Michael Nesmith – Magnetic South (1970)

Well, you had to be there….1966, and we couldn’t wait each week to watch The Monkees on telly.  They were a made for tv American group (Davey Jones was British); after auditions the band was put together, Peter Tork on bass, Mickey Dolenz (ex Circus Boy) on drums, Davey on vocals and Michael on guitar, which he could play quite well.  This didn’t stop the producers from using backing musicians on their first couple of albums.  As kids we didn’t care – we just loved the songs and the goofy acting.  Michael wrote some of their songs – but not the hits.  The band and show ended in 1968 and Michael pursued his love of mostly traditional and bluegrass American music with a string of albums.  This was his first real solo effort, the production is clear, as is Nesmith’s voice – and the sound, though initially very country is infused with pop sensibilities and clever lyrics; and a million miles from the cheekie-chappie from The Monkees.  Best songs are ‘Joanne’, ‘Keys to the Car’, ‘Hollywood’ and ‘Beyond The Blue Horizon’.  If you just let yourself go, you can be singing along in no time.  Michael died a few years ago.

Graham Nash – Songs For Beginners (1971) Nash was a founder member of both The Hollies (one of my favourite groups of the 60s) and Crosby, Still, Nash – and occasionally Young.  He has released 6 albums as a solo artist, this one in my opinion his best, and a handful with David Crosby, now deceased sadly.  This debut came at a time when the record companies were encouraging every singer-songwriter and new band to record an album – scared to miss out on the next sensation they gave almost anyone a chance, though with Graham’s history and being a part of one of the biggest selling ‘Supergroups’ they could barely go wrong with this release.  And they weren’t wrong…several songs relate to Nash’s recent break-up with Joni Mitchell.  Hard to pick a favourite from this superb collection of songs – from the fantastic opener ‘Military Madness’ to the anthemic closer ‘We Can Change The World’ there isn’t a poor track.  But I do really  love ‘Sleep Song’, ‘Chicago’ and ‘Simple Man’.  You have to have lived those early 70s years when every week there were what are now considered essential albums tumbling out; in the wake of The Beatles 60s output almost anything was possible

Jimmy Nail – Crocodile Shoes (1994)

Jimmy was born a real working-class rebel in Newcastle, he drifted and spent some time in jail before trying acting, he was also lead singer in a local band – The King Crabs.  He adopted the stage surname after an accident where a six-inch spike went through his foot.  His big break came with TV series ‘Auf Weidershein Pet’ followed by ‘Spender’.  He had a couple of decent selling albums and a number one hit single.  He conceived, wrote, produced and acted in a new TV show ‘Crocodile Shoes’ about a struggling Country singer in the North East; he wrote some of the songs in this series and a few were by Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout.  The album is a cracker and though not his first it introduced him to a much wider public.  I loved the album and the follow-up from series 2.  It is really Americana, a modern mix of country and folk-rock with great tunes and production.  Best are the title track, ‘Cowboy Dreams’ and ‘Only One Heart’.  

Alanis Morisette – Jagged Little Pill (1995)

Another Canadian singer-songwriter, who sprung to fame with this, her third actually, but who is counting, album.  This one sprung her into the stratosphere, half shouted, half sung – and a handful of profanities thrown in, with it’s angry revenge songs like ‘You Oughta Know’ and ‘Right Through You’ – and the slightly quieter ones like ‘Ironic’ (which is in fact an ironic song as most of the examples aren’t irony at all – buy hey, great song anyway) – and ‘You learn’…..it all felt new and a return to a rockier sound in the midst of dance music.  Alanis continues ranting or singing but none of her releases matches the ‘shock’ or success of this one.#

Alison Moyet – Alf (1984)

Alison, an Essex girl from Basildon, was involved in local bands in the Seventies, but hooked up with keyboard maestro Vince Clarke and formed the highly successful Yazzoo and released 2 best-selling albums in the early 80s.  Vince disbanded the group and Alison (nickname Alf) went solo.  The rest is history; she became the voice of the Eighties and has released 10 high selling albums and won numerous awards.  This debut is highly polished and has, not surprisingly, a very Eighties production, sprightly and bouncy – as was Alison’s persona at the time.  Never seemingly ashamed by her unfashionable fuller figure she strutted her stuff with a seeming gusto.  Her voice can be both sultry and loud, but always recognisably her own.  Best on this debut are ‘Love Resurection’, ‘Honey For The Bees’ and ‘Where hides Sleep’. 

Brilliant Debut Albums #120

Morcheeba – Who Can You Trust (1996)

A London group who specialise in down-tempo electronica and dance music; main band members are the Godfrey brothers, Paul and Ross – and the gentle but sumptuous vocals from Skye Edwards.  They tried to be a bit more commercial than a lot of the dance scene and veered between straight pop and trip-hop with great success.  As usual, in fact as always, it is the songs that matter – and this band are superb writers of melodious and intriguing songs.  Thanks again to daughter Laura for introducing the band to me; I have the first 6 albums, though they are continuing to release records I had to stop somewhere.  Best on this fully formed debut are the title track, ‘Trigger Hippie’ and ‘Col’ – but the album is almost one long piece of dreamy moody melodies….love it

The Moody Blues – On The Threshold Of A Dream (1969)

Not their debut, but the beginning of a new direction for this mid-sixties pop group.  They were at the forefront of what became known as ‘prog-rock’ with their moody semi-orchestral concept albums.  Justin Haywards delicate voice was key as were Mike Pinders’ keyboards and John Lodge’s bass.  Sadly the entire original band have now passed away.  My favourite prog-rock band, Barclay James Harvest, were often unfairly compared with this band; they even wrote a song called ‘Poor Man’s Moody Blues’ as a part defense, part tribute to this group.  This album is full of delicate part-poppy tunes, best are ‘Dear Diary’, ‘Lazy Days’ and ‘The Dream’.

Joni Mitchell – Song To A Seagull (1968)

I first heard Joni on the radio; on Sunday mornings Noel Edmunds, before real fame, had a programme where he highlighted a whole host of early Seventies West Coast artists.  Then I saw her in concert on BBC2 and she was singing songs from her first real Masterpiece ‘Blue’.  I was and still remain absolutely bewitched by her, she is totally unique.  I worked my way back to this late Sixties debut, produced by her then boyfriend David Crosby. While quite naïve in some ways and really just a folk album, there was something there, the lyrics, the guitar tunings – and that voice haunting and floating above the melodies.  Of course she became one of the most celebrated singer songwriters after her album ‘Blue’ and drifted into jazz; she never chased popularity and simply wrote and sang exactly what she wanted.  Best on this debut are – ‘Night In The City’, ‘Cactus Tree’ and ‘The Pirate Of Penanace’