Last one from me today, from Mr. Stuart Goddard and his Antpeople: No.955: “Kings Of The Wild Frontier” by Adam & The Ants (1980)
An album which has dated somewhat but I include it because it has the dubious memory of being the first album I bought on [I]cassette/I
After languishing in the punk wilderness for a couple of hit and miss albums, Mr. Ant struck gold with this record which featured the double-drumming of the title track plus Dog Eat Dog and this one, Antmusic.
Over to you guys with any comments about today’s selections…
Well I can tell you that five of those seven albums are in my list, so we share some common ground here with our musical tastes. Boston have four albums in my list for instance, one very high up.
Sadly I can’t share your enthusiasm about UB40. I can’t stomach Ali Campbell’s nasal vocal chords, but they mean well with their reggae covers for the masses I guess!
The Proclaimers I can take or leave, although if I was doing a singles or tracks rundown, Sunshine On Leith would be a high entry. Beautiful song.
No.954: “Countdown To Ecstasy” by Steely Dan (1974)
The very cerebral Steely Dan with their pleasant jazz-rock fusions. More from them throughout the list, but for now here’s ‘My Old School’ from this album:
Boston band Aerosmith fronted by Steve Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry have the classic love-hate musical relationship, but when they do get it together they rock and roll like the best of 'em. Talking of classics…
All you need to know about arguably the biggest heavy rock band of them all, Highway To Hell. Bon Scott at his wild, maniacal best. Classic band, classic album sleeve, classic video:
Moving rather swiftly on to something entirely different, Visage was Steve Strange and Midge Ure’s other band’s project which evolved into a short-lived but very important part of the “new romantics” scene of the early 80’s. Highly influenced of course by Gary Numan’s then recent success with Bowie-styles electronica, this single is easily their best known song:
Those were the first fifty albums, in other words 1/20th of the complete list. Here’s a concise refresher.
It’s not bad going since I only started the run down ten days ago. There’s no rush though, as long as people are interested I reckon we can progress with this format until we get to the real heavyweights in the top 100 when I’ll be looking at each album in greater depth.
To be continued tomorrow
1000-BOB DYLAN-Planet Waves-1974
999-DONOVAN & THE JEFF BECK GROUP-Barabajagal-1969
998-BLACK MOODS-Medicine-2016
997-DEAD KENNEDYS-Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables-1980
996-CLANNAD-Magical Ring-1983
995-EPICA-We Will Take You With Us-2004
994-VACCINES-What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?-2011
993-PETE BROWN & HIS BATTERED ORNAMENTS-A Meal You Can Shake Hands With In The Dark-1969
992-PSYCHEDELIC FURS-Mirror Moves-1984
991-MANFRED MANN’S EARTH BAND-Watch-1978
990-BLUES BROTHERS/VARIOUS-The Blues Brothers (Soundtrack)-1980
989-PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING-Every Valley-2017
988-ARLO GUTHRIE-Alice’s Restaurant-1967
987-ALL ABOUT EVE-Scarlet And Other Stories-1988
986-ALISON KRAUSS-Windy City-2017
985-BOB SMITH-The Visit-1970
984-CAT STEVENS-Majicat (‘Earth Tour’ ’76)-1976
983-IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY-It’s A Beautiful Day-1969
982-EARTH & FIRE-Earth & Fire-1970
981-ATOMIC ROOSTER-Death Walks Behind You-1970
980-BLACK KEYS-El Camino-2011
979-BLUE MOUNTAIN EAGLE-Blue Mountain Eagle-1970
978-ANDERSON BRUFORD WAKEMAN HOWE-Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe-1989
977-BLACK GRAPE-It’s Great When You’re Straight…Yeah-1995
976-TANITA TIKARAM-Ancient Heart-1988
975-SCOTT WALKER-Bish Bosch-2012
974-BAND OF HORSES-Everything All The Time-2006
973-ALEX CHILTON-Alex Chilton-1970
972-DEEP PURPLE-Concerto For Group And Orchestra-1969
971-MEAT LOAF-Welcome To The Neighbourhood-1995
970-BEAUTIFUL SOUTH-0898-1992
969-KEANE-Perfect Symmetry-2008
968-COLDPLAY-A Head Full Of Dreams-2016
967-TIM ROSE-Tim Rose-1967
966-BLACKBERRY SMOKE-Like An Arrow-2016
965-BECK, BOGERT & APPICE-Working Version-1974
964-GREEN DAY-American Idiot-2004
963-AL GREEN-Call Me-1973
962-SAVOY BROWN-Blue Matter-1969
961-LAURA MARLING-Once I Was An Eagle-2013
960-GROUNDHOGS-Split-1971
959-AFTER THE FIRE-Laser Love-1979
958-CLASH-Give ‘Em Enough Rope-1978
957-DAVID BOWIE-Earthling-1997
956-YES-Relayer-1974
955-ADAM & THE ANTS-Kings Of The Wild Frontier-1980
954-STEELY DAN-Countdown To Ecstasy-1973
953-AEROSMITH-Pump-1989
952-AC/DC-Highway To Hell-1979
951-VISAGE-Visage-1980
Ahhh the glorious heady, fuzzy days of 1967. All hippy dippy and smokin’…various wacky backy, etcetera (so I’m told).
The Smoke were one of many such bands who were either dabbling in said substances or they were high as a kite on something stronger (mushrooms, LSD, who knows?). Whatever it was, their music didin’t suffer too much, as this little gem of a psychedelic trip proves:
One of the forerunners of the punk movement who blended their thrash guitar sensibilities with pure Beatles-esque power pop to end up with a series of well-crafted new-wave classics. Love Bites was full of these teenage lovelorn ditties but suffered somewhat for only including this one great single (however, other singles such as ‘Promises’ and ‘What Do I Get’ were added on later reissues). But this will do for now:
When legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore temporarily vacated Deep Purple, his next project was Rainbow. A more concise, rock-pop version of his former band, lead vocals on Down To Earth were supplied by ex-Marbles singer Graham Bonnet. My favourite track on this album was the single ‘All Night Long’, but perhaps the best-known is this slice of heavy rock perfection:
