Brilliant Debut Albums #9

Boston – Boston

Multi instrumentalist Tom Scholz had been writing and playing in small bands since the late 60s, with little success.  He made a demo tape, called Boston which was reviewed by Epic records who signed the band (which barely existed) in 1975 and insisted on them being recorded professionally.  Scholz and a friend John Boylan tricked Epic by re-recording the tracks with a minimum of session players a

nd Scholz playing all keyboards and guitars.  The eponymous album, released in ’76 sold by the  bucket-load and singles released were big hits, especially on the new format FM radio. It sold over 17 million copies in America (and it still sells well)– and no wonder; it is brilliant.  Lead track ‘More Than A Feeling’ is maybe the best, but there isn’t a poor song on it.  On it’s own it almost created a sub-genre of soft-rock 70’s anthemic music.  The tragedy is that Boston only released one other album, which was not so successful, and then Tom sort of retired, instead spending his time and money on developing electronic equipment.  He has this century released 4 more albums under the name Boston, but none have caught the public’s approval like the brilliant debut.

Boston

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Brilliant Debut Albums #8

The Blessing – Prince Of The Deep Water

I had a habit, which became an obsession, of buying CD singles – mostly at a couple of shops in Soho where they were often sold as promotions at about £1 a disc.  I liked the format because you got 3 or 4 songs, often not on any album.  One such was ‘Highway 5’ in 1991 by a band called The Blessing.  I loved it, especially the deep and soulful vocals by William Topley; it reminded me of those classic black soul records of the 60’s, though the music was quite ‘rocky’.  I searched out the album, which was full of great songs.  It had a certain feel to it, as if the band had been playing together for years, but the songs were brilliantly melodic and very new sounding too.  On top of this was that voice, so rich and evocative – you could swear it was some old black bluesman – but Mr. Topley was white.  Best tracks are ‘Highway 5’, ‘Hurricane Room’ and the magnificent ‘Delta Rain’.  The album sold quite well but slowly – over 125,000 – which was excellent for a debut.  The follow-up sunk without a trace and the band broke up soon after.  A pity, as I thought they were brilliant.  Oh well.

Prince of the Deep Water by Blessing

Brilliant Debut Albums #7

Bjork  – Debut

The aptly titled debut album by the diminutive Icelandic singer Bjork Guomundsdottir (thank goodness she is known simply as Bjork) arrived in 1993.  Technically she had released an album, as a child singer, in 1977 – but it is not generally recognised as her debut release.  She had been in a pop group ‘The Sugarcubes’ but this Debut was a big departure from that.  In fact, it was a departure from almost anything anyone had ever heard before – as all her albums have been.  The shy half-smiling portrait on the cover belied her musical maturity.   Well, this record was different, indeed there is nobody quite like Bjork.  Love her or hate her, she has a style of singing and instrumentation that is both her own and instantly recognisable.  Best tracks on this debut are ‘Human Behaviour’, ‘Venus as a Boy’ and ‘Big Time Sensuality’.  At times it feels as if she is singing to an entirely different melody than the music – but somehow it works.  Another great debut album.

A picture of the album cover depicting a muted background with Björk standing facing forward in the middle. Björk is dressed in a fuzzy ragged sweater with her hands close together covering most of her mouth.

Brilliant Debut Albums #6

An ironic title, as they were from the North, Hull in fact.  Also the cover was controversial, to say the least (a woman fellating a gun).  But the music was sublime….in fact, one of the very best English bands ever. Lead singer and main songwriter was Paul Heaton, formerly of The Housemartins.  Later they were joined by a regular female vocalist, but on this album just Paul was singing mostly.  But what a debut; from opener ‘Song For Whoever’, to abstract closer ‘I Love You (But You’re Boring)’ the songs are ironic and humorous, and even sometimes quite dangerous.  The melodies are brilliant and they are both pure pop, and edgy at the same time.  Though they went on to fame and fortune, this debut still holds its own.  Best songs are the opener, ‘I’ll Sail This Ship Alone’, ‘You Keep it All In’ and the very sinister – but jolly ‘Woman In The Wall’ whose lyrics are almost nonsensical, absolutely shocking and yet very singalongable.  A great album and superb debut – one of the very best.

Welcome To The Beautiful South

Brilliant Debut Albums #5

Arcade Fire – Funeral

          2004 – and the musical scene appeared pretty dire, nothing really exciting happening, existing artists treading ever more turgid water. Oh – and hip-hop – aaaaargh.  Then I read in Uncut about this album, and gave it a whirl.  They are an ‘indie’ Canadian band, with vocals (often sounding hysterical, or at least frantic) by Win Butler and a wide variety of instrumentation.  There was something about the sound that was different, hard to define – but they definitely had their own style.  In fact, the whole album is of a piece, very easy to listen to, as one track slips into the next.  Hard to say why I liked them so much; maybe novelty, as I never bothered to any any of their other records.  Still, always a welcome return when I re-listen.

Brilliant Debut #4 The Beatles – Please Please Me

On the back of the single success of ‘Love me Do’ and ‘Please Please Me’, the boys were rushed into Abbey Road studio 2 for a 12 hour session producing their first album.  And what a record it was, 14 songs lasting just 32 minutes, which made you want to flip it over on the Dansette turntable and play it again.  I was too young to have a record player, but a friend George Maycock let me tape it on reel to reel I got for Christmas in ’64.  The disc went straight to number one, and ‘Beatlemania’ was created.  No way of choosing best songs – but the closer by a hoarse John ‘Twist and Shout’ still brings me out in goose pimples.

In all the group recorded 11 albums in just 6 years, plus numerous Eps, and music for the films ‘Yellow Submarine’ and ‘Magical Mystery Tour.  It all ended in 1969, though the announcement was held back until 1970.  At the time we were all sad, but in a way this was by far for the best.  We have those recordings forever, and they came in with a bang and saved maybe their best recording ‘Abbey Road’ for their swansong. 

There has been far too much written about them, and still being written even now – but the best is just to put the records on and return (with us now) to those days of yesteryear.

Please Please Me (Remastered)

Brilliant Debut Albums #3

The Art Of Noise – Who’se Afraid Of

It was 1984, and already the charts were filling up with New Romantics and quite bland melodies.  Then suddenly came a sound we had never heard before (and might never again).  The Art Of Noise was a British avante-garde synth heavy group, made up of an engineer, a computer programmer and only Anne Dudley with any real musical history, having been trained in classical piano.  From the first few seconds of opening track ‘A Time For Fear’ with that incredible bass-heavy doom marching drum, you knew this was special.  An almost completely instrumental album, with snatches of spoken words (Can I Say Something?) and rapid changes in tempo and melody it still blows my socks off.  Three superb singles – ‘Beat Box’, ‘Close To The Edit’ and the sublime ‘Moments In Love’ led the charge on the charts.  But the whole album just zips along; it sounds like they were having the greatest fun.

The group was pretty flexible with a few personnel changes along the way.  The only other album I have of theirs is ‘The Seduction Of Claude Debussy (1999), which I think is, apart from remixes was their last.  But that first album still makes me smile…and who wouldn’t be afraid of this impeccable sound of the future.

Brilliant Debut Albums #2

I first saw the band at Weeley Pop Festival in 1972; accompanied by a 54 piece orchestra, they played a perfect combination of Rock and Classical Music, which was their early unique style.  They had formed in 1966 in Oldham, combining 4 members of 2 local bands they were John Lees (guitar), Les Holroyd (bass), Wooly Wolstenholme (keyboards) and Mel Pritchard (drums).  They spent a couple of years looking for a record contract and quietly perfecting their sound.  Heavily influenced by The Beatles they had exquisite harmonies and with three songwriters, no shortage of ideas.  Their first eponymous album came out in 1970 and was mature and self-assured and filled with the best of their early years’ songs.  A couple of heavy numbers ‘Taking Some Time On’ and ‘Good Love Child’ interspersed with delicate slower numbers; the haunting ‘Mother Dear’ and ‘The Iron Maiden’ and culminating with the song which closed their early shows ‘Dark Now My Sky’ – a wonderful invocation of both doom and hopefulness.  They went on to a mixed career, never quite scaling the heights, but with a loyal following especially in Europe where their albums regularly topped the charts.  I have always loved them, my favourite album being ‘Once Again’ their follow-up.  But this has always remained a regular on my playlists; it instantly established their ‘sound’ and was a marker in a crowded field of their individuality.

Barclay James Harvest-SHM w/Bonus Tracks

Brilliant Debut Albums #1

Having exhausted my Cd collection I am revisiting a few artists who made brilliant debut albums; many of course went on to  even greater things.  This is, of course, a personal selection.  Hope you like it.

Joan Armatrading – Whatever’s For Us

Well, a complete unknown in 1972.  Joan had apparently written about a hundred songs with Pam Nestor, another singer songwriter.  Looking for fame – mostly as a writer than a performer, she was ‘discovered’ by Gus Dudgeon, a producer for Elton.  She was signed to Cube records, a small independent, who wanted to promote Joan as a singer.  Many of the songs initially recorded by Pam and Joan, with Pam singing were rejected in favour of those featuring Joan singing.  The pair had originally wanted to be a duo, with Joan writing the music and Pam the lyrics.  These other songs have never surfaced, and Pam seems to have disappeared from the picture.

The resulting album, featuring Davey Johnstone and Ray Cooper and Gerry Conway accompanying Joan, mostly on piano and acoustic guitar, is simply stunning.  The songs are subtle and complex and seem to have emerged fully formed as almost classics.  Joan’s voice is deep and sumptuous and soars above the melodies.  For whatever reason I bought the album – maybe the hand-painted cover design, as I had never heard of Joan before.  Possibly I read a review in Time Out or City Limits.

Hard to pick favourite tracks, from such a stunning album – but I love ‘My Family’, ‘It Could Have Been Better’ and best of all ‘Visionary Mountains’ – which was recorded years later by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band.

Joan apparently was quite dissatisfied with the album, and the dropping of Pam Nestor.  The record sold quite poorly and Cube records folded a year or so later.  However A. & M. picked up Joan and re-released this debut on their label in ’74.

Joan went on to a long, and still continuing solo career.  She is a unique talent, not only as a singer but as a writer and arranger, but also as and artist who has never been manipulated by Record companies.  As a black female singer this is a rarity; she has never relied on, and in fact has steadfastly refused to appear ‘sexy’.  Just recentl she has even written a classical symphony which was broadcast on Radio 3.  Needless to say, if she were a young artist today she would never get a recording contract, being far too independently minded. 

My Record Collection 221

Zero 7 – Don’t know much about this group; another from my daughter.  This is gentle dancey music, quite instrumental – nice aural wall paper but not very memorable.  The album is Simple Things.

The Zombies – were a 60’s pop group, who had a huge hit with their debut single ‘She’s Not There’ – beautiful song sung with the sumptuous vocals of Colin Blunstone (see B), but the band also included Rod Argent – who went on to form the band Argent.  After mixed success the band were recording their last album before deciding to break up the band, as any real success seemed to elude them.  They recorded Odessey and Oracle (misspelt by the cover designer) in ’67 and released it in April ’68 – by which time the band had broken up.  But as it turned out the record was a slow burner and eventully reached 2 in America.  This is the only original album of theirs I have – but it is pretty damned good.  Best tracks are ‘Care Of Cell 44’, ‘Beechwoord Park’ and ‘Time of The Season’ – but mot of the songs are pretty good.   Anyway, I saw Colin live at The Roundhouse in ’72 and fell in love with his voice and songs and became a lifelong fan.  The band did reform in 1989 and again in 2000; they play occasional concerts and one or two album were credited to them, but were really Colin and Rod.  Next I have a compilation of their singles As and Bs.  Nothing remarkable but a nice drift back into late 60s music.  I also have Into The Afterlife – a strange little album of singles released by Neil McArthur (Colin) and Rod Argent and Chris White.  Nothing incredible but again a nice listen.  And to wrap things up for this series ZZ Top Greatest Hits.  Never an essential band for me, but pretty good Texan rockers who mde it big in the Eighties.   Best tracks – ‘Gimme ll nYou lovin’, ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ and ‘Legs’.  And that is it.   I could bore you even more with mu collection of CD singles, and cassettes – but maybe another time.