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| The Beatles : Abbey Road |
| When my body was a kid, my best friend, John, had this older brother and he used to be able to afford to buy records, so it was by borrowing them from him that I used to hear new albums for the first time. I think I was about nine years old when I borrowed this. I had this little record player called a "Pye Disc Jockey" and I took it upstairs to my mum and dad's bedroom and put "Abbey Road" - with the apple in the middle - on the turntable ..and it was a complete revelation - especially side 2. I played it all day without stopping (despite the fact that the house was haunted and I didn't like being upstairs on my own) and I remember that excitement of the heart quickening and getting the goose bumps. A life-changing album for me at that time. |
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| Joni Mitchell : Court and Spark |
| This was the one I used to cry in my beer to when I was at college. It's desolate and heartrending, but it's beautifully arranged and very "muso" if you're into great players. There are some great lyricists out there. Sadly, the nineties has ignored most of them and made a big noise out of mediocre talents. No-one comes close to Joni though except maybe Paddy McAloon 0n... |
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| Prefab Sprout : Steve McQueen |
| I only remember three albums making me blub. Court and Spark was the first and this was the second. The words are so beautiful, so sad, and so true. I'm still recovering from Goodbye Lucille. "Life's not complete 'till your heart's missed a beat, And you'll never pick it up, or turn back the clock. No you won't." He's right y'know. He sure can sing too. And he out screams Lennon. No mean feat. If it's all sounding a bit too lyrical for you - listen instead to Thomas Dolby's crystalline production, the guitar sounds, the lead vocal sound and Neil Conti's flawless drumming. BTW if you're reading this in the US, I suggest you buy the UK version on import. I have both and the mix of "When Love Breaks Down" is infinitely better. Called "Two Wheels Good" in America |
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| The Police : Outlandos d'Amour |
| I can see how you might get royally sick of hearing "Every Breath You Take". And there's no denying that El Stingo has made some pretty dodgy moves over the years in order to keep himself "current". If all this has put you off The Police, check out Outlandos D'Amour. Iffy title, but a stunning album. Back in the days when they all had something to prove and Sting was howling away like Andy Fairweather Lowe at the dentists, this album sounds like it was recorded in ten minutes... but oh the performances. If you're into drumming, then Stuart Copeland can be heard re-writing the book .. and he knows it! This album came out at the height of punk alongside lame ducks like Sham 69 and Souxsie and the Banshees' "Hong Kong Garden". Yuk. In my view the "punk" revolution was overrated, over-hyped, and only the excellent songwriting of The Clash saved it from being a scourge. "Roxanne" alone makes this album worth buying. My spine still tingles like it did the first time I heard it. They still had to release it twice before Radio1 played it. (So who's surprised?) A truly great record. |
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| Jeff Buckley : Grace |
| This one takes a few listens before the full force of his genius really comes home to you. The most incredible vocal control and expression, coupled to a rare sensitivity and spirituality. On top of that is Jeff's sophisticated knowledge of music, his phenomenal guitar playing and songwriting. And this was his first album!! Tragically, it would also be his last as he was destined to die young - drowning in the Mississippi river in what appeared to be a simple unfortunate accident whilst having an evening swim in '97. Of all the people on earth to be taken from us.. Such a terrible, terrible shame. If you never listen to another record in your life, trust me and buy this album. Worth the money just to hear Matt Johnson's mind-blowing drumming on "Dream Brother", but, like the very best of music, "Grace" opens slowly in time like a flower - I've been listening to it for a few years now and it continues technically, musically, and spiritually to show me new sounds, new chord changes, and is an object lesson in what the human voice is capable of. If you're a singer, this record will show you that you haven't really got started yet. |
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| The Blue Nile : A Walk Across the Rooftops |
| I'm on record already as citing Paul Buchanan from the Blue Nile as my favourite singer. He sings from his soul with no pretence and no self-consciousness ..but he never misses a note. AWATR is not so well known as their follow-up, "Hats" but it's a groundbreaking album in it's use of sound and it's arrangement of sounds. When I was touring with the Europeans in '84 we used to play it for hours in the minibus as we drove across Europe. |
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| Talk Talk : The Colour of Spring |
| Both of these were experimental albums with a conscious attempt to make something sonically astounding. I think they're both incredible achievements. David Rhodes guitar work on TCOS is some of my favourite playing by anyone - it's all great, but the minimalist solo on "I Don't Believe In You" is pure genius. |
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| The Blue Nile : Peace at Last |
| This was the third one. "Family Life" is the acid test of the stone hearted. I cried even more when I saw them do it live (and I have a first-hand account of Peter Gabriel and Annie Lennox crying too..) God bless you kid ..and everything you did. |
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| Yes : The Yes Album |
| I first heard this playing at a party when I was seventeen.. and I'd never heard anything like it. I still think it's their best album. It's got that magical performance edge to it - almost like they're making it up on the spot - a little rough and ready and totally groundbreaking in every way. It still stands up today as a milestone in the development of musical cross-breeding. I can go on and on about this album for weeks, but why don't you just put it on and you can go on and on about it instead. |
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| Radiohead : OK Computer |
| I'm reluctantly excluding "Mirror Moves" by the Psychedelic Furs and "Oranges and Lemons" by XTC (both massive favourites) in order to put a 90's release in the list, otherwise you'll all be justified in calling me an old fart. The nineties was, for me, a disappointing decade in terms of the music I heard. I discovered "The Bends" by Radiohead after Carol Baxter at EMI told me they'd been running off with freebies of our "Brave" album. At that time Radiohead were being sniped at by the popular press as "pseudo intellectual public schoolboy types" and were all but written off when OKC forced a change of heart (maybe they changed press agents..) and suddenly Radiohead are the second-coming incarnate. Hype aside though, it's a great album by one of the few bands that made the nineties worth bothering with. The riff in Paranoid Android (Great song) will go down as an all-time classic alongside Led Zeppelin's"Whole Lotta Love" and Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water". I saw them do it live at the NEC in '97 and they were determinedly doing it their own way whilst retaining extreme power, dysfunctional emotion and class. The best band I've seen "live" for years and years. |
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| Oh.. and I've got to mention a couple of singles.. |
| The Kinks : TIred of Waiting for You |
| This was only a single but it really knocked me out. I can't explain - there's just a kind of magic in it. I think Ray Davies wrote better songs than this one, but it's such a great record. Again, it was one of the first three singles I ever had when I was about seven and I just played and played it all day. |
| Traffic : Hole in my Shoe |
| My dad used to go to this other blokes house to fix cars and I got my hands on a cassette machine for the first time. It had headphones and there was a cassette in it with this song on it. I had never seen or heard anything like it - it was like finding space debris from another planet. I realised there was another way of expressing yourself - like re-running a dream. The most mind-expanding song ever written and performed. I can imagine this was how Syd Barrett got started. |
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| Joni Mitchell : Song to a Seagull |
| The first album by my favourite songwriter/lyricist, "Cactus Tree" is my favourite track. I think people would be surprised to know what an influence Joni Mitchell's guitar playing and unusual chord voicings have been on me. The chords in solo section of Warm Wet Circles for example were very much inspired by her (open tuned) chordal approach. |
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| Jellyfish : Bellybutton |
| Great songs and masterful production |
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| Kate Bush : Hounds of Love |
| In my opinion, her most complete album |
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| Tori Amos : Little Earthquakes |
| "Winter" is one of my all time favourite tracks and Tori is probably my favourite keyboard player! |
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| Peter Gabriel : So |
| My favourite of Gabriel's solo albums although it's probably his most mainstream |
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| Crowded House : Crowded House |
| Their first album, Neil Finn's is one of THE outstanding song writing talents |
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| Pink Floyd : WIsh You Were Here |
| I remember listening to this on the beach at Whitby when I was sixteen, it was a major inspiration |
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| Vangelis : Bladerunner (Soundtrack) |
| One of my favourite films |
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| The Blue Nile : Hats |
| Brilliant emotive songs with an incredible atmosphere |
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| Joni Mitchell : Hejira |
| It's very hard for me to pick out my favourite Joni Mitchell albums, I could of easily chosen "Court & Spark" or "Blue" but one of my all time favourite tracks is "Amelia", a song of exquisite sadness and beauty |
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| Led Zeppelin : Led Zeppelin II |
| One of the great heavy rock albums of all time Led Zep II was recorded during a US tour in the early seventies. It sounds rough and ready yet Jimmy Page's production created a drum sound that still stands up 30 years later. Many of the songs are derived from old blues classics but my faves are the gentler songs like "Thank You" This album influenced a whole generation of guitar heroes. |
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| Cocteau Twins : Milk & Kisses |
| I only came across the Cocteau Twins a few years ago and for me this is their best album. They have a distinctive sound, very much their own. Laid back and dreamy awash with interesting guitar textures. Liz Fraser's ethereal voice is great but I can't say I know what she is singing about. |
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| Joni Mitchell : Blue |
| Poetry set to music. Songs of love and loss. A great album to get you through the dark days of relationship break-up. Her voice is set to a backdrop of mostly acoustic guitars. Almost a folk album but hinting at the complexity of her later work. To be honest it was a toss up between Blue and Court & Spark for my favourite Joni album... |
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| Eels : Beautiful Freak |
| An album that at first listen seems to be a collection of quirky and eccentric pop songs but there is an underlying sadness and despair running through the lyrics. This is perfectly complemented by the low tech approach to the music. Gritty and gloomy. Marvelous. |
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| Van Halen : Van Halen |
| A stunning debut album, which they never came close to matching in subsequent releases. It was recorded it a matter of days and captures this band at their best, playing live. Despite the speed of the recording the production and sound of producer Ted Templeman is wonderful. A fine collection of heavy rock songs with two great covers. "You Really Got Me" originally by the Kinks really kicks. Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing style was copied to death by anyone who picked up a guitar in the 80s |
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| Neil Young : Decade |
| You either love his voice or hate it. I love it. This two disc compilation is a great collection of his best and most accessible work. It covers, as the name suggests, his first decade between 1966 and 1976. It includes songs performed by Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and the Stills/Young Band, as well as solo work. Some real gems here. |
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| Radiohead : The Bends |
| Second Album Syndrome is not a problem Radiohead suffered from. The usual pattern goes something like this- Band A spends 5 years writing their first album, carefully honing there songs on the live circuit, hoping to be signed up. Eventually they get the deal and record a great debut. They then have a few months to come up with a follow up, hence Second Album Syndrome. Not so Radiohead. A flawless collection of songs. The Bends is cerebral anthemic rock. Essential. |
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| UFO : Strangers in the Night |
| I wanted to include 1 live album and this is it. Often overlooked, this is a 70s classic, up there with Thin Lizzy's Live & Dangerous. UFO were a band beset with troubles - mostly self inflicted abuse - and constant line-up changes but this is the classic UFO line-up featuring German Axe-man Michael Schenker. Highlights include "Lights Out" and "Doctor Doctor" |
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| David Bowie : Hunky Dory |
| Classic Bowie featuring my favourite keyboard player, Mr. Wakeman on the ivories. An odd collection of mostly pop songs heavily featuring Wakeman's piano. Life on Mars is worth the entry price alone. There are some strange links between the songs but compared to Todd Rundgren A Wizard, A True Star they sound entirely normal. |
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| Todd Rundgren : A Wizard, A True Star |
| Approach this album with an open mind but not too open or your brain might fall out when you listen to it! Back in the early 70s people were into experimentation big time! There are very few actual songs on this album but loads of melody. Like an acid trip, this album take you on a journey. A multi-layered musical melting pot from soul to R&B to pop to rock and back again. Be warned, it's a acquired taste. |
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| The Beatles : Revolver |
| It was a close call between Revolver and Rubber Soul, this period of the Beatles is their classic stage for me. Great innovative songs, McCartney's best bass lines and the harmonies just sound like the sun coming out. (PS: You should really buy both!) |
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| Genesis : Live |
| This was my first Genesis album, and I played it to death. I bought it for the cover, a picture of the band live at wherever. I know that some of the album was recorded at the DeMontfort Hall in Leicester, Peter even thanks them. When we played there it gave me such a buzz actually being there (we are not worthy etc.). Great selection of songs from Foxtrot and Nursery Cryme. The Musical Box is to die for. |
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| Pink Floyd : Meddle |
| I'm as surprised as you are that I didn't put Dark Side Of The Moon. A friend was always playing Umma Gumma when I was at school, and we were impressed by all those flight cases, but in the end you just can't beat Meddle - and Echo's a masterpiece. I also remember going to see Live in Pompeii, and thinking wouldn't it be great to be in a band, a thought I'd had since watching The Beatles at Shea Stadium on the box, all those years ago. |
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| Steely Dan : Katy Lied |
| I've got Simon from over the road to thank for this one. I was a Hippy with all the trappings, and he was all Ben Sherman shirts and Staypress trousers. We used to listen to Radio Luxembourg together and he was always trying to get me into the music he liked; eventually I borrowed his copy of Pretzel Logic and never looked back. I bought Katy Lied when it came out, and haven't really stopped playing it. Steely Dan are the only band since the Beatles which I collected all the records of (on vinyl of course, but not in mono). |
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| The Tubes : Inside Out |
| This CD came out while we were recording Script, and I remember Simon the engineer putting it on the big speakers at the Marquee studio where we were recording. I was very impressed with the sound. I bought a copy on tape as I had a walkman in those days, and it toured around with me for years. |
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| Yes : Close to the Edge |
| This again was close, I got into Fragile first naturally, and I remember getting Close To The Edge for Christmas and hating the first bit. I had to sit there trying not to look disappointed in front of my parents, then suddenly that classic guitar riff came in, and I was saved further embarrassment. Still my favourite Yes album. |
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| Caravan : In the Land of Grey and Pink |
| I just love Caravan. I got into this when I had a friend who's older brother was a Caravan fan - after school a bunch of us would go 'round and raid the poor guy's album collection. The Land Of Grey and Pink epitomises their two halves with a side of naive love songs and a great long masterpiece on side two. Also ran was For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night. |
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| Supertramp: Crime of the Century |
| I nearly forgot this one as I don't have it on CD - I settled for a Greatest Hits CD instead - but as an album this is a great piece of work, with so much music it hurts. I got into them after watching them play Dreamer on Old Grey Whistle Test, and that was me hooked. Although they went on to do lots more stuff, this one does it for me. |
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| Crowded House : Woodface |
| I actually got into Crowded House 'round about the time of this album, and for me it really has their best songs on, although I don't think he's written a bad song yet. I used to go and see Split Enz back in the 70's at Friars in Aylesbury (rock club) so it's funny to to still be such a fan of Neil's. Both brothers work really well on this album, I wish I could sing like either of them. |
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| Ben Folds Five : Whatever and Ever Amen |
| This and the self-titled album before it are equally as good in my opinion, but I got into this one first. It was the first time in ages where an album really got to me, I wanted to get to know each song intimately. Off the wall, slightly jazzy, don't be fooled by the rough throw away-approach, these guys can really play! It all sounds like it was don one Friday afternoon. I recovered from my attack in Toronto listening to this one, I'd only bough it that afternoon. |
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| Coldplay : Parachutes |
| Nice |
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| Led Zeppelin : The one with Whole Lotta Love on it... |
| Loud and nice. |
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| Crowded House : Woodface |
| Nice. |
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| Fleetwood Mac : Rumours |
| Very Nice. |
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| Divine Comedy : Regeneration |
| Nice |
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| Buddy Rich : Big Swing Face |
| Inspired me in my youth. |
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| Mahavishnu Orchestra : Inner Mountain Flame |
| Still trying to figure it out... |
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| Radiohead : OK Computer |
| Nice. |
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| Magma : Live |
| Good for clearing your house at dinner parties. |
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