The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths

The third studio album released by the smiths in 1986 was called The Queen Is Dead and is quite simply, magnificent. It is universally regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, constantly appearing in the top twenty polls year in year out. The title of the album, by the way, is taken from Hubert Selby Jr’s book Last Exit to Brooklyn.

Johnny Marr worked tirelessly recording and producing the album with Morrissey and Stephen Street (Producer of Blur, the Cranberries and sadly the Kaiser Chiefs) in an effort to get it out as quickly as possible. There was however a delay of 6 months due to problems with their label Rough Trade.

Big Mouth Strikes Again was the first single from the album and strictly speaking the only single from the Album. There is a light That Never Goes Out is widely seen as the greatest Smiths song and one that truly epitomises their lyrical and musical style. The great songs don’t end there, other highlights on the album include Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others, The Boy With A Thorn in His Side, I Know Its Over and the title track The Queens is Dead.

There is a Light That Never Goes Out wasn’t released until 1992 it was re-released by Morrissey in 2005 when he put it on a double A side with his cover of Patti Smith’s Redondo Beach. It is believed that the song is about James Dean Morrissey remains tight lipped about this.

The Boy With A thorn in His Side was actually released before the album and was remixed and placed on The Queen is Dead. Morrissey claims that the Thorn in the title was the music industry the original single had Asleep as the B Side Easily one of The Smiths greatest songs.

There is a sarcastic, wry tone throughout this record and it is one of its finest traits and quite typical of The Smiths. Its status as a cult record is slowly disappearing as more and more people embrace it. Is it the best Album of the 80’s? One thing is for sure it is a Critical Junction, without it the 80’s would have been a very hollow place

Track listing
1. The Queen Is Dead / Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty
2. Frankly, Mr. Shankly
3. I Know It's Over
4. Never Had No One Ever
5. Cemetry Gates
6. Bigmouth Strikes Again
7. Boy With The Thorn In His Side, The
8. Vicar In A Tutu
9. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
10. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

Tapestry - Carole King

Released in 1971, Tapestry is a groundbreaking Folk/Pop album by the incredible song writer Carol King. King had previously written a number of monster hits for other artists, such as The Loco Motion, I’m Into Something Good and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman. King had failed for 10 years to launch her solo career. But that was all to change with this landmark release. Tapestry was a thoughtful, folk flavoured album full of Kings own renditions of her earlier hits as a songwriter in the Brill Building. Home to Burt Bacharach, Jerry Lieber and Neil Sedaka.

Tapestry would remain in the charts for nearly six years and sell over 10 million copies in the United States alone, an estimated 22 million world-wide, remaining her most popular album among fans and critics alike. The album garnered four Grammy Awards including Album of the Year; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female; Record of the Year ("It's Too Late"); and Song of the Year ("You've Got a Friend")

James Taylor and Joni Mitchell lend their vocals, legendary drummer Russ Kunkel, songwriter Danny Kotchmar and Canadian composer David Campbell further add to the pedigree of this album polished off by having none other than Lou Adler produce the album.

To narrow this album down to stand out tracks when it is packed to the brim with hits is to do it a disservice but we will attempt to. I feel the earth Move is the opening track and was a double A-Side single with Its too late. A shame really as Its Too late eclipsed it in popularity and longevity.

You’ve Got A Friend is best known as a James Taylor hit, however it was released on Tapestry before Taylor released it on his Album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon. He had a number 1 hit with the song. Dusty Springfield even recorded a version of the song before Taylor but it remained unreleased until 1999. The song has been covered by hundreds of artists from Jimmy Cliff and Ella Fitzgerald to Michael Jackson and even Vincent Price.

Will You Love Me Tomorrow was a commercial hit for The Shirelles who first released the song in 1960 and it was even recorded by Cher in 1966.

Originally released by Aretha Franklin in 1967 (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman was co wrote with Kings first husband Gerry Goffin. This was a huge hit for Franklin and did not loose any of its magic on this album.

Two songs that have grown since the release of are Home Again and the beautiful lament for distant lovers So Far Away. These two songs further illustrate the power of Kings song writing.

TRACKS

1. I Feel The Earth Move
2. So Far Away
3. It's Too Late
4. Home Again
5. Beautiful
6. Way Over Yonder
7. You've Got A Friend
8. Where You Lead
9. Will You Love Me Tomorrow?
10. Smackwater Jack
11. Tapestry
12. Natural Woman, (You Make Me Feel Like) A

Odelay - Beck

Loser was the song that made Beck famous.

In 1996, Odelay was the Album that put him on the map. As Albums go it's a little mixed up, it opens with the almost bluesy Devils Haircut, followed up by the groovy Hotwax and the Country style Lord Only Knows.
And it is the Genre Hopping between styles that really makes this album stand out, Beck raps and strums his way through Folk, Rock, Funk and Soul in what has to be one of the most original Albums of the 1990's.

On the Thursday Live Drive CJ Playlist will be Devils Haircut, The New Pollution, Where it's At, High 5, and, if we can squeeze it in we'll play Jackass!

Track listing
1. Devils Haircut
2. Hotwax
3. Lord Only Knows
4. New Pollution, The
5. Derelict
6. Novacane
7. Jack-Ass
8. Where It's At
9. Minus
10. Sissyneck
11. Readymade
12. High 5 (Rock The Catskills)
13. Ramshackle

London Calling - The Clash

Released in December of 1979 this double album cemented The Clash’s place in Rock and Roll lore. It is layered with a diversity of style which showed not only where Punk came from but where it could go. Reggae, Rock, R&B, Ska, Lounge and even Pop can be found in this phenomenal milestone in music history.

As you would expect from a Clash album it is a volatile mix of themes, from social decay, unemployment, racism and police brutality to political and social repression, militarism and, wouldn’t you know it, sex.

Proof of the bands anti-establishment Punk credentials can be found in the way they managed to convince their record label to release a double album - they simply asked them if they could include a free 12 inch single. Once the record execs agreed they filled a second full length record with material.

Legendary photographer Penny Smith photographed bass player Paul Simonon smashing his guitar on stage in New York. An image, which is as iconic now as Elvis shaking his pelvis it adorns the cover of the album.

Stand out tracks on the album, to name but a few, are London Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, Spanish Bombs, The Guns of Brixton and Revolution Rock. They even cover a Vince Taylor song from 1958 Brand New Cadillac. (Vince Taylor was an English rock and roller who had a breakdown on stage after consuming copious amounts of acid and amphetamines)

The title track London Calling is a post apocalyptic vision of the English capital. Its lyrics reference the nuclear incident on Three Mile Island, and its title is taken from the BBC World Service broadcasts from WW II. Rolling Stone has named this the 15^th greatest song of all time. It is the archetypical Clash song.

Spanish Bombs is a song about the Spanish Civil War. Its intelligence shows the lyrical ability of the band, even referencing obscure Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca.

Lost In The Supermarket chastises the world of commerciality and predicts the new climate of the 80’s "I came in for that special offer - guaranteed personality" It was written by Joe Strummer but is sung by Mick Jones. It really should have been a hit single.

The Guns of Brixton had its finger on the pulse, another song by Mick Jones, it predates the race riots of the 80’s and depicts the atmosphere of the time and the general perception of Police heavy handedness.

The influence of London Calling on rock music has been huge. It dissolved the barriers for Punk, showing how diverse it could be and indeed how mainstream it could be without losing any of its edge or indeed its message. It also proved that punk musician’s could actually play. London Calling has aged extremely well, most bands today struggle to recreate the sound produced by these three musicians in the late 70’s. It is one of the greatest albums of all time and possibly the greatest double album. London Calling is everything rock stands for and more.

Track Listing

1. London Calling
2. Brand New Cadillac
3. Jimmy Jazz
4. Hateful
5. Rudie Can't Fail
6. Spanish Bombs
7. Right Profile, The
8. Lost In The Supermarket
9. Clampdown
10. Guns Of Brixton, The
11. Wrong 'Em Boyo
12. Death Or Glory
13. Koka Kola
14. Card Cheat, The
15. Lover's Rock
16. Four Horsemen
17. I'm Not Down
18. Revolution Rock
19. Train In Vain

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

With the departure of Guitarist Bob Welsh and the addition of then couple Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac went from being British style Blues Rock band to became a California pop group. The new line ups second release of Rumours in 1977 was a slick hook laden pop package that went multi platinum, won a grammy and topped the US album charts for 31 weeks.
Underneath the smooth production and perfect harmonies lay a darker side however as the band struggled with relationships breaking down. Mick Fleetwood split from his wife, Nicks and Buckingham broke up and the other two members of the band John and Christine Mc Vie divorced. Amazingly, the band stayed together and many of the songs refer directly to their experiences at the time, Nicks believed Buckingham wrote Go Your Own Way in reference to their breakup and it led to tension, You Make Loving Fun is purportedly about an affair Christine Mc Vie had with the groups lighting director, while Don't Stop is a more positive take on the Mc Vie divorce. As if all this was not enough, cocaine was becoming a problem referred to in Gold Dust Woman, later covered by Courtney Love with Hole in 1996. Although critics felt that the band had sold out, Rumours has stood the test of time with fans and continues to sell well today.
Track listing
1. Second Hand News
2. Dreams
3. Never Going Back Again
4. Don't Stop
5. Go Your Own Way
6. Songbird
7. Chain, The
8. You Make Loving Fun
9. I Don't Want To Know
10. Oh Daddy
11. Gold Dust Woman