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Soundtracks of Our Lives week ending 30 December 2023 CE
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1001realapes
1001realapes
2388 posts

Soundtracks of Our Lives week ending 30 December 2023 CE
Dec 31, 2023, 05:05
The Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed

The Residents - Santa Dog EP

Johnny Cash - Happiness Is You

Pharoah Sanders - Black Unity

Pharoah Sanders - Thembi

The Ventures - Christmas Album

Grant-Lee Phillips - Yuletide EP

Kiss - Dressed to Kill

Kiss - Destroyer

AC/DC - T.N.T.

Peter Gabriel - st "Car"

Peter Gabriel - st "Scratch"

Peter Gabriel - st "Melt"

Peter Gabriel - Security

Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas
Fitter Stoke
Fitter Stoke
2612 posts

Re: Soundtracks of Our Lives week ending 30 December 2023 CE
Dec 31, 2023, 09:58
Ne-ne-na-na-na-na-nu-nu:

Rolling Stones ‘Hackney Diamonds’ - a definite 4 star album for me: mostly fine songs, a couple of clunkers, and Steve Jordan is no Charlie. Glad to have it though. Thanks, Santa;

Kirsty MacColl ‘See That Girl’ - new ‘Culture Bunker’ style 8CD box set of 45s, rarities and live recordings. So far I’ve only played the first two discs, but the quality is assured. A tragic loss, and then some;

Peter Gabriel ‘i/o’ - when an artist restricts his creative output to once in twenty years, it’s not unreasonable to expect the exceptional. I’m not disappointed: this is a career high to my ears and, comfortably, my album of 2023;

Deep Purple ‘Made in Japan’ - I’ve been a Purple fan for most of my life, and have collected many of their records both official and otherwise. Yet it’s this one album that I keep coming back to, the very essence of great rock and roll performance. Belongs in every home;

Lou Reed S/T - Lou’s first solo album has been unfairly maligned, I think. Yeah, the production may indeed “suck”, but the songs are good enough to withstand it, and two fifths of Yes raise the musical standards. Best of all, the man himself is in fine form. He was to make far worse records than this;

Various ‘Dance Craze’ (film) - what a riot this is. Took me back to when I was a third of the age I am now - and half the weight. Happy days - and nights. And were these bands tight, or what?

Jan Garbarek Quartet ‘Afric Pepperbird’ - where a young reed player goes ape like he’d never do again. ‘Blow Away Zone’ doesn’t begin to describe its impact. ECM’s seventh release, and still a label highlight 53 years on;

Urs Leimgruber ‘Montreuil’ - even freer is this far from routine trio date for reeds, piano and bass, the sheer unpredictability of which holds my attention. My birthday present to me;

Barre Phillips ‘Three Day Moon’ - the bassist on the aforesaid trio has had a long and distinguished career, accompanying or - as here - leading some fine fellow virtuosi. This 1979 session features tabla, synthesiser and the great Terje Rypdal on some distinctive soundscapes;

Mal Waldron ‘The Call’ - part of my life since I was eighteen, 45 years on this still sounds like nothing else I’ve heard. It’s jazz, Jim - but not as we know it;

Charley Pride ‘Christmas Time In My Home Town’ - one of those twee seasonal albums that only come to life after a few bevvies but my, what a voice this dude had…

Lefty Frizzell ‘Life’s Like Poetry’ - … as did Lefty. In fact, his voice seemed to improve with booze and age, not that he lived very long. The dude’s influence can be heard to this day;

Mozart: Piano Concerto no.14, K 449 (Rudolf Serkin/Columbia SO/Alexander Schneider) - one of those records where everything seems just right;

Vaughan Williams: Sinfonia Antarctica (LPO/Sir Adrian Boult) - nothing evokes the winter like this, especially in this awesomely powerful 1953 recording;

Messiaen: La Nativite du Seigneur (Hans-Ola Ericsson) - a seasonal organ masterpiece that resonates throughout the year;

Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur la Enfant Jesus (Yvonne Loriod) - and the same for piano. Loriod’s pioneering 1959 recording takes some beating;

Beethoven: Symphonies 1 (Czech PO/Paul Kletzki), & 2 (LSO/Eugen Jochum) - randomly chosen discs from my shelves that burst into life like aged wines in the mouth. With performances this good, it’s a wonder that anyone bothers to record this great music any more;

Bach: 8 Fugues on Advent & Easter Chorales, BWV 697-704 (Bernard Foccroulle) and Cantata ‘Christians, Engrave This Day’ BWV 63 (Karl Richter) - sublime music that both celebrates and transcends its sacred influences. I hear more real joy here than anywhere else;

Beethoven: Piano Sonatas no.21 ‘Waldstein’ & 23 ‘Appassionata’ (Rudolf Serkin) - two wonderful late recordings by the great Serkin that were left gathering dust until now. I’ve honestly never heard a finer ‘Waldstein’, and the ‘Appassionata’ is almost as good.

Everybody’s playing for time.

Best to all

Dave x
Hunter T Wolfe
Hunter T Wolfe
1709 posts

Re: Soundtracks of Our Lives week ending 30 December 2023 CE
Dec 31, 2023, 11:35
Gene Loves Jezebel- Immigrant
Steeleye Span- Below The Salt
Todd Rundgren- Runt
Graham Parker & The Rumour- The Up Escalator

Donovan- Barabajagal
Pentangle- Cruel Sister
The Jesus & Mary Chain- Barbed Wire Kisses
Wings- Band On The Run
Hall & Oates- Abandoned Luncheonette
ELO- Light Years
Bill Fay Group- Tomorrow Tomorrow And Tomorrow
The Who- Odds & Sods

Kinit Her- The Nature Out There
Polar Son- Wax Wane
Mozart Estate- Pop-Up, Ker-Ching and the Possibilities of Modern Shopping
Salim Nourallah- Hit Parade
The Hanging Stars- On A Golden Shore
Hannah Frances- The Keeper of the Shepherd
garerama
garerama
1115 posts

Re: Soundtracks of Our Lives week ending 30 December 2023 CE
Dec 31, 2023, 11:51
Blur - Parklife / The Great Escape / S/t

Can - Soundtracks / Tago Mago / Doko E

Chameleons - Script Of The Bridge

Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll / Heaven Or Las Vegas

The Damned - Damned Damned Damned / The Black Album

Marvin Gaye - What's Gong On

PJ Harvey - White Chalk / Let England Shake

Jake Holmes - A Letter To Katherine December

King Crimson - Starless & Bible Black / Red

Kraftwerk - The Man-Machine / Computer World

Nico - The Marble Index / Desertshore

Andy Partridge - My Failed Christmas Career Vol 1

The Slits - Peel Session 1977 / Cut

Patti Smith - A Wing & A Prayer: Boarding House, SF 15-2-76 / Easter / Wave

Sonic Youth - Goo / Dirty

The Stooges - S/t / Fun House

Swans - Leaving Meaning / The Beggar

Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones / Rain Dogs / Frank's Wild Years
flashbackcaruso
1057 posts

Re: Soundtracks of Our Lives week ending 30 December 2023 CE
Dec 31, 2023, 11:51
Low - Christmas

The Earlies - Wayward Song EP

The Beatles - From Then To You

The Beach Boys - Christmas Album

Elvis Presley - Elvis' Christmas Album

Shirley Collins - Archangel Hill

Mercury Rev - Deserters Songs

The Fun Boy Three - The Complete Fun Boy Three

Jon & Vangelis - The Best Of

Phil Collins - Plays Well With Others

The Yardbirds - Heart Full Of Soul: The Best Of...

The Beach Boys - Holland

The Rolling Stones - Rolled Gold

The Beatles - Calico Skies (soniclovenoize recreation)
thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat
6216 posts

Re: Soundtracks of Our Lives week ending 30 December 2023 CE
Dec 31, 2023, 18:07
A million years since I did one of these, although I always enjoy reading the lists. Happy New Year folks.

Peggy Lee with George Shearing - Beauty & The Beat

John Baker - The Vendetta Tapes
Nico - Chelsea Girl
Simon & Garfunkel - Bookends
Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

Duke Ellington & His Orchestra - The Connie Plank Session
Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
Wendy Carlos - Sonic Seasonings
Miles Davis - On The Corner
German Oak - German Oak
Kraftwerk - Kraftwerk 2
Klaus Schulze - Irrlicht
Jean Michel Jarre - Equinoxe

Dexys Midnight Runners - The Projected Passion Revue
The Sisters of Mercy - Floodland
Robin Williams - Robin Williams (236)

Jane Weaver - Cupboard Love EP

Textile Ranch - Bird Heart In Wool

E.L. Heath - Winter Soundtrack
Richard Moult - Yclpyt

A Certain Ratio - 1982
Dave Clarkson - A Pocket Guide To Dreamland
Dave Clarkson - A Pocket Guide To Further Afield Recordings
Gold Panda - The Work
Ladytron - Time's Arrow
Pet Shop Boys - Lost EP
Theory of Ghosts - EP1
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