MUSIC MUST CHANGE – Twenty great albums of 1978 [email protected] February 24, 2020 Three years on from ‘Born to Run’ ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ eschews the lush production of its predecessor and adopts a more taut sound. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Billy Joel, Bob Seger, Bruce Springsteen, Dire Straits, Elvis Costello, Joe Walsh, Marvin Gaye, Patti Smith, Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, The Band, The Cars, The Clash, The Doobie Brothers, The Jam, The Ramones, The Who, Tom Petty, Tom Waits, Warren Zevon
TURN AND FACE THE STRANGE – 20 great albums amidst the changing times of 1977….. [email protected] January 28, 2020 Twenty great albums of 1977: RUMOURS – a smart, clever, high-calibre rock record. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bee Gees, Bob Marley, Crosby Stills and Nash, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Pete Townshend, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, Ronnie Lane, Sex Pistols, Steely Dan, Talking Heads, The Band, The Clash, The Ramones
CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION – Twenty great albums from 1976……….. [email protected] January 14, 2020 Twenty great albums of 1976. The Eagles find distorted illusions at the HOTEL CALIFORNIA. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Blue Oyster Cult, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band, David Bowie, Eagles, Graham Parker & The Rumour, Jackson Browne, Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell, Led Zeppelin, Rod Stewart, Roger McGuinn, Stevie Wonder, The Ramones, Thin Lizzy, Warren Zevon
FOR WHOM THE BELLS SOLD – Mike Oldfield & ‘TUBULAR BELLS’ [email protected] March 22, 2018 Tubular Bells saw Mike Oldfield acclaimed as ‘the most important popular composer of the decade.’ RANTS & REFLECTIONS Dark Side of the Moon, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Frampton Comes Alive, King Crimson, Mike Oldfield, Pet Sounds, Quadrophenia, Richard Branson, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, Tubular Bells, Van Morrison, Virgin Records, Yes
THE SINGER, THE SONG and STATE OF CALIFORNIA – Two BBC 4 Music programmes send out confused messages. [email protected] March 19, 2018 NY – BBC 1971. In ‘Heart of Gold’ Neil sings ‘I’m getting old’ – somewhat ironic at the age of 27….. RANTS & REFLECTIONS Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Buffalo Springfield, Carole King, Eagles, Elton John, Gene Clark, Gram Parsons, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, Neil Young, Poco, Randy Newman, Rolling Stones, The Band, The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Ramones, The Who, Tim Hardin, Warren Zevon
No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones – this is 1977: [email protected] December 8, 2017 This is 1977: High Point: DAVID BOWIE: Low; LET'S LIST AGAIN Chic, David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Fleetwood Mac, Ian Dury, James Taylor, Little Feat, Lynyrd Skynrd, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd, Randy Newman, Sex Pistols, Steely Dan, Talking Heads, The Clash, The Ramones, Tom Petty
SECOND ALBUM SENSATIONS – Twenty Second Albums That Prove The Follow Up Isn’t Always A Flop [email protected] October 24, 2017 WHAT IS AND WHAT WILL ALWAYS BE (a great second album) LED ZEPPELIN II LET'S LIST AGAIN Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield, Eagles, Jackson Browne, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Led Zeppelin, Little Feat, Neil Young, Oasis, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Rod Stewart, Steely Dan, The Band, The Clash, The Doors, The Ramones, Van Morrison, Warren Zevon
HEY HO! LET’S KNOW! – WHY IS EVERY TEENAGER I SEE WEARING A RAMONES TEE-SHIRT? [email protected] October 11, 2017 Just by looking at the album cover it was clear The Ramones weren’t the Eagles……… RANTS & REFLECTIONS Eagles, The Kinks, The Ramones, The Who