was released in 1985 It ‘houses’ two of their more well-known tunes, ‘I’m Sorry ‘ and ‘Don’t Go.’ It peaked at #88 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. As of now, that’s the band’s highest ranking album in the States. They’re still around so hopefully we’ll be hearing more from them. If you’re not a fan you should be! Here’s a link to their home page. Give it a visit. They do a great job in keeping their fans up to date on news, tour...

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Marshall Crenshaw “Marshall Crenshaw”

Posted 22 Jan 2011 in 80s, Albums of 1982, Albums of the 80s, Pop, Singer / Songwriter

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#263 in the Series) is the self-titled debut from Marshall Crenshaw. Here is some great singer-songwriter pop for your listening pleasure. Marshall Crenshaw was one of the best artists of this genre to emerge from the early 80s. This album featured his first top 40 hit, ‘Some Day, Some Way.’ Other tracks of some note included, ‘Mary Anne’ and ‘Cynical Girl.’ ‘Some Day, Some Way’ was the only song to actually chart, it reached #36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album itself reached #70 on the Top 200 chart. His next album, Field Day was a nice follow up. That is where you’d find another Crenshaw classic, ‘Whenever You’re On My...

New Bruce Springsteen Album ‘Wrecking Ball” to be released March 6th. Here’s the First Single.

Posted 21 Jan 2011 in Uncategorized

New Bruce Springsteen Album Coming Soon. European and American Tours planned. Bruce Springsteen has announced on his site that he indeed, will be releasing a new album with the E-Street Band in 2012. There will be a European tour from May thru July with an American Tour to follow. This is from Bruce’s website www.brucespringsteen.net In his own words: “Well, things are starting to heat up down on E Street. A lot of you have been hearing that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be on tour in 2012. That is absolutely correct. The European dates run from the middle of May until end of July and are being announced this week. Info on...

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Jefferson Starship “Red Octopus”

Posted 20 Jan 2011 in Albums of 1975, Albums of the 70s, Rock + Roll

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#261 in the Series) is Jefferson Starship, Red Octopus. I know I should have gone with a classic Jefferson Airplane album and not a Jefferson Starship album, but I decided to go this route because I’m a big fan of ‘Play on Love.’ The reason I like the song so much is because of the prominent role played by Papa John Creach. I love his fiddle work on this album. ‘Fast Buck Freddie’ is another great track. Marty Balin’s ‘Miracles’ can also be found here. Red Octopus was the only ‘Jefferson’ album to reach the top of the charts. It actually hit number one four times. The first time was in early September...

Kansas ‘Masque’

Posted 19 Jan 2011 in 70s, Albums of 1975, Albums of the 70s, Prog-Rock, Rock + Roll

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#260 in the Series) is Kansas, Masque I have been wanting to do a write-up on an old Kansas album for sometime. The passing of Don Kirshner was a perfect reason to do it today. I was a little worried that Mr. Kirshner was only going to be remembered for his 1970’s television show Rock Concert. He was much more than that. He was the major inspiration behind the ‘Brill Building’ and ‘Tin Pan Alley.’ It was home for some of the great songwriters of the 60s and 70s. Included in that group was Carole King and Gerry Goffin, Neil Sadaka, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jack Keller, etc. The Monkees hired him to...

Skeeter Davis and NRBQ “She Sings,They Play”

Posted 18 Jan 2011 in 80s, Albums of 1985, Albums of the 80s, Country, Pop

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#259 in the Series) is Skeeter Davis and NRBQ, She Sings, They Play. I’m really disappointed that I couldn’t find more videos for this album. This one is really special to me. NRBQ is one of my favorite all time bands. I love when bands do something totally out of their element. That’s what we have here. Skeeter Davis was a country/pop star from the early to mid-sixties. She was best known for the huge hit she had in 1963 called ‘The End of the World.” NRBQ has often been called the world’s best bar band or world’s best garage band etc. They were much more than that. Some of their fans include...

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Gregg Allman “Low Country Blues”

Posted 17 Jan 2011 in 10s, Albums of 2011, Albums of the 10s, Blues

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#258 in the Series) is Gregg Allman, Low Country Blues. This album is being released in just a few hours. I wanted to make sure everyone knew about it. It’s the solo album many have been waiting for. A good old fashioned blues album. Gregg covers the likes of Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, B.B. King, Otis Rush, Muddy Waters and Junior Wells. There is also one original song written by Warren Haynes. Low Country Blues was produced by the ‘red hot’ T-Bone Burnett. Has he ever been on a role for a few years now. If your headed out to purchase this album today, please don’t forget your ‘Ma + Pa’ record stores!! I...

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Van Morrison “Enlightenment”

Posted 16 Jan 2011 in 90s, Albums of 1990, Albums of the 90s, Rock + Roll, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#257 in the Series) is Van Morrison, Enlightenment. Why Enlightenment and not some of the more popular Van Morrison albums? Because Enlightenment includes the track, ‘Real, Real Gone’ that’s why. It’s one of my favorite songs of all time. I was putting the playlist together to give you videos below. The first five songs were an easy find. I was more than a little angry when I could not find the video for the sixth song, ‘The Day’s Before Rock and Roll.’ This is another one of my favorite songs. What a great piece. Below you’ll also see the link to the ‘Cool Album of the Day’ MySpace Page. You can listen to...

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