Julia Fordham – Julia Fordham (1988)

One of my all-time favourite artists, Julia has an incredible vocal range and one of those voices you recognise straight away; she imbues each word with meaning – and has written a good few cracking tunes too.  This self-titled debut features ‘Happy Ever After’, ‘Where Does The Time Go’ and ‘Woman Of The Eighties’.  She hardly ever bothers the chart compilers but has a solid fan base who, like me, buy everything she releases.  Her songs are mostly slowish ballads that allow her voice to soar and caress the lyrics, a touch jazzy at times and occasionally up-tempo.  She even released an album of songs, mostly from this debut which had been overdubbed by various dance outfits – which was called Mixed, Shaken and Stirred.  Maybe she is a bit ‘Marmite’ – you either love her voice and songs or don’t.  This album was a mild success in the UK reaching Number 20 in the album charts.  Recently she has teamed up with Beverley Craven and Judie Tzuke to release 2 albums as Woman to Woman. 

Peter Gabriel – Peter Gabriel (car) (1977)

Peter, released his first four albums simply with his name as the title.  The first – his debut – has become known as ‘car’ because of the cover. Confusing, but hey!  And what a great album to kick off a surprising and at times confusing solo career. The first single ‘Solsbury Hill’ was a big hit, even if the lyrics are about escaping the pressures of his former band, ‘Genesis’.  But the whole album is quite sublime, each track sounding completely different from each other and quite brilliant too. I saw him live a few months after this, where he played a new unreleased song ‘Biko’.  He was absolutely incredible.  But strangely after these first four self-titled albums and the big hit album ‘So’, he has seemed to eschew stardom and has released new music only occasionally.   Best songs on this album (though they are all excellent really) are ‘Moribund The BurgerMeister’, ‘Down The Dolce Vita’ and the wonderful ‘Here Comes The Flood’. 

Flo and Eddie – The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie (1971) Founding members of The Turtles who had chart success, especially in America in the Sixties, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman joined Frank Zappa’s Mothers, but because of a dispute with their record company were forbidden to use their real names or ‘The Turtles’ – hence the Phlorescent Leech and Eddie.  When Frank was injured and the Mothers were not touring the duo released a bunch of songs they had written before and after leaving The Turtles who had now disbanded.  Such were the complexities of the music business back then.  The album came out of nowhere but the session players were all members of the Mothers, similarly ‘laid off’ due to Frank’s injury.  Well, what a sweet album – the songs are brilliant and the playing and vocals sublime.  As usual there were touches of ‘humour’ in the song ‘Nicki Nicki Hoi’ but mostly it is just a lovely record.  It sold moderately, which allowed them to complete three more albums; all superb.  But then they seem to have reverted to touring with ex and new members of The Turtles for a few decades, though they have ‘appeared’ as guest vocalists on numerous rock albums.  Best on this debut album are ‘There You Sit Lonely’, ‘Burn The House Today’ and ‘Feel Older Now’

Eurythmics – In The Garden (1981)

Like a breath of fresh air on what was starting to become a stale ‘pop’ scene, the Eurythmics, Annie Lennox – vocals and Dave Stewart everything else, burst on the scene – with an incredible hit single ‘Sweet Dreams Are Made of This’ -and like most of us I hadn’t noticed their debut – which had no ‘Hits’ on it.  I went back and bought it, and was pleasantly surprised.  All the elements of their incredible success were already there; maybe the production wasn’t as sharp, and the songs not so instantly lovable, but the sound and the feel were.  During the Eighties they were almost a fixture in the charts, each new single instantly going top ten.  I bought a few of their albums but after a while they stopped being so innovative and started to sound quite samey. Still another incredible band – and despite no real hits and a flop when it first came out, In The Garden is still pretty good; especially ‘Take Me To Your Heart’, ‘Never Gonna Cry Again’ and ‘Revenge’.

The Finn Brothers – Finn (1995)

After the brilliant success of both Split Enz and Crowded House (where Tim joined brother Neil for the album Woodface) and Neil had sort of disbanded the group, they got together for an album, simply entitled Finn.   This was a very lo-fi album, after the pretty full-on treatment of both Enz and House records; it almost feels as if they just walked in the studio, sat down and played a bunch of songs.  Eclectic as usual, but full of great melodies and words the songs just drift in and out of your consciousness.  I last saw Crowded House at the Fleadh around this time and Neil introduced a song, can’t remember which but a rocker, playing it gently on acoustic guitar – and saying that maybe they should have left the song like that.  Which is exactly how these songs feel, and I really like them.  Just lately Neil has released an album of practically first takes of new songs too.  Sometimes the demos sound as good, in a different way as the finished articles.  Anyway, it seems that whatever and whenever these two get together some magic occurs.  So far they have only released two albums together but of course, you never can say never.  Best songs on this debut ‘Bullets In My Hairdo’, ‘Suffer Never’ and ‘Angels Heap’.  

Everything But The Girl – Eden (1984)

Part of that lovely revival of real songs and musicality that arrived that occurred in the early Eighties, and hailing from Hull the duo; Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt got together and took their unusual name from a shop’s slogan.  This album is quite jazzy really but still their signature sound comes through, with Tracey’s haunting and beautiful vocals dominating.   It was an almost instant mini-success reaching 14 in the UK charts – but it has gone on to sell over half a million.  The great thing about this band is they appear to just create sumptuous and warm melodies without really trying; they have always seemed to be not really trying too hard.  Both Tracey and Ben write the songs and on later albums shared more of the vocals.  Best songs on this debut are  ‘Eash and Everyone’, ‘Another Bridge’ and ‘I Must Confess’.   

Marianne Faithfull – Broken English (1979)

Not an actual debut, but a re-invention.  Marianne had had a small ‘pop’ career in the late 60’s (famous as Mick jagger’s girlfriend) but then a mix of heavy drugs and poor management and by the mid-Seventies she was washed up and actually homeless, her possessions in a few carrier bags sleeping on friends floors.  But, with what might have been one last throw of the dice, she recorded this brilliant album.  Uncompromising in it’s language and viciousness, she rips through eight songs fusing rock, punk and new wave – with a fabulous band and her wonderful raspy and emotive voice.  It was an instant Masterpiece, famous as a comeback but also for the language and attitude of a sexually mature woman who is sure of herself and not afraid to attack past lovers (though none are mentioned).  She followed this with a superb career including classical opera and gentler albums and a few rockers as well.  I have seen her live a couple of times where she smokes and drinks through the show to calm her nerves.  Best tracks on this are the title track and ‘Why D’you Do It’ and the wonderful ‘Ballad of Lucy Jordan’, which she did not write but which seems to encapsulate my idea of Marianne.  A great singer, interpreter and character.

Melissa Etheridge – Melissa Etheridge (1988)

This was another love affair resulting from a random CD single purchase, having never heard, or heard of, the woman in question.  But, as sometimes, not that often, it was love at first hearing.  What a voice, and what a collection of songs.  She was 27 when she made this, her first album, and had built up an arsenal of great songs already.  Her voice is a bit raspy, reminiscent of Rod Stewart = and the songs are defiant and sometimes angry – but all are brilliant.  This is the sort of album that you just want to put on replay again and again.  I later learned that she was a militant feminist, which maybe explains some of the anger and emotion – no bad thing sometimes.  Best songs on this debut are opener ‘Similar Features’, ‘Chrome Plated Heart’ and ‘The Late September Dogs’.  As a devotee of girl singer songwriters this was a great discovery – definitely worth a listen…

ENZSO – Enszo (1996)

Some twenty years after the fabulous Split Enz broke up; Neil to create Crowsed House; brother Tim Finn already pursuing a solo career – and the rest of the group – well, they sort of retired – Eddie Rayner, founder member of the band decided to arrange some of Split Enz songs for Orchestra.  Calling on a few friends and a variety of singers including Neil and Tim, he released this album (Enz Symphony Orchestra – or ENZSO).   And how pleasant it is, like meeting old friends again after two decades or more – changed a bit, quieter, gentler – but still recognisable.  As a great fan of the original group and Neil and Tim. This was such a nice reprieve.  It just goes to show that great songs, which they were, sound great – whatever the interpretation.  Obviously this is really for the old fans, but it is surprisingly upbeat and the songs have aged really well.  Eddie repeated the exercise three years later with slightly less success – but good on him for trying something different.