Tanita Tikaram – I am always on the lookout for new girl singers, though not so much these days.  In 1988 Tanita emerged, fully formed, as the complete singer songwriter – she could have been straight out of the Seventies.  She released a brilliant debut album (possibly her best) produced by Pete Van Hooke and Rod Argent (who should know a thing or two).  A great lead-off folk-inspired ‘Good Tradition’ and a follow-up hit ‘Twist In My Sobriety’ but really every song is good; faves are ‘Cathedral Song’, ‘World Outside Your Window’ and ‘Sighing innocents’.  She seemed to combine a sultry quite deep voice with sensitive intelligent and quirky lyrics.  Loved it instantly.  The follow-up, 1990’s Sweet Keeper was another excellent record, if slightly less commercial than her debut.  More of a classical feel to this one with the addition of strings and some slower songs where her voice really dominates the song.  Best are ‘Once and Not Speak’, ‘We Almost Got It Together’ and ‘Little Sister leaving Town’.  Her third was Everybody’s Angel; the cover with her short hair seems to portend a more grown-up album. Although the album sold less well, I really loved this one – I felt she had found her style with this one; gone are the poppy tunes, except for one old song ‘Hot Pork Sandwiches’ but Tanita seems to be following her sadness and sorrows, a bit like her heroes – Leonard and Joni.  She co-produced a few of the songs on this one and even had Jennifer Warnes (see W) harmonising on a couple.  Best are ‘Only The Ones We Love’, ‘To Wish This’ and ‘Mud In Any Water’.  1992’s Eleven Kinds Of Loneliness was a bit of a flop, though I quite liked it, or at least some of it.  There are a handful of very good songs – ‘You Make The Whole World Cry’, ‘To Drink The Rainbow’ and ‘Love Don’t Need No Tyranny’ – but much of the rest just passes me by.  All a bit boring I am afraid.   Three years passed until her fifth – Lovers In The City.  A lovely cover but not such a lovely album.  It seems that Tanita was losing her way; not sure whether to chase that elusive pop stardom or to chronicle the ways of love.  Lead single ‘I Might Be Crying’ has that familiar ring to it and should have been a hit – but in the way of these things Tanita’s 15 minutes of fame had long passed – though I liked the song.  I preferred the album to the last one, especially ‘Feeding The Witches’, the title song and ‘Happy Taxi’.   A change of direction was maybe needed.  And her next 1998’s The Cappuccino Songs’ went some way towards that.  A new record label (falling sales) but a new producer too – Marco Sabiu – who brought a more nuanced feel, brighter instrumentation and a more latin feel to some of the songs, which were by no means poor.  Best were – ‘Stop Listening’, ‘I Don’t Want To Lose At Love’ and ‘If Ever’.  A much better record all round.   Seven years before her next – Sentimental – and a closer, more intimate, piano led album.  The vocals seem warmer and right in your ear – the songs are generally slow and the whole record is almost one piece.   Best are ‘Don’t Let The Cold’ a slightly up-tempo duet with Nick Lowe and ‘Every day Is New’.   Another seven years (what do they do with all those years?) before her next album; 2012’s Can’t Go Back, a much more rounded and dare I say, commercial sounding record.  New producer again and a more contemporary almost Americana feel.  The album sold a bit better too, though she remains an acquired taste really.  Best songs are ‘All Things To You’, ‘Dust On My Shoe’ and ‘One Kiss’.  Altogether a really pleasant album.   I got the deluxe version with an extra CD of acoustic versions of some of her earlier songs – which are really quite good.  Her last album (so far) was in 2016 – Closer To The People – This was a bit of a disappointment; a slightly bluesy but almost nondescript collection of songs.  Maybe it’s just me, but I cannot get into this record at all.  And after this, so far nothing.  I have always felt that Tanita was a bit half-hearted about the whole enterprise – so maybe that will be it.  Still.  I also have a Best Of Tanita Tikaram, from the first few albums and very good it is too.

Testifying is a compilation of American Country Soul artists.  Pretty interesting, but not at all an essential album.  I am not really sure how some of these tracks fall into the ‘country’ category, as they are more soul – still, some nice tracks -favourites are – ‘Jaguar man’ and ‘Sapelo’. 

Texas – are a Scottish band, formed in the late 80s.  lead singer Charlene Spiteiri has quite a distinctive rock voice.  I only have 2 albums, which happen to be their biggest sellers.  Southside (1989) was their debut, and achieved immediate success, reaching number 3 in the album charts.  Lead single ‘I Don’t Want A Lover’ was quite a big hit too.  My favourites are ’Every Day Now’ and  ‘Thrill has Gone’.  I also have the huge hit of 1997 White On Blonde.  A superb album, chock full of great songs and a unique feel as each song seems to naturally follow on; Charlene’s voice is particularly sultry and silky.  Best songs are ‘Postcards’, ‘Say What You Want’, Breathless’ and ‘Polo Mint City’ – but there is not a poor track on it.   Despite really enjoying the record I never felt the need to buy any others from this band.  It really is strange what makes me neglect some great artists and bands and yet have a burning desire to own everything by others.  Sometimes it truly is an obsession and I have no explanation or apology to make about it.

Thinkman – another in the almost never-ending collection of unknown artists.  Rupert Hine (see H) was originally a singer songwriter of obscure sounding songs in the Seventies, also a leading member of Quantum Jump (see Q) and a go-to producer in the Eighties and Nineties.  One of his many side projects was a band (really just him on all instruments) called Thinkman. I have just 2 of the 3 albums he released under this moniker before going back to his own name.  The Formula (1986) was the first under this umbrella.  Not such a great album; very eighties sound, too cluttered and I almost cannot hear the words.  Still as part of the Rupert collection, it has it’s place.  Life is A Fulltime Occupation (1988) – this is better, the production clearer and the sogs a bit more varied.  Best are ‘Watchman, Walkman, Thinkman’, ‘Bad Angel’ and ‘Dance Yourself Insane’.

Richard and Linda Thompson – folk guitarist and singer Richard was joined by his wife for this rarity I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight.  But I am afraid, that with a couple of exceptions I am not so fond of folk.  Best songs are the title track and ‘Withered and Died.’  For specialists only.

Tracy Thorn – One of my favourite band’s – ‘Everything But The Girl’ (see E) had stopped making albums a few years ago after a very successful handful of dance inspired records.  I hadn’t realised that Tracy (one half of the duo) had continued making the occasional foray into the music business.  She has a lovely languid voice and I found this double album on line a couple of years ago  – Solo, Songs and Collaborations 1982 – 2015.  Well, quite a revelation – I knew she had written several of the songs for EBTG, mostly in collaboration with Ben Watt, but she is a really sensitive songwriter.  The first album is from a handful of solo albums she has made.  Best are ‘Oh, The Divorces’, ‘Hands up To The Ceiling’ and ‘Singles bar’.  The second disc is her later dance music collaborations, famously with Massive Attack.  Of course, I love ‘Protection’ and ‘Better Things’ but I didn’t know most of the others; ‘Damage’, ‘Grand Canyon’ and ‘Yu Are A Lover’ especially resonate – though this album tends to be like most dance music and just becomes a pleasant background, and you miss the words.

Paul Tiernan – Paul played one night at Rupert’s pub Le Gambetta, and he was selling copies of his album which I bought – Belle.   I was really impressed, both by his accomplished finger-picking guitar work and his songs – though I suspect most of the other clients were a bit bored, preferring the raucous rock’n’roll of the regular singers.  I do like the album, even if it is a but samey – best tracks are the title track and closer ‘How To Say Goodbye’, and really all of it.  The record could have been made any time after 1970 I suppose – but actually 2004.  You wont find it on Spotify, that’s for sure.   

Tears For Fears – An Eighties pop band I quite liked.  Just got the Greatest Hits with songs such as ‘Sowing thee Seeds of Love’, ‘Everybody Wants to Rule The World’ and ‘Mad World’.  Got to admit they were good  in their day.

10 CC – Now, this was some band; 4 great musicians and songwriters who made great pop records with witty lyrics aplenty.  Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart wrote mostly pop stuff while Kevin Godley and Lol Crème were more experimental.  They had played together for about 4 years under various names but hit the big time with their first album, simply called 10 CC released in 1973.  It included 3 brilliant singles; ‘Donna’, ‘Rubber Bullets’ and my fave ‘The Dean and I’ – all charted; the first reaching numbers 2 and 1 respectively.  Each song was so different that you could pin their sound down to any particular genre.  The album also included ‘Ships Don’t Disappear In The Night’ which I loved.  Their second album ‘Sheet Music’ I had on vinyl but not (so far) on CD (so not included here). Their third was the wonderful, and possibly my favourite The Original Soundtrack – 1975.  The album feels like a film soundtrack, especially the opener ‘Une Nuit A Paris’ a mini opera in itself.  Two great singles – the classic ‘I’m Not In Love’ and ‘Life Is A Minestrone’ – but I really love the dreamy ‘The Film Of My Life’ and ‘Second Sitting For The Last Supper’.  A Masterpeice.  As was their next – How Dare You – 1976.  Another very good album; an instrumental written by Godley and Crème which featured their new sound (they would soon leave 10cc as a duo), two hit singles – the sublime ‘I’m Mandy, Fly me’ and ‘Art For Arts Sake’ and my favourites ‘Lazy Ways’ and ‘Don’t Hang Up’.  Godley and Creme left shortly after recording (see G) and Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman continued with a few session players and eventually a new band – but in my mind they were never as good as the original line-up. Two more original albums in my collection; Deceptive Bends (1977) – was actually a very successful album, big hit singles ‘Good Morning Judge’ and ‘The Things We Do For Love’ and a handful of other excellent songs – best of which was ‘Feel The Benefit’.   My last studio album was 1978’s Bloody Tourists.   A quite respectable album, but I got the feeling they were trying a bit too hard.  Excellent single – the cod-reggae – ‘Dreadlock Holiday’, and a couple of nice ballads; ‘For You And I’ and ‘Lifeline’ and ‘Tokyo’ is quite good too – but it seemed they threw everything at it, and still it didn’t quite measure up. Besides the duo Godly and Creme were making really exciting records at the same time.  10CC, with various line-ups continued, but I stopped buying them, except for a very good live album Live And Let Live (1977).  I must admit I bought this partly because Duncan Mackay had joined the band, and he used to be in Cockney Rebel.  A good album but nothing new.  Best are ‘Honeymoon For B. Troop’ and ‘Second Sitting For The Last Supper’.  I also have the obligatory Greatest Hits, and full of hits and great it is too – best was ‘I’m Not In Love’.  An often overlooked band, full of creativity and great songs.

James Taylor  – Well, what a guy.  He seemed to spring fully formed in the early Seventies – the perfect singer songwriter.  He had even recorded his debut album (which I don’t now have on CD) for Apple when The Beatles were still together.  A very good friend of theirs Peter Asher became his manager and sometime producer.  He moved to Warner and made 6 albums.  First was Sweet Baby James (1970) – a great album, half so it ballads and half mid-tempo bluesy rockers.  Best songs are the title track, ‘Sunny Skies’ and ‘Fire and Rain’.  The latter being really his first classic track.  The following year he released what I consider to be probably his best album Mud Slide Slim And The Blue Horizon.   This contained the big hit song ‘You’ve Got A Friend’, which Carole King recorded also.  But it doesn’t have a weak song on it.  My favourites are ‘You Can Close Your Eyes’, ‘Long Ago And Far Away’ and ‘Hey Mister, That’s Me Up On The Jukebox’.  I played this one to death back in the day.    His next was 1972’s One Man Dog.   This was I feel a bit of an experiment, or a rushed exercise; there are 18 songs, some of which are mere snippets, a few instrumentals and only a very few real quality songs – best of which is ‘Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight’.  Despite a stellar cast of session players the record feels disjointed, and is probably my least favourite of James’s releases.  Much better was 1974’s Walking Man, although it sold relatively poorly.  Best songs are ‘Me and My Guitar’, ‘Promised Land’ (the Chuck berry song) and ‘Fading Away.  Gorilla came out the following year.  Another very good album, if a little predictable and drifting to the middle of the road.  Best songs – the title track, ‘How Sweet It Is To be Loved By You’ and ‘Sarah Maria’.   In The Pocket came out in ’76 and a slight upbeat feel on some tracks – but James was a master of those slow love songs too. He was settling down- one of the tracks is ‘Family Man’.  But I like ‘Money Machine’ and ‘Golden Moments’ too.  After 6 albums, some successful, some not so – with Warner Brothers, James signd with Columbia and in 1977 released JT.  In my mind a much better album; it contained the 2 singles – ‘You Smiling Face’ and ‘Handy Man’ – but my favourites are ‘Terra Nova’ and ‘Traffic Jam’ – which seem a departure from his usual songs. He followed this sublime album with Flag in 1979. Well, not an overwhelmingly great album.  Two covers which add nothing to the originals, even adding a bizarre falsetto to ‘Day Tripper’ cannot rescue it from mundanity.  A couple of songs hold a smidgeon of promise – ‘Millworker, ‘I Would Not Lie To You’ and BSUR (Be As You Are). The spaces between albums started to drift in the Eighties, a common phenomenon I have found, new recording techniques, synths and maybe just a tiredness – another album, what a bore.  In 1985 he released That’s Why I’m Here; a pleasant enough record (I had somehow missed an album in 1981 – no desire to buy it) but I felt he was almost coasting – covers of ‘Everyday’ by Buddy Holly and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ by Bacharach and David – both uninspiring versions.  Best are ‘Song For You Far Away’ and ‘Only One’.  Next up is Never Die Young (1988); boring really – the Eighties only produced 2 albums, still he plodded on.  Apart from ‘Sun On The Moon’ a pretty uninspiring bunch of songs.  I almost gave up on James but was glad I bought 1997’s Houglass; a really good record; maybe not as good as his first few but still pretty good.  A longer album – 13 songs in all, the best of which may be ‘Little More Time With You’, ‘Yellow and Rose’ and ‘Gaia.’  Only one other album, the somewhat muted October Road (2002).  Not a bad album, but quite unspectacular too.  Oh well, best are ‘Cary Me On My Way’ and ‘Caroline I see You’.  Like quite a few, his reputation lies in the handful of brilliant albums form the Seventies – still, am old favourite I wouldn’t want to revisit occasionally.

Talking Heads –  A very influential American band, formed in ’76.  I only have 3 CDs, but have liked everything I have heard and really must look out for some more.  1978’s, and the bands second album, was More Songs About Buildings and Food – a very individual sound; the lyrics are superb and yet at time very ordinary, but the band really know how to play.  Best songs are ‘Thankyou For Sending Me An Angel’, ‘The Big Country’ and ‘Take me To The River’.  I also have a great live album ‘Stop Making Sense’ – I saw the band at Hammersmith Appollo on this tour and it was a great concert, famous for lead singer Davis Byrne wearing a huge suit about twice as big as he was.  Hard to pick out best tracks – but ‘Psycho Killer’, ‘Heaven’ and ‘Slippery People’ stand out.  But this was a very long album – and the band tend to be sounding very samey towards the end.  I also have a Greatest Hits –  pretty good, though as usual I tend to like the songs I really like.  Best are ‘Once In A lifetime’, ‘Road  To Nowhere’ and ‘And She Was’.  I must keep my eye out for any bargains, especially of their later stuff.

Tangerine Dream – a German band from the Seventies.  The Germans seem to have been heavily into electronic music long before synthesisers and drum machines and all things digital.  In fact, this whole genre became known as Krautrock after a while.  I am not sure if Tangerine Dream were the first, but they were maybe the best known.  I saw them, or rather banks of huge electric organs and tape machines and speakers which mostly hid the band from view in the mid-Seventies.  I have 3 albums on CD but a couple more somewhere on cassette.  Phaedra was 1974’s effort.  A very relaxing, almost soporific record.  Not something to really listen to, but as it plays in the background it is gentle and pretty harmonic.  I can’t really determine one track from another, but it still brings back post-hippy memories where we explored and enjoyed many different forms of music.  Rubycon followed a year later and is much the same, if slightly slowly.  Again a lovely listen, even if at times a bit repetitive.  I also have Greatest Hits.  This must have been about mid-eighties and includes some film music; best is ‘Tyger Tyger’.  More vocals and variation now. But still really only for enthusiasts

The Sutherland Brothers (and Quiver) – One of my very favourite English, or should I say, Scottish bands.  The brothers, Iain and Gavincame from Peterhead near Glasgow and fell in love with music in the Sixties.  They were in a couple of early bands before they landed a contract with Island records.  The Sutherland Brothers Band was their first release in 1972.  There wasn’t even a real band, as the drummer and bass player left as soon as the album was recorded.  Still, it was a pretty good beginning, a bit folky really.  Best songs ‘The Pie’, ‘Medium Wave’ and ‘Midnight Avenue’.  It failed to chart, and I only bought it after seeing the new band live in ’74.  As a duo the boys next effort was Lifeboat (1973).  A much more solid album, recorded with various session players.  This album established their signature sound, the lovely harmonies and great hook ridden songs. A great album; best tracks – the title track, ‘Lady Like You’, ’Love Is My Religion’ and ‘Real Love’. In fact this was their best album; certainly the best songs and a great production by Muff Winwood.  In order to tour thy joined up with another Island band; Quiver – who were great musicians but poor songwriters.  The collaboration was so good they recorded an album later that same year – Dream Kid.  I think they were struggling a bit for new songs, as these are a touch weak.  Saying that I really like the title track and ‘Seagull/lonely Love’ and ‘Rolling Away’.  1974 saw them release Beat Of The Street – a more confident album all round.  From opener ‘World In Action’ to closer ‘Last Boy Over The Moon’ they don’t put a foot wrong.  My faves are ‘Laid Back In Anger’ and ‘Beat Of The Street’.  A very good record.   They released Reach For The Sky in ’75; another very accomplished album.  Best are ‘When The Train Comes’, Love On The Moon’ – and of course their best single, the wonderful ‘Arms Of Mary’.   Slipstream came out in 1976.  I must have seen them live around this time, and they were excellent.  I don’t think they ever released a live album though.  This album is again very very good; best songs ‘Dark powers’, ‘Something’s Burning’ and ‘Sweet Cousin’ – but not a poor track on it.  Down To Earth (1977) saw the band just a three piece as Quiver broke up.  Another excellent album; almost their best – I particularly like ‘Ice In The Fire’, ‘Situations’ and ‘Somebodies Fool’.   Then the drummer of what was left of Quiver finally departed.  The brothers were more and more disillusioned with the record business and had stopped touring.  The duo recorded one last album in 1979 – When The Night Comes Down.  A really nice album to say goodbye with.  Best songs – ‘Natural Thing’, ‘First Love’ and ‘Easy come, Easy Go’.   I also have The Very Best of The Sutherland Brothers and Quiver…a very nice compilation – but nothing new.  One of the brothers Gavin has released a couple of albums.  I only have Diamonds and Gold – a very nice, gentle and quite quiet album.  Best songs – title track and  ‘Lilys Bible’.

Emma Swift – Australian by birth, she has only released one album to date 2019’s Blonde On The Tracks.  This is an album of Dylan songs, and it is brilliant.  Gorgeous renditions, ranging from ‘Queen Jane Approximately’ and ‘One Of Us Must Know’ to a handful from Blood on the Tracks (hence the title) and including ‘I contain Multitudes’ from his latest album.  There is something about her soft voice and diction and emphasis and phrasing that so complements these songs, infusing them with a gentler sound than the originals, but no less powerful.  A great debut – although she has released 2 Eps of her own songs before this. 

STING – Well, I have always been a bit ambivalent about Sting.  I liked The Police, but not enough to buy their albums and I have only sporadically bought Sting’s solo stuff.  The Dream Of The Blue Turtles (1985) was his solo debut, and pretty good it is too.  A nice variety of songs, best are ‘If You Love Somebody Let Them Go’, ‘Russians’ with its ever more important anti-war sentiment and ‘Consider Me Gone’.  For whatever reason I didn’t buy any others until 1999’s Brand New Day.   Quite a jazzy feel to the record, and an Arabian sound on a couple of tracks, most notably ‘Desert Rose’ add a bit of variety.  Something about Sting makes me feel he is trying just a bit too hard.  While the album is okay it doesn’t move me really.  I also (foolishly) bought Songs From The Labrynth (2009).  Well…it is a pretty authentic classical song and poetry cycle from the 1600’s.  A bit of a curates egg, good in places – buy quite honestly you tire of the lute and old melodies pretty quickly.  Pretentious – yeah.  I also have a greatest hits – Fields Of Gold – which only takes us up to 1994 (far enough, methinks).  A very good selection – best are the title track, ‘They Dance Alone’, ‘Englishman in New York’ and ‘Demolition Man’.  Maybe this is all you really need of Sting

Joss Stone – nice voice, nice songs very bluesy and soulful – but, it did nothing for me really – not my genre I am afraid.

Stranglers – just a greatest hits album…excellent hit songs of the late 70s – Peaches (memories of this on the last holiday with Joy before we split up), ‘Golden brown’ and ‘Always The Sun’.  A nice blast from the past.

Syd Straw – Never heard of her? Nor had I until I picked up a couple of CD singles- then I was slightly hooked.  Very nice voice and idiosyncratic songs.  Of course she never made it; another talent chewed up by the record industry.  Anyway – just 2 major releases – first was Surprise (1989).  Some really good songs – ‘Think Too Hard’, ‘Heart Of Darkness’ and ‘Racing To The Ruins’.  Another album came out in 1996 – War and Peace.  Well, not quite so good really. A nice voice but the songs seem a bit too run of the mill.  Best are – ‘The Toughest Girl in The World’ and ‘All Things Change’.

The Strawberry Statement – a film from the very early 70’s which was quite revolutionary at the time, a sort of hippy dream.  It featured some great music interspersed with aome classical stuff like ‘Also Sprach Zarathrustra’ – best are Buffy singing ‘The Circle Game’ and 3 songs by Neil young and one by CSNY.  This CD brings back fond memories of when I was just starting on my musical adventure and discovering many artists who would go on to be my very favourites ever.

The Strokes – They say you should never buy a book by the cover, the same should be true of an album.  The cover of the strokes album was a girls bare bottom.  Oh well.  Actually the record Is This It (2001)wasn’t too bad.  It was their debut and meant to shock of course.   A sort of garage, post punk sound which I soon tired of really.  Best songs ‘Last nite’ and ‘New York City girls’.

Supertramp – were one of those bands that came from England and took the World by storm for a short time, only to fade and die and now nobody really likes them.  A quite individual sound and somewhat amusing songs – I have Retrospectacle – a greatest hits double compilation, which is quite enough I think.  Some very good old songs – ‘Dreamer’, ‘Right, Bloody Well Right’ and ‘From Now  On’ on disc 1 and  ‘Logical’ and ‘Breakfast In America’ from disc 2.     But listening to some of this stuff for the first time in years – it was very repetitive, piano driven and high voices, almost disco-ish. 

Rod – The Later Years  – it is incredibly difficult for any artist to sustain a very long career, especially with the record industry screaming for new product.  Rod had had an incredibly good run – but as the Eighties beckoned he seemed to be both still chasing fame and sounding weary of it all.  Foolish Behaviour came out in 1980, and apart from 2 songs really it was below par.  ‘Oh God, I Wish I Was Home Tonight’ and the closer ‘Say It Aint True’ are pretty good, but the other songs sound either frenzied rockers or soppy ballads.  Tonight I’m Yours 1981,  had a couple of good songs but was another shouty album; Rod trying too hard.  Best were the title track and ‘How Long’.  Body Wishes came out in 1983 and has the dubious distinction of not only being his poorest album, but the worst title and cover too.  Only slightly redeemed by having one great song – ‘Baby Jane’.  Camouflage 1984 was not much better really; best tracks – ‘Some Guys Have All The Luck’ and ‘Trouble’.   Every Beat Of My Heart 1986 was hardly any better; the title track obviously a big hit, but little else appeals, except maybe the final track – a cover of Beatles ‘In My Life’.  Out Of Order followed in ’88 – the lengthening between albums not really improving the quality.  Apart from the opening track ‘Lost In You’ this record just passed me by, like traffic when I was waiting for a bus.  Vagabond Heart 1991 – was much better -it was as if the curse of the Eighties had passed and Rod, to some degree, had re-found his mojo. Opener ‘Rhythm Of My Heart’, although a bit mawkish was a big hit, but the album also contained a duet with Tina Turner ‘It Takes Two’ and a cover of Van Morrison’s ‘Have I Told You Lately’ but best of all are ‘Broken Arrow’ and ‘Downtown Train’; both covers but probably better then the originals.  I also like ‘The Motown Song’.  It seemed that Rod had finally stopped trying to be the latest thing, be it Rock screamer or Disco dolly and just be himself.  A Spanner In The Works 1995 was possibly even better, a quiet reflective sort of album, hardly any fast songs.  One thing I have noticed was that once CDs became the main medium they just got  longer and longer.  When Vinyl was all we had 20minutes a side was it, but with the new found freedom of CDs, albums just got longer; 12 songs rather than 8 or 10 and many over 5 minutes.  So, tedium starts to set in as you wonder if the blinking record is ever going to end.  Anyway, a nice selection of very good songs;  best of which are probably ‘Leave Virginia Alone’, Dylan’s ‘Sweetheart Like You’ and ‘This’ – though there isn’t a poor track on it really.   1998 saw When We Were The New Boys – which in some ways was a tribute to old band The Faces, especially as the track ‘Ooh La La’ was never sung by Rod at the time and was written by Ronnie Lane, who died a year before this record.  The title track also harks back to those early 70’s days.  But best songs are ‘Secret Heart’ – written by Ron Sexsmith (see S), the infectious and naughty ‘Hotel Chambermaid’ and ‘Shelly My Love’.  A very nice collection of songs.  2001 was Rod’s last album for Warner Brothers – Human. An album of soul covers, well sung but not quite as brilliant as maybe he hoped it might be; possibly because there were about 15 different producers, so no overall sound.  Still – a pleasant, if not his best album.  Best are ‘Smitten’ and ‘Peach’.  In 1993 Rod released a bit of a retrospective album Lead Vocalist – with a great cover.   A good resume, including 3 Faces tracks – but 5 or 6 songs I had never heard before; three were later released as singles.  The best are of course ‘Shotgun Wedding’ and ‘Waltzing Mathilda’, but I really like ‘Ruby Tuesday’ and ‘First I Look At The Purse’.  And  of course another chance to hear 3 or 4great Faces tracks. Next is a 4 CD collection Storyteller  released n 1989, it is career wide resume, and excellent.  Disc 1 covers early years with a track from Steampacket, and also has some excellent singles and b sides.  As well as the cream on the cake…’In A Broken Dream’ recorded for a band ‘Python Lee Jackson’ which went to number 1.  Disc 2 – is the best really as it covers The Faces years.  All the hits plus ‘What Made Milwaukee Famous’, ‘Pinball Wizard’ and the last Faces single – ‘You Can Make Me Dance’.  Disc 3 The American years to 1980 is as expected very good, but nothing new. Disc 4 is 81 to 89.  Nothing really exciting about this last one, except to say how incredible Rod has been over a sustained career, and each album still managed to contain at least one outstanding song.  Then for what ever reason; maybe a real love, maybe the money – anyway Rod started on his American Songbook series – I have resisted the attempt to buy them…sometimes enough really is enough.  2006 and Rod released Still The Same – a collection of his interpretations of great Rock and Roll classics. Quite a nice album -nothing really outstanding – but Rod could read the phone directory and it would sound good.  He repeated the format in 2009 with Soulbook – a collection of Tamla classics.   Of course, the songs are all classics and Rod, mostly, does them justice, but somehow it doesn’t work – maybe because the songs are so familiar in their original versions that you cannot really enjoy Rod’s mostly authentic but unimproved versions.  Time (2013) is the latest I have of Rod’s.   And excellent it is.  A real return to form.  He wrote almost all the lyrics for the songs, and they sound quite heartfelt.  Great melodies and a couple of real rockers.  Much more like his first three or four American albums.  Best are ‘You Make Me Happy’, ‘Brighton Beach’ and ‘It’s Over’.  I get the feeling that Rod was looking back over his many girlfriends and wives and writing songs to specific ones.  I am still collecting, slowly – as Rod jeeps on knocking them out.  A real trooper

Rod Stewart – Rod The Mod

What can you say about the great Rod Stewart.  When he was with The Faces (see F) he (they) were the best live band in England.   But before that he had played with Long John Baldry and Jeff Beck (see B) {who sadly died a few days ago}.  The first in my collection is Rod Stewart Live – not sure when this was released, obviously when he achieved fame.  It is stuff from his Jeff Beck days I think, but there are no credits on this unlicensed CD.  Not so wonderful really, apart from ‘Shake’ and ‘Little Miss Understood’ it is a bit bland really.   His real solo career happened when he had already signed for Mercury, but was tied to another contract with The Faces.  He managed to combine both skillfully, often using the band members, especially Ronnie Wood as his studio band for solo efforts.  First up is the oddly titled An Old Raincoat Won’t let You Down 1969.  Of course, I, like almost everyone else missed this at the time but when Maggie May exploded I went back and bought his first 2 albums.   And what a debut it was….a pretty good rocking sound; a cover of The Stones ‘Street Fighting Man’…a pretty good ‘Dirty Old Town’ and best of all his first real Masterpiece of a song.  He took a song written by Mike D’Abo of Manfred Mann and transformed it.  ‘Handbags and Gladrags’  never sounded better and never will.  The album sold relatively poorly, but his next was a ‘bubbling under’ hit.  Gasoline Alley 1970…was a step up again.  It was essentially a Faces album (and better than they ever achieved themselves).  Elton and Bernie wrote a track ‘Country Comforts’, and there were a couple of full-on Faces tracks, in fact ‘My Way Of Giving’ was an old Ronnie Lane/Stevie Marriot tune. But best were ‘Cut Across Shorty’ and a Rod solo write ‘Lady Day’.  A brilliant album.  The album was a  slow burner but really took off after Rod’s next.  Every Picture Tells A Story – 1971 was the alum that broke Rod. In fact it had the distinction of being number one in both America and Britain along with the single ‘Maggie May’.  I can still recall seeing Rod and the Faces live on Top Of The Pops, along with Gallagher and Lyle in the background.  The album itself was immaculate; a mixture of pure rock  – the title track with Long John Baldry sharing vocals; a lovely rendition of a Tim Hardin song ‘Reason To Believe’ but my very favourite was the beautiful ‘Mandolin Wind’.  Not a bad track on the record.  Rod was now officially Rod the Mod, with his signature haircut he was king of the pop world.  1972 saw the release of another classic Never A Dull Moment with another hit single ‘You Wear It Well’ to boot.  A similar template, with contributions from The Faces and Ronnie Wood in particular.  Best songs; Dylan’s ‘Mama You Been On My Mind’, ‘Twisting The Night Away’ and ‘Lost Paraquayos’.  Another hugely successful record.  Well, Rod’s fame was tearing the Faces apart, with promoters even listing them as Rod Stewart and the Faces, to the annoyance of, especially Ronnie Lane.  His next album 1974’s delayed Smiler was a disappointment.  It felt a bit half-hearted and only Wood of the Faces appeared on it.   12 songs of which only a handful were originals….however on re-listening it is not really that bad….best – ‘Sweet Little Rock’n’Roller’, ‘Girl Form The North Country’ and ‘Mine For me’.  Well, by this time Rod’s contract with Mercury was fulfilled and America and big bucks were calling.  He recorded his next album in the States without The Faces and he left the band soon after (which may have been precipitated by Ron Wood joining The Stones}.  Atlantic Crossing 1975 was not only a complete change of style but a triumph and the first of a run of brilliant records.  Gone was the ramshackle but great fun band recordings, in came session players and a subtle and very commercial (but still wonderful) sound.  Our boy sure did good.  Hard to pick best songs but ‘I Don’t Wanna Talk About It’ and ‘This Old Heart Of Mine’ are standout tracks…but may best was the worldwide hit ‘Sailing’; this was an album track from The Sutherland Brothers (see S). Rod was always very adept at picking songs.  He did write a few himself, but was very clever at choosing great songs which suited his voice and style.  A Night On The Town followed in 76, and if anything this was even better.  Not a poor or filler track on it.  From the old Manfred Mann song ‘Pretty Flamingo’ to the Cat Stevens classic ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’ he managed to make these songs his own.  But his own songs ‘The Killing Of Georgie’ and ‘Tonight’s the Night’ are brilliant too – but my favourite is the final track ‘Trade Winds’.  Rod was now unassailable, and along with Elton he was the Seventies personified.  Footloose and Fancy Free came out in 1977 and was the third of an incredible run of American albums.  In some ways he was getting better and better, especially with the poignant, semi-autobigraphical ballads such as ‘I Was Only Joking’ and ‘You’ve Got A Nerve’.  The album had the first of his sexy songs ‘Hot Legs’, which appealed to a different but large fanbase.  But best of all was the classic ‘You’re In My Heart’ – possibly dedicated to Britt Eckland, who many credit with his move to America, break-up with the Faces and change of direction.  Who knows – it may well have happened despite her.  In any case Rod broke up with her in 1977 and soon embarked on a series of leggy young blondes, many of which gave him children; 7 in total.   His last (in my opinion) really great American album was Blondes Have More Fun (1978), even if does contain the mega hit ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy’.   He did of course, write and record several more brilliant songs, however, mostly the albums were patchy.  Of course this didn’t stop me buying them.  Blondes does have some great songs and is pretty good throughout.   Best are ‘Is That The Thanks I Get’, ‘The Best Days Of Our Lives’ and ‘Aint Love A Bitch’.  Finishing off this section I have a Greatest Hits from the Mercury Years, all the best bits from first 5 albums plus John Lennon’s ‘Jealous Guy’ and ‘I Think It Will Rain’ – a pretty good summary.  Also a double Handbags and Gladrags which had a few b sides of singles on and all the old favourites to boot. 

John Stewart – the ever-flowing music man.   John Stewart had two bites at the success cherry.  A former member and major songwriter for The Kingston Trio in the late 50’s and early 60’s….and as a singer songwriter, who became a real Americana pioneer with a string of excellent albums in the early 70’s, culminating in a spell as a ‘pop-star’ with his single ‘Gold’.  By 1981 however he had no record company and was determined still to do it his way or no way.  He released multiple albums on several different labels ;- I don’t have them all; many were never released on CD but I am still hoping.

Blondes 1982.  This was his first release post the RSO ‘star’ years.  There is still a residue of the more commercial sound, but over all a better sound and a better selection of songs.  No rockers this time but a couple of stand-out tracks are ‘The Eyes Of Sweet Virginia’, ‘Jenny Was A Dreamgirl’ and ‘Queen Of Hollywood High’  

Trancas 1984.  Well, a bit of a let down I felt; the songs just seemed to lack any oomph really.  Only ‘Pilots In Blue’ and ‘The Chosen’ stand out from a dull bunch of songs.

Centennial (Later re-released as American Sketches) 1984 – a real gem, and a one-off; an instrumental with just John displaying his remarkable guitar skills.  The album only has four tracks, each featuring a few melodies.  The album has a warm feel and it is really all of a piece – the ‘songs’ are timeless and could have been recorded yesterday.  This was released on his own Homecoming label.

The Last Campaign 1985 – This is a re-recording of several songs that were written, either on or about, the Presidential bid of Robert Kennedy in 1968, which of course ended in his assassination.  Robert was far more of a Socialist than his brother John.  John Stewart and Buffy Ford toured the country with him.  These songs have all been released long ago, but here John sings them slower and far more poignantly as a permanent memorial to (who was by then) the only living son.  A hauntingly beautiful collection of quiet and moving songs. 

Punch the Big Guy 1987  – Not sure about this one, not his best and not his worst.  Still, part of the collection – best were ‘Angels With Guns’, ‘Midnight Of The World’ and ‘Strange Rivers’.  Amazing how many great artists of the Sixties and Seventies seemed to struggle in the Eighties.

Deep In The Neon – Live 1991 – Apparently John was now issuing on his own label ‘Neon’.  This is a very quiet album, obviously an intimate setting – Just John and his guitar mostly.  Great versions of some of his best songs ‘She Believes In Me’, a wonderful version of ‘Daydream Believer’ and a couple of songs I didn’t know – ‘the Man Who Would Be King’ and ‘Irresistible Targets’.  Really a great album.

Neon Beach – 1991 Another live album, this time with a band.  Lots of previously unrecorded songs; a really great concert.  Also, a tendency for the songs to expand much longer than the usual three minutes.  An excellent version of a Tim Hardin song ‘Angel Came From Baltimore’.  In the final song he seamlessly moves from ‘Gold’ to Paul Simon’s ‘Boy In The Bubble’.  A very nice album.

Bullets In The Hourglass – 1992 Another rather good album, he just seems able to rattle off new songs at will – but maybe it is a bit more complicated than that.  Best among a great set are – ‘Irresistible Targets’, ‘Seven Times The Wind’ and ‘The Wheel Within The Clay’.

Teresa And The Lost Songs – 1992   Not my favourite album…just a bit flat.

Airdream Believer – 1995 is a re-recording of many of his best songs.   His voice is a bit rougher, but more plaintive somehow.  Best songs are the mostly spoken – ‘I Remember America’, ‘The Ghost Inside Of Me’, ‘Justiceville’ and ‘Reverend Mr. Black’. (all unknown to me and equally brilliant).  Of course the old hits are great too.

Bandera – 1995 Another great album, mainly live gain – but so well sung and played.  John has become by now the true voice of America – maybe a lost America, or an idea of America.  Best songs  – ‘Ghost Of The Superchief’ (another spoken reminiscence of America), ’Monkey Boy’ and ‘Evangeline’.

The Trio Years – 1996 This is a retrospective re-recording of several songs written and originally performed in the late fifties and early sixties by The Kingston Trio.  Not really my style – but I like ‘One More Town’ and ‘Chilly Winds’.  Much later in John’s long career he did a few concerts again with The Trio.

An American Folksong Anthology – 1996 These are almost childish folksongs.  Not my favourite album.

Live At The Turf Inn Scotland – 1996 This album is credited to John and long-time singing and marital partner Buffy Ford.  A bit of a disappointment actually; John’s voice was a bit croaky and quite subdued versions of his songs.  I have to sometimes ask myself “just how many live albums do you need?”  I haven’t answered yet.

Rough Sketches – 1997 Not bad even though these are almost demo’s mosty. But what songs…’Cadillac Ranch’, ‘Spirit Of The Road’,’Johnny Flamingo and the Blue Dream Road’ and ‘Because of A Dancer’.  In fact not a poor track, great album.

John Stewart & Darwins Army – 1999   I don’t know much about this collaboration, but it works well…a variety of singers and john’s great songs and a few covers; ‘My Back Pages’ and ‘The Boy In The Bubble’ and some great originals too.  A nice album.

Wires From The Bunker – 2000  – A mixed bag, best of 18 tracks are ‘Diamonds In the Coal’, ‘Rockin as the Night Rolls On’ and ‘American Way’.

Havana – 2003 – John’s vice at times no more than a whisper, but great none the less.  I like this album…best are ‘Davey On The Internet’, ‘Who Stole The Heart Of Johnny Blue’ and ‘Waiting For Castro To Die’. 

The Day The River Sang – 2006 – Not his best really, but okay as part of the never ending collection.  Apart from ‘Baby. It’s You’ the rest are just about okay.

So, we eventually come to the end of John Stewart, who died in 2009.   An almost unsung hero of the true American music.