As I reported last year, it is traditional for me with a group of friends to exchange CD's containing what we each consider to be among the best music of the year. The discs are now burned and exchanged and you can see my selection below.
1. None The Wiser - Chris Wood
2. No Destruction - Foxygen
3. Another Small Thing In Her Favour - Richard Thompson
4. Burnin' it Down - Steve Earle
5. The Bell - Villagers
6. Different Day - Jason Isbell
7. Ever Loved Once - Blitzen Trapper
8. Fragment Two - These New Puritans
9. Take The Night Off - Laura Marling
10. Scared To Live - Gov't Mule (with Toots Hibbert)
11. Early Days - Paul McCartney
12. Lament - Mount Moriah
13. Sufferer (Love My Conquerer) - Hiss Golden Messenger
14. Another One (Oh Maybelline) - Pere Ubu
15. Tam Lin - Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer
16. We No Who UR - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
17. The Raven That Refused To Sing - Steven Wilson
That done, it just remains for me to wish you all a very happy and healthy 2014.
I hope to see you back here early in the New Year.
Monday, 30 December 2013
Monday, 23 December 2013
Best Albums of 2013 - My Top Six
It has been quite a difficult task coming up with my absolute favourite albums of 2013; it truly has been a wonderful year for new (and reissued) music. Now it has finally come to the point where tradition dictates I should name the ones that come top of the pile, the deciding criteria being which new albums have occupied most of my listening time this year. In the end it comes down to the following six.
To place these six albums into some kind of order is also difficult for I am sure that whatever sequence I come up with today, I may disagree with tomorrow and to quote David Bowie, 'and the next day and the day after that'.
Anyway, this is the White Room top six (in reverse order) for 2013.
6. 'Haw' by Hiss Golden Messenger.
I wrote about this album in May and you can read my thoughts here.
5. '[Awayland]' by The Villagers.
This was written about way back in January and my prediction that it would feature among my favourites was accurate. Read my thoughts here.
4. 'We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic' by Foxygen.
My thoughts on this work appeared on these pages in July. Read them here.
3. 'VII' by Blitzen Trapper.
One of my favourite bands of the past ten years didn't disappoint with this offering. Yes, of course you can read my opinions here.
2. 'The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)' by Steven Wilson.
It was a very close run thing for first place this year. I love this album and on any other day it may have clinched the top spot. If you wish, feel free to read more here.
1. 'Field Of Reeds' by These New Puritans.
I don't see this album finishing top of any other list this year, though to be fair it has featured in the lower extremes of some magazine lists. There is no doubt that this is less accessible than other albums in my own list, yet it is for that very reason that I have decided to award it first prize this year. The band are not seeking any commercial route to stardom but are bravely ploughing their own furrow, creating music which is challenging yet immensely rewarding for those prepared to stick with it. This is an album that will stick with me for many years and which one day may be looked back on as a true classic.
You can of course read my original thoughts here.
That's all until after Christmas but here's wishing you a very happy holiday.
Cheers!
To place these six albums into some kind of order is also difficult for I am sure that whatever sequence I come up with today, I may disagree with tomorrow and to quote David Bowie, 'and the next day and the day after that'.
Anyway, this is the White Room top six (in reverse order) for 2013.
6. 'Haw' by Hiss Golden Messenger.
I wrote about this album in May and you can read my thoughts here.
5. '[Awayland]' by The Villagers.
This was written about way back in January and my prediction that it would feature among my favourites was accurate. Read my thoughts here.
4. 'We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic' by Foxygen.
My thoughts on this work appeared on these pages in July. Read them here.
3. 'VII' by Blitzen Trapper.
One of my favourite bands of the past ten years didn't disappoint with this offering. Yes, of course you can read my opinions here.
2. 'The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)' by Steven Wilson.
It was a very close run thing for first place this year. I love this album and on any other day it may have clinched the top spot. If you wish, feel free to read more here.
1. 'Field Of Reeds' by These New Puritans.
I don't see this album finishing top of any other list this year, though to be fair it has featured in the lower extremes of some magazine lists. There is no doubt that this is less accessible than other albums in my own list, yet it is for that very reason that I have decided to award it first prize this year. The band are not seeking any commercial route to stardom but are bravely ploughing their own furrow, creating music which is challenging yet immensely rewarding for those prepared to stick with it. This is an album that will stick with me for many years and which one day may be looked back on as a true classic.
You can of course read my original thoughts here.
That's all until after Christmas but here's wishing you a very happy holiday.
Cheers!
Friday, 20 December 2013
Books#8 - A Village Lost And Found by Brian May & Elena Vidal
As photography became more popular during the 19th century, so too did the development of what we today call 3D photographs. Back then, they were known simply as stereo pictures.
One exponent of that art was Thomas Richard (T.R.) Williams, who in the 1850's took a whole series of stereo photographs of one village. These were published as a series of cards, each card bearing two (almost) identical pictures which when viewed in a certain way, or more easily using a simple piece of equipment, brought the pictures together as a single 3D image.
A certain Brian May (yes that is the Queen guitarist) became passionate about these images as a child and has spent a lot of time trying to obtain a full set of these cards. As the name of the village was never disclosed by Williams, it also became something of an obsession for May to discover the location.
Through publishing a picture of the village church on the internet he uncovered a secret that had been kept for 150 years. The village in question was Hinton Waldrist in Oxfordshire though when the photographs were taken, it was part of Berkshire, the county boundaries having since changed.
Working together with photohistorian Elena Vidal, Brian May produced a book which like the images, is a thing of beauty.
Inside a sturdy cardboard slipcase is the book itself and another slim folder which houses the fold-away OWL stereoscope image viewer. Within the book, the authors present a detailed description and background to stereo photography, beautiful reproductions and details of each card in the series, a biography of T.R. Williams and details of how interested readers can take their own stereo pictures.
Having a passion for the English countryside and unspoiled villages, as well as a deep interest in all things historic, I find this book absolutely fascinating and working my way through the pages is a little like taking a step back in time and strolling through a typical English village seeing it as my great great grandparents might have.
The text that accompanies the pictures enhances the experience by highlighting and explaining details one might otherwise miss. For example, as the original photographs were taken using only one camera which after the exposure of the first frame was then moved a few inches to one side for the second frame, the time delay meant that all was not always quite the same in the second photo. Someone in the shot might move, or a gust of wind might cause movement in an item of clothing. Such occurrences make for some interesting features in some of the photographs. They are all part of the fun and enjoyment of this book and I recommend it very highly.
So highly do I regard this book, that having recently become aware of another similar book co-written by Brian May, I have placed my order. The subject of this latest book is Les Diableries, a rare and sensational series of visionary dioramas set in Hell. There will be more of that in these pages in due course I am sure.
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Beatles Bootleg Recordings 1963
There have been rumblings in the press and online for several weeks but more recently the reports appear to have become confirmed. The Beatles were to release via iTunes, 59 recordings from 1963 which up to now had never been officially released in any format.
Of course we all know that this bit of subterfuge is simply to prevent these very same 50 year old recordings from falling into the public domain and thus being available for release by all and sundry. We weren't under any illusions, yet as Beatles fans, we were still excited at the prospect of being able to purchase these recordings legally and if rumours are to be believed, in improved sound quality.
And so yesterday (17th December) the day dawned when this 'official' bootleg album would be available for sale. I eagerly logged into iTunes and...... NOTHING!
It turns out that similar scenarios were being played out all around the world and consequently it was almost possible to follow the progress of the release through online message boards and news bulletins. There were rumours that it had briefly appeared earlier in the UK but had been taken down. Stories emanated that it was only available in New Zealand. And so it went on for several hours.
Then, at about 14.00 hours GMT, the recordings became available in the UK at the rather extortionate price of £34.99. This for recordings which have all been available for many years on various bootleg albums. Corporate greed strikes again!
Of course I realise now, that I should not have been surprised. After all it is this kind of callous marketing and total disregard of the requirements of the record buying public that have caused the bootleg industry to flourish. In recent years we have even witnessed the record industry catch on to this and begin to issue what they term, official bootlegs. A prime example obviously being the Bootleg Series of Bob Dylan recordings.
As we were tired of being messed about yesterday, some friends and I decided to strike back. Rather than all of us fork out our cash to feed the coffers of those who are already wealthy, we agreed that one of us would purchase the album download and the rest of us would pay a proportionate amount for our own copy.
The little man strikes back!
Of course we all know that this bit of subterfuge is simply to prevent these very same 50 year old recordings from falling into the public domain and thus being available for release by all and sundry. We weren't under any illusions, yet as Beatles fans, we were still excited at the prospect of being able to purchase these recordings legally and if rumours are to be believed, in improved sound quality.And so yesterday (17th December) the day dawned when this 'official' bootleg album would be available for sale. I eagerly logged into iTunes and...... NOTHING!
It turns out that similar scenarios were being played out all around the world and consequently it was almost possible to follow the progress of the release through online message boards and news bulletins. There were rumours that it had briefly appeared earlier in the UK but had been taken down. Stories emanated that it was only available in New Zealand. And so it went on for several hours.
Then, at about 14.00 hours GMT, the recordings became available in the UK at the rather extortionate price of £34.99. This for recordings which have all been available for many years on various bootleg albums. Corporate greed strikes again!
Of course I realise now, that I should not have been surprised. After all it is this kind of callous marketing and total disregard of the requirements of the record buying public that have caused the bootleg industry to flourish. In recent years we have even witnessed the record industry catch on to this and begin to issue what they term, official bootlegs. A prime example obviously being the Bootleg Series of Bob Dylan recordings.
As we were tired of being messed about yesterday, some friends and I decided to strike back. Rather than all of us fork out our cash to feed the coffers of those who are already wealthy, we agreed that one of us would purchase the album download and the rest of us would pay a proportionate amount for our own copy.
The little man strikes back!
Monday, 16 December 2013
Best Albums of 2013 - The Contenders
I have said it in earlier posts this year, but I really do believe that 2013 has been an exceptional year for new music. Consequently making my decisions as to the best (ie my favourite) albums of the year has been particularly difficult. For me the year began on a high note with the release of 'Lady From Shanghai' by Pere Ubu and 'Electric' by Richard Thompson. and my enjoyment of both albums was enhanced by seeing both of these acts live in the first half of the year.
You can read my thoughts on the Richard Thompson album here and on Pere Ubu here.
The prolific Nick Cave maintained his own high standards with 'Push The Sky Away' while David Bowie surprised everyone, myself included, by returning to the studios and treating us all to 'The Next Day' an album which quite rightly is appearing in many 'Best Of' lists this year. Another of my long time favourites, Steve Earle, took us on a tour of an American landscape with which he appeared to be less than enamoured. The result was 'The Low Highway'. Yet another favourite in the so-called Americana genre is Jason Isbell and he didn't disappoint with 'Southeastern'.
Last year the prize for White Room favourite went to Anais Mitchell for her marvellous album 'Young Man in America'. This year in collaboration with Jefferson Hamer, Ms Mitchell delved into the murky past of British folk music with a small sample of 'Child Ballads'. These songs have been performed and recorded by hundreds of artists, yet rarely I feel, with such beauty and tenderness.
I was intrigued to find out how Midlake would adapt to the loss of their lead singer and songwriter, Tim Smith. For me they have never been able to reproduce the brilliance of their second album, 'The Trials of Van Occupanther'. With 'Antiphon' they have delivered something of a slow burner which possibly explains why it has not made my top six. It is still working it's way into my psyche and is an album that I may find easier to evaluate in six months time.
There was obviously a huge amount of expectation (and hype) surrounding the release of 'Reflektor' by The Arcade Fire. They have now become one of the world's biggest bands, able to sell out large arenas at the drop of a hat. And perhaps for me, that is the problem as I have a tendency to drift away from acts as soon as they are on the brink of mega-stardom. Nevertheless I was eagerly anticipating this year's release and don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed the album. Yet, it doesn't quite hit the spot that their early releases did when I found them to be fresh and exciting. That might say more about me, but whatever the reason, they have not made it into the White Room top six.
Anyone who has been a regular or even an occasional reader of these pages will not have failed to notice that I am a HUGE fan of The Beatles. Yet, I have never been much of a fan of the solo work of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison or Starr. Paul McCartney has of course written some fine songs yet there has always been a side to his songwriting that I have found rather twee. This remains the case with his latest album 'New', however there is enough very good material for me to make the claim that I think this might just possibly be his best solo work ever. The number of people of his generation who can continue to write songs and produce albums of this standard, is sadly dwindling. Macca deserves credit for having the energy and the ability to produce this sort of stuff after 50 years (and counting).
Other 2013 albums which are also worthy of mention are:-
'None The Wiser' by Chris Wood
'Shout!' by Gov't Mule
'Til Yor River Runs Dry' by Eric Burdon
'Mount Moriah' by Mount Moriah
'MCII' by Mikal Cronin
'II' by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
'Magpie & The Dandelion' by The Avett Brothers
'Man & Myth' by Roy Harper
'Monomania' by Deerhunter
'Once I Was An Eagle' by Laura Marling
'The Terror' by The Flaming Lips.
Phew! I told you it had been a great year.
Still the White Room Top Six to be announced. Yes I did say SIX. These are the albums which for me deserve special mention this year. Watch this space.
You can read my thoughts on the Richard Thompson album here and on Pere Ubu here.
The prolific Nick Cave maintained his own high standards with 'Push The Sky Away' while David Bowie surprised everyone, myself included, by returning to the studios and treating us all to 'The Next Day' an album which quite rightly is appearing in many 'Best Of' lists this year. Another of my long time favourites, Steve Earle, took us on a tour of an American landscape with which he appeared to be less than enamoured. The result was 'The Low Highway'. Yet another favourite in the so-called Americana genre is Jason Isbell and he didn't disappoint with 'Southeastern'.
Last year the prize for White Room favourite went to Anais Mitchell for her marvellous album 'Young Man in America'. This year in collaboration with Jefferson Hamer, Ms Mitchell delved into the murky past of British folk music with a small sample of 'Child Ballads'. These songs have been performed and recorded by hundreds of artists, yet rarely I feel, with such beauty and tenderness.
I was intrigued to find out how Midlake would adapt to the loss of their lead singer and songwriter, Tim Smith. For me they have never been able to reproduce the brilliance of their second album, 'The Trials of Van Occupanther'. With 'Antiphon' they have delivered something of a slow burner which possibly explains why it has not made my top six. It is still working it's way into my psyche and is an album that I may find easier to evaluate in six months time.
Anyone who has been a regular or even an occasional reader of these pages will not have failed to notice that I am a HUGE fan of The Beatles. Yet, I have never been much of a fan of the solo work of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison or Starr. Paul McCartney has of course written some fine songs yet there has always been a side to his songwriting that I have found rather twee. This remains the case with his latest album 'New', however there is enough very good material for me to make the claim that I think this might just possibly be his best solo work ever. The number of people of his generation who can continue to write songs and produce albums of this standard, is sadly dwindling. Macca deserves credit for having the energy and the ability to produce this sort of stuff after 50 years (and counting).
Other 2013 albums which are also worthy of mention are:-
'None The Wiser' by Chris Wood
'Shout!' by Gov't Mule
'Til Yor River Runs Dry' by Eric Burdon
'Mount Moriah' by Mount Moriah
'MCII' by Mikal Cronin
'II' by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
'Magpie & The Dandelion' by The Avett Brothers
'Man & Myth' by Roy Harper
'Monomania' by Deerhunter
'Once I Was An Eagle' by Laura Marling
'The Terror' by The Flaming Lips.
Phew! I told you it had been a great year.
Still the White Room Top Six to be announced. Yes I did say SIX. These are the albums which for me deserve special mention this year. Watch this space.
Monday, 9 December 2013
The Best Album Re-Releases of 2013
Well, here we are in December already. Where has this bloody year gone I wonder?
It is therefore time to turn my attention to what I consider the best album releases of the year, but the White Room rules clearly state that I can only include new albums, not reissues regardless of how well they have been remixed, remastered or repackaged. So the following represent those albums that cannot feature in my final 'best of 2013' list.
It has been a great year for new albums but likewise it has been pretty wonderful for reissues also.
Early in the year, Family marked their 40th anniversary live reunion with a boxed set of all of their seven studio albums plus a live album from 1970, three singles and two CD's of alternate versions and studio outtakes. All nicely packaged with a 70 odd page book.
You can read my thoughts here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/box-sets-4-family-once-upon-time.html
and here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/family-once-upon-time-hands-on-verdict.html
Bob Dylan reissued what many consider one of his worst ever albums, yet 'Another Self Portrait' demonstrated that stripped of all the adornments that helped to ruin the original album, there were some very fine songs there. Additionally this package was boosted by the inclusion of some alternate versions of songs which later featured on 'New Morning'.
And speaking of Dylan, The Band brought out 'Live at The Academy of Music 1971' a four CD set which documented all of their performances at that venue in '71. If you can bear the repeated performances of various songs, there are some absolute gems in there.
In an earlier post which can be read here - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/box-sets-7-john-martyn-island-years.html
I reported on the release of an 18 disc box set of all of John Martyn's recordings on the Island label. Plus an additional live DVD. Expensive but wonderful. (And I did grab myself a bit of a bargain with that one).
It has been a wonderful year for Beatles fans what with the voluminous 1st part of 'All These Years' by Mark Lewisohn (I am still working my way through the deluxe edition). Nineteen years after the release of 'Live at The BBC', the second volume, 'On Air' has been issued. While it may not be quite as essential as the first volume, it is still a fascinating piece of history and makes for some great listening. After all it is The Beatles!
However..... the absolute prize for the best reissue set of 2013 just HAS (in my opinion) to go to 'Hidden Masters' a six CD box set covering the career of Jess Roden. You can read my thoughts on that here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/jess-roden-hidden-masters.html
and here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/box-sets-6-hidden-masters-jess-roden.html
Look out soon for the White Room best albums of 2013.
See ya.
It is therefore time to turn my attention to what I consider the best album releases of the year, but the White Room rules clearly state that I can only include new albums, not reissues regardless of how well they have been remixed, remastered or repackaged. So the following represent those albums that cannot feature in my final 'best of 2013' list.
It has been a great year for new albums but likewise it has been pretty wonderful for reissues also.
Early in the year, Family marked their 40th anniversary live reunion with a boxed set of all of their seven studio albums plus a live album from 1970, three singles and two CD's of alternate versions and studio outtakes. All nicely packaged with a 70 odd page book.
You can read my thoughts here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/box-sets-4-family-once-upon-time.html
and here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/family-once-upon-time-hands-on-verdict.html
Bob Dylan reissued what many consider one of his worst ever albums, yet 'Another Self Portrait' demonstrated that stripped of all the adornments that helped to ruin the original album, there were some very fine songs there. Additionally this package was boosted by the inclusion of some alternate versions of songs which later featured on 'New Morning'.
And speaking of Dylan, The Band brought out 'Live at The Academy of Music 1971' a four CD set which documented all of their performances at that venue in '71. If you can bear the repeated performances of various songs, there are some absolute gems in there.
In an earlier post which can be read here - http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/box-sets-7-john-martyn-island-years.html
I reported on the release of an 18 disc box set of all of John Martyn's recordings on the Island label. Plus an additional live DVD. Expensive but wonderful. (And I did grab myself a bit of a bargain with that one).
It has been a wonderful year for Beatles fans what with the voluminous 1st part of 'All These Years' by Mark Lewisohn (I am still working my way through the deluxe edition). Nineteen years after the release of 'Live at The BBC', the second volume, 'On Air' has been issued. While it may not be quite as essential as the first volume, it is still a fascinating piece of history and makes for some great listening. After all it is The Beatles!
However..... the absolute prize for the best reissue set of 2013 just HAS (in my opinion) to go to 'Hidden Masters' a six CD box set covering the career of Jess Roden. You can read my thoughts on that here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/jess-roden-hidden-masters.html
and here:-
http://eddie-graham.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/box-sets-6-hidden-masters-jess-roden.html
Look out soon for the White Room best albums of 2013.
See ya.
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
Gov't Mule - Shout!
Don't be fooled into thinking that this bonus CD is just a rehash of the original album with additional vocals. The songs have been completely re-recorded, some of the longer ones benefitting from being shortened slightly. The track sequence has been restructured and despite featuring the same songs, it sounds like a totally different album. So, two for the price of one. In these hard times, what more could you ask for?
Friday, 29 November 2013
Elche, Spain
Now back on home soil, I belatedly find the time to write about my penultimate day in Spain when I visited Elche which just happens to be one of my favourite cities. Steeped in history, Elche appears to have more than it's fair share of historic buildings, galleries and museums standing alongside the more contemporary buildings one would expect to see in a modern European city. Oh and of course, there are palm trees. 300,000 of them to be (fairly) precise. (I haven't personally counted them all). That works out at one palm tree for each of the city's inhabitants! The city is literally surrounded and infiltrated by palm trees.
You have possibly seen or even held one of the white palm crosses that are handed out in Christian churches just before Easter. Well, they all originate in Elche.
The city is situated just 21 Km (12 miles) from Alicante. I arrived by car and to avoid the city centre traffic and the hassle of finding a parking space, I left the car on the outskirts of the city and enjoyed the 15 minute stroll into the centre. Despite it being November, there was still some strength in the sun, yet to most locals the temperature was well below what they are used to and they were mostly well wrapped up against the chill. They should try braving the temperatures in the north east of England on a cold November day. Personally I found the weather perfect for walking around all of the attractions the city has to offer.I began my tour at the Basilica of Santa Maria, the building of which began in 1672 though there was originally a mosque on this site.
This is also the venue for the annual Mystery Play of Elche which takes place each August. Of medieval origin, the performance relates the story of the final days and the assumption into Heaven of the Virgin Mary.I have not witnessed the play myself but it is said to be a wonderful spectacle. Perhaps one day I will see it.
Very close to the basilica, is the Alcàsser de la Senyoria, a fortress constructed between the 11th and 18th centuries.
From the castle, I wandered into the neighbouring municipal park where the plants and trees provide much needed shade during the hot summer months. Shade was not required during this visit but I appreciated the wonderful colours and smells that I do not usually get to enjoy at this time of year.
After wandering through more of the city, I found myself at El Huerto del Cura which is a smallish (13,000 sq metres) garden devoted to palms, cacti and a host of other exotic trees and plants. Despite being in the centre of a bustling city, I always find it to be totally calm and peaceful at this location. The only sounds I could hear were birdsong and the sound of running water from the small waterfalls or fountains.This has to be the jewel in the crown of this wonderful city and visitors should not miss the opportunity to take in its many splendours, including the Imperial Palm. This tree is almost 200 years old and is unique in that it has seven stems growing from one main trunk.
It was given it's name when visited in 1894 by Empress Elizabeth of Austria who remarked that the tree had the power and strength of an empire.
Sadly my visit came to an end as did my time in Spain - for this year at least.
Monday, 25 November 2013
RIP Manchester United Legend, Bill Foulkes
Sad news today of the death at 81 of Manchester United legend and one of the original Busby Babes, Bill Foulkes.
Foulkes joined the club as an amateur in 1950 and turned professional the following year. He survived the horrific plane crash at Munich in February 1958, following which he took over the captaincy of the team, going on to win four league titles. The pinnacle of his playing career was to captain the team to success in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley after he had scored the semi-final goal against Real Madrid that earned their place in that final. He eventually left United in June 1970 after playing for them 688 times.
Sir Bobby Charlton has described Foulkes as being 'as hard as nails' and went on to say that he was pleased he played alongside him and not against him. Yet somehow, Foulkes only managed to win one cap for England.
A true legend, Foulkes will not be forgotten by the United faithful.
RIP Bill.
Foulkes joined the club as an amateur in 1950 and turned professional the following year. He survived the horrific plane crash at Munich in February 1958, following which he took over the captaincy of the team, going on to win four league titles. The pinnacle of his playing career was to captain the team to success in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley after he had scored the semi-final goal against Real Madrid that earned their place in that final. He eventually left United in June 1970 after playing for them 688 times.
Sir Bobby Charlton has described Foulkes as being 'as hard as nails' and went on to say that he was pleased he played alongside him and not against him. Yet somehow, Foulkes only managed to win one cap for England.
A true legend, Foulkes will not be forgotten by the United faithful.
RIP Bill.
Thursday, 21 November 2013
Late Autumn Sunshine - In Spain
I'm not sure about autumn. Perhaps winter has come early to the north east of England, curtailing all of my beloved outdoor activities.
So, here I am in Spain, enjoying those very same activities.
Like taking in the views......
Studying the local flora,,,,,,,
Seeking spiritual guidance....
Having a late afternoon stroll.....
Or just relaxing with a cold beer.
Believe it or not, this is actually a 'working' holiday.
So, here I am in Spain, enjoying those very same activities.
Like taking in the views......
Studying the local flora,,,,,,,
Seeking spiritual guidance....
Having a late afternoon stroll.....
Or just relaxing with a cold beer.
Believe it or not, this is actually a 'working' holiday.
Monday, 18 November 2013
Television at The Sage, Gateshead
If I was to draw up a list of my top 30 albums of all time, the 1977 debut album by Television would certainly be included. 'Marquee Moon' must be among the best debut albums ever. It is therefore something of a travesty that the band have to date only issued three studio albums and these days live dates also appear to be something of a rarity, particularly here in the UK.
I last saw them almost ten years ago when they supported Patti Smith in Manchester. Two of the greatest acts to emerge from the mid 70's New York scene and all for the princely sum of £17. It remains one of the best gigs I have ever attended.
When I heard they were coming to The Sage in Gateshead, I wasted no time booking my ticket, so that was my destination on Friday evening. I am a fan of The Sage as a venue as the acoustics are wonderful and there is hardly a bad seat in the house. However, a general feeling appears to be that the all seated Hall One seems to be lacking in atmosphere. To counteract this, the management have recently begun removing the first few rows of seating and introduced a mosh pit which with a slightly sunken floor, does not restrict the view of those seated behind. Friday was my first experience of a gig with this system in place and I would say that it works.
The four piece band now consists of original members Tom Verlaine on vocals and guitar, Fred Smith on bass and Billy Ficca on drums. Replacing the departed Richard Lloyd on guitar is another superb player, Jimmy Rip.
For a little over an hour and a half, we were treated to some fine music. Obviously most of 'Marquee Moon' was played but there was also a smattering of new songs (well they were new to me so I am unable to provide the titles). As expected, the playing was exemplary with Verlaine and Rip trading places on lead and rhythm with Smith and Ficca providing a solid foundation. There were no frills. The lighting was fairly basic, chatter was kept to a minimum and there was no constant swapping of guitars between numbers. All very professional and most enjoyable.
I hope it won't be ten years until I see them again but I will not be holding my breath.
I last saw them almost ten years ago when they supported Patti Smith in Manchester. Two of the greatest acts to emerge from the mid 70's New York scene and all for the princely sum of £17. It remains one of the best gigs I have ever attended.
When I heard they were coming to The Sage in Gateshead, I wasted no time booking my ticket, so that was my destination on Friday evening. I am a fan of The Sage as a venue as the acoustics are wonderful and there is hardly a bad seat in the house. However, a general feeling appears to be that the all seated Hall One seems to be lacking in atmosphere. To counteract this, the management have recently begun removing the first few rows of seating and introduced a mosh pit which with a slightly sunken floor, does not restrict the view of those seated behind. Friday was my first experience of a gig with this system in place and I would say that it works.
The four piece band now consists of original members Tom Verlaine on vocals and guitar, Fred Smith on bass and Billy Ficca on drums. Replacing the departed Richard Lloyd on guitar is another superb player, Jimmy Rip.
For a little over an hour and a half, we were treated to some fine music. Obviously most of 'Marquee Moon' was played but there was also a smattering of new songs (well they were new to me so I am unable to provide the titles). As expected, the playing was exemplary with Verlaine and Rip trading places on lead and rhythm with Smith and Ficca providing a solid foundation. There were no frills. The lighting was fairly basic, chatter was kept to a minimum and there was no constant swapping of guitars between numbers. All very professional and most enjoyable.
I hope it won't be ten years until I see them again but I will not be holding my breath.
Friday, 15 November 2013
Box Sets #8 - Dr Feelgood - All Through The City (With Wilko 1974-1977)
The line up between 1974 and 1977 featured the jagged, choppy rhythms of guitarist Wilko Johnson and of course the growling vocals and bluesy harp blowing of Lee Brilleaux and it is this line up which is featured in this long overdue box set.
Bringing together the first four albums and a selection of alternate versions and out takes, this set really captures the essence of the band particularly as one of the albums is the live 'Stupidity'. For it was as a live act that they could perhaps best be appreciated, so thankfully this set also comes complete with a DVD featuring a fair number of their live performances.
While they may not have been musically innovative (much of their sound harks back to the rock and roll/blues music of the late 1950's or early 1960's), they certainly influenced a number of artists that followed through the punk era and beyond.
The box set can now be found on Amazon UK for the ridiculously cheap price of £12.62 and you even get a free auto-rip which means you can download the set before it is even despatched.
This is good solid rock and roll without the frills. As Wilko famously said, "Pedals? I'm a guitarist not a cyclist".
Buy it now.
Wednesday, 13 November 2013
Stan Laurel at Dockwray Square, North Shields
A recent stroll took me above the fish quay at North Shields on the northern bank of the River Tyne just as it is about to flow out into the North Sea.
I passed through Dockwray Square and took in the statue of the comedy actor Stan Laurel who was a resident at number 8 from 1897 to 1902.
Of course in those days, Dockwray Square was very different being a slum tenement.
Now it is made up of attractive town houses surrounding a small park which have splendid views over the Tyne.
Saturday, 9 November 2013
Musings on Frank Zappa and Being a Proud Parent.
My music player is currently on shuffle and much against the odds, two consecutive tracks featured the late great Frank Zappa.
I have listened to the music of Zappa (and the Mothers of Invention) for more years than I care to remember and while I am of the opinion that some of his releases have not aged too well, generally I would say that the man can quite rightly be regarded as a genius. His back catalogue is vast so it is only natural that there should be some clunkers in there, but generally speaking his albums are fresh, vibrant, fun and feature some bloody great musicianship.
I have always played music in the car and this included days many, many moons ago when I would drive my two sons to school or on regular trips into the countryside. It was on such excursions that I suspect they gained their musical 'education', something I am proud to say has stuck with them, for we frequently exchange thoughts on new albums and share music files between our computers. (How things have moved on since we swapped tapes).
Hearing Zappa earlier reminded me of a tale told by my youngest son Paul when he returned home one day from school. As he was leaving a class he noticed a stack of CDs on the desk of his teacher. Being a chip off the old block, he was drawn to have a look through the pile and saw that they were all Frank Zappa albums. His teacher casually asked Paul if he was a fan of Zappa. Paul replied in the affirmative.
The teacher thought he would pursue this further and perhaps catch out this precocious 12 year old. "So Paul" he said. "What's your favourite Frank Zappa song?"
To which, without missing a beat, Paul replied, "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow".
His tale made me beam with pride - something both my sons have made me do on many occasions since.
Thanks lads.
Here's the track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLIppgE45wM
I have listened to the music of Zappa (and the Mothers of Invention) for more years than I care to remember and while I am of the opinion that some of his releases have not aged too well, generally I would say that the man can quite rightly be regarded as a genius. His back catalogue is vast so it is only natural that there should be some clunkers in there, but generally speaking his albums are fresh, vibrant, fun and feature some bloody great musicianship.
I have always played music in the car and this included days many, many moons ago when I would drive my two sons to school or on regular trips into the countryside. It was on such excursions that I suspect they gained their musical 'education', something I am proud to say has stuck with them, for we frequently exchange thoughts on new albums and share music files between our computers. (How things have moved on since we swapped tapes).
Hearing Zappa earlier reminded me of a tale told by my youngest son Paul when he returned home one day from school. As he was leaving a class he noticed a stack of CDs on the desk of his teacher. Being a chip off the old block, he was drawn to have a look through the pile and saw that they were all Frank Zappa albums. His teacher casually asked Paul if he was a fan of Zappa. Paul replied in the affirmative.
The teacher thought he would pursue this further and perhaps catch out this precocious 12 year old. "So Paul" he said. "What's your favourite Frank Zappa song?"
To which, without missing a beat, Paul replied, "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow".
His tale made me beam with pride - something both my sons have made me do on many occasions since.
Thanks lads.
Here's the track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLIppgE45wM
The Long and Whining Road
Having made reference recently to a Breaking Bad themed baby outfit that caught my eye, and having something of a Beatles theme going on at the moment, I was struck by this little item in a local shop window.
Friday, 8 November 2013
Books#7 - Way Beyond Compare by John C Winn
During my recent reading of 'Tune In' by Mark Lewisohn, my attention was obviously drawn to all things relating to The Beatles. Consequently I found myself repeatedly returning to the book, 'Way Beyond Compare' by John C Winn.
In a little under 400 pages, Winn covers every single recording featuring The Beatles in chronological order between 1957 and 1965. Whereas Lewisohn documented all of The Beatles' Abbey Road recordings in his excellent 'The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions', Winn tackles absolutely everything. Thus he includes home demo recordings, live concerts, interviews, TV and radio performances, field recordings, promotional clips and just about anything else you can think of that has been made available to listen to or view, whether officially or unofficially. In his foreword, Mark Lewisohn himself confesses that he keeps this book constantly on his desk and finds it to be an essential reference work.
Nevertheless, the book is immensely readable though perhaps not something you would necessarily want to sit down and read from cover to cover. Personally I find myself regularly delving into certain sections when I'm interested in a particular period or a particular recording.
As I mentioned, this volume covers the period 1957 to 1965. The second volume covers 1966 onwards and is entitled 'That Magic Feeling'.
If you are reading this post, I suspect that you have an interest in The Beatles. If so, I wholeheartedly recommend these two volumes.
In a little under 400 pages, Winn covers every single recording featuring The Beatles in chronological order between 1957 and 1965. Whereas Lewisohn documented all of The Beatles' Abbey Road recordings in his excellent 'The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions', Winn tackles absolutely everything. Thus he includes home demo recordings, live concerts, interviews, TV and radio performances, field recordings, promotional clips and just about anything else you can think of that has been made available to listen to or view, whether officially or unofficially. In his foreword, Mark Lewisohn himself confesses that he keeps this book constantly on his desk and finds it to be an essential reference work.
Nevertheless, the book is immensely readable though perhaps not something you would necessarily want to sit down and read from cover to cover. Personally I find myself regularly delving into certain sections when I'm interested in a particular period or a particular recording.
As I mentioned, this volume covers the period 1957 to 1965. The second volume covers 1966 onwards and is entitled 'That Magic Feeling'.
If you are reading this post, I suspect that you have an interest in The Beatles. If so, I wholeheartedly recommend these two volumes.
Thursday, 7 November 2013
More Autumn Colours
In between other tasks, I have been taking every opportunity to get out into the wonderful autumn sunshine we are having.
Long may this continue.
Long may this continue.
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Mark Lewisohn - All These Years: Volume 1 Tune In
Well I have now completed reading the 800 odd pages of this wonderful work by Mark Lewisohn. Despite having read just about every other noteworthy book on the subject of The Beatles, I have still learned an awful lot from what must be the definitive word on the fab four. Yet this is not a scholarly lecture from the author, but a highly entertaining story of all of the characters involved in the lead up to what became known as Beatlemania.
Of course Volume One only takes the reader up to the final day of 1962, so The Beatles had literally only just reached the charts with their first single and were ending the year on what would be their fifth and final trip to Hamburg. Beatlemania and all that followed are still to be covered in what will be Volumes Two and Three. The downside is that we are going to have to wait several years for these to appear. How many of us original Beatle fans will still be around to see them I wonder?
Anyway this is what others have been saying about this book:
‘A game-changing study which raises the bar in the genre . . . Lewisohn, who was born in London in 1958 and whose life has been dedicated to chronicling the Beatles, has done an astonishing job . . . a meticulous piece of work . . . I can’t wait for volume two’ Independent
‘Mark Lewisohn manages to put flesh and blood on the story of the band as never before. He does so with imagination, energy and a gripping plotline . . . Lewisohn’s achievement lies not in mining a single 24-carat scoop, but in the extraordinary depth and scope of his research . . .The raw excitement of the Hamburg period, where the Beatles properly came into being, is conveyed in electrifying detail . . . This volume puts him (Lewisohn) in a different league’ Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Ireland, Mark Edmonds
‘It is the breadth and scope of Lewisohn’s endeavour that are unparalleled’ Observer, Kitty Empire
‘This is a book with a difference, one that ensures all previous rock tomes will gather dust on high, cob-webbed shelves. It’s a work of careful research that turns the legend of The Beatles into a woven history that reads like a work of fiction . . . Sets the benchmark in popular music history that he alone can match’ The Huffington Post
‘To call his biography of the Beatles a labour of love would be something of an understatement’ The Guardian
‘Fills in vital details that had been missing from the existing Beatles canon and corrects mistakes that have been reprinted for years’ Wall Street Journal
‘A remarkable piece of scholarship’ Choice magazine
Of course Volume One only takes the reader up to the final day of 1962, so The Beatles had literally only just reached the charts with their first single and were ending the year on what would be their fifth and final trip to Hamburg. Beatlemania and all that followed are still to be covered in what will be Volumes Two and Three. The downside is that we are going to have to wait several years for these to appear. How many of us original Beatle fans will still be around to see them I wonder?
Anyway this is what others have been saying about this book:
‘A game-changing study which raises the bar in the genre . . . Lewisohn, who was born in London in 1958 and whose life has been dedicated to chronicling the Beatles, has done an astonishing job . . . a meticulous piece of work . . . I can’t wait for volume two’ Independent
‘Mark Lewisohn manages to put flesh and blood on the story of the band as never before. He does so with imagination, energy and a gripping plotline . . . Lewisohn’s achievement lies not in mining a single 24-carat scoop, but in the extraordinary depth and scope of his research . . .The raw excitement of the Hamburg period, where the Beatles properly came into being, is conveyed in electrifying detail . . . This volume puts him (Lewisohn) in a different league’ Sunday Times & The Sunday Times Ireland, Mark Edmonds
‘It is the breadth and scope of Lewisohn’s endeavour that are unparalleled’ Observer, Kitty Empire
‘This is a book with a difference, one that ensures all previous rock tomes will gather dust on high, cob-webbed shelves. It’s a work of careful research that turns the legend of The Beatles into a woven history that reads like a work of fiction . . . Sets the benchmark in popular music history that he alone can match’ The Huffington Post
‘To call his biography of the Beatles a labour of love would be something of an understatement’ The Guardian
‘Fills in vital details that had been missing from the existing Beatles canon and corrects mistakes that have been reprinted for years’ Wall Street Journal
‘A remarkable piece of scholarship’ Choice magazine
Having reached the end, there is now something of a void in my life. One that I hope to fill in a little under two weeks when I shall receive my Kindle version of the super deluxe edition of the book. This is twice the length of the one I have finished so it should keep me busy until Christmas at least.
Happy days.
Wednesday, 30 October 2013
Breaking Bad (and Breaking Dad)
Having written recently about this fantastic American TV series,
.....I was struck by this little beauty hanging in a shop window.
.....I was struck by this little beauty hanging in a shop window.
Monday, 28 October 2013
RIP Lou Reed
Sad news yesterday concerning the death of Lou Reed at the age of 71.
I was an avid fan of The Velvet Underground from the late 1960's and followed Reed's solo career up to a certain point but then some of his more 'adventurous' releases left me behind so I fell by the wayside. Nevertheless I appreciate that he was constantly pushing the boundaries of modern music and he has left behind a great body of work. He was also an influence on many fine bands and artists.
As one commentator declared, yesterday was an imperfect day.
RIP Lou.
Here's the man playing 'Sweet Jane' live in 2000.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVsmV7TAyls
I was an avid fan of The Velvet Underground from the late 1960's and followed Reed's solo career up to a certain point but then some of his more 'adventurous' releases left me behind so I fell by the wayside. Nevertheless I appreciate that he was constantly pushing the boundaries of modern music and he has left behind a great body of work. He was also an influence on many fine bands and artists.
As one commentator declared, yesterday was an imperfect day.
RIP Lou.
Here's the man playing 'Sweet Jane' live in 2000.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVsmV7TAyls
Friday, 25 October 2013
Autumn reflections and colours
This morning was wet and windy so I made time to catch up on some of the things I should have done yesterday when I was enticed outside by the beautiful sunshine.
Not to mention the glorious autumn colours.....
..... and the crystal clear reflections.
Not to mention the glorious autumn colours.....
..... and the crystal clear reflections.
Speaking of reflections, while catching up on those tasks, I am making time to listen to the new album 'Reflektor' by Arcade Fire. To my ears it is sounding pretty good.
Aaah! The sun is shining again. I'm off out. See you later.
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Steven Wilson Live at Newcastle City Hall
On Friday 18 October, I set off for the Newcastle City Hall with fairly mixed feelings as I was attending this concert at the expense of seeing These New Puritans who were playing just across the River Tyne at The Sage, Gateshead. Two of my favourite finds this year, and they both have to be playing in my area on the same night. That's what we call sod's law in these parts.
Anyway the tickets for Steven Wilson were obtained long before I knew anything about These New Puritans, so off I went looking forward to seeing live performances of songs from one of the best albums of the year, 'The Raven That Refused To Sing... and Other Stories'. I was not to be disappointed as the band played almost everything from that album. (Only 'Pin Drop' was omitted).
It is always something of a thrill entering the City Hall as it was one of the first major venues I ever attended back when I was a slip of a lad. I have lost count of the number of times I have been there but regrettably these days visits are something of a rare occurrence simply because they tend to feature very few artists that interest me.
Soon after taking our seats, a film was projected onto the rear curtain and as the main character of the film (a street busker) strummed his guitar, the sound was replaced by that of Wilson himself strumming his own acoustic guitar and ambling barefoot onto the stage.
He was eventually joined by the other five members of his band and soon they were pumping out the opening bass riff of 'Luminol' which opens the aforementioned album.
The recent songs were broken up by a couple from Wilson's previous album, 'Grace For Drowning' as well as a brand new song which is currently named 'Soundtrack to Decline' but the title like the song was being road tested and is therefore subject to change.
Throughout I was struck by the quality of the musicianship as the band successfully recreated the complex rhythms produced on record. In this respect I was put in mind of when I went to see King Crimson, Genesis and Yes in the early 1970's and the use of film and projected images also recalled the visual attributes of the aforementioned master of prog-rock.
After a little over two hours, the band ended with an encore of 'Radioactive Toy' from the first Porcupine Tree album and the band took their bows and left, leaving us to take one more look around this wonderful venue and venture out into the night.
The full setlist consisted of:
Trains
Luminol
Postcard
The Holy drinker
Drive Home
Soundtrack to Decline
The Watchmaker
Index
Sectarian
Harmony Korine
Raider 2
The Raven That refused To Sing
Radioactive Toy
Anyway the tickets for Steven Wilson were obtained long before I knew anything about These New Puritans, so off I went looking forward to seeing live performances of songs from one of the best albums of the year, 'The Raven That Refused To Sing... and Other Stories'. I was not to be disappointed as the band played almost everything from that album. (Only 'Pin Drop' was omitted).
It is always something of a thrill entering the City Hall as it was one of the first major venues I ever attended back when I was a slip of a lad. I have lost count of the number of times I have been there but regrettably these days visits are something of a rare occurrence simply because they tend to feature very few artists that interest me.
He was eventually joined by the other five members of his band and soon they were pumping out the opening bass riff of 'Luminol' which opens the aforementioned album.
The recent songs were broken up by a couple from Wilson's previous album, 'Grace For Drowning' as well as a brand new song which is currently named 'Soundtrack to Decline' but the title like the song was being road tested and is therefore subject to change.
Throughout I was struck by the quality of the musicianship as the band successfully recreated the complex rhythms produced on record. In this respect I was put in mind of when I went to see King Crimson, Genesis and Yes in the early 1970's and the use of film and projected images also recalled the visual attributes of the aforementioned master of prog-rock.After a little over two hours, the band ended with an encore of 'Radioactive Toy' from the first Porcupine Tree album and the band took their bows and left, leaving us to take one more look around this wonderful venue and venture out into the night.
The full setlist consisted of:
Trains
Luminol
Postcard
The Holy drinker
Drive Home
Soundtrack to Decline
The Watchmaker
Index
Sectarian
Harmony Korine
Raider 2
The Raven That refused To Sing
Radioactive Toy
Monday, 14 October 2013
Books#6 - Lunar Notes by Bill Harkleroad and Billy James
Whereas the book 'Captain Beefheart' by Mike Barnes is a biography of Don Van Vliet and 'Riding Some Kind of Unusual Skull Sleigh' by W.C Bamberger is an outsider's view of Beefheart and his art, Harkleroad preempts John 'Drumbo' French, by telling the story of The Magic Band from the inside. As he points out in the preface, the book is about Harkleroad (or Zoot Horn Rollo as he became known) but as the majority of his musical career was within The Magic Band, the work becomes by default, yet another work on Beefheart.
Harkleroad also confesses very early on that he is not a writer therefore the book has been put together by Billy James from taped interviews with Harkleroad. At a mere 151 pages it obviously can't compete with the level of detail included within the 864 pages of John French's Beefheart Through the Eyes Of Magic'. Nevertheless it is an entertaining and informative read covering the six years that Harkleroad spent working with Beefheart. He played on all of the albums from 'Lick My Decals Off, Baby' in 1968 to 'Unconditionally Guaranteed' in 1974 and his break down of the tracks from each album provides a fascinating glimpse into who was responsible for what and why certain tracks turned out the way they did. I would say that reading this slim volume in addition to the John French tome, helps to break down some of the mystique and the myths that have surrounded Beefheart. They also provide a new insight into the music and I have found myself listening to those familiar tracks with new ears.
The last couple of chapters deal with Harkleroad's musical life after The Magic Band, most notably with Mallard.
I would suggest that anyone with more than a passing interest in the life and musical work of Captain Beefheart might want to give this book a try. It should while away a few hours on an autumn afternoon.
As a little treat, here's Zoot Horn Rollo and colleagues accompanying the great Captain Beefheart on 'I'm Gonna Booglarize You Baby'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLdRh7qdi_g
Friday, 11 October 2013
Paul McCartney - NEW and All These Years Volume 1 Tune In by Mark Lewisohn
Double treats on Friday morning.
First I got hold of Macca's new album which just happens to be called 'NEW'. Having played it straight through twice, I will say here and now that it appears to be his best album for years. I have to confess that I have not been a massive fan of much of his solo work (or Wings for that matter) as I find him inclined to be a bit slushy for my liking. And this album does have a few moments that are too close to pop music (the title track being a prime example). However, overall I am suitably impressed and will continue to give it a spin.
Also delivered this morning was my hard backed copy of the huge new work by Mark Lewisohn. If you didn't know by now, 'All These Years, Volume 1: Tune In' is the first part of three of Lewisohn's definitive story of The Beatles. This volume has over 900 pages and only takes us up to the beginning of the fab four's recording career in 1962.
My first comment has to be on the subject of the cover. Yeuk!
I mean what were they thinking? I wonder what Lewisohn himself thinks of it.
That aside, I have read a selection of extracts from it and found myself wanting more. Well, here it is, so let's get the coffee machine on and get stuck in.
I may be some time.
First I got hold of Macca's new album which just happens to be called 'NEW'. Having played it straight through twice, I will say here and now that it appears to be his best album for years. I have to confess that I have not been a massive fan of much of his solo work (or Wings for that matter) as I find him inclined to be a bit slushy for my liking. And this album does have a few moments that are too close to pop music (the title track being a prime example). However, overall I am suitably impressed and will continue to give it a spin.
Also delivered this morning was my hard backed copy of the huge new work by Mark Lewisohn. If you didn't know by now, 'All These Years, Volume 1: Tune In' is the first part of three of Lewisohn's definitive story of The Beatles. This volume has over 900 pages and only takes us up to the beginning of the fab four's recording career in 1962.
My first comment has to be on the subject of the cover. Yeuk!
I mean what were they thinking? I wonder what Lewisohn himself thinks of it.
That aside, I have read a selection of extracts from it and found myself wanting more. Well, here it is, so let's get the coffee machine on and get stuck in.
I may be some time.
Box Sets #7 John Martyn - The Island Years
OK it's confession time, I don't actually own this recently released 18 disc box set, finding the £150 price tag a little too steep.. However, due to what I can only assume was a slip up by Amazon, I was able to download the complete 17 discs of music as MP3 files for the princely sum of.... wait for it..... £1.19!
Yes, that's right, 259 tracks for just over one of the Queen's English pounds.
So OK I didn't get the 18th disc which is I'm sure a very fine DVD and nor did I get the 120 page hard-backed book. However I can live without those having saved myself about £148.
So onto the musical content which features each of John (and where appropriate, Beverley) Martyn's twelve studio albums released by Island between 1967 and 1987. Additionally there are two previously unreleased live concerts from 1972 and 1977 AND a host of alternate takes, demo recordings and the complete recordings for the final unreleased album, 'The Apprentice'.
As is usually the case with such complete releases, there is a fair amount of duplication of songs but for fans of John Martyn's career, this is an absolute treasure trove of his music. And for the casual fan (and I'm assuming if you read this far, you fall into one of the above categories), there is plenty to get stuck into. If you find the repetitions tedious, there is always the 'skip' button you know.
Sadly the £1.19 offer has disappeared but as I write this, I see that the current price is £7.49. Surely this must also be a mistake. I therefore suggest you get it while you can.
Happy listening.
Yes, that's right, 259 tracks for just over one of the Queen's English pounds.
So OK I didn't get the 18th disc which is I'm sure a very fine DVD and nor did I get the 120 page hard-backed book. However I can live without those having saved myself about £148.
So onto the musical content which features each of John (and where appropriate, Beverley) Martyn's twelve studio albums released by Island between 1967 and 1987. Additionally there are two previously unreleased live concerts from 1972 and 1977 AND a host of alternate takes, demo recordings and the complete recordings for the final unreleased album, 'The Apprentice'.
Sadly the £1.19 offer has disappeared but as I write this, I see that the current price is £7.49. Surely this must also be a mistake. I therefore suggest you get it while you can.
Happy listening.
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