Back to 2016 with this blog post. Anything I’ve cross-pollinated from my now archived personal blog will be under the category ‘Revisited’.
This is a topic I suggested to Carole, after putting on an album and realising that I couldn’t just listen to one song from it, I had to listen to the whole thing. I am right proud she’s used it as a suggestion.
Paul Simon, Graceland. This is what prompted the email, as the album is simply perfect. It hasn’t aged either, which as it is now 37 years old, both terrifies and amazes me in equal measure. If you’ve not seen it, there is a really good documentary on the making of the album. I also remember on Going Live or Saturday Superstore (magazine program for children on the BBC in the UK), the song and the video of You Can Call Me Al were both given five out of five from everyone on the panel that week. It is part of my DNA, and cannot imagine life without it.
Adele, 25. This is the most recent album on the list. I often listen to this at work, if (ha! when) I get interrupted, I simply go back to the beginning and start again. Glorious.
Billy Joel, The Bridge. Having been brought up on Billy Joel, I couldn’t listen to him for ages. This album was released when I was 11, I can remember posters advertising it all over the underground in London. Finding my way back to him mainly through this album, one I could remember being released, and could play on my terms, meant a lot.
Clint Mansell the Moon soundtrack. The film is great and Sam Rockwell’s performance is extraordinary; when he says “I just want to go home” if your heart doesn’t break, well… The music is mellow, soothing and perfect for lazy Sunday mornings.
The Corrs, Forgiven, Not Forgotten. I was introduced to this album by my friend in Lincoln, (owner of TONK). He put it on one morning when I was visiting, I brought the tape (yes, I’m that old) that weekend and still listen to it now. Again, part of my DNA.
Enya, Paint The Sky With Stars. Visiting my Auntie Carole and Uncle John, when I was broken, they played Enya a lot. That Christmas, New Year trip helped me heal. Auntie Carole played Enya after my Nanny passed away, she shared the music with John after his wife Bobby passed away. I found out Uncle John had passed away a year after he died; no-one in the family told us. Got to love family rifts.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The first (and certainly) not the last musical I learnt the words to. When I play this album at work, I have to concentrate on not singing along. The version I have is with Jason Donovan BTW. I saw it twice with him, once with Phillip Schofield and lusted after Nicolas Colicos as Rueben. I had a whole fantasy life with that Canadian, we’d have family brunches where we cooked pancakes, we’d walk hand in hand through Hyde Park. Oh my. PS I also can ‘sing’ Me and My Girl, Phantom, The Producers, Priscilla, Return To The Forbidden Planet and Rocky Horror, amongst others if so inclined.
Jeff Wayne, The War Of The Worlds. Buddy brilliant is all I’m saying on this one.
Meatloaf, Bat Out Of Hell. We’ll just gloss over when Meatloaf came to play at the AFL Grand Final and couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, and just admire this crazy, never to be repeated, concept album in all its glory.
Mike Oldfield, Tubular Bells II. This was hard work, I could have easily had Ommadawn, but I love this album that teeny bit more. Also listening to it, you get to hear the beloved Alan Rickman talking through the instruments “…and…Tubular Bells!”
What, no Pet Shop Boys? It would have to be Introspective. No Nick Cave? Murder Ballads. Queen? Greatest Hits to get the best of everything, I can’t choose one album of theirs.
What about Take That? Well, no, as I always have to skip over the compulsory “Gary’s piano ballad” so their albums don’t count.