SONGS OF THE ASKING – Paul Simon & STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS (1975):
Reunited with Art Garfunkel on ‘My Little Town’ rarely has rock sounded so sophisticated and yet so sumptuous at the same time.
RANTS & REFLECTIONS
THE YEAR(S) OF THE CATT – EVERTON: The Harry Catterick era……….
In contrast to the guarded approach Catterick took to all other aspects of management, his finest Everton teams played in a fluid, expressive way.
TRICKY SITUATION – Rolling Stones & ‘STICKY FINGERS’ (1971)
The lyrical imagery is delivered amongst country, blues, funk and rock, but for all its variations Sticky Fingers never sounds in danger of losing its grip.
AN EAGLE TAKES OFF – Don Henley & ‘I CAN’T STAND STILL’ (1982)
‘Dirty Laundry’ is an indignant critique of an increasingly intrusive media and one of the most important rock songs of the 1980s.
The Empire and the States: The Kinks & ‘ARTHUR’ (or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire);
‘ARTHUR’ (1969): Seeking out a song with more astute social comment than ‘Shangri-La’ is not worth the effort. It hasn’t been recorded.
WE’RE ON OUR WAY (More or less): ENGLAND – the Ron Greenwood era
The Ron Greenwood era: There is a sense it should be remembered more fondly, but only a handful of displays spring to mind as truly memorable;
OH NO NO – Faces & ‘OOH LA LA’
Faces: ‘OOH LA LA’ (1973). On release Rod called it ‘a disgrace’ but over time would put his name to far lesser recordings.
TOMMY’S HOLIDAY CAMP – Manchester United win the 1974-75 league title……….
FOOTBALL WIZARD – in the week the film adaption of ‘TOMMY’ is released, Docherty leads United to the 74-75 league title……
TAYLORED TO FIT: James Taylor – ‘MUD SLIDE SLIM and the BLUE HORIZON’
‘Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon’ (1971) provided refuge against the world rather than a reaction to it.
COMPLETE CONTROL – Twenty great games of 1976-77……………
TWENTY GREAT GAMES of 1976-77 – Liverpool win the league, European Cup and like The Clash exert ‘Complete Control’