Jennifer Warnes – famous for being more than just a backing singer with Leonard Cohen in the Seventies, she has had a sporadic solo career.  She release 4 albums in the late Sixties and Early Seventies, which were compiled into a 1992 album Just Jennifer –  not much to say about this, pleasant songs and a lot of cover versions, her voice is pretty soft and subtle, and doesn’t really do justice to most of this material.   Although her rendition of ‘Here, There and Everywhere’ and ‘Just Like Tom Thumb Blues’ are quite good.   In 1979 ahe released my favourite album of hers Shot Though The Heart – with a great cover too.  Well, this album is such a favourite; I played it non-stop for weeks back in the day.  I especially love the title track ‘Shot Through The Heart’ (there goes the gunman) followed by ‘I Know A Heartache When I See One’, but the best was ‘Don’t Make Me Over’ (a Baccharach/David song) and a great version of Dylan’s ‘Sign On The Window’.  The whole album just seems to roll along.  Brilliant.  Almost as good, and again a real departure was this almost collaboration with Leonard Cohen, with whom she had sung in the studio and on tour.  It included two, at that time, unrelease Cohen songs, which I think Jennifer recorded at least as well as Cohen himself.  They also collaborated in the writing of ‘Song Of Bernadette’ – a highlight of this album Famous Blue Raincoat (1986).  My favourites are probably the title track, ‘Came So Far For Beauty’ and ‘Ballad of The Runaway Mare’….but who can fault the splendid duet ‘Joan Of Arc’, here Jennifer  is Joan and Leonard the fire.  Wow.   I mwntioned before that Jennifer is only a sporadic album  maker and it was only 1992 that saw her next effort – The Hunter.  Well, after those two incredible albums it must have been hard to come up with a third, and so it turned out.  Overall, a disappointing album I am afraid.  Maybe I was expecting too much, but I was under awed.  Reading the extensive credits of both performers and producers it is no  wonder.  The album sounds over-produced and overworked and lacking in any identity.   Or maybe I am being a bit harsh; re-listening, the album is not so bad – just not as brilliant as I fel it might have been.  Maybe it is the song choices, best are ‘Rock Me Gently’ and ‘The Lights Of Luisiana’.  I also have a best of – which tanspires to be taken from just 2 albums; Jennifer seemed to be any quite a few different labels in her career. Still, not a bad selection – except of course, no ‘Up Here Where We Belong’.   A bit of a wasted talent in some ways – but still two brilliant albums is better than most.

The Waterboys – an Irish band, led by Mike Scott (see S).  Their biggest selling album was Fisherman’s Blues 1988 – Actually, the only one of theirs I own.  And it is pretty damn good.  With this album, they apparently re-discovered their Irish roots.  Musically, it is quite folky, with fiddles and acoustic instruments.  The songs are, of course, what makes the album so good.  The iconic ‘Whole of The Moon’ is great, as is ‘When Will We Be Married’ and ‘A Bang On The Ear’.  But somehow the record, too long, tires as it goes on. 

Scott Walker – famous in the Sixties as half of The Walker Brothers, who had a few hits with ballads.  Well, Scott is still writing and singing, but a million miles away from the Sixties.  In fact, very modern and almost unlistenable songs (where exactly is the melody?) – although the voice is still superb.  Only one album Tilt. Only one song I almost like ‘Farmer In The City’.

Joe Walsh – Famously joined the Eagles in late Seventies, and had one great hit solo before that ‘Life’s Been Good’.  He started off with a band, The James Gang in the early Seventies.  I have a best of James Gang and Joe Walsh – though, no big hit.  Not a bad record, but it doesn’t really grab me. 

WAR CHILD – 2 free Cds given away with The Independent.  Cd1 was more conventional songs by Coldplay, McCartney and a few others.  Best was ‘Vietnem’ by New Order.  Cd2 was more dance oriented and featured Massive Attack and Faithless as well as Magic Numbers and Starsailor.  Both highly enjoyable but hardly essentialClifford T.Ward – A truly gentle soul with the voice of an angel.  He was a teacher but played guitar and wrote songs and in the early Seventies tried to make it – which he did for a while.  With a faithful band of fans he released several albums and had a handful of hits before a progressive MS finally claimed him in 2001.  His debut Singer Songwriter came out in 1972.   A bit naïve and one feels he was a bit too tentative – still I particularly like ‘A Dream’, ‘Carrie’ and ‘Circus Girl’.   1973 saw probably his best album, the glorious Home Thought From Abroad – the centre-piece of which is the title song, a pean to his old girlfriend, which quotes from a poem by Robert Browning; it is a very poignant song.  But the lead-off song is his biggest hit single – the sumptuous ‘Gaye’.  There is barely a poor song here; my other favourites being ‘The Open University’, ‘Time, The Magician’ and ‘Where Would That Leave Me’.   The songs are timeless with gorgeous melodies and mostly orchestral arrangements; in some ways they are quite middle of the road but are saved from being mawkish by Clifford’s hauntingly beautiful voice.  A triumph.   Nearly as good was his third Mantle Pieces, also 1973.  Some delightful songs – the excellent single ‘Scullery’, the poignant Sylvia Plath inspired ‘Waving Not Drowning’ and the humorous but sad ‘To An Air Hostess’ among others.   Escalator followed in 1975, and included ‘Jigsaw Girl’, ‘We Could be Talking’ and ‘A Sad Affair’.  I did buy his next 4 albums on vinyl, but they are all quite expensive now, if available at all, on CD.  A pity, as I really loved them.  I do have a very late release Bittersweet (1999) when poor Clifford was by then unable to walk or talk or record.  Some nice alternate versions of some of his songs and the lovely ‘Jayne From Andromeda Spiral’.  A nice collection but for real fans only.  Best was a compilation Gaye and other Stories (1990) – a real best of.  Faves are all the early songs – but also ‘A  Minor’.  A lovely gentle man, a real inspiration to us all

The Velvet Underground – a late Sixties band, famous for collaborations withNico, a German singer and the artist Andy Warhol.   Most of the songs were written by Lou Reed (see R) and John Cale.  Not sure if I really like them – one or two great songs but a lot of experimental noise too.  Two albums – the first, the famous banana cover – The Velvet underground and Nico (1967), which I bought much later.   Best songs are ‘Sunday Morning’ and ‘Heroin’ and ‘I’m Waiting For My Man’.   I also have The Best Of….again a mix of gentle songs and very fast noisy stuff.  Best are ‘Stephanie Says’. I’ll Be Your Mirror’ and ‘All Tomorrows Parties’.

The Wainwrights – Loudon Wainwright the Third – An American singer-songwriter who wrote often funny, but sometimes poignant songs, mostly to a simple acoustic guitar or piano accompaniment.  He released many albums during the last five decades, many songs are about his life and children.  I only have a greatest hits One Man Guy and it is very entertaining and quite listenable, at least for a while.  Best songs are ‘Your Mother and I’ (a sad song about divorce, written to his children), ‘Not John’ (about Lennon’s murder) and ‘Unhappy Anniversary’.  He is also famous for marrying Kate McGarrigle (see M) a singer herself; together before their divorce they had two children Rufus and Martha, who both became singers too.

Martha Wainwright – has released about seven albums, though I only have her self-titled debut Martha Wainwright (2005), which is a shame as this record is excellent – my only defence is that there really are so many great artists that I cannot buy everything by all of them – though I have had a bloody good try.  Anyway, the album – pretty good, especially ‘Factory To Factory’ – though a little bit shouty on occasion; she is much better on gentler stuff like ‘Far Away’ and ‘Whither Must I Wander’.

Rufus Wainwright – Older brother of Martha, and owner of a heart-rending and individualistic voice.  I collected him for a while, but then, like so many others, I grew tired of him.   First – his debut, entitled Rufus Wainwright. (1998).  All the components were there already, that swooping and soaring voice, the passionate expression and quite good songs; ‘In My Arms’, ‘Barcelona’ and ‘Damned Ladies’ especially good.  His follow-up Poses (2001) was even better, at least the songs were better formed and more memorable – best were ‘Cigarettes and ‘Chocolate’ which is reprieved at the end of the album as well as opening it – ‘California’ (not the Joni classic) and a great version of his father’s song ‘One Man Guy’ (with a different meaning as Rufus is as gay as you like.  A really nice record – but then came 2003’s Want One – (sold later as a double with Want Two.  This, for me, was THE album.  You can almost, but not quite forget the rest – here he achieved perfection.  Opener ‘Oh What A World’ sets the scene – what a great song; and it continues with ‘Movies Of Myself’ and ‘Harvester of Hearts’ but best is the magnificent ‘Go Or Go Ahead’.  A brilliant album.   He followed this a year later with Want Two.  Not quite so good, though not at all bad.  Best songs are ‘Agnus Dei’, ‘Gay Messiah’ and Cohen’s ‘Chelsea Hotel’.   2007 saw Release The Stars – a much better album really.   I particularly like ‘Do I Disappoint You’, ‘Rules and Regulations and ‘Sansoucci’.  But I was very disappointed with his next album – All Days Are Nights – Songs For Lulu.  It just seemed a dreary wail to my poor ears.  Oh well.  I stopped buying him after this – fickle?

The Undertones – Apparently one of John Peel’s very favourite bands.  They formed in Derry in ’74 and were distinct from punk bands because they were actually very very good, even if they shared their excitement and back to basics sound.  I just have a greatest hits album Teenage Kicks, which is probably their best song, but I also like ‘My Cousin’ and ‘Positive Touch’.  Thier most famous member was the singer Feargal Sharkey, whose distinctive vocals dominate.  He went on to a short solo career and is now an environmental campaigner. 

Vanilla Fudge – One of the seminal 60’s rock bands, who were famous for slowed down re-interpretations of classic songs of their era.  Two of their members Bogart and Appice went on to form Beck, Bogart and Appice in the early 70’s and later became session players for many famous artists. I only have a live album Best Of Vanilla Fudge – Live.  A great set including ‘Eleanor Rigby’ and ‘Ticket To Ride’ by the Beatles and ‘You Keep me Hanging On’ and ‘People Get Ready’ – both great soul classics. 

Vanity Fair (music from) – composed by Murray Gold for a nineties BBC adaptation of one of my favourite Victorian Novels, the music is varied and incredible with great swoops of brass intermingled with quiet strings.  Not everyone’s tasse du the I am sure, but I really like it.

Van Morrison – Though an undoubted Legend, I’ve never been that bowled over by him.  He was of course, the voice of Them – a sixties band.  In the late 60’s he decamped to America and had a string of solo albums.  He is famously difficult to work with.  I only have two albums – Astral Weeks(1968) – Many fans think this one of his best albums, but it leaves me flat.  I like Madame George, mainly because of Marianne Faithfull’s version (see F), and Cypress Avenue is okay…but the rest, not really impressed.  I do have a (sort of) greatest hits, courtesy of a giveaway from The Sun  – Brown-Eyed Girl.   And you have to admit that that song is rather catchy; it is actually one of the most played songs on the radio.  The other tracks are just jazzy live stuff….not worth listening to.

Townes van Zant  – I don’t know much about him, except that he was a brilliant songwriter, who never achieved much recognition.  I first heard his songs sung by Steve Earl (see E).  Just one album My Mother The Mountain.  He reminds me somewhat of Hank Williams, singing very sad but timeless songs.  Best of which are  ‘Lefty and Pancho’, ‘Kathleen’ and ‘Tecunseh Valley’.  Like Hank he died pretty young too.

Suzanne Vega – Always on the lookout for female singer songwriters, how could I miss Suzanne, who burst on the scene with her acoustic guitar and haunting voice, and very poignant songs.  Her self-titles debut in 1985 was incredibly well received.  Every song seems just right, from ‘Cracking’ to ‘Neighbourhood Girls’ it seems perfectly formed.   A very stripped back sound which allows her voice to rise above the music – especially on the best track – ‘Marlena On The Wall’.  She followed this with maybe her best album Solitude Standing (1987).  This was her breakthrough album and contained possibly her two best known songs; ‘Tom’s Diner’ and ‘Luka’ – but all the songs are good; especially ‘Night Vison’.   Her third was Days Of Open Hand (1990).  Taking a little bit of time between albums she seemed to hone the songs down.   Best are ‘Tired Of Sleeping’ and ‘Men In A War’.    1992 saw a new album 99.9F.   Again,hard to fault her; in fact this may be her most consistent record; best tracks are ‘Blood Makes Noise’, ‘In Liverpool’ and ‘When Heroes Go Down’.   A change of style, as she was now having a more ‘produced’ sound and more instrumentation.  My last, but not hers was 9 Objects of Desire (1996).  Well, this is far more like most other people’s albums, production-wise.  In fact, it sound overproduced to me.  I can’t say this is a favourite of mine, and compared to the previous four, I think she lost direction.  Still, ’No Cheap Thrill’ and ‘World Before Columbus’ aren’t bad at all.

U2 – I had heard of them; a former partner had 1 album – but I really woke up at Live Aid when they played a scintillating set.   First up is their debut album BOY (1980) – a very guitar driven album, where it takes a few listens to distinguish individual songs. Best are ‘I Will Follow’, ‘Into The Heart’ and ‘Out Of Control’.  A great start.  I then picked up again with The Joshua Tree (1987).  What an album – possibly their best, certainly their most popular.  Chock full of great songs – the band were in fire.  My favourites are probably ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’, ‘With Or Without You’ and ‘Bullet The Blue Sky’ – but ask me on another day and it might be different.  So, the perennial problem – how to follow that.  They managed it, and in style.  They released a double album, half live, half new songs called Rattle and Hum (1988).  In some ways it is even better than Joshua Tree, though like all double albums, maybe too long.  Featuring duets with Dylan and B.B. King and some cracking live performances of ‘Helter Skelter’ (Beatles) and ‘Star Spangled Banner’ (Hendrix version) the live songs are simply brilliant ‘Silver and Gold’ and ‘Pride In The Name Of Love’ especially.  But the studio songs are excellent too – ‘Desire’, ‘When Love Comes To Town’ and ‘Angel of Harlem’ in particular sparkle.  A three-year break before their next re-invention Achtung Baby (1991).  The boys started to combine industrial rock and electronic beats into their already pretty dense sound.  The result is, in my opinion, a bit mixed.  Sometimes listening to it, it is just a noise, but then there are some very good melodies and singing in it too.  Best are ‘One’, ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’ and ‘Trying To Throw Your Arms Around The World’.   As the Nineties progressed the band struggled to define their identity, between their signature sound and the new heavier electronic music of Achtung Baby.  I missed out on Zooropa but bought Pop (1997).  The band were now using a combination of new young producers, trying to define their new direction.  The album was apparently rushed out just before a tour and the band were unhappy with it.  Personally, I’ve never liked the album, it seems a mess and the sound is far too crowded.  The only song that I like even half decently is ‘Discotheque’ though I have no idea what Bono is singing about.  All that You Can’t leave Behind came out in 2000 – and it was as if the old band was suddenly back after a missing decade.  Reuniting with producers Daniel Lanois (see L) and Eno the band came up with some great songs – and most importantly they sounded like U2.  Why they wanted to completely change this unique sound is beyond me.  Anyway, best songs are ‘Beautiful Day’, ‘Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of’ and ‘Walk On’ – though there is not a weak song here.  A brilliant return to form.   2004 saw How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.   Well, I sort of liked this one, but felt they were treading water somewhat.  The songs were okay but not essential.  Best were ‘’Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own’ and ‘City Of Blinding Lights’.  My last by this extraordinary band is 2014’s Songs Of Innocence.  Ever looking for something new, they released the album on i-tunes for free for a few weeks before a physical CD emerged (making this, at 500 million possible customers, the biggest record release of all time).  A nice record, but not at all their best.  Still, I quite like ‘The Miracle’ and ‘Sleep Like A Baby Tonight’ and I cannot really recall the others in much detail.  The CD came with analogue versions of all the songs, much like demo’s – which added nothing to the CD except cost to the buyer.  Of course, I bought the excellent 2 major compilations – Greatest Hits 1980-1990 – which was their best period.  Brilliant songs such as ‘Pride In The Name Of love’, ‘New Year’s Day’, ‘Sunday, Bloody Sunday’ and ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’ plus lots from Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum make this a true best ever of.  It came as a double with best of ‘B’ sides, not that they did much for me except just sound like all the other U2 songs without the rousing choruses. The companion piece Greatest Hits 1990 – 2000 is still excellent though.  Best songs ‘Mysterious Ways’, ‘Stuck In a Moment’ and ’Numb’.   Only one other, a freebie given away with Sunday Times – though why a band like U2 need to do this I have no idea.   Still, there is no denying they are one of the great British bands of all time.

Tina Turner – Wow, what a singer, and what a lady.  Overcoming a terrible marriage and near destitution in the late 70’s, ahe made a remarkable return to making great records in the mid 80’s.  I only have her Greatest Hits….but what Hits.  ‘Private Dancer’ and ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’ being my very favourites.  She has, of course, recently passed away.

Shania Twain – a Canadian country singer who had a few hits with crossover Country and almost disco songs, many from the one album I own; Come On Over (1997).  Wow, what a hit-filled album this is.  Almost every song a winner – even if, overlong, it does get a tad tedious by the end.  Still – a great album, best songs are ‘Man, I Feel Like A Woman’, ‘You’re Still The One’ and ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’.  Funnily enough, I’ve never been tempted to but any of her other offerings.

29 Palms – another very obscure CD.  I had a habit in early naughties and late nineties of trawling second hand shops for, what were then a novelty; CD singles.  I came across a couple by this band, and so bought this album.  I have since discovered that this was 2 English guys, who only ended up making 2 records.  The first was Fatal Joy (1990).  Of course, they were far too good to make it in the record industry.  A lovely lyrical gentle album – plaintive singing and great songs and melodies, what could possibly go wrong?  Little or no promotion from the record company I suppose.  Anyway, I liked them.  Best songs – the title track and ‘Defenceless’ and best of all ‘Magic Man’.

Two Way Street – namechecked once by Bowie, but otherwise I wouldn’t have heard of them.  Just the one album ‘Grow Your own Planet (1991) and the band was no more.  Oh well.   I bought the record, and quite liked it.  A very original sound, which unfortunately found little favour with the general public.  Oh well – best songs – ‘Mrs Washington’ and ‘This bloody England’.

T(yranosaurus) Rex – I first heard them in the late Sixties, when it was just Marc Bolan and Steve Took, singing quite quaint folk ditties.  Then Marc discovered (or invented) Glam Rock.  The rest is (actually, quite a short-lived) history.  Many huge hits before the records all started to sound much the same.  Born to Boogie one of the many Greatest Hits compilations – contains, amongst others, such classics as ‘Get It On’ and ‘Ride A White Swan’ but also some of the early stuff ‘Debra’ and ‘Beltane Walk’   Marc died tragically in a Mini as it hit a tree.  But actually his career was already dying, as the songs were becoming repetitious and boring and the fans moved on to the next sensation.  ‘Trecstasy’ has over. 

K.T. Tunstall – A Scottish singer songwriter from this century would you believe).  Born in 1975, but with a very classical rock sound, although a very competent singer and guitarist and songwriter.  She came to fame in 2004 with the release of her debut Eye To The Telescope.  A very competent debut album, it sounds as if she has been around forever; her songs are pretty timeless and she has a great voice.  Best tracks  – ‘Other side of The World’, ’Silent Sea’ and ‘Suddenly I See’.  She followed this with Drastic Plastic (2007) -another very good album.  What cn you say – good songs and well sung and played.  In some ways the album is even better than her first – a bit more varied.  Best soings – ‘If Only’, ‘Saving Face’ and ‘Paper Aeroplanes Difficulty’, .  Her third, but my latest was Tiger Suit (20101).  Another accomplished album – but somehow I was tiring of her songs…oh well.  Best are ‘Difficulty’, ‘Glamour Puss’ and ‘Golden frames.The Turtles – An American late 60s group, who to some degree emulated the Beatles and The Byrds (by softening up Dylan songs).  Gifted with two singer-songwriters in Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman who crafted perfect pop songs and sumptuous harmonies – I loved them.  I had heard a couple of hits and bought their third album in 1968 – The Battle Of The Bands – where the boys presented a fake talent show, appearing as 12 different groups in 12 styles.  A superb album; the group always had a penchant for humour (see later) and brought this out particularly on this record.  Favourite tracks among a brilliant 12 are, of course, ‘Elenore’, ‘Oh Daddy’ and best of all ‘Food’ (I mean, really) – it sounds as if they were having a ball making this album.  The band fell into huge difficulties with White Whale, their record company and many of their albums were unavailable for a few years and never released on CD.  But Rhino Records now owns the copywrite and released a 5 album box set of practically everything the band recorded, called 30 Years Of Rock and Roll – though the band were only recording for about five years – (more later).  First up is entitled Eve Of Destruction – (from the Barry MacGuire song, the boys recorded in their own half cheerful way (hard to imagine, but it works).  A great selection – I particularly like ‘Grim Reaper of Love’, ‘If We Only Had The Time (later re-recorded by Flo and Eddie {see F} who are Mark and Howard – confused – you will be) and ‘House On The Hill’.  The second is entitled Elenore – and leads with that classic, also includes ‘You Baby’ and a brilliant rendition of Dylan’s ‘Love Minus Zero – No Limit’ – and the great environmental classic (50 years before it’s time) ‘Earth Anthem’ – another great album.  Third is called She’s My Girl – which was another huge single for them.  Best songs are – ‘Sound Asleep‘. ‘Glitter and Gold’ and ‘Goodbye Surprise’ (another song recorded later by Flo and Eddie).  CD number 4 is Let Me Be, featuring their biggest single ‘Happy Together’ along with ‘Who Would Ever Think That I Would Marry Margaret’ and ‘Hot Little Hands’, and a not bad version of Dylan’s ‘Like A Rolling Stone’. The last CD is The Story Of Rock And Roll – with the brilliant ‘You Showed Me’, ‘Dance This Dance With Me’ and ‘It Aint Me Babe’ – another Dylan classic.   Before the band broke up, mainly because of contractual problems with their record label they recorded a handful of tracks for a new album they wanted to call Wooden Head in 1970.  The album never got released but Rhino Records have obtained the tapes and put out an album of the same name in the last few years.  Adding an assortment of other tracks, it is a double album.  Another very pleasant record – best songs are probably ‘I Can’t Stop’, ‘I Get Out Of Breath’ and ‘The Wandering Kind’.  The extra ‘bonus disc’ is mainly slightly different singles versions of earlier songs.  I also, of course have the Greatest Hits (one of many compilations) with all their singles and a few other classic songs. My favourite is ‘Lady O’, written by Judee Sill, who at that time was unknown and unrecorded – this song recorded by The Turtles, helped her get a record deal.  I also have a much later live recording, by Mark and Howard and a new band called Captured Live (still retaining the Turtles moniker). The duo had, via a stint with Frank Zappa, morphed into Flo and Eddie (see F), releasing 4 albums in the mis Seventies.  This album mixes 8 Flo and Eddie songs with 10 Turtles classics.  I prefer the originals

Travis – were a short-lived hit in the late 90s – though they are still going and releasing albums, their popularity stems mostly from the big hit single ‘Why Does It Always Rain On Me’ (1999).  Their songs and sound are (more or less) timeless and could have featured anytime since the early Seventies.  I only have 2 CDs – The Man Who – 1999 is the first and by far their biggest seller.  This is one of those albums you cannot really fault, the vocal harmonies are sumptuous and the songs particularly good.  Of course the big hit and ‘Turn’ and ‘Driftwood’ were singles, but there isn’t a bad song on the album.   I also nabbed from a charity shop one of those free CDs they give away with Sunday Newspapers.  It is actually quite good – live versions of ‘Rain’ and ‘Turn’ and a few I didn’t know – but actually I was never really a fan.

Jethro Tull – named after the agricultural inventor of the 18^th Century this band was famous for lead singer Ian Anderson, flautist extraordinaire and main songwriter for the band, whose members changed occasionally.  I saw them a few times in the early Seventies and they were always brilliant – a strange mixture of sometimes quite heavy rock and pastoral classicism.  First up is a double CD of their first album – This Was (1968).  I went back to find this album after buying Thick As A Brick – (1972, the best of years). Well, I was not too impressed by this debut – no coherent sort of sound, just a jumble really – it still makes little impression on these poor uneducated ears.  Much better, of course was the brilliant masterpiece that was Thick As A Brick.  As well as being one long piece, simply divided to fit on both sides of a vinyl album – it is a comical conceit.  Musically it is superb with several ‘Movements’ and a recurrent motif or two threaded in.  It was apparently meant as a parody of the ‘Concept album’ and purported to be a poem written by 12 year old Gerald Bostock.  It came, such was the lunacy of record companies back then, as a fictional 12 page local newspaper, featuring a front page story about young Gerald, along with many other ridiculous stories and even football scores – a continuing joke was the existence of a non-rabbit.  Anyway, I loved it, the whole idea but especially the music itself.  There are no real tracks, but you have to listen to the whole thing, and it is simply a work of art.  Minstrel In The Gallery (1975) is my next album, and a more lyrical album.  The title track is almost medieval in it’s sound, but the star of the album is ‘Baker Street Muse’ – the lyrics escape me, but I like the playing.  Anderson seems to switch so easily between a pretty heavy full on rock sound and gentle flute-led melodies.  I can only think of early Genesis (see G) as a comparison really.  I also really like the sad and haunting ‘Requiem’.  Next up is the brilliant Songs From The Wood album (1977).  Remember at this time, ‘punk’ was all the rage and threatening to blow these old rock dinosaurs out of the water – well, most of them are still going strong.   Again a more folky album really, with occasional bursts of exuberance.  Best are the title track and ‘The Whistler’ and ‘Ring Out Solstice Bells’  A lovely record.  My last studio album is the equally good Heavy Horses (1978).   Again an excellent title track.  I also like ‘No Lullaby’ and ‘One Brown Mouse’.  I have no idea why I haven’t carried on collecting Tull albums -maybe they all started to sound similar….anyway.  I do also have the obligatory Very Best Of.   All the big hits are here…’Aqualung’, ‘Too Old To Rock and Roll’ and ‘Locomotive Breath’ among others. A very individual band, the likes of which we will never see again.

Traffic – Were an English ‘pop’ group formed in 1967 and featuring Steve Winwood (see W) as lead singer.  They had a handful of hit singles, which as was the custom then, mostly didn’t appear on albums.  I loved them, as they seemed to encapsulate the Summer of Love.  First album was Mr. Fantasy (1967) – a bit too poppy really, ‘Dear Mr. Fantasy’ was wonderful, as was ‘Coloured Rain’ and ‘No Face, No Name, No Number.’ – a pretty good debut.   Their second, Traffic (1968), was a bit more varied, jazzy in places, it featured – ‘Feelin Alright’, ‘Pearly Queen’ and ‘Forty Thousand Headmen’ – not quite as good as their debut really.  Their fourth, but my third was John Barleycorn Must Die (1970).  Despite the title and the cover this is not a folk album, although the title song is – more or less.  The record is quite jazz-infused and  not my favourite, apart from ‘Freedom Rider’ I don’t really like it that much.  Quite a bit better was the generally mellow Low Spark Of High-heeled Boys (1971) – a strange title but the song of that name, though overlong is pretty good.  I also like ‘Rock And Roll Stew’  and ‘Rainmaker’.  Not sure exactly where the band was heading, having discarded the pop singles and settling into a bluesy and jazzy groove.  My last studio album is Shootout At The Fantasy Factory (1973) not so bad really – best are the title track and Evening Blue…I also have a live album Welcome To The Canteen (1971) – which is excellent.  It actually has 2 Chris Mason songs; he was an occasional member of the band, which were never on Traffic albums – and a great version of Steve Winwood’s ‘Gimme Some Lovin’, which was a Spencer Davis Group song, his former band.  Despite that the performance seems inspired.  Best are ‘Dear Mr. Fantasy’ and ‘Medicated Goo’.   A strange band, which maybe never quite reached their potential, at least on albums – but part of the brilliant late 60’s, early 70’s development of British music.  I also have Collection – a best of – which includes most of their singles – ‘Hole In My Shoe’, ‘No Face, No Name, No Number’ and ‘Mulberry Bush’ (I danced to this with Jane Sarginson back in ’67 – whirling her round and round – but despite my best efforts she never wanted to be my girlfriend).

The Travelling Wilburys – A fantastic and maybe the best-ever Supergroup.  All were huge stars in their own right – George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Geoff Lynne and of course Dylan.  The story is that the band came together by accident to record a projected ‘B’ side for a George single.  But I suspect there was a little more to it than that.   Anyway, however it happened the first album Travelling Wilburys Volume 1 – was an instant success; the identities of the ‘Wilburys’ soon becoming an open secret.  The lead single, and the song that brought the band together – a George composition was ‘Handle With Care’ – apparently named after a label on a packing case in Dylan’s garage – is possibly their best, although almost all the songs are brilliant.  Favourites are – ‘End Of The Line’, ‘Rattled’ and ‘Last Night’.  A delight of a record – and a big hit.  Sadly, Roy Orbison died in late 1989 – which put the idea of a follow-up on hold.  There were also tentative plans for a tour – but Dylan and Petty were pretty heavily booked so that never happened.  They did consider a replacement for Roy, and Del Shannon was in the frame for a while – but he too passed away.  The four remaining members did get back together again 2 years later.  A second album, cryptically titled Volume 3 came out in 1990.  It did contain some pretty good songs and the magic was still there – almost.  It wasn’t quite such a hit and there are a couple of fillers.  The band miss Roy’s soaring vocals, and Dylan’s vocals tend to dominate.  Still, by anyone else’s standards it would have been a pretty good album.  Best tracks are probably – ‘Where Were You Last Night’ and ‘Cool Dry Place’.  The not really a group stopped there which may be a good thing.  At least we have these two albums to remember them by.

Tin Machine – not sure if this should be separate, as it is Bowie really.  After a couple of poor albums in the Eighties David decided to once more change direction.  He now formed a band – Tin Machine – he was of course lead singer and they played his songs in a fairly power rock way.  They wore black suits and looked cool, but the songs seemed uninspired mostly.  Tin Machine 1 (1989)  was released to much press interest.  I bought it and quite liked some songs – best were ‘Heavens In Here’, ‘Prisoner Of Your Love’ and a cover of Lennon’s ‘Working Class Hero’.  I did buy Tin Machine 2 – but don’t have it on CD.  One live album ‘Oy Vey Baby’ (1992) released just as Bowie was saying goodbye to his erstwhile sidesmen and going solo again.   A bit raucous and not sure I like it – best tracks are ‘Goodbye Mr, Ed’ and ‘Amazing’.  Still at the end of the day it is Bowie.

Martina Topley-Bird – Every so often the music press introduces the next big thing; Martina was one of them.  I bought her album; Quixotic.  Well, it did nothing for me, and after repeated listenings, it still doesn’t.  A pity, as she has a nice voice and the album is varied in pace – it is simply boring, and doesn’t move me at all, except to look at my watch to see how soon it ends.

William Topley – I was most enthralled with an album by The Blessing – Prince Of The Deep Water (1991 – See B).  The Lead singer, with a remarkable voice was William Topley.  He has released a clutch of albums.  I only own one – 2002’s Feasting With Panthers.  Well, the voice is still there – a deep baritone – but sadly the songs aren’t.   In fact, I cannot remember a single song when I have just played it…oh well.

Pete Townshend – The major songwriter and lead guitarist for the Who (see W).  What can you say about this, except that he is a genius – if an occasionally flawed one.   He was incredibly prolific and would demo most of the songs the band eventually recorded – lots didn’t make it onto records.  I did have 2 cassettes of these ‘rejects’ called Scoop and Another Scoop and a couple of his solo albums; so far not bought on CD.  His first solo outing was cleverly entitled Who Came First and though far from the bombastic rock of The Who, I loved it.   The record was dedicated to Pete’s Religious Leader, Meher Baba – an Indian mystic and even includes Pete singing ‘There’s A Heartache Following Me’ – a 60’s hit for Jim Reeves, because it was a favourite of Meher’s.  Pete had been working on a new concept after Tommy – The Lifehouse – which was confusingly to be a film, a collection of songs and even a ‘happening’ – based on redemption through music.  Lifehouse came to no real fruition but many of the songs became the basis for ‘Who’s Next’.  Some of the ideas from Lifehouse and a few songs found their way onto this mixed bag of an album, which somehow hangs together by Pete’s singing and playing almost all the instruments on many tracks.  We kick off with ‘Pure and Easy’ – a wonderful song – then a duet with Ronnie Lane on ‘Evolution’ (a Lane song). I cannot really fault the album, even the two heavily religious closers – ‘Content’ and ‘Parvadigar’.  Possibly my favourites are ‘Time Is Passing’ and ‘Sheraton Gibson’.  I also have a rarity, a 6 CD boxset, a 50^th birthday present from a friend – The Lifehouse Chronicles (2000). The last 2 CDs are a radio play based on Pete’s Lifehouse writings – but the first 4 are demo’s and later work, all based on the Lifehouse.   Disc 1 – is maybe the best, as it features several early versions of my favourite Who album ‘Who’s Next’.  There are also a few other major Who songs on this, including ‘Music Must Change’ and ‘Sister Disco’ – which I believe didn’t become Who songs until Face Dances, over a decade later.   Disc 2 – is similar – best here are; ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’, ‘Who Are You’ and ‘The Song Is Over’.  Disc 3  – is sub-titled ‘Themes and Experiments’.  But is much the same as the first 2, except for a couple of live tracks including ‘Hinterland Rag’ and a new song ‘Can You Really Help The One You Love’.  Disc 4 is a classical album of music related to the radio play.