Rumours abound and sledging is rife,
Was this really written by his wife?
Until today I had listening delayed,
Despite copies hanging in all stores portrayed.
…….
It’s hard for women to get credit in the real world,
But this album is bejewelled and often pearled,
And after two listens my decision is final,
Rumours be damned, I will get it on vinyl.
As a preamble, I bought Outlandos ‘ on pre-order, then the next 2, but Ghost’ was a bargain bin £0.99, and this was a 4-for-£1.00 CD buy. Original impression was that it was an album too far - they split after this - although it was allegedly down to Sting hubris rather than them being idealess.
…..
Not idealess - Some great tracks but too much filler, which was always evident - since Peanuts.
Side 1 is so poor they put the only good track on it twice.
Sting allowing Spitting Image to stab Thatcher’s election victory with Every Breath’, will ensure he remains exalted, and it remains a firm favourite track (on numerous personal slow playlists).
King of Pain is great, Murder By Numbers is very good, but then….
Not a great album.
Never heard this or the band before….
I know that Indie Ears don’t always hear indulgent guitar solos correctly, however I enjoyed this when it thumped along or felt bluesy. I can hear the influence of Cream, and with hindsight how they influenced all the following 70’s blues rock bands.
Favourites;
1. Done Somebody Wrong
2. Stormy Monday
3. Statesboro Blues
Old favourite - original release pilfered from mum and dad’s collection.
A great chill album with oddities (Voices Of Old People/Old Friends) blended with classics (America, Hazy Shade of Winter, At The Zoo), and a best ever filler (Mrs. Robinson (From The Motion Picture "The Graduate")).
10 songs in 33 minutes and it seems 10 of those are chat - which is what this album has left me with, as JC comes across relaxed enthusiastic and funny.
1. Darling Companion
2. A Boy Named Sue
3. San Quentin
10 songs in 33 minutes and it seems 10 of those are chat - which is what this album has left me with, as JC comes across relaxed enthusiastic and funny.
1. Darling Companion
2. A Boy Named Sue
3. San Quentin
Took a couple of listens but once the rhythms sink in it’s a winner.
Best track is Chameleon
Missed out on these guys in noughties…
Despite all the comparisons with history, I think they sound like their contemporaries Gomez, especially with a top Spanish track. Which is high praise.
1. Punchbag
2. A Minha Menina
3. Sweet Like A Champion
Stepping stone album which seems tame upon listening to it after a long time - Whos Next is my go-to.
1. My Generation
2. Please, Please, Please
3. I’m A Man
Nice album. Middle of middle-of-the-road.
1. Gotta Get Up
2. Without You
3. Jump Into The Fire
A couple of listens for these Indie ears to find the funk, but worth it.
1. Pusherman
2. Superfly
3. Give me your love
Personal note; as a 6 year old my dad put my brother and I in the centre of the lounge and arranged the 4 speakers of his new quad system around us and played LZ2…. LZ3;
1. Immigrant Song
2. Since I’ve been loving you
3. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
I should like this (Scouse Liverpool Indie fan), but I do not.
Better tracks;
1. Havana Gang Brawl
2. Railroad
3. You will you won’t
An album pinched from mum and dad, which I heard throuout my childhood. A necessity in every collection.
1. Heart of Gold
2. Old Man
3. Words
Had to take 2 runs at this…’not for me.
Love it!
1. Summers Cauldron
2. Grass
3. Dear God (best song ever contender)
*****
..and I have the cover framed in my dining room.
1. Velour is
2. Is She Weird
3. Dig For Fire
4. The Happening
..and it’s not their best!
Listened through twice, with reading the chronology (1972) makes this interesting if not great. I can understand the adulation, but he has better albums in his quiver.
1. Mother And Child Reunion
2. Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard
3. Peace Like A River
Love it!
Discarded lovers; Carley Simon only had a song for Warren Beatie, whereas here Alanis had a whole album. Surely for her ex, it just Wrexham.
Another Led Zep only 7 albums later…
Too many ordinary and forgettable tunes. Gulf between top and ordinary.
1. Rock And Roll
2. Stairway To Heaven
3. When The Levee Breaks
I think my issue with the new wave of heavy metal banks circa 1980 is the delivery, in that it is uniform and I lose interest. I can understand their fandom, but not for me.
1. Rapid Fire
2. Grinder
3. United
New for me.
First surprised (reggae from Edinburgh), then interested (Ultra Stimulation), and then sold (by Way Of The Explosive) and now looking to get it on vinyl.
Produced by Kevin Bacon of Comsat Angels!
1. Ultra Stimulation
2. The Way Of The Explosive
3. Maverick A Strike (Funk reggae!)
I should love this; Indie Rock, Power Pop, Jangle Pop, Alternative Rock from 1991
I don’t.
Just wall of guitars rhythm so no favourite songs
New to me.
Lovely feel to the album, with some top notch names in the credits (Carol King, Eric Clapton, Bobby Womack, Curtis Mayfield etc)
1. Chain of Fools
2. You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
3. Ain’t No Way (backing vocal wow!)
NB Where is opening track “A New Decade” on the link here?!?
Boring but you can hear the preparation for Urban Hymns (better next album)
1. A new decade
2. History
3. Stormy clouds reprise
Boring - one long similarity
Horrible…
First time I have struggled to get through a 1001 album. Not my thing. Lost interest and couldn’t wait for it to finish.
No favourite songs.
Time and repetition has rendered this elevator music.
Fav track silent night
Second time I listened I had slowed down enough to get the groove. I moved it from a 2 to a 3.
My foot was tapping right from Route 66. Mona is Not Fade Away and Route 66 is on various albums, and there are various track listings for UK and US releases, which is partly band experimentation but mostly marketing. If they keep going from this start they should be good 😁
1. Route 66
2. Little By Little
3. Tell Me (You're Coming Back)
I remember the buzz when this came out and the marmite effect of trying to hear the music through the noise. I don’t know why I didn’t take to it, but I remember a friend going to The Royal Court in Liverpool to see them - he said they tuned up for 20 minutes, took a bow, and left.
1. Just Like Honey
2. Some Candy Talking (not on my album)
3. Never Understand
This album now seems less than what I remembered- as these four tracks are what I remember most and are now the highlights.
1. Lust For Life
2. Sixteen
3. The Passenger
4. Neighborhood Threat
New to me
Not for me.
Not on Spotify - found on YouTube
0:00 - firefly
2:52 - somewhere
5:56 - laughingstock
10:15 - lonely
13:00 - pale skinny girl
16:34 - blue and grey shirt
20:07 - bad liquor
22:05 - now you're defeated
24:35 - jenny
27:17 - western sky
30:35 - highway 5
34:35 - last harbor
New to me.
Green Light is the highlight and I was looking to see how the album would build, but it didn’t. Nice production and glossy presentation, but too ordinary.
I can see and hear the success, but not for me.
1. Green Light
2. Sober II (Melodrama)
3. Perfect Places
New to me except for the single.
Great! 7 tracks that are long enough to feel the funk.
1. P. Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up)
2. Unfunky UFO
3. Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)
I have and listening again I struggle with Pt1, however Pt2 &4 make this my favourite Coltrane.
New to me.
Great loved it!
1. I'll Go Crazy
2. Think
3. Lost Someone (Wow - the screams!)
New to me.
I tried hard - listened twice! But not for me. Do all thrash records sound the same because of the voodoo vocals?
No favourite track but Dawn Patrol seemed a relief.
