Another dull day another chance to re-run the trope of showing off the shiny bangles that one has purchased as we make an almost analogue model of the YouTube influencer video. Here, though, the sales pitch is probably more “get down to your local record store and help it stay open” because you’d miss it if it went. The deal nearby is help them to clear their heap of second-hand CDs and you can have 5 of them for £10 rather than the usual £3 each. It’s an offer/challenge that’s nearly impossible to resist once you’ve found just one you want…and so as rain pitter-pattered once more against the window-pane it was time to click-click-click as you flick-flick-flick through hundreds of unwanted and unloved albums. Here’s how it went:
Elliott Smith – ‘XO’ – 1998
Of course this feature could just as easily be called “let’s expose just how lacking my CD pile really is“, although living in the world of downloads, Spotify and YouTube does offer some excuses. Elliott Smith’s first solo release on a major label reached the giddy heights of 123 in the UK charts, the single below did rather better racing up to 55 in the Hit Parade.
Alun Tan Lan – ‘Y distawrwydd’ – 2005
Welsh language folk? Well, yes, it is generally underrepresented compared to say the “celtic” streams of British Folk. And, as it turns out, ‘Y distawrwydd‘ also features some lovely original instrumentals such as the title song. It’s restrained, definitely less is more, and all the better for that uncluttered feel.
John Martyn – ‘Solid Air‘ – 1973
What? He didn’t have this already? How can that be? Well, you know there are 9.6 million albums out there (unverified internet answer that doesn’t sound too improbable) so cut me a break. When I reached the age when I might have taken an interest in John Martyn there was already sufficient information about the drink, the drugs, the violence and his treatment of his wife and her career that he just didn’t sound like someone I wanted to bother with much. And the looping. If I’ve said it once I’ve said it three times, either learn to play better or get a sideman. Having said that, some people do it better than others. So we’re in separating the art from the artist territory here. There’s no denying he can play…
Natalie Merchant – ‘Tigerlily‘ – 1995
Damn you Natalie Merchant – how could you leave 10,000 Maniacs? And then make an album that, according to the reviews of the time, was even more serious and intellectual than even the Maniacs music you’d created? Could I cope with such seriousness when, naturally, all I wanted to do was to have some fun (I have a strong recollection that I was not the only one). It’s interesting to consider what would have happened had I actually heard the album at the time – but, you know, 9.6 million albums and all that.
It’s pure genius, of course. Would have been a loss to not have it in my life, so I lucked out there.
Various – ‘Music From the Motion Picture Soundtrack – Easy Rider‘ – 1976
Well, this collection really has everything – Hendrix, Byrds and McGuinn, and of course this number with which we all surely identify. Oh, really? Anyway…don’t try to pen me in man, you can’t fit me in your box man, we…we…just ain’t the same man…I’ve got to be free…I’ve got to be me…or something.
