No.210: “Dire Straits” by Dire Straits (1978)
Continuing with Mark Knopfler, this was Dire Straits’ debut album from the very gifted guitarist with his brother David, bassist John Illsley and drummer pick Withers. The record included the landmark hit ‘Sultans of Swing’ and the line-up was reciprocated on the following record Communique.
No.209: “Woodface” by Crowded House (1991)
After the first Crowded House album, Neil Finn went it alone and this continued until their eventual split around 10 years ago. A great band from New Zealand/Australia who had so many great singles to their name.
No.208: “Live: Under A Blood Red Sky” by U2 (1983)
A famous outdoor event taken from a date on U2’s “War” tour to support that album. This is basically an extended 12” single – or mini-LP featuring eight very lively, politically-charged tracks. Sunday Bloody Sunday here is a classic rendition and is much better than the rather tame album version.
No.207: “Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (2008)
More Cave, more Bad Seeds, more doom-laden gothic rock. Saw them at Sheffield on this tour where cave was in his element with an eight-piece band which reminded me of a kind of chaotic, ramshackle Blockheads performing their craft all over the stage. A great night – plus Richard Hawley was watching from the end of the bar too!
No.206: “Post To Wire” by Richmond Fontaine (2004)
My favourite ‘Americana’ band with their best album. I spoke about them on an earlier inclusion, but Willy Vlautin has an unusual songwriting style whereby he writes as if penning a novel rather than rhyming typically line by line and it works very well in the narrative form.
Saw them on this tour performing at Hull’s Adelphi Club where we shared a drink and a chat with the band.
No.205: “Live In New York City” by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band (2001)
My favourite live album from The Boss is this double CD+DVD recorded at the turn of the century. The band are full-on, Bruce is at his best and they play for over three hours performing all their classic tracks.
No.204: “The Next Day” by David Bowie (2013)
The Next Day appeared without warning or any publicity whatsoever from nowhere in 2013 via a video shown around the world’s news stations of the new and very bizarre single. The album was reassuringly much better however and became in sad hindsight, Bowie’s penultimate release.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71Fj0m9WglL.SX355.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWtsV50_-p4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02BXbobS_mY
No.203: “Crime Of The Century” by Supertramp (1974)
One of Supertramp’s best records. band leaders Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies fully on form with their unique brand of classy, melodic prog.
A couple more to go until we get to the 200-mark.
Not surprising as Willy Vlautin as written some very good novels
Hi Solo,
Yes, I’ve read two of his novels. His first, ‘Lean On Pete’ I thought was rather amateurish, but ‘The Motel Life’ was excellent.
He started one of his books with the line “You know you’re having a bad day when your drug dealer runs off with your girlfriend, and while you’re out trying to find them your house burns down with your dog in it!” Brilliant!
Might as well chuck these final two on before we start during the week on the final 200…
No.202: “Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1” by George Michael (1990)
Following the huge success of the post-Wham! Faith album three years earlier, George Michael added a massive slice of maturity to his songwriting and brought us this superb album. Well played, highly-polished songs and another big hit album featuring at least five hits.
No.201: “Another Side Of Bob Dylan” by Bob Dylan (1964)
Casually knocking out songs now like there was no tomorrow, Bob Dylan released his second album of 1964 with this fine record. many future classics were to be sealed as he moved slightly away from strictly folk music and towards that famous Newport Festival event and the subsequent Manchester Free Trade Hall infamy of the ‘electric concert’.
Four songs from this album were covered by The Byrds including their second hit ‘All I Really Want To Do’.
Okay, I’m pretty much well ahead of schedule with this chart. It’s the middle of April and my goal was to have the whole thing signed, sealed and delivered by the end of May when I go on my hols.
Even though that might still happen, I’m thinking of perhaps slowing down a touch due to a few reasons, the main one being I do not want to be frantically posting this stuff when it’s nice outside in my precious few afternoons I have. The other reason is that I want to spend more time on the final Top 100 without rushing things, intending to post no more than three albums per day from that last segment.
But we’ll see how things go, what the weather’s like and where we are at in, say, a month’s time. TBD in other words.
Thanks for your continued interest, an update coming up of the 50 albums we’ve had since last week.
250-201:
250-AC/DC-Live At Donington ‘91-1991
249-DAVID GILMOUR-On An Island-2006
248-JOURNEY-Evolution-1979
247-BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-Nebraska-1982
246-PINK FLOYD-Ummagumma-1969
245-BLUE NILE-Peace At Last-1996
244-JOURNEY-Departure-1980
243-NEW ORDER-Power, Corruption & Lies-1983
242-THIN LIZZY-Live And Dangerous-1978
241-DAVID BOWIE-Lodger-1979
240-BILLY JOEL-Glass Houses-1980
239-ALAN PARSONS PROJECT-Ammonia Avenue-1984
238-BEATLES-Beatles For Sale-1964
237-SMITHS-Hatful Of Hollow-1984
236-BRUCE HORNSBY & THE RANGE-The Way It Is-1986
235-TUBEWAY ARMY-Tubeway Army-1978
234-SMITHS-The Queen Is Dead-1986
233-SIMON & GARFUNKEL-The Concert In Central Park (Live)-1981
232-TIM MOORE-Tim Moore-1974
231-LYNYRD SKYNYRD-Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd-1973
230-HEAVEN 17-Penthouse & Pavement-1981
229-DAVID BOWIE-Heathen-2002
228-MANIC STREET PREACHERS-Everything Must Go-1996
227-SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES-The Scream-1978
226-YES-Going For The One-1977
225-TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS-Damn The Torpedoes-1979
224-JOURNEY-Frontiers-1983
223-DAVID GILMOUR-Live At Pompeii-2017
222-BEATLES-The Beatles (‘White Album’)-1968
221-YES-Keys To Ascension (Live)-1996
220-WINGS-Band On The Run-1974
219-PAUL SIMON-Graceland-1986
218-PHIL COLLINS-Face Value-1981
217-R.E.M.-Green-1988
216-IRON MAIDEN-The Number Of The Beast-1982
215-NEIL YOUNG-Harvest Moon-1992
214-CHRIS REA-Blue Guitars-2005
213-SIMON & GARFUNKEL-Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme-1966
212-ROLLING STONES-Sticky Fingers-1971
211-MARK KNOPFLER-Local Hero (Soundtrack)-1983
210-DIRE STRAITS-Dire Straits-1978
209-CROWDED HOUSE-Woodface-1991
208-U2-Live Under A Blood Red Sky-1983
207-NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS-Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!-2008
206-RICHMOND FONTAINE-Post To Wire-2004
205-BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND-Live In New York City-2001
204-DAVID BOWIE-The Next Day-2013
203-SUPERTRAMP-Crime Of The Century-1974
202-GEORGE MICHAEL-Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1-1990
201-BOB DYLAN-Another Side Of Bob Dylan-1964
Did you cry when you heard this.
Neil young Kraftwerk wannabe AKA Gary Numan understudy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=/vgjnHdsQFZM
Sorry evil me buoyant from defeat of cockanee tribe and fullof falling down water. :twisted: :twisted:
I’ve got that album, as I have nearly all of Neil Young’s output and I have to say Nom, that’s it’s pretty dreadful isn’t it? I know he’s a pretty erratic character at the best of times but what on earth was he thinking??
Probably his worst album, save for the diabolical Hawks And Doves from 1980.
http://www.ewweb.com/sites/ewweb.com/files/gallery_promo_image/EW-Top-200-Box-2016-Rev_595x335_BLACK.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/96/99/8e/96998e1d641d86a5a3a52991b11cba36.jpg
Soon…
Have not been to a record fair for years, used to haunt junk shops and jumble sales,real bargains to be found.
Same here Nom. One of the things on my list when I get back onto working days is to start collecting vinyl again and hunting through record fairs. We’ll see how the funds are…
the reason me me working nights in the first place is to repay a huge loan caused in the most part by being too impulsive with my record buying!:shock:
I had .to leave half, my collection when i divorced. Hurt me badly to be separated from something i loved, but yo can always find new sounds. :)
