| At this juncture I want to mention an album that I like for a number of reasons. It’s called “The Last Waltz” by The Band and I think I became aware of it in 1980. After being Bob Dylan’s backing band for a few years, they went solo and produced a number of CDs before breaking up in 1978. “The Last Waltz” is the triple album of their farewell concert. Other than The Band being an incredibly talented group, the album also features many wonderful performers and hearing this album introduced me to new acts and showed me other sides to artists I had heard. When I first heard this record, I remember how much I loved the performances of Dr John, Neil Young, The Staple Singers, Joni Mitchel, Van Morrison, Neil Diamond and even Bob Dylan. In fact, this was my first introduction to Dr John and that makes it special in itself. Over time, the record has been re-released with additional tracks and can now be bought on DVD with various interviews etc. So the album becomes NUMBER 5 for all it has given me and I still enjoy it today.
In the 80s, I came across an artist called Martin Stephenson, though I can’t remember who introduced me to his stuff. He is another act that I have seen several times. The first record I got of his was 1988’s “Gladsome, Humour & Blue” and over the next few years he put out a number of records – all of which I bought and like. He is a fine guitarist and singer and he is a very amusing chap, but I think his strength is his song writing. I got to chat with him a couple of years ago when he was over here and he is also a very interesting man. This is another example of me loving loads of songs over a number of albums, but not really having a favourite album.
I recall back in 1985 seeing a TV documentary about an Irish singer who sounded fantastic. I went and bought her record called “Tired and Emotional” and was captivated by it. I can’t put my finger on what it was that grabbed me back then, but it was probably her delivery as much as the songs. Her name is Mary Coughlan and I have continued to buy her stuff over the years and have seen her perform a number of times. Again, I like her and a lot of her material, but I don’t really have a favourite CD, though that first one has been listened to most.
Back in the late 1980s, I was watching the Jonathan Ross Show and he had a guest I hadn’t heard of before and she sang a blues song with incredible power and emotion and I rushed out to buy an album of hers only to find that it was a Country one! This was my introduction to k d lang. On the whole, Country isn’t my thing, but with her, it was that or nothing. Over time she has shown more and more angles to what she does and her voice is an incredible instrument – her version of Roy Orbison’s "Crying" is just stunning. Anyway in 1997 she brought out an album called "Drag" where all the songs are related, in one way or another, to smoking. When this album showed up, I used to listen to it a lot, but it doesn’t make the top 10 but I thought that I’d mention it.
From the 80s, I’d like to mention two acts whose music I loved and still do. There was the amazing Squeeze who churned out hit after hit and rarely made a record that was bad – I can’t pick a favourite album, but I guess their Singles CD tells a big part of the story – marvellous stuff. The other band was The Housemartins who only made three albums but they were all goodies and their greatest hits album, “Now that’s What I Call Quite Good”, still gets play time from me. One member of the Housemartins is now Fat Boy Slim and another is in The Beautiful South.
In 1991, I had a brief move to the US (Madison in Wisconsin) and whilst there, I was exposed to a lot of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s stuff and when I got back, a posthumously released Stevie CD called ‘The Sky Is Crying’ became a favourite for a time – I have bought more stuff by him since, but that one remains my favourite.
Around that same time, I was playing the two soundtrack CDs from the movie The Commitments, but once again it was a shortish period – though it came to mind as I scanned my memory. I also thought about Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 album, Rumours. I certainly remember liking that around the time I first started work, but I think that I may have played it to death and it certainly isn’t one for the list either.
Back in 1992, I met the lovely Charlotte and it was a very special time for me and at that time, her favourite CD was “The Future” by Leonard Cohen. I was working up in Leeds and she lived in Northamptonshire, so the distance wasn’t ideal. With all the driving I had to do, I’d listen to that CD a lot. I liked Leonard anyway, but that album took my appreciation of him to a new level. Other than this CD carrying a lot of emotion for me, it feels right that Leonard should feature in my top 10 – he’s given me a lot. Out of all the CDs of his, this one feels more personal to me and therefore it is NUMBER 6.
In 1994 I was living and working in Bristol and the girl who I was lodging with used to play a lot of Mary Black material. Mary is a very popular Irish performer and has a beautiful voice. I went to see her a couple of times and she was ok, but to me she is one of the few acts who come over better on record than live. I used to listen to her 1992 CD “The Collection” and loved it – what a voice. |
