Queen – Queen (1973)

This album appeared at the height of that mini phenomenon ‘glam rock’, and although Queen were theatrical they were never glam; they were an instantly likable unique mix of hard rock and great melodic pop songs.  They went on to be one of the most successful bands of all time selling millions of records; of course with the untimely death of Freddie they struggled to find a suitable replacement – but they have made millions more from the musical and Bohemian Rhapsody film.  On this debut although there were no ‘hits’ there were some splendid songs – ‘Keep Yourself Alive’, ‘Liar’ and the instrumental version of ‘Seven Seas Of Rhye’.

Chris Rea – Water Sign (1983)

Chris Rea has always been a reluctant rock star.  His real love was The Blues; he taught himself slide guitar by listening to old blues artists. His father was Italian and his mother Irish, but was born and raised in Middlesborough where his father had an ice-cream business.  He was destined to take over and run the business but chose music as a career instead.  He has also suffered from pancreatic cancer and has had a couple of strokes in his later years; this illness caused him to distance himself from the music business though he continues to record and release blues albums on his own terms.  He has always had a distinctive style and writes beautiful songs, this, his fifth album but my first is no exception.  Best songs are ‘Deep Water’, ‘Texas’ and ‘I Can Hear Your Heartbeat’

The Proclaimers – Sunshine On Leith (1988)

The Proclaimers first came to my notice at The Flaedh, held annually in Finsbury Park; although an Irish celebration it involved a wide range of bands and artists.  I had heard the name but dismissed them as just another band – but of course I was wrong.  They were brilliant.  This is actually their second album, but the first I bought – and their biggest seller.  Although practicing Christians, they don’t shove their Religion at their audience, though there are obvious references here and there. A duo, twin brothers actually, born in 1962 and proud Scots who sing with their native accent to the fore, which adds to the sound and style brilliantly.  A genuinely different approach to writing and singing.  Such a rewarding album, every song is a gem – but especially ‘500 miles’, ‘Cap in Hand’ and ‘Oh Jean’. Great stuff. 

Portishead – Dummy (1994)

There aren’t many times when a completely new musical direction emerges, most builds on a slowly emerging movement of like-minded bands or artists.   Emerging out of the late 80s Bristol music scene and incorporating some hip-hop sounds such as scratching this band, a trio really, Beth Gibbons, vocals – Adrian Utley, guitar and multi-instrumentalist Geoff Barrow along with a Dave McDonald, an audio engineer who refined their sound and produced their first two albums.  I first heard them, not knowing anything about them on the BBC2 Series ‘This Life’…this album was practically the soundtrack.  The album was an instant hit with Beth’s yearning understated singing and the trip-hop instrumental backing it seemed to fit them mood in the early nineties.  They have since only released two further albums and one live release and appear to be on permanent leave.  But we still have those albums.

Dory Previn – On My Way To Where (1970)

Dorothy (Dory) Langan was born in 1925, which may make her the earliest born artist in this entire series.  Of Irish parents she had a troubled relationship with her Catholic upbringing and her father who suffered with depression; she married composer Andre Previn in 1959 and recorded an early album of her songwriting as she was trying to break into film songwriting.  Divorced and recovering from the first of her mental breakdowns in 1970 when she discovered that Andre was having an affair with Mia Farrow she released at age 45 the first of a quartet of confessional and simply incredible albums.  She sung songs of betrayal and sadness, but also of hope and wonder, never flinching from her own fragile mental state.  Her producer Nick Venet allowed her the space to open her heart with bitter-sweet songs such as ‘Beware Of Young Girls’ (about Mia Farrow), ‘I Ain’t His Child’ (her father) and ‘Mr. Whisper’ (her own mental state).  She drifted a bit after this, releasing two further albums which were not as good and got into political activism, especially about the environment and wrote short stories.  She died in 2012 aged 86; an incredible songwriter and singer.  I adored these first four albums and count them as some of my very favourite albums.

Prefab Sprout – Swoon (1984)

Another of these great little British bands that emerged in the early Eighties playing immaculate pop songs with catchy melodies, clever lyrics and great playing and singing; others included Aztec Camera, Deacon Blue and Everything But The Girl.  This band has six great albums in 13 years before lead singer Paddy MacAloon practically dismissed the band and created sporadically four more albums under the Prefab Sprout moniker, the last in 2013.  Paddy, according to the one interview I have tracked down is pretty tetchy and a perfectionist, who has apparently written and recorded whole albums that he is unhappy with and hasn’t released.  He is almost a recluse these days.  I still keep an eye out for a new release.  But this debut was only a taste of what was to come. Best songs – ‘Green Isaac’, ‘Cruel’ and ‘Elegance’.

Pink Floyd – The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967)

I didn’t obtain this record until the early Seventies, though strangely enough I heard probably all the songs live in the Summer of Love itself.  A long story, but Stowmarket Carnival Committee decided to have a rock concert and booked an unknown band who just happened to release ‘Arnold Layne’ a few weeks before this gig in a small Suffolk town.  My cousin Eric was in one of the bands playing early on.  Not sure how it happened but I met the band backstage before the show and got their signatures on a ten-bob note, which I proceeded to spend later in the evening on several pints of ‘stout and cider’ – well, how was I to know they would become the phenomenon they became.  I was out of my mind by the time they came on but remember the incredible noise and the rudimentary light-show and the one track – ‘Astronomy Domine’ – or was it ‘Interstellar Overdrive’.  Well, I eventually got round to the album itself, which compared to their sublime mid-Seventies stuff was quite different indeed.  Truly extraordinary stuff really and it makes much of Sgt. Pepper, released the same year, appear quite tame.