DARK TIMES: Crosby, Stills & Nash – DAYLIGHT AGAIN
DAYLIGHT AGAIN (1982): Conceived as a Stills-Nash project, the belated involvement of Crosby was more to satisfy market forces than musical focus.
Author Archive: neilsambrook@btinternet.com
WHAT WAS WANTED – The Kinks & GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT
Belligerent and forceful, ‘GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT’ (1981) catered to the arena rock presence The Kinks had now established.
BIRMINGHAM CALL-LYNNE – ELO & OUT OF THE BLUE
OUT OF THE BLUE (1977): Anyone thinking punk put paid to musical extravagance had this double-album bonanza to contend with.
CZECH OUT: England v Czechoslovakia & Portugal – October/November 1975:
Away qualifiers against Czechoslavkia and Portugal would be the acid test for boss Don Revie as England aimed for the last eight of the 1976 Euros.
MOTT’S THE STORY – Mott the Hoople & THE HOOPLE
THE HOOPLE (1974) Between 1972 and 1974 the output of Mott the Hoople had been irresistible, ‘The Hoople’ another triumph to celebrate.
NOT LAST NOT LEAST – Little Feat & THE LAST RECORD ALBUM
THE LAST RECORD ALBUM (1975) reveals them as a band in transition, but at their most cohesive Little Feat remain a classy proposition.
HARRISON ADORED: LAYLA and OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS – Derek & the Dominoes
LAYLA and OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS (1970): With impassioned vocals throughout, Clapton sings ‘Layla’ as if his life depends on it.
NOT FOND ON BLONDE – Rod Stewart & BLONDES HAVE MORE FUN
BLONDES HAVE MORE FUN (1978): Rod scores another worldwide number one album, but receives only scorn from the critics.
COUNTRY COMFORT: Emmylou Harris – QUARTER MOON in a TEN CENT TOWN:
Established as vocalist par excellence, ‘Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town’ (1978) affirmed her gift for selecting top collaborators and high quality material.
OVER THE TOP – Yes & CLOSE TO THE EDGE
Released in September ’72, ‘CLOSE TO THE EDGE’ was hailed as the ‘best prog-rock album to date’ which to some sounded the most back-handed of compliments.