Sinead O’Connor – The Lion and The Cobra (1987)

Sinead was Irish and had a tough childhood, her parents splitting up early and her mother physically and mentally abusing her.  She spent over a year in a teenage institution run by nuns and got involved in writing songs and singing in her mid teens.  To say that she had a tumultuous life is an understatement; highly political and never afraid to speak out she often alienated friends and family but had a loyal fanbase who bought her records as she changed her style often.  Famous for her shaven head but beautiful looks and a voice unlike any other she struggled with her mental health and had four children and was married and divorced four times.  Such a pity that she couldn’t seem to find contentment.  This, her debut album was almost perfect, as several of her albums were.  A couple of heavy, almost screaming songs and some delicate vocals too….best are ‘Troy’, ‘Drink Before The War’ and ‘Never Get Old’.  Sadly she died far too young, not of suicide as first suspected, but a severe lung infection.