Advantages: Lighthearted, enjoyable set Disadvantages: Some tracks should have been left in the can
Status Quo may not have silenced the cynics with this album of cover versions, but as Francis Rossi once said, 'since when did we have any credibility?' The critics loathed it, and it made history when the single "Fun Fun Fun", recorded with the Beach Boys (erm, somebody did a lot of splicing tapes together recorded on opposite sides of the Atlantic), was excluded from the Radio 1 playlist for unashamedly ageist reasons. (Not long afterwards, a Radio ... ...go back to playing music). But if you look at this as a party album, most of it is good - well, fun fun fun. The faster, more rock'n'roll tracks are the best - "Get Out of Denver", "Get Back", "Proud Mary" and the Move's "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" are all ace. Also you'd have to be pretty humourless if "All Around My Hat" doesn't bring a grin to your face.
On the downside, it does have a few duds. "Johnny and Mary", "Safety Dance", and "The Future's ...
Advantages: Sheer number of tracks for the money Disadvantages: An expensive set (but worth it!)
Blur-tastic! A must-have for a Blur-a-holic like myself albeit an expensive must-have at that. It took me a good year before I had the spare cash to spend on this delightful box set and then only thanks to a generous birthday/Xmas cash gift.
This tenth Anniversary Box Set is a delight – 22 CD singles charting Blur’s musical history contains 127, yes, 127 tracks in total – all in original picture covers with an accompanying glossy, ... ...available in different packages but mine came housed in a sturdy, black canvas zip up bag sporting the blur logo. I paid £99.99 (gasp!) but I have heard that some places have sold it for around £80. Either way, considering the contents and potential collectability of the set I didn’t mind paying that as a fanatic. Apparently it is also a limited edition but how ‘limited’ I don’t know! (I’ve got number UK01222 if anyone’s ...
Advantages: Not any really bad tracks on the whole album Disadvantages: None really
Fans of Coronation Street will know that this evergreen soap opera has just celebrated its fortieth anniversary. This album has been issued to celebrate the occasion. The 2 CD compilation features Number One hits from the past forty years, one song for each year counting back from 2000.Now I am sometimes a bit wary of compilation albums;often you get one or two good tracks and a lot of dross, or songs so well-worn that you have them all on other ... ...begins and ends with the Coronation Street theme tune (okay, but this is a tribute album) The album then kicks off with “Fool Again” by Westlife, followed by ”When The Going Gets Tough” by Boyzone.Neither group is really my choice, but they’re not bad tracks. The year 1995 is represented by Robson and Jerome’s version of “Unchained Melody” (not, in my opinion, as good as The Righteous Brothers, but ...
...this one off effort but Band On The Run is an everlasting proof that the boy can't help it. Thankfully, Lindy was quite difficult to spot on the album, but we miss her loads - she was a good 'un.
The sleeve notes of the 25th anniversary edition of the album’s release contains some interesting background by Mark Lewisohn: “By 1973 it was clear that Paul McCartney was continuing the fast-track pace of record releases that the Beatles had established ... ...were the first Mersey beat band to gain a London recording contract), was brought in to craft sax solos on ‘Bluebird’ and ‘Mrs Vandebilt’, thus rekindling a friendship that led to Casey’s involvement in all of Wings’ subsequent concerts.... “The most significant work effected at AIR was the recording of ‘Jet’, and the overdubbing of orchestral parts. Paul invited Tony Visconti to write the arrangements, admiring his production work. (He also happened ...
Advantages: Interesting and enjoyable snapshot of life and music in London, 1979. Disadvantages: Newcomers might enjoy it 10% less than old fans.
...Vain', which appears on the London Calling album. Train in Vain is an amazing funky, upbeat song, which shows an entirely different side to the band, and yet you can still tell it is a Clash song.
After hearing Train in Vain, I was considering buying the album, but was not entirely convinced I would enjoy a whole Clash album, and even less sure I would fork out £10 or so to find out. It is highly acclaimed, and in all the top 100 albums lists, but ... ...plus videos for 3 songs; London Calling, Train In Vain and Clampdown. The documentary is great, and it developed my interest in the album further, but probably won't withstand subsequent viewings. What is most incredible is the behaviour of the band's producer when recording this album. They had to calm him down to stop him throwing furniture around the studio and punching the walls of the sound booth before they could record a track! This DVD shows ...
Excellent performance, tonnes of steam, ventilated ironing board (*)
