Kris Kristofferson – Me and Bobby McGee (1970)

The story goes that Kris was working as a janitor at Nashville recording studios and he discovered where Johnny Cash was staying.  Supposedly he persuaded a friend to ‘borrow’ a helicopter and Kris dropped a tape (in those days not a cassette) onto Cash’s porch.  Cash listened and liked it and helped Kris get a record deal and recorded one of his songs too.  Well, whether strictly true or not, the album was meant as a showcase for Kris’s songwriting – he didn’t expect to become a star.  But the album, the songs and the voice, were so good that it became a huge hit. Artists were indeed falling over themselves to record his songs but he was a huge success in is own right.  And no wonder; every song is great and a couple are absolute classics – ‘Me and Bobby McGee, ‘Help me Make It Through The Night’ and ‘Sunday Morning Coming Down’.  I loved Kris from the get-go; of course I was always a country music fan – but Kris blurred the definitions and was pure soul and rock and roll too.  What an album.  He married and recorded with Rita Coolidge and also later formed The Highwaymen with Ricky Nelson, Waylon Jennings and old Cash himself.  Oh, by the way he was a great film actor too.  And blow me down if he didn’t up and die a few days ago just as I was listening again to his timeless songs.  

This was the breakthrough album for Billy – his first in 1970 sunk quicker than the Titanic – and rests largely on the title track – still a huge favourite worldwide.  Billy has been compared to an American Elton John, but that is unfair to both artists.  Billy certainly has an American style and had hit after hit for decades – but his songs are often deeper than this with quite subtle insights and political leanings.  He went on to huge fame, and had a great knack for coming up with instantly addictive melodies.  On this one my favourites are obviously ‘Piano Man’, but I also like ‘You’re My Home’ and ‘Somewhere Along The Line’.  Of course the album should never have made it as it has maybe the worst cover ever, an almost ghostly portrait with tired washed out eyes, not all indicative of the warm and pleasant songs on it.

Jonathon Kelly – Twice Round The Houses  (1972)

Another great singer-songwriter that history has largely forgotten.  A short career for this Irish troubadour; just a couple as a solo artist before he formed a band Jonathon kelly’s Outside – one album and another solo and he called it a day.  But the two solo albums he made with RCA are really quite amazing.  This one was very lyrical and folky, a genre he later moved away from sadly.  I saw him in ’72 at the Roundhouse and was hooked by his gentle voice and compelling songs.  I wonder where all this promise went…but maybe it was just that all his great songs were used up on these two albums and he had nothing left in the tank; he stopped performing in 1976.  I think that Gilbert O’Sullivan suffered in the same way before settling into a very middle of the road style.  But at least we have these two albums, especially this one.  There is a real charm in these songs and his tales of ‘Sligo Fair’ and ‘The Ballad of Cursed Anna’ and the lovely ‘Madeleine’.  I have realised that not all artists are destined for fame and fortune or indeed longevity, but that doesn’t make their efforts any less worthwhile.  Jonathon died in 2020.

Joe Jackson – Look Sharp (1979)

This album landed soon after punk was dying and the ‘New Wave’ was still beginning to break.  It seemed like a breath of fresh air at the time, and the songs still sound fresh today.  There are hints of punk and reggae and soul and of course, Joe’s unique voice – but as always it is the songs that make the album great….oh, and a really great cover illustration of a pair of cool white dancing shoes.  His first single from this collection was a huge hit too ‘Is She Really Going Out With Him’ and is possibly his best song too.  I loved the album – especially ‘Sunday Papers’, ‘Fools In Love’ and the title track.  For what ever reason I didn’t buy any more of his records, except a Greatest Hits selection (who knows why we follow some artists to the grave and others get by with just one purchase?)– but I still love the energy and raw sound of this one. 

Martyn Joseph – Being There (1992)

Martyn may well be the best singer-songwriter that most of you will not have heard of.  He did release 5 albums (self-financed) before this, his first major label release – and the first I discovered (the early ones are almost impossible to find), but Martyn is really quite prolific, releasing albums almost annually.  A proud Welshman, I first saw him St. Brides near Porthcawl.  A quiet affair, as most of his concerts are – just him and an acoustic guitar.  But talk about passion and great songs.  In many ways he reminds me of Harry Chapin with his deep social commitment but also a great way with a melody.  Martyn was being groomed for some sort of success with Sony but he left after 2 albums to go alone with minor and eventually his own label.  He now sells mostly at concerts or on the internet – and who is to say he is wrong.  He will never be rich but he writes and records exactly what he wants to and makes enough from record sales and concerts to keep on doing what he loves.  Best on this record are ‘Working Mother’ (a part-time prostitutes tale), ‘Please Sir’, ‘Swansea’ and ‘Dolphins Make me Cry’.  A great favourite of mine and a really kind man.

Jon and Vangelis – Short Stories (1980)

Jon Anderson, lead singer of Yes collaborated on 3 albums with Greek electronic wizard (Chariots of Fire) Vangelis to create gorgeous and original music, almost the best thing either of them had achieved.  The best was this debut, which was a huge seller, as was the single ‘I Hear You Now’.  From the first few notes of opener ‘Curious Electric’ you knew you were in for something special.  And the music these two created over three albums was quite amazing.   Great melodies and clever lyrics, dynamic electronic sounds and that superb and distinctive voice just left you wanting more.  Best on this debut were ‘Each and Every Day’, ‘I Hear You Now’ and ‘The Road’.  A brief reunion in 1991, an album released which sold poorly and was withdrawn and reissued with different tracks.  Vangelis has now died – but we still and always will have these three gems of albums.

Jean-Michel Jarre – Oxygene (1977)

Not quite his début, but his first sunk without a trace and is not available now.  But Oxygene exploded into the singles and album charts, which was very unusual for an instrumental record, especially one of pioneering electronic music.  All the tracks are simply numbered, but parts 2 and 4 were singles.  The tracks are similar but varied enough to keep your interest.  Jean-Michel went on to a long career and had quite a few best-sellers.  He also sent the only copy of an album called ‘Music for Supermarkets’ into space aboard Voyager…it could be a long time before anyone hears it.  He was famous for huge concerts, such as the one at London Docklands.  I saw him live at Versailles in the Eighties, the light show was fantastic and the sound incredible with a big band playing alongside him.  It is said that he pioneered the synthesiser revolution, but he actually developed many keyboard based instruments.  I have always liked electronica since seeing Tangerine dream in the early 70s, and Jean-Michel is one of my favourites.

Neil Innes – How Sweet To Be An Idiot (1973)

Founder member of The Bonzo Dog DooDah Band in the Sixties, when comedy was an acceptable style of musical expression….Monty Python released several albums which quite often charted.  Neil was a brilliant lyricist and not a bad musician and singer too – though he never achieved much fame he was around and on TV quite a bit; he made a series of about six programmes called The Innes Book Of Records, and was a member of Beatles piss-take band The Rutles.  He also contributed to songs for Monty Python films and a few children’s programmes.  This debut is lovely, quaint and very English…best songs ‘L’Amour Perdu’, ‘Topless A Go-Go’ and the title track.  Though not for everyone I must admit.

Jimi Hendrix – Axis Bold As Love (1967)

Well, what can you say really.  He literally exploded on the scene in late 1966; we were all blown away by his guitar pyrotechnics, but also his voice and looks – he was perfect for the Summer of Love.  He released 2 albums in that year – I think this may have been his second, but I am not sure.  Anyway, it is quite devastatingly good, but in the way of much of 1967 music it has dated quite quickly.  I don’t play Jimi that often, but when I do I am immediately transported back to those heady idealistic hippy days.  Best tracks on this one are ‘Castles Made of Sand’, ‘If Six Was Nine’ and ‘Spanish Castle Magic’.  Such a shame that he died in 1971 after just three albums; we will never know just how his music might have developed…

Janis Ian – Between The Lines (1975)

Janis had been a folk/protest singer in the Sixties with some small success.   But her fame came with her Seventh album which saw a complete change of sound and production; Janis became the ultimate confessional bedsit companion.  The album went to number one in America and sold well everywhere.  The songs are all hauntingly beautiful with her soulful voice at times no more then a whisper but rising at the climax of the tunes.  There is something almost magical about this album; it became a favourite with so many people and is still as relevant and modern sounding today as fifty years ago.  Janis managed to encapsulate that sense of sadness and yet each song seems to contain a grain of hope and she seems reconciled to the loss of lovers and time passing. Almost impossible to pick favourites – but we must include ‘At Seventeen’ and ‘Tea And Sympathy’ and ‘In The Winter’ – but even as I write this other selections come to mind.  The album needs to be listened to in it’s entirety, as it is a real concept album in the best sense of the word.  Although the songs are infused with sadness I find them strangely uplifting.