Yeah, I had a pork pie hat, bought from a junk shop in Northam Road. Got stolen off my head at a Clash concert at Brixton Academy. I was gutted, bloody loved that hat...
Unashamedly promoting this R&B band again. Perhaps I can convert a few more people after Chilcosaint. Be Lucky from the debut album. Click on the YouTube icon on the video if you want more of the same:
I'm one of the few people on this planet who loved the LP Mummer straight after it came out. I've also always had a definite preference for vinyl records. When Phillips invented the CD and claimed 'Perfect Sound' I sensed bullshit in huge dollops. Which was sad because I've always kind of liked Phillips as a company. They were hugely innovative and Dutch [still are the last bit]. Eventually, after a few years, a friend decided that he was going to America to live [desperate obviously] and handed me his Marantz CD player [a very, very good 'un if you must have one], and as such I could now buy the occasional CD if so tempted. So, because there were often huge bonus tracks on XTC CDs, I bought the CD Mummer. Like for like, it doesn't sound so good, but the 6 bonus tracks are lovely. So good are they that I hardly ever play the record anymore. I guess AP and CM hadn't written enough quality tunes for their usual double album this time [XTC have done a lot of those], and The Big Express, the LP which came next, was such a change of pace that those 6 had nowhere to go but appear of the Mummer CD and on a few B-sides of singles. Frost Circus, Jump, Toys, Gold, Procession Towards Learning Land, and Desert Island would all ably help fill any pop/rock LP, and I could pick any of them to play. I'll pick Frost Circus because it's beautiful, slightly creepy, and it's XTC being their usual totally unpredictable selves.
It's plain you come from the CD generation Jasper. No sleeve notes, no comments. Tell me why you like these. What's the history, etc..? Get me interested.
I most certainly do not come from the CD generation ( what ever that means ). As for getting you , or anyone else interested , I am really not fussed. I am just posting music that I think others might like .
Yes, but surely usually there's a motivation behind your choice.? I mean, we could all post 1000's of tracks that we know people would probably like, but what would be the point.? It was my little joke that you came from the CD generation because CDs began a paucity [or almost none] of sleeve notes because the format and cases were so small, and 'whatever that means' means from the time that CDs were invented. LPs often had volumes of sleeve notes and comments. One often spent the first listen running through all the stuff, especially if it was a gatefold cover. Here's an example of what LP nerds get up to. Let's choose an XTC nerd, 'cause they're about as nerdy as people get. But the guy is right. Skylarking is right up there [Jeez, I wish people wouldn't say 'needle'. It's a 'stylus'. You sew with a needle, you trace with a stylus, which is exactly what they do]:
Oh I take your point , but I thought this was also a place simply to put music on . Some I have commented on , others I have not .
Probably not to many people's taste, but I've been a fan of Peter Hammill and Van Der Graaf Generator since 1970, when I saw them at the Guildhall with an unknown band (who me and my mate agreed "might get somewhere as they're pretty good") called "Genesis". I believe Peter has been one of the great English lyricists over the years and, of course, relatively unknown and not that successful (though, I am informed, huge in Germany) and has written some amazing songs. If you're into somewhat avant-garde prog type music, listen to early VDGG ("Refugees", "Waiting for Wonderland", "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" are amongst my favourites and I still get out the LPs and crank up the volume when I can) .... they were (in my opinion) way too advanced for their time. Sadly, none of my mates ever "got" them, but, hey, we're all different. Hope you enjoy this - I can post more if you're not screaming at me to stop!
I've always thought XTC have under-achieved. Consummate musicians without doubt but their output is too variable for me to really like them. When they are good they are very good but those instances have been too seldom. My favourite 3 tracks all come from later albums and are: 1: Mayor of Simpleton - great lyrics and bassline 2: Stupidly Happy - what a riff 3: Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead - harmonica-tastic
And one of my all time guitar heroes. And all around nice guy, bless him - probably the best live performer I've ever seen ......
Very influential musician, Peter Hammill. People as diverse as David Bowie and John Lydon were affected by his words and music. Still with us at 68, after surviving a heart attack at 55. Lives in Bradford-on-Avon.
1&2 in my top 3 XTC tracks also, for the very reasons you state The variable output from XTC can be seen as a plus or minus, variable yes but never weak. If only arguments, valium and record company problems had'n't buggered superstardom.
60 years ago today Paul McCartney first meets John Lennon at a Liverpool church festival concert by John's group, the Quarrymen and changed music history....
I'm certainly not telling anyone the first record I bought. I gave it away after half a dozen listens. It was a sober lesson not to buy on total impulse.
