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
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