Madness - One Step Beyond

Released in 1979 the début album by Madness does exactly what it says on the tin

Track Listing

1. "One Step Beyond" - 2:18 (Campbell)
2. "My Girl" - 2:44 (Barson)
3. "Night Boat to Cairo" - 3:31 (Barson, McPherson)
4. "Believe Me" - 2:28 (Barson, Hasler)
5. "Land of Hope and Glory" - 2:57 (Foreman, Thompson)
6. "The Prince" - 3:18 (Thompson)
7. "Tarzan's Nuts" - 2:24 (Barson)
8. "In the Middle of the Night" - 3:01 (McPherson, Foreman)
9. "Bed and Breakfast Man" - 2:33 (Barson)
10. "Razor Blade Alley" - 2:42 (Thompson)
11. "Swan Lake" - 2:36 (Tchaikovsky arr. Barson)
12. "Rockin' in A-flat" - 2:29 (Wurlitzer)
13. "Mummy's Boy" - 2:23 (Bedford)
14. "Madness" - 2:38 (Campbell)
15. "Chipmunks Are Go!" - 0:51 (Smyth)

There Goes Rhymin' Simon - Paul Simon

Released in 1973 a mere 16 months after his debut solo album, There Goes Rhymin' Simon was the best thing Paul Simon would do until Graceland in 1986.

There is a big rhythm and blues influence on the record with gospel singers performing on tracks such as Love Me Like A Rock and Tenderness.

St Judy's Comet is a beautiful lullaby while the big statement on the record is American Tune. Its Simon's very own state of the union address.

Kodachrome, Something So Right and of course Love Me Like A Rock all flesh out the very fine music on one of Paul Simon's best works.

All in all There Goes Rhymin' Simon is an upbeat, positive album, full of optimism and romance - all the things we have come to expect from a Paul Simon album.

Track List

1. Kodachrome – 3:32
2. Tenderness – 2:53
3. Take Me to the Mardi Gras – 3:27
4. Something So Right – 4:33
5. One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor - 3:44
6. American Tune – 3:43
7. Was a Sunny Day – 3:41
8. Learn How to Fall – 2:44
9. St. Judy's Comet – 3:19
10. Loves Me Like a Rock – 3:31

Electric Warrior - T-Rex

Glam rock never sounded or looked so cool as it did in 1971 when T-Rex released their sixth studio album, Electric Warrior.

Glam Rock is often seen as disposable, bubble gum pop with a few guitars thrown in, not so here. Electric Warrior has stood the test of time, partly due to Toni Visconti's careful production and the back to basics song writing of Mark Bloand.

There are a couple of big hitter on the album, Get It On, Jeepster and Cosmic Dancer however it holds little gems inside too such as Rip Off, Monolth and Girl.

The album sleeve was designed by British art design group Hipgnosis is pure cool, and years ahead of itself.

Electric Warrior is the beginning of the dark party of the seventies distilled in an album, Get it On? Don't mind if I do!

Track List

1. "Mambo Sun" – 3:40
2. "Cosmic Dancer" – 4:30
3. "Jeepster" – 4:12
4. "Monolith" – 3:49
5. "Lean Woman Blues" – 3:02
6. "Get It On" – 4:27
7. "Planet Queen" – 3:13
8. "Girl" – 2:32
9. "The Motivator" – 4:00
10. "Life's a Gas" – 2:24
11. "Rip Off" – 3:40

A Night At The Opera - Queen

Queen's 1975 masterpiece, A Night At The Opera is over blown, pompous and absolutely fantastic.

It manages to straddle the worlds of 70's metal, prog rock and pop and make them all sound as if they were born to played together.

Produced by RoyThomas Baker and Queen the result is impeccable. The production is perfect in every way. Added to this the sheer delight Queen have in playing with every song makes this album stand heads above anything prog music was creating at the time.

I won't go through each track but needless to say they are streets ahead of the usual rock muck shovelled out throughout the 1970's.

Track Listing

1. "Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to..." (Freddie Mercury) – 3:43
2. "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" (Mercury) – 1:07
3. "I'm in Love with My Car" (Roger Taylor) – 3:04
4. "You're My Best Friend" (John Deacon) – 2:52
5. "'39" (Brian May) – 3:30
6. "Sweet Lady" (May) – 4:03
7. "Seaside Rendezvous" (Mercury) – 2:14
8. "The Prophet's Song" (May) – 8:20
9. "Love of My Life" (Mercury) – 3:38
10. "Good Company" (May) – 3:23
11. "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Mercury) – 5:54
12. "God Save the Queen" (trad.; Arr. May) – 1:13

The Wall - Pink Floyd

1979, Pink Floyd, The Wall

Narcistic physchedelic rock opera, about a dissilusioned rock star named Pink, ok so it's not exactly subtle. Not content with talking about himself, Roger Waters also has a swipe at the British education system, groupies, drugs, and World War II. All spread over an unnecessary 4 sides of vinyl!

Track listing

Side one

1."In the Flesh?" 3:19
2."The Thin Ice" 2:27
3."Another Brick in the Wall (Part 1)" 3:21
4."The Happiest Days of Our Lives" 1:46
5."Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" 4:00
6."Mother" 5:36

Side two

1."Goodbye Blue Sky" 2:45
2."Empty Spaces" 2:10
3."Young Lust" 3:25
4."One of My Turns" 3:35
5."Don't Leave Me Now" 4:16
6."Another Brick in the Wall (Part 3)" 1:14
7."Goodbye Cruel World" 1:13

Side three

1."Hey You" 4:40
2."Is There Anybody Out There?" 2:44
3."Nobody Home" 3:26
4."Vera" 1:35
5."Bring the Boys Back Home" 1:21
6."Comfortably Numb" 6:24

Side four

1."The Show Must Go On" 1:36
2."In the Flesh" 4:13
3."Run Like Hell" 4:19
4."Waiting for the Worms" 4:04
5."Stop" 0:30
6."The Trial" 5:13
7."Outside the Wall" 1:41

IV - Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin’s fourth album was released on November 8th, 1971. No official title is printed anywhere on the album, and it is generally referred to as “IV” after the band’s previous three numbered albums. It is also known as “Zoso” (which the first of the four symbols that feature on the album cover appears to spell), “Sticks” and “Runes”, to name but a few.

After the lukewarm critical reaction Led Zeppelin’s “III” had received in the autumn of 1970 (the media labeled the band as “hyped and overrated”), Jimmy Page decided that the next Led Zeppelin album would not have a title, but would instead feature four hand-drawn symbols on the inner sleeve, each chosen by a band member to represent themselves. “We decided that on the fourth album, we would deliberately play down the group name, and there wouldn’t be any information whatsoever on the outer jacket”, Page explained at the time. “Names, titles and things like that do not mean a thing.” Page designed his own symbol. Sometimes referred to as “Zoso”, he has explained that it was not in fact intended to be a word at all. John Bonham’s symbol, the three interlocking rings, was picked by the drummer from Rudolph Koch’s Book of Signs and represents the trinity of mother, father and child. John Paul Jones’ symbol, chosen from the same book, is a single circle intersecting three vesica piscis (a triquetra) and symbolises a person who possessing both confidence and competence. Robert Plant’s symbol was his own design and is based on the sign of the ancient Mu civilization. There is also a fifth, smaller symbol chosen by guest vocalist Fairport Convention frontwoman Sandy Denny representing her contribution to “The Battle of Evermore”; it appears in the credits list on the inner sleeve of the LP and is shaped like three triangles touching at their points.

At one time, “IV” was going to be released as four separate EPs, but because of various delays a single album was produced. Upon its release, “IV” was a huge commercial and critical success and turned the band from simple superstars into giant behemoths of the rock world. On tracks like “Black Dog”, “Misty Mountain Hop”, and “Rock and Roll”, the combination of Robert Plant’s banshee wails and Jimmy Page’s frenetic guitar playing forever altered the template for hard rock music. The foreboding “When The Levee Breaks” demonstrated that Zeppelin could play the blues straight if they felt like it, the opening drum beat of which has become one of the most sampled drum tracks ever. Yet everything on the album ultimately took a back seat to its magnum opus; the classic “Stairway to Heaven”. Jimmy Page was a top London studio guitarist before he got rich and famous as the musical leader of Led Zeppelin. Arguably the group’s finest album, “IV” is as much a tribute to his technique as a monument to his versatility. Page produced the album, co-wrote all eight songs, and played mandolin as well as all the guitars. Musically, it ranges from acoustic English folke (“Goin’ to California” and “The Battle of Evermore”, which carried on the band’s acoustic tradition as displayed on “III”) to the bone-crushing centerpiece, “Stairway to Heaven”. The chiming “Four Sticks” aside, it is the Little Richard-inspired “Rock and Roll” and the tricky and unexpected time changes - a Zeppelin trademark - of “Black Dog” that elevate this album to lofty heights.

Every song is a winner, and you still here echoes of this album influencing new artists today.

1. “Black Dog” 
2. “Rock and Roll”
3. “The Battle of Evermore”
4. “Stairway to Heaven”
5. “Misty Mountain Hop”
6. “Four Sticks”
7. “Going to California”
8. “When the Levee Breaks”

Innervisions - Stevie Wonder

1973 Stevie Wonder aged just 23 released his 18th album, Innervisions. Considered part of Wonders classic period Innervisions is a tour de force of everything the Stevie Wonder does best.

The album is crafted with all of Wonders talents. He comments on many of the social issues topical in the early seventies, drugs, politics ethics and life in an American city and still manages to make us dance.

On Living For The City, we are taken on a journey as we follow a young man from Mississippi to a city and all the perils that wait for him there. Too High is a cautionary tale on drug use. Higher Ground, Jesus Child Of America are unusual takes on Eastern Religious philosophy as heard through Wonders easy gift for funk and pop. Stevie Wonder even has a go at Richard Milhous Nixon on He's Mistra Know It All.

Who knew that the same man would go on to write I Just Called... Sigh...

Track Listing

1. "Too High" – 4:37
2. "Visions" – 5:22
3. "Living for the City" – 7:22
4. "Golden Lady" – 5:00
5. "Higher Ground" – 3:42
6. "Jesus Children of America" – 4:10
7. "All in Love Is Fair" – 3:42
8. "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" – 4:44
9. "He's Misstra Know-It-All" – 5:35

Armed Forces - Elvis Costello

Elvis Costellos third album Armed Forces, was yet another triumph. He had only just finished touring the wonderful This Years Model, when he went right back into the studio with The Attractions to record this edgy articulate record.

The album begins perfectly with the line, "Oh I just don't know where to begin" This is of course, Accidents will Happen, one of Castillo's finest songs. It rattles along at his usual frenetic punk pace, but has all the lyrical and melodic intrigued you would expect from the man. Just to show a sense of humour the single was printed inside out.

The big hit off the album is without doubt Oliver's Army. Often mistaken as an anti Irish song, it is in fact the opposite. It is a scathing attacking on the way the British army conducted itself in Northern Ireland in the 1970's. The controversial line "only takes on itchy finger /one more widow one less white nigger"

The production on the album is a big step forward for Costello. It has more layered vocals and guitars and the synth sound is often replaced by pounding rhythmic piano. Goon Squad and Senior Service see him at his sonic best. The beautiful Party Girl is yet another classic from the pen of Mr Declan Patrick McManus.

Armed forces is both political and emotional and sees Elvis Costello finally step up and take credit for his abilities as a song writer.

Track Listing

1. "Accidents Will Happen" – 3:00
2. "Senior Service" – 2:17
3. "Oliver's Army" – 2:58
4. "Big Boys" – 2:54
5. "Green Shirt" – 2:42
6. "Party Girl" – 3:20
7. "Goon Squad" - 3:14
8. "Busy Bodies" - 3:33
9. "Sunday's Best" - 3:22
10. "Moods for Moderns" - 2:48
11. "Chemistry Class" - 2:55
12. "Two Little Hitlers" - 3:18
    

Stephen Stills - Stepehn Stills

Stephen Stills' 3rd, eponymously titled album came quick on the heels of his work on Deja Vu with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and sadly has been overlooked by many as a result.

It contains all the hall marks of a great CSNY album. David Crosby and Graham Nash feature andJimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Ringo Star (working under the name Richie) all make contributions.
The record cover looks all folkie and tells you nothing about what lies beneath. It is a mixture of blues, country, folk and rock, all handled with the care you'd expect from Stephen Stills.

Favorites from the album? Well you can't miss Stills' biggest hit, Love The One Your With, but other gems are on here too. Do For The Others is fragile beautiful and moving. Old Times Good Times (With Jimi Hendrix), Go Back Home (with Eric Clapton) and Sit Yourself Down all classics. The vocal work on Sit Yourself Down is astonishing.

The album and the artist have never received the praise they deserve, perhaps history will be revised and Stephen Stills will eventually be lauded for this superb work.

Track Listing

1. "Love the One You're With" – 3:04
2. "Do for the Others" – 2:52
3. "Church (Part of Someone) – 4:05
4. "Old Times Good Times" – 3:39
5. "Go Back Home" – 5:54
6. "Sit Yourself Down" – 3:05
7. "To a Flame" – 3:08
8. "Black Queen" – 5:26
9. "Cherokee" – 3:23
10. "We Are Not Helpless" – 4:20

What's Going On - Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye's brother was in Vietnam in 1971, the singer on the other hand was in the studio recording his masterpiece.

What's Going On is one of those albums where not one track is a dud. The album is filled with political, environmental and social commentary all delivered with the soft soulful tones of Marvin Gaye. It is easily one of the most important albums ever recorded.

I am not going to dilute its power by rabbiting on about how each song was recorded, I think it would undermine the listening pleasure it brings or even take from its magic (if that's even possible). But for style and flow it is second only to Astral Weeks in my books!

Motown boss Berry Gordy was bewildered by the album, actually admitting that he did not even know what the word ecology meant, even saying that he hated the title track. In fact he refused to release Whats Going On as a single, Marvin in turn refused to record any further music until it was released. Berry did so grudgingly saying it would be a commercial failure! How wrong he was. Gordy may not have have understood what was being said, but millions of people did.

Track Listing

1. "What's Going On" (Cleveland, M. Gaye, Benson)
   
2. "What's Happening Brother" (Nyx, M. Gaye)
   
3. "Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)" (M. Gaye, A. Gaye, E. Stover)
   
4. "Save the Children" (Cleveland, M. Gaye, Benson)
   
5. "God Is Love" (M. Gaye, A. Gaye, E.Stover, Nyx)
   
6. "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" (M. Gaye)
7. "Right On" (DeRouen, M. Gaye)
   
8. "Wholy Holy" (Cleveland, M. Gaye, Benson)
   
9. "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" (M. Gaye, Nyx)
   

The Knack - Get The Knack

The Knack! THE KNACK? I hear you say, well yes say I and why not?

Get the Knack was The Knack's début album. Released in 1979 it is one of the most successful débuts in history, it went gold in 13 days! (For the uninitiated a gold record is one that sells 1,000,000 records) Critics claimed the inflated sales were due to the enormous amount of hype created by Capitol records before its release. But that said, this album is actually really good.

Swamped with early Beatles melodies and lots of Buddy Holly type Rock and Roll, (they even cover a Buddy classic, Heartbeat) what the album is really known for is their one hit, My Sharona. There really is not much I can say about this particular song. It is one of the greatest pop songs ever put to record. Instantly catchy and forever memorable. It is perfect in almost every way.

The rest of the album is also a constant pleasure, tight guitar riffs, quick drumming and the stutter vocals of Doug Fieger all form the sharp nervous system of The Knack's jumpy style. Tracks like Frustrated and Good Girls Don't are stripped down to 'too catchy for comfort' type songs that seem to meet in the common ground between The Beatles first few albums and the type Weezer produce today.

Get The Knack is really quite sleazy sometime even a little creepy, but damn and blast if it 'aint catchy. Incidentally it was one of Kurt Cobain's favourite albums. It's power pop at its adolescent best, a great album overshadowed by its one great hit.

Track Listing

1. "Let Me Out"
2. "Your Number or Your Name"
3. "Oh Tara"
4. "(She's So) Selfish"
5. "Maybe Tonight"
6. "Good Girls Don't"
7. "My Sharona"
8. "Heartbeat"
9. "Siamese Twins (The Monkey and Me)"
10. "Lucinda"
11. "That's What the Little Girls Do"
12. "Frustrated"

Michael Jackson - Off The Wall

I suppose if you were to take the titles of Michael Jackson's albums and compare them to his life they would parallel it on many levels, non more than his 1979 album Off The Wall.

This was his 5th solo album (Michael was only 21) Up to this point Michael Jackson's music was mostly soul covers, an easy fit for the Motown label which he had just ended a long relationship with. Also most of his first 4 albums had been produced by Hal Davis a stock producer for the Motown stable, all was to change with the entry of music legend Quincy Jones. ( I realise Legend is a word that is often bandied about but, With 79 Grammy nominations and 27 Grammy awards I think he qualifies as a legend, he has also done the music to more classic movie scores than we have room to put in here)

When Michael began production of the album, all he knew is that he did not want it to sound like the Jacksons, that's certainly what he got. Song writing talent in the shape of Rod Temperton, Paul McCartney, and Stevie Wonder were drafted for the album, not to mention Michael and Quincy who also wrote songs on the album. With this powerhouse team assembled what Michael Jackson got was a sophisticated R&B masterpiece jelled together with a disco beat off the wall was an instant classic. Just look at the singles, Don't Stop Till You Get Enough, Rock With You, She's Out Of My Life, let alone Girlfriend and Off The Wall.

This album showed where Motown should have been going but sadly did not. Michael Jackson was leading the way hand in hand with Quincy Jones, to the world of the mega album. Off The Wall saw Jackson at his coolest, 21, with the world at his feet. While the grooviest tunes on the planet were pumping from every stereo he was already plotting a thrilling sequel.

Track Listing

1. "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" (Michael Jackson) – 6:05
2. "Rock with You" (Rod Temperton) – 3:40
3. "Workin' Day and Night" (Jackson) – 5:14
4. "Get on the Floor" (Jackson, Louis Johnson) – 4:39
5. "Off the Wall" (Temperton) – 4:06
6. "Girlfriend" (Paul McCartney) – 3:05
7. "She's out of My Life" (Tom Bahler) – 3:38
8. "I Can't Help It" (Susaye Greene, Stevie Wonder) – 4:39
9. "It's the Falling in Love" (David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager) – 3:48
10. "Burn This Disco Out" (Temperton) – 3:30

Lou Reed’s Transformer

“Transformer” is Velvet Underground co-founder Lou Reed’s second solo album and was released in December 1972. It features some of his best-known songs such as “Walk On The Wild Side”, “Perfect Day” and “Satellite Of Love”and was produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, who had been heavily influenced by Reed’s work with his former band.

This sophomore release by Reed is hailed by many as one of the cornerstones of the punk and alternative eras that followed and it took him from cult hero of The Velvet Underground to international superstar status. The cover art for the album is by Mick Rock, best known for his legendary shots of glam rock icons of the 1970s such as Queen, Bowie, Ronson, Iggy Pop and The Stooges, The Ramones and Blondie.
Unlike its predecessor “Lou Reed”, eight songs of which were left over from his Velvet Underground days, this album contains mainly new material. Reinforcing the literary idea of “write what you know”, Reed portrays an alternately detached/debauched portrait of the drag-and-drugs-soaked underground of alternative artist Andy Warhol’s New York; a place, time and mindset so compelling it has had a tendency to overshadow the rest of the singer-songwriter’s career. That the album would also give Reed an unlikely pop hit with the teasing, twisted sexuality of “Walk on the Wild Side” is pure irony. He would write about people that most of society preferred to pretend didn’t exist – gay people, cross dressers, drug addicts and other outcasts and ne’er-do-wells. Everyone in “Walk On The Wild Side” was real; they were all people who had been involved with Andy Warhol’s Factory, a safe place for creative expression (whatever form that would take) and a drop-in centre for New York’s underground artistic scene.

“Satellite of Love” had been demoed for the band’s 1970 album “Loaded” and “Andy’s Chest” had been recorded in 1969 for The Velvet Underground’s “lost fourth album” (the best cuts of those particular sessions being released on 1985’s “VU”), but neither had been used. For “Transformer”, the original poppy feel of these songs was slowed down to turn them into ballads. Although there are no known performances of “Vicious” by the Velvet Underground, the song apparently dates from Reed’s time in the band and its association with Warhol. According to Reed, Warhol told Reed he should write a song about someone vicious. Reed inquired what he meant by that, and Warhol replied, “Oh, you know, vicious like I hit you with a flower”. “Satellite of Love” was issued as the second single from the album in February 1973 and thought it became a fan favourite, the first single from and probably the best known track on the album, “Walk on the Wild Side”, was an international hit, despite its adult subject matter. It was edited in some countries and banned in others but is now generally regarded as Reed’s signature tune. All songs on the album are credited to Reed, though it has long been rumoured that “Wagon Wheel” is in actual fact a David Bowie composition.

This most accessible album of Reed’s was a deserved commercial success and spawned many a copycat. “Transformer” is an intelligent and enduring statement of an era and is one of the few albums of the glam-rock movement that has survived with its artistic integrity intact and that still has something to say today.

1. “Vicious”
2. “Andy’s Chest”
3. “Perfect Day”
4. “Hangin’ ‘Round”
5. “Walk on the Wild Side”
6. “Make Up”
7. “Satellite of Love”
8. “Wagon Wheel”
9. “New York Telephone Conversation”
10. “I'm So Free”
11. “Goodnight Ladies”

Roxy Music - Country Life

To a young, impressionable teenager, such as I once was, the cover of Roxy Music's 1974 release, Country Music, was something of an immediate statement and, well, something that was just as much fun to look at as to listen. Just look at it! I think it speaks for itself although I will go on about it a little later.

Ferry and Roxy Music were nerds and their esoteric leanings are rampant across this gem of an L.P. ( I realise I said esoteric but hang in there its gonna be OK) The album begins with The Thrill of It All, an up tempo number that includes a little poetry reference, (for the nerds Dorothy Parker's Resume) Krautrock, Elizabethan-esque musicianship on Triptych and Feryy's seemingly random word smithery are peppered in every track. The wonderful Casanova shows Ferry commenting on the hollowness of the jet set life. Ferry's girlfriend at the time was Jerry Hall, and the final track is an ode to her.

The cover was fairly controversial upon its release, it has two models in just enough clothes to retain some modesty, Constanze karoli and Eveline Grunwald. Ferry met them in Portugal and persuaded them to do the photo, and the results were not to the palet of the Americans who wanted a new cover released this time with 2 trees on it, what a terrible waste.

Track Listing

1. The Thrill of It All" – 6:24
2. "Three and Nine" (Ferry, Andy Mackay) – 4:04
3. "All I Want Is You" – 2:53
4. "Out of the Blue" (Ferry, Phil Manzanera) – 4:46
5. "If It Takes All Night" – 3:12
6. "Bitter-Sweet" (Ferry, Mackay) – 4:50
7. "Triptych" – 3:09
8. "Casanova" – 3:27
9. "A Really Good Time" – 3:45
10. "Prairie Rose" (Ferry, Manzanera) – 5:12

After the Gold Rush - Neil Young

Neil Young's After The Gold Rush was his third solo release, and one that came at a very prolific time for the young Canadian songwriter. Having written 3 solo albums and the Crosby Still Nash and Young album, Deja Vu in 3 years. After the gold Rush was released in 1970 climbing to number 8 in the US charts and is, as per usual on a Neil Young album packed with his trademark song craft.

Young intentionally tried to merge the sounds of Crazy Horse (His backing band) and Crosby Stills and Nash, helped in no small way by a 17 year old Nils Lofgren.

The album contains many of Young's best loves songs including, After the Gold Rush, Only Love Can break Your Heart and Southern Man.

The Title track After The Gold Rush, is a call to arms for environmentalists, the Lyric "look at mother nature on the run in the 70's" seems to be a premonition to many of the major issues today. (Thom Yorke of Radiohead has often played the song live)

Only Love can Break Your Heart, is the third track on the album and one of his best known. Apparently the song was written for Graham Nash after he split with Joni Mitchell. It a simple ode to the troubles of love and the hurt that can be caused when it ends.

Oh Lonesome Me is the only cover on the album. It is an old Chet Atkins song written by Chet and Don Gibson in 1958. Young slows down the tempo of the song in his own version and creates a much more depressing mood than the original.

My favourite track on the album is the wonderful Southern Man. The Lyrics are directed towards racism in the American South. Apparently the song was written after Young was beaten up by a bunch of rednecks in a roadhouse bar because he had long hair. It i the first song to have upset Lynrad Skynard, but it wasn't until Young wrote Alabama that they were forced to write their response to him in Sweet Home Alabama.

Although the album was poorly received by Rolling Stone upon its original release it has since became one of its top 100 albums of all time ad why not. Even though the album was recorded in a mere two weeks the style of production seems more relevant today. This is helped by the fact that so many lo-fi bands have been influenced by Young.

After The Gold Rush is one of the finest American albums ever written and one of Neil Young's greatest releases. That's no small praise for a man of 63 currently on his 34th solo album (if you include all releases it's his 63rd) A fantastic critical junction from one of the all time greats

Closing Time - Tom Waits

Tom Waits’ debut album “Closing Time” was released in March 1973. Waits’ gravely voice is instantly recognizable and was once described by a critic as sounding “like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months and then taken outside and run over with a car.” With this trademark growl, his incorporation of a mish-mash of styles including blues, jazz, and Vaudeville, and his openess to experimentation, Waits has built up a unique and distinctive musical persona. Lyrically, Waits’ songs are known for atmospheric portrayals of bizarre, seedy characters and places, although he has also shown a penchant for more conventional ballads. His influence on other songwriters, despite having little radio or music video support himself, has meant that his songs are better known to the general public in the form of cover versions by more prominent artists, eg. “Jersey Girl” performed by Bruce Springsteen; “Downtown Train” performed by Rod Stewart; actress Scarlett Johansson’s 2008 debut album “Anywhere I Lay My Head” predominantly featuring covers of Waits’ songs; and “Ol’ ‘55” performed by the Eagles but present in its original glorious form on “Closing Time”.

“Ol’ ‘55”, one of the album’s finest tracks, is about driving down the freeway in the early morning in a state of post-coital euphoria. Just as compelling is the ballad “I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love with You”, a story about meeting eyes with a girl in a bar and aching to ask her out, but ultimately being too shy. “Lonely” is what it is. “Martha” is perhaps the most poignant song on the album, a simple piano ballad about lost love and written when Waits was only 19 years old. “Closing Time” received good reviews on its release, but overall it was not a huge commercial success. However, it did reach a wider audience through a number of cover versions by more successful artists. Later in 1973 Tim Buckley released his album “Sefronia” which contained a cover of “Martha” , the first ever cover of a Tom Waits song by a known artist. This cover was also collected in the 1995 compilation “Step Right Up: The Songs of Tom Waits”. The Eagles’ cover of “Ol’ ‘55” was a big hit for them and it featured on their 1974 album “On the Border”.

Tom Waits has composed for a number of movies and musical plays including the soundtrack of the film “Shrek 2”, in which he also appears in a shared role with Nick Cave as a piano-playing Captain Hook singing the track “A Little Drop Of Poison”.

1. “Ol’ ‘55”
2. “I Hope That I Don't Fall in Love With You”
3. “Virginia Avenue”
4. “Old Shoes (& Picture Postcards)”
5. “Midnight Lullaby”
6. “Martha”
7. “Rosie”
8. “Lonely”
9. “Ice Cream Man”
10. “Little Trip to Heaven (On the Wings of Your Love)”
11. “Grapefruit Moon”
12. “Closing Time” (instrumental)

Blank Generation - Richard Hell and the Voidvoids

Its 1977, Jimmy Carter becomes the President of the United States of America, Fleetwood Mac released Rumours, Elvis Presley dies, Liv Tyler is born (swoon) and Richard Hell and the Voidvoids release Blank Generation.

Ok, Lets start with the basics.

Punk: "a style or movement characterized by the adoption of aggressively unconventional and often bizarre or shocking clothing, hairstyles, makeup, etc., and the defiance of social norms of behavior, usually associated with punk rock musicians and fans."

Richard Meyers: Aka Richard Hell. Born 1948 in the US. Hell was one of the originators of the Punk fashion look. He was one of the first to spike his hair, wear ripped up written on shirts mostly held together by safety pins andwas an important inspiration on how Malcom Mclaren would make his boy bandm The Sex Pistols look and act. He was also in The Neon Boys, Television, The Heartbreakers and The Voidvoids.

The Voidvoids: A New York based punk band fronted by Richard Hell (See above), best know for releasing the nihilistic punk classic Blank Generation.

Blank Generation: An album recorded by Richard Hell and the Voivoids in 1977. A pivotal Punk album that has influenced music for decades. It is lyrically intelligent and is driven by the spiky guitar of one Robert W. Quine. (Robert worked with them all Brian Eno, Tom Waits and Lou Reed to name but a few. Sadly Robert killed himself with a heroin overdose in 2004 after being left inconsolable after his wife died)

The albums title track is one of Punks seminal tracks. It has often been cited as one of the top 10 greatest and most influential Punk songs. The complex punchy guitar style of the album was more Post Punk than Punk and can be heard at full speed on Love Comes In Spurts and Liars Beware. The album may have been nihilistic but it was not stupid. Lyrically Richard Hell was closer to Patty Smith than to The Ramones or New York Dolls and this easily heard on tracks like New pleasures, Betrayal Takes Two and Another World.

The Voidvoids show that they can appreciate music while still ripping it up with their unique cover of Credence Clearwater Revivals Walking On Water.

Blank Generation, doesn't follow the punk crowd down the road of mediocrity, it is a fresh sonic blast in the face of all that came before and still sound's new an exciting today.

Track Listing

1. Love Comes in Spurts
2. Liars Beware
3. New Pleasure
4. Betrayal Takes Two
5. Down at the Rock & Roll Club
6. Who Says? (It's Good to Be Alive)
7. Blank Generation
8. Walking on the Water
9. The Plan
10. Another World
11. I'm Your Man
12. All the Way

Hotel California - The Eagles

The Eagles released Hotel California in 1976, a concept album, it went on to become one of the top selling albums of all time, and included the karaoke favourite Hotel California and the hits Life In The Fast Lane and New Kid In Town, (surely the inspiration behind all that is Bagatelle)

Don Henley best describes the album himself in an interview for rock magazine Zig Zag

"This is a concept album, there's no way to hide it, but it's not set in the old West, the cowboy thing, you know. It's more urban this time (. . . ) It's our bicentennial year, you know, the country is 200 years old, so we figured since we are the Eagles and the Eagle is our national symbol, that we were obliged to make some kind of a little bicentennial statement using California as a microcosm of the whole United States, or the whole world, if you will, and to try to wake people up and say 'We've been okay so far, for 200 years, but we're gonna have to change if we're gonna continue to be around."

Hmmmm...probably should have called themselves The Egos.....

Hotel California is Thursdays Critical Junction.

Track Listing
1. Hotel California
2. New Kid In Town
3. Life In The Fast Lane
4. Wasted Time
5. Wasted Time (Reprise)
6. Victim Of Love
7. Pretty Maids All In A Row
8. Try And Love Again
9. Last Resort, The

Grease

The year is in 1978, theres a 50's revival in the air, the Fonz is burning up the small screen in Happy Days and John Travaolta is about to slick back his hair and become a superstar. 29 year old Olivia Newton John was about to squeeze her way into impossibly tight pants and become a house hold name. It was non other than Grease, the biggest grossing movie of 1978 and one of the biggest selling soundtracks of all time often selling 7,000 copies a week even today.

Opening track and indeed the title track Grease was written by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees and is performed by Frankie Valli the song became a number one hit for Valli in the US. It was'nt the only hit from the film, Olivia Newton John scored 3 top 5 singes from the film. Your The One That I Want written by John farrar was released before the film and went straight to number one. It spent 9 weeks at number one and sold nearly 4 million copies. Summer Nights Written by Werner Casey and Jim Jacobs spent 7 weeks at number 1 in the UK chart. Hopelessly Devoted to you, was also written by Farrar and was nominated for an Oscar, Newton John performed the song but lost out to Last Dance performed by Donna Summer.

The other big numbers on the soundtrack are Sandy, Greased Lightnin (which really should have been released as a single), Look at me I'm Sandra Dee and of course Beauty School Dropout performed by one other than Frankie Avalon. Not forgetting the big We Go Together the ensemble number.

The album contains some early classics, Blue Moon, Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing, Tears on my Pillow and Hound Dog which add to the 50's feeling of the entire musical. ut what is amazing about this album is the size of it 24 tracks!!! Every tune from the film is on here, its not only over indulgent its almost rude, well maybe not to a fan as you surely get your moneys worth.

Track Listing

1. Grease
2. Summer Nights
3. Hopelessly devoted to you
4. You're the one that i want
5. Sandy
6. Beauty School Dropout
7. Look at Me
8. Greased Lightnin
9. It's Raining on Prom Night
10. Alone at a drive in
11. Blue Moon
12. Rock N Roll is here to stay
13 Those Magic Changes
14. Hound Dog
15. Born to Hand Jive
16. Tears on My Pillow
17. Mooning
18. Freddy My Love
19. Rock N Roll Party Queen
20. There are Worse things I Can Do
21. Look at me I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)
22. We Go Together
23. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
24. Grease

Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones

The 1971 number one album Sticky Fingers was the first album released by The Rolling Stones on their own label, Rolling Stones Records. It was also the first in 8 consecutive number one albums released by the band. The album cover famously had a man in tight black jeans, with a working zipper on the front that revealed white cotton briefs, I kid you not, it was designed by non other than Andy Warhol. However it did have a tendency to destroy other record sleeves stacked beside it!

It is a dark album with over half the songs on the album mentioning drug use, and the rest alluding to it. Its bluesy sound with a country twinge is amply aided by the magnificent musicians the Stones called in to the sessions. Ry Cooder, Jack Nitzche and Paul Buckmaster all grace the albums tracks.

Sticky Fingers opens with Brown Sugar a heady mix if Heroin, Inter-racial sex and slavery. It easily became a number one single. The second track on the album Sway, is one of the Rolling Stones finest album tracks. Written about the many friends of the band who had fallen fowl of the rock and roll lifestyle, it features Paul Buckmaster on guitar.

Aside from Brown Sugar, Wild Horses is the best know track on the album and one of their most popular. It is a serious country song that tugs at the heart strings from the first chords.

Sister Morphine was originally released by Mariane Faithful however due to its drug refrences it was banned from many shops and sold poorly. It was co written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards but Faithful went uncredited so she would not have to pay royalties to her manager. She recieved one third of the royalties anyway. Ry Cooder and Jack Nitzche also play on the recording.

The album is rounded off by two wonderful songs, Dead Flowers (A reference to Heroin) and Moonlight Mile. Moonlight Mile ends the album on a weary note. This ballad shed light on the trials of being on the road and maintaining the rock and roll image.

Dark and seemingly ramshackle, Sticky Fingers proved difficult to record but this difficulty was ultimately rewarded in what became an incredible album by an incredible band.


Track Listing
1. Brown Suger
2. Sway
3. Wild Horses
4. Can't You Hear Me Knocking
5. You Gota Move
6. Bitch
7. I Got The Blues
8. Sister Morphine
9. Dead Flowers
10. Moonlight Mile

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

Bridge Over Troubled Water was the fifth and final album from Simon & Garfunkel and a swan-song that yielded some of their most enduring songs.
The pair were barely on speaking terms during recording, Garfunkel was busy acting in Catch-22 and they feuded and argued not just over the production style but also over what tracks to include.
A multi grammy award winner, including a nod for Best Album and Song Of The Year for Bridge Over Troubled Water it went on to sell more than 5 Million Copies and in some ways almost plays like a Simon &Garfunkel best-of today. The Boxer, Song For The Asking, El Condor Pasa, Cecillia, Keep The Customer Satisfied, and the Title Track are all very well known and the lesser known but equally good, The Only Living Boy In New York and So Long Frank LLoyd Wright add up to complete an outstanding Album. Bridge over Troubled Water is this Thursdays Critical Junction.

Track Listing.
1. "Bridge over Troubled Water" – 4:52
2. "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)" – 3:06
3. "Cecilia" – 2:54
4. "Keep the Customer Satisfied" – 2:33
5. "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" – 3:47
6. "The Boxer" – 5:08
7. "Baby Driver" – 3:14
8. "The Only Living Boy in New York" – 3:58
9. "Why Don't You Write Me" – 2:45
10. "Bye Bye Love"* (live recording from Ames, Iowa) – 2:55
11. "Song for the Asking" – 1:49

Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd

A concept album from Prog Rockers would typically send me running, but for Pink Floyd virgins this album is the place to start. Originally titled Eclipse (A Piece For Assorted Lunatics) it was released as The Dark Side Of The Moon in 1973 and it proved to be the bands commercial breakthrough. Exploring themes of money, madness and death, and sometimes referred to as a soundtrack to the end of the Watergate era it was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and employed the most advanced recording techniques of the day with all members of the band simultaneously operating different faders to achieve the desired sound and mix and including the experimental use of reverb, echoes, and voices. An orchestral version of The Beatles Ticket To Ride can be heard faintly over the heartbeats at the end of Eclipse and it has been suggested that this was actually a mastering error. The iconic Album cover folded out to reveal a prism endlessly refracting a beam of light.
The album became one of the biggest selling albums of all time and apparently, some of the profits were used to finance Monty Python And The Holy Grail, (so it wasn't all bad then;-).
Track listing
1. Speak To Me
2. Breathe
3. On The Run
4. Time
5. Great Gig In The Sky, The
6. Money
7. Us And Them
8. Any Colour You Like
9. Brain Damage
10. Eclipse

Blue - Joni Mitchell

This is truly an Album no record collection should be without. Joni Mitchells 4th it was released in 1971, after she had spent some time traveling around Europe and It's a rich collection of 10 intricate, emotional, personal and poetic tracks. Give Blue a chance, it will work it's way under your skin and stay with you.

If the lyrics are sometimes complex, the arrangements are simple, on the celebratory Carey, Stephen Stills provides guitar accompaniment, and James Taylor lends a hand on California, All I Want, and A Case Of You, a song which also contains what is probably my favourite lyric of all time, - Just before our love got lost, you said "I am as constant as the Northern Star" and I said, "Constantly in the darkness, where's that? If you want me I'll be in the Bar" - Relevatory, funny and sad at the same time, Blue is full of lyrical gems, emotional insights and unique melody.

Track listing
1. All I Want
2. My Old Man
3. Little Green
4. Carey
5. Blue
6. California
7. This Flight Tonight
8. River
9. Case Of You, A
10. Last Time I Saw Richard, The

The Stranger - Billy Joel

Billy Joel’s 5th studio album released in 1977 proved that he was more than just The Piano Man. Produced by Columbia records maestro Phil Ramone. Ramone has produced everyone from Marilyn Monroe (singing Happy Birthday to John F Kennedy) to George Micheal and Luciano Pavaroti. It was with his use of modern recording techniques and Joel’s ability to write flawless pop gems that the album came together in such a fantastic way.

Where to begin, well lets start with the cover, a bizarre concoction with Billy sitting on a bed staring at a mask which is lying on a pillow. The early advertising for the record had only this image on it with no other words, it was as stroke of genius. The album lived up to the adverts and was an end to end pop masterpiece.

The big hitters on this album are, Movin Out (Anthony’s Song), The Stranger, Just the Way You Are, Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, Vienna, She’s Always A Woman and Only The Good Die Young. Bizarrely

The Stranger is actually about the Id. The part of the Human Psyche where desire and primal instincts are held, it was of course a big hit in Japan. Just The Way You Are was a birthday gift to Joel’s first wife Elizabeth Weber. Joel’s was actually going to leave the song off the album and actually doesn’t like playing it. Another song She’s always a Woman is also about his first wife, who used to be married to Billy Joes drummer at the time. Joel had an affair with the woman and was so tormented by it that he drank furniture polish and guess who rushed him to the hospital, his drummer.

Scene From An Italian Restaurant is actually three different tunes put together, it is Joel’s Longest studio recording coming at over seven and a half minutes long. It is a fan favourite and one of his greatest songs and actually has something of a Beatles Feel to it. Only The Good Die Young believe or not was controversial at the time due to its lyrical content where a boy tries to seduce a catholic girl and was banned form a number of stations in the U.S. This only served to shoot the album further up the carts. Billy Joel actually received a threat of assassination before a concert in St Louis if he played the song. He went on and played the song twice. Vienna a personal favourite is about growing old, Joel was visiting his father in Vienna when he saw an old woman sweeping the streets. Billy was appalled by this but his father told him the woman had pride and was doing a service, Joel realised how America pushed aside its elderly and strips them of their purpose and worth.

It may be sentimental, it may be a guily pleasure it may in fact be the greatest album Joel released but what it is is a superb album which sounds fresher and edgier now that most of what charts today.

Track listing

1. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
2. Stranger, The
3. Just The Way You Are
4. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
5. Vienna
6. Only The Good Die Young
7. She's Always A Woman
8. Get It Right The First Time
9. Everybody Has A Dream

Blood On The Tracks - Bob Dylan

After several wilderness years of poorly received records, Bob Dylan released his 15th album, Blood On The Tracks, slap bang in the middle of the disco decade, in 1975.
Dylan recorded the Album twice, the first time with Phil Ramone, in New York, and then, after a change of heart about the sound, in Minneapolis with a bunch of session musicians. It's the latter recording that was released and the achieved a glowing critical reception, selling like hotcakes.The tracks are believed to be inspired by Dylans ill fated marriage to Sara Dylan, though he has denied this. Although most of the lyrics revolve around loneliness and heartache, there is a musical jauntiness mixed in with the gloom, especially on Shelter From The Storm, Tangled Up In Blue and Buckets Of Rain. The ubiquitous harmonica is here for sure, but there is also a great bluesy folksy feel and the Album doesn't falter once in it's 10 tracks most of which we'll be playing on Thursday Morning.



Track listing
1. Tangled Up In Blue
2. Simple Twist Of Fate
3. You're A Big Girl Now
4. Idiot Wind
5. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
6. Meet Me In The Morning
7. Lily Rosemary And The Jack Of Hearts
8. If You See Her Say Hello
9. Shelter From The Storm
10. Buckets Of Rain

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

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

Saturday Night Fever - Various Artists

The writer’s of Saturday Night Fever must of had an inkling of how successful the film would be, they gave John Travolta’s character the surname Manero, which is the Portuguese for cool. The Bee Gee’s however had no idea of what was in store after the films release.

The Gibb brothers are from the Isle of Man, when you think of Disco, its not exactly Studio 54 but this is where the writers of the archetypal disco album hailed form. They were nothing if not prolific with a mere 14 albums under their belt before they began work on this weeks Critical Junction, the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever.

Dispel your love or hate for disco for this nugget of music mastery as this is not only a successful album but an important one to boot. In the United States, the album has gone platinum fifteen times and it is the number one best-selling soundtrack of all time. The cultural impact of Saturday Night Fever in the U.S was tremendous, bringing the Disco scene out of the clubs and into the mainstream something we are paying fore even today.

The Majority of the songs on the Album were written by the Bee Gees, Standard classics now like Night Fever, Stayin’ Alive, If I Cant Have you and Jive Talking litter the album. Disco stalwarts Kool And The Gang and KC & The Sunshine Band are also found on this seminal soundtrack. At the height of his powers legendary 70’s film scorer David Shire contributed a number of incidental pieces to the soundtrack.

Amazingly the songs written by the Bee Gee’s were done before a script was written for the film. But they knew the idea behind the film and how their songs would be used and what they penned says more than the script ever could.

Stayin’ Alive opens Saturday Night Fever as John Travolta struts along a city sidewalk. A teasing thirty seconds of that scene was shown in fifteen hundred theatres a week before the movie actually opened. A record was not yet available, but people began calling RSO anyway, asking for "Stayin' Alive."

The single broke in mid-December 1977, spending four weeks at number one in February 1978. It was on the charts for more than six months, and won a Grammy.

You Should Be Dancing is still sampled by DJ’s it is a dance floor filler start to finish as is Disco Inferno by Tramps.

So grab your white leisure suit, get out that disco ball and boogie down to the album that launched the craze. Barry, Robin, Maurice and a host of smooth polyester wearing disco stars will transport you back to shake your booty.


Track listing

1. Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
2. How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees
3. Night Fever - Bee Gees
4. More Than A Woman - Bee Gees
5. Jive Talkin' - Bee Gees
6. You Should Be Dancing - Bee Gees
7. Calypso Breakdown - Donaldson, Ralph
8. If I Can't Have You - Elliman, Yvonne
9. Fifth Of Beethoven - Murphy, Walter
10. Open Sesame - Kool & The Gang 1
1. Boogie Shoes - KC & The Sunshine Band
12. MFSB - KC & The Sunshine Band
13. K Jee - KC & The Sunshine Band
14. Disco Inferno - Tramps
15. Manhattan Skyline - Tramps
16. Night On Disco Mountain - Tramps
17. Salsation - Tramps

Harvest - Neil Young

A classic album in any language. Neil Young's Harvest proved the immense talent of one of music's all time greats. Released in 1972 the album went to number 1 and was the best selling album of the year. It contains the immediately recognisable songs, Heart of gold, Old Man and The Needle and The Damage Done and was produced by Neil Young and Jack Nitszche among others. Nitzesche wrote the soundtracks for One Flew Over the Cookoo's nest and the Exorcist and is husband to Buffy Sainte-Marie.

The Needle and the Damage Done is a lament for crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitman's who died from a heroin overdose. It is performed live on the album and is aching to listen to, with Neil Young's fragile vocals giving a depth to every word of the song. Heart of Gold was Young's only every Number 1 and he later
wrote that Heart Of Gold put him in the middle of the road saying that
traveling there became a bore so he headed for the ditch, a rougher
ride but with more interesting people. Interestingly the song has
James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt on backing vocals. The song Alabama on
Harvest incensed Lynard Skinard enough to write their own hit Sweet Home Alabama
as a rebuke to Neil Young's critical description of the state. The
beautiful Old Man was written for the caretaker of Young's ranch.

Young's abilities were showcased on this album. His lyrical genius
shines throughout every song The sweeping orchestration on When a Man
Needs A Maid and There's a Word prove how far Young would go to
fulfilling his vision drafting in the London Symphony Orchestra to
provide the strings. Some think the album is over lauded however it
would not be a Neil young album if it were not difficult.

Track Listing
1. Out On The Weekend
2. Harvest
3. Man Needs A Maid, A
4. Heart Of Gold
5. Are You Ready For The Country
6. Old Man
7. There's A World
8. Alabama
9. Needle And The Damage Done, The - (live)
10. Words (Between The Lines Of Age)

Parallel Lines - Blondie

Bred from the New York Punk scene, 60's girl band referencing Blondie kissed the dying gasps of New Wave good bye and hooked up with British Pop producer Mike Chapman to produce 1978's Parallel Lines. It is the bands own songwriting that solidified their position at the top of the British and American charts with Picture This, Heart Of Glass and One Way Or Another all providing Hits. State of the art Pop/Rock pounds out on Thursdays Critical Junction.

Track Listing
1. Hanging On The Telephone
2. One Way Or Another
3. Picture This
4. Fade Away And Radiate
5. Pretty Baby
6. I Know But I Don't Know
7. 11:59
8. Will Anything Happen?
9. Sunday Girl
10. Heart Of Glass
11. I'm Gonna Love You Too
12. Just Go Away

Innervisions - Stevie Wonder

Funky, Jazzy, Edgy and Right On, Stevie Wonder himself claims this one as his best. Released in 1973 when he was just 23 years old it garnered immediate critical acclaim. All 9 tracks are flow seamlessly together and cover everything from Religion to Drugs to Politics, Hey Misstra Know It All is directed directly at Tricky Dicky Nixon, while Higher Ground reveals Wonders spiritual side and Too High is a cautionary tale of substance abuse. Don't You Worry About A Thing and Higher Ground are favourites on the Live Drive, this is an opportunity to hear a little more from the Album.
Track listing
1. Too High
2. Visions
3. Living For The City
4. Golden Lady
5. Higher Ground
6. Jesus Children Of America
7. All In Love Is Fair
8. Don't You Worry About A Thing
9. He's Misstra Know It All

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars - David Bowie

In 1971 David Bowie took on the persona of a doomed alien rock star, Ziggy Stardust, assembled the back up band, The Spiders from Mars and told reporters he was "going to be huge". The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars is a Glam Rock concept album covering the doomed career arc of the rock star, Ziggy Stardust who "took it all to far". Though the plot gets lost a little the strength of the individual tracks save it, all Bowie originals except "It Ain't Easy". Bowies first truly commercial offering is Thursdays Critical Junction. Five Years is a definite on the playlist, the rest is up to you!
Track listing
1. Five Years
2. Soul Love
3. Moonage Daydream
4. Starman
5. It Ain't Easy
6. Lady Stardust
7. Star
8. Hang On To Yourself
9. Ziggy Stardust
10. Suffragette City
11. Rock & Roll Suicide

Horses - Patti Smith

Rolling Stone named 1975s Horses one of the top 50 Rock albums of all time, and it's easy to see why. Patti Smiths been called a rock poet, a punk rock progenitor and the front guard of the New Wave movement. Robert Mapplethorpe shot the androgynous album cover, and though its 32 years old it hardly looks dated. If you haven't heard her you've certainly heard the artists she's influenced, Chrissie Hynde and PJ Harvey immediately spring to mind, we've already had PJ as a CJ and I imaging the pretenders will feature sometime in the future. Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen, original Bad Girls you ain't!

Horses opens with a Van Morrison Cover "Gloria", a feisty interpretation that builds too a gut wrenching crescendo. It's on the Critical Junction playlist along with the reggae like Redondo Beach along with Free Money and the epic Land ( though at over 9 minutes long you'll have to tune in before 7am to hear the whole thing!)

Punk Rock was kick started by a girl....who knew?

Track listing
1. Gloria
2. Redondo Beach
3. Birdland
4. Free Money
5. Kimberly
6. Break It Up
7. Land: Horses / Land Of A Thousand Dances / La Mer
8. Elegie
9. My Generation

Moondance - Van Morrison

The first album to feature on the Morning Live Drives Critical Junctions is Van Morrisons classic from 1970, Moondance. This is his follow up to Astral Weeks which had made him a cult hero. We opened the show with the first track of the album "And It Stoned Me" sweetly nostalgic and a mellow kick off to the Morning. At 8 we played "Into the Mystic" the quintessential Morrison moment.
We played the 4th track of the list "Caravan" at 9, it has been called "an incantory ode to the power of radio" so we couldn't resist. We closed the show with the title track Moondance.

Light, soulful and Jazzy, this 1970 album went Platinum for Van and cemented the rise of his solo career.

Track listing
1. And It Stoned Me
2. Moondance
3. Crazy Love
4. Caravan
5. Into The Mystic
6. Come Running
7. These Dreams Of You
8. Brand New Day
9. Everyone
10. Glad Tidings