Hello fellow culture junkies.
Manfred Mann Chapter Three: s/t. I am obsessed with this album. Brass driven prog rock, influenced as much by film scores as jazz, and shot through with the pop sensibilities you'd expect from Manfred and Mike Hugg. Mike Hugg provides compelling vocals, rasped rather than sang and have a surprisingly unsettling effect. The film score composed feeling to the songs is ever present. These ain't jams. It conjures up a New Orleans set gritty thriller to these ears. I think they enjoyed Gris Gris by Doctor John quite a bit before this album, but to be honest I think this album delivers more. 1969. I think it has aged remarkably well. It may sound better now than it did at the time.
https://youtu.be/rZ2CDjXREIc?si=OtvLNVADfTrapJeb
Spirit: the first four albums. Now this is a sustained four album education in tight composition! They are like the Anti Genesis (who frankly couldn't write a tight composition at gunpoint). How did they (Spirit) seamlessly cram so many ideas into songs ordinarily under four minutes. Bursting with ideas. So restless.
https://youtu.be/17YuScyo9v4?si=xMJG8rXTP5sv4yJW
Tom Waits: Swordfish Trombones. Another soundtrack to an unmade sweaty crime thriller. I've only recently reach an accommodation with Tom Waits. I just didn't get it for years. I think he is primarily an actor. The American Anthony Newley.
https://youtu.be/jPOaicwzq4A?si=GKYeGbrbg2x9LgHA
Hawkwind: Space Ritual, Sunderland Locarno CD's from the new box set. Is it worth the £100? Not really. It should be released on its own - as it wasn't used on the album. It's more ferocious than the shows they used for the album. Worth finding and hearing.
The rest of the time listening to old Mojo cover CD's. The Trojan Explosion one (a rare black not silver CD) and The Score ones are fantastic, I'm also fond of the Heavy Mod and the New York Eighties CD'S. The Heavy Nuggets series is worth a listen as well.
Hope you are all well.
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