No.314: “London 0 Hull 4” by The Housemartins (1986)
A personal one for me this being from Hull. I lived along the same road as members of this band and used to drink in their local pub down Grafton Street in West Hull. I used to go to music quizzes a long time ago and a local four-piece band also used to turn up at the quiz and my team would often end up going head to head with The Housemartins (as they called their team too) until they suddenly became famous and had to go out on the road. The rest is history and this short-lived band (just two albums) took the charts by storm with their witty view on life, although Paul heaton could be very political at times. It couldn’t last and they grew apart musically and split amicably. Norman Cook went on to great things as a dance music legend, Heaton of course formed The Beautiful South, bassist Stan Cullimore became a children’s novelist and Drummer Hugh Whittaker spent a spell in jail for attacking somebody with a hammer! Happy days all.
No.313: “Reckless” by Bryan Adams (1985)
After two moderately successful albums, Canadian blue collar rocker Adams was in the right place at the right time in the mid-80’s with Reckless the album, fitting in perfectly with the sounds of that era, and coinciding with a Philadelphia slot at Live Aid only helped to push him into the big-name league.
This album spawned no less than seven hit singles, three of which are noted below. The others included the duet with Tina Turner ‘It’s Only Love’, ‘Somebody’, ‘Kids Wanna Rock’ and the now karaoke everyman song 'Summer Of ‘69’. Great things were to come for Adams as he still very popular (although he has thrown out some turgid dross since). For now let’s remember these true rock classics:
You know something Ffosse, I believe I’ve made a massive error there. I love his stuff and have quite a few albums, but now I’m realising that I have somehow missed him out entirely!
Can’t believe this tbh
No problem at all, Ffosse. It’s my glaring omission I should have taken more care.
I can’t be amending my list though, that wouldn’t be right, so I thing as compensation we can show two posts with three videos each of some of Ryan Adams’ songs chosen at random - included two live concerts.
Enjoy bud
No.312: “Space Oddity” by David Bowie (1969)
Two sleeves are shown below for this album, the songs are unchanged.
Following David’s Anthony Newley obsession with his comical earlier songs under his real name of David Jones, Bowie would become a serious songwriter with this album. Including some really well-crafted originals, the single of the same name became his first hit peaking at No.5 in 1969. However, it was a good three years before Bowie would trouble the chart again, even though he released two brilliant albums in between - Hunky Dory and The man Who Sold The World. All because ‘Space oddity’ was classed as a novelty record!
Below is that song’s original video, plus a collage of the final track from the album ‘Memory Of A Free Festival’.
No.311: “On Every Street” bu Dire Straits (1991)
On Every Street was Dire Straits’ final studio album, Mark Knopfler having had enough of touring the world in favour of doing things more serenely with handfuls of solo dates to support his own string of excellent albums.
They bowed out with a very good record though, the first single ‘Calling Elvis’ apart. Title song, plus a live version of the gorgeous ‘You And Your Friend’:
No.310: “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison (1971)
Grumpy old bugger Ivan George Morrison with his perfectly-worded songcraft shone through on this early 70’s release, where he released a string of very personal albums shunning the limelight completely.
Two songs: The title track, plus a live rendition of ‘Wild Night’ (later covered by John Mellencamp).
No.309: “Arc Of A Diver” by Steve Winwood (1980)
Ex-Spencer Davis Group, ex-Traffic, Ex-Blind Faith, periodic touring companion of Eric Clapton. Steve Winwood, the unassuming, good-natured singer-songwriter with a voice like one of the greatest black soul singers has been around over fifty years now and still brings out ultra classy music. Arc Of A Diver features many fine songs but this one is one of the finest:
No.308: “Wild Wood” by Paul Weller (1993)
Paul Weller pulled his finger out for his second solo album Wild Wood. His debut release had come off the tail end of the rather bereft and banal latter end of The Style Council’s dregs and he need to sharpen up his act again or risk fading away quietly.
But The Modfather doesn’t do “quietly” and although this album was quiet mostly in sound and aura, it has flashed of brilliance amongst it’s mellow, mostly acoustic tracks. A very competent release and one of the best in Weller’s solo collection.
No.307: “Fire And Water” by Free (1970)
I think most would agree that this is the best Free album. Apart from including that perennial classic ‘All Night Now’ (the selection below performed at the Isle Of Wight Festival) it was the band at their finest before Paul Kossoff’s drug problems took hold and led to the band folding in a whimper, reforming in part as Bad Company.
No.306: “Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)” by Gary Numan (2013)
I think by now you will have deduced that I am quite a big fan of Gary Numan. This is a long-term groupie-type thing as he was from my era of collecting records and I have followed his stuff ever since. He brought out some terrible records in the mid-80’s to late 90’s when he tried to compete and get along with the dance/indie music scene but in latter years he’s found his mark again with a proper rock band to release a succession of superb albums. Take my word for it.
Last one tonight. Tomorrow we will reach the magical Top 300!
Here’s Bruce to sign off with…
No.305: “Tunnel Of Love” by Bruce Springsteen (1987)
Following the tremendous bombast of what was Born In The USA and it’s huge two-year tour, Bruce Springsteen needed to take things easy (or easier) with this “proper songwriter’s album”. Not that Born In The USA wasn’t, it was a classic, but on its follow-up Springsteen was quite happy to take a more reflective look at issues concerning his own life as a mature adult, rather than the high school shenanigans of the former record.
I saw him and the E Street Band on this tour (in Sheffield) in 1988 and as usual he put on the most amazing three-hour plus concert, involving everyone and having a whale of a time. leave you with two of the singles videos plus a live duet with Sting of the earlier classic ‘The River’ from this tour.
After this thread I’ll be having a summer break from the forum, perhaps even longer. I need to get my life back on track. When I visit and post into the many threads started by others, hearing their views, listening to their stories and offering my best wishes and so on, it’s a shame they don’t reciprocate by joining in this one, only to say they are not interested would be a start!
Thanks to the regular set of posters who make this thread enjoyable, but when I weigh up the efforts I spend posting all this, it’s simply not worth my time to do anything like this again. As I say, I’m committed to this now so I’ll continue until the end but then I’ll be gone.
Props for Steve Winwood (very under-rated) and that’s about where I’d place Tunnel Of Love (was watching the video to Tougher Than The Rest last night.
The albums just get better and better the higher up you go.
