No.123: “Poetic Champions Compose” by Van Morrison (1987)
More Van too in the shape of this beautifully made album full of tinkling keys, flowing saxophone and warm, soulful vocals.
No.122: “But Seriously, Folks” by Joe Walsh (1978)
Newly-joined eccentric Eagle Walsh had been around over a decade making his own solo albums, plus those with The James Gang before he released this excellent record. Very Jimmy Buffett-styled in its ‘country-rock for the beach’ attitude to recording, this featured the classic autobiographical track ‘Life’s Been Good’, posted here as a 2012 rendition with The Eagles.
No.121: “Stranger In Town” by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (1978)
And yet another legendary songwriter. Ffosse is gonna love all these today! This is my favourite Bob Seger album (so it’s the last in the list), the first I bought after hearing the massive hits ‘Hollywood Nights’ and ‘We’ve Got Tonight’, plus the gambler’s favourite ‘Still The Same’ and one of the most-played songs on American radio ever ‘Old-Time Rock And Roll’. Even after all those classics, there were still many more wonderful songs on this masterpiece. Couple of videos from San Diego in ’78, plus a 2014 duet with Bruce Springsteen on that massive jukebox hit mentioned earlier.
No.120: “The Road To Hell” by Chris Rea (1989)
And we are ending today with this further great songsmith Chris Rea, with his most famous album. The big, big single (in full-length form here), plus one of the most heart-wrenching ‘ballads’ ever committed to tape in ‘Tell Me There’s A Heaven’. That’s not it for the man though as there are still another two Rea classics to come.
No.119: “The Velvet Underground & Nico” by The Velvet Underground (1967)
An absolute landmark of an album and one which is arguable the most influential record of all time for alternative music. No singles, no hits, no airplay at the time but one hell of an ‘underground’ following, this dark and seedy Andy Warhol-managed New York City band consisting of Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison and Mo Tucker plus guest vocalist Nico were to unleash a future classic with this.
Below are the remarkable songs in video form for the very disturbing ‘Venus In Furs’ and ‘Heroin’, plus a 1967 interview with Lou Reed.
I’ll finish with this one today…
No.118: “Atom Heart Mother” by Pink Floyd (1970)
Following the double part-live ‘experiment’ that was Ummagumma and the soundtrack to the film ‘More’, Pink Floyd laid down what is rightly thought as their foundations for their onslaught of the 1970’s and the untold wonderful music that was to co-habit that decade. The first record to set the scene was this sprawling epic which is still a “first generation” fans’ favourite. The side-long instrumental title track featuring orchestral arrangements, the very strange ‘Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast’ equally as lengthy plus a couple of shorter ditties in ‘Fat Old Sun’ (which David Gilmour reprised on his return visit to Pompeii last year), and the lovely reflective ballad ‘If’. Below are two live songs from the record, plus a 51-minute montage of some early stuff circa 1970-1972.
Back tomorrow night with a storming live set from The Who 
I have always liked Joe Walsh and particularly ‘Life’s been good’
It’s a little known fact that he hired me to play the guitar solo for him. Ok. I made that up. 
Yeah you wish mate, and I sing lead on all the Rolling stones records 
Great song though.
Must check out Bowies Low period Trilogy heavily influenced by Eno and his work, Heroes is one of my favourite tracks.
Atom Heart Mother was a shock at the time, but a major stepping stone in Floyds development.
The Velvets remain as one of the most influential bands ever.
Hi Nom.
It’s a great period in Bowie’s past work, but I know it divided fans of the earlier glam rock works who couldn’t get past his Young Americans phase which they largely dismissed. Low is still to come, as is the album which came in between that disco era and the Berlin trilogy ‘Station To Station’.
I of course wasn’t around at the time, but I regard Atom Heart Mother as being a gradual stepping stone from the more progressive leanings of A Saucerful Of Secrets and the wistful soundtrack work to the really important and special stuff that was to come on meddle, in particular ‘Echoes’.
And I’m with you entirely with The Velvets bud
Great Velvet Underground album - I still listen to them a lot.
They were like no other band. The concert in 1993 was good, too.
The velvets would be 100+ further up my list:)
Played it non stop in 67,much more than Sgt Pepper.
I don’t think John Cale will appear in the future so …
Gun
I love John Cale.
Paris 1919 would feature high on my top 1000.
Any Talking Heads, Floydy?
We’ve had them all now mate. Their first album, plus Remain In Light and Little Creatures. Also the Tom Tom Club’s record earlier on. Can’t tell you where they were as I’m at work but I’ll let you know Friday night
Any interest in those other albums I posted yesterday, apart from the Velvets?
I’m wondering where you’ll find room for the artists to come…all the Pink Floyd, Beatles,Neil Young, Dylan, Led Zep, the Who. Not long 'til the end now.
That’s a good Van Morrison record but there are more to come, I feel.
I never really took to Tusk although I can’t deny it’s a good album. Still, after Rumours you can’t really top that.
Well mate, we’ve had a few from those artists but there are still many more to come. Plenty of room in that magical Top 100
You can’t and I’ll be giving it a lot of space when we see it in here later.
Thanks for your continued interest bud, it’s very much appreciated
Forgive me if there have been some, but I can’t remember if you’ve had any Jethro Tull, like Aqualung.
My favourite Van albums are Into The Music and Moondance - I couldn’t really pick from those which would be my favourite and what order they’d be in a top 100.
That said, Astral Weeks is pretty good too. As is No Guru, No Method, No Teacher.
Stranger In Town is good, and you’re probably right to place it higher than Night Moves.