Have you ever bought an album purely off the strength of one single which you heard on the radio, took it home, listened only to that one track (maybe give or take a short blast of one or two of the others, just to check them out) and never taken the blessed thing down from the rack again?
This was one of mine, I remember: Difficult Shapes and Passive Rhythms by China Crisis and the song, Christian.
"... and I was so close to a clean getaway..." {Identify that quote, film fans}
To bed, I mean. But this, my friend, is a DsD hobby horse. Said albums are the bane of DarceysMam's life.
Off the top of my head, and without daring to walk over to the racks:
Billie Myers, Amanda Marshall, The Purple Helmets, Bram Taylor, The Thirty-Two Twenty Band, The 22-20s, Thompson Twins, Andrew WK (sorry, Blimpy), Muse, Banderas, Laura Cantrell, Alicia Keys, Interpol, Razorlight, Toploader, One Nation, Hundred Reasons, Eve 6, Queensryche, Theatre Of Hate, Allanah Myles, Working Week, Galliano, Passengers, Mudhoney ... actually, scratch Passengers, that has had multiple plays via the CD single of Miss Sarajevo.
That song 'Creep' was excellent wasn't it... Who did that? Says here the album was called Pablo Honey.. couldn't tell you another song though, bet they all work up Asda now.
@ sourpus - sorry mate but I really have to take issue with you on this. I'm just listening to the album (and let's give its full name: Difficult Shapes And Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun To Entertain) and I really think it's a lost classic. In addition to the tracks I listed before I have to mention No More Blue Horizons (Fool, Fool, Fool) and Some People I Know To Lead Fantastic Lives.
Yes, it's dated a bit and you really need to listen to it in its 1982 context to appreciate it fully but I won't have a word said against it!!!!
Still, I suppose all publicity is good publicity...
Graham Bonnet's early 80s solo album not long after he got the sack from Rainbow.
Can't even remember the name now, the Russ Ballard-penned single was good commercial hard rock in a cheesy sort of way, but the rest of the album was complete and utter pants. Lame half-arsed effort, not enough guts to be rock, and not enough hooks to be pop.
Guy still had a great voice, which got him the gig with Michael Schenker a year later. That went pear-shaped pretty quickly too.
I bought Immigrant Flower by Siobhan Maher-Kennedy (who?) on the strength of her version of Steve Earle's Fearless Heart. Which is great, but the rest...the very softest of soft country-rock.
But how about albums that you buy having heard one track and then absolutely adore? I was sitting in a car park a few years ago when Tim O'Brien's Lay Down Your Weary Tune came on the radio - just as I was reaching to turn it off. I was a bit late for my appointment as I had to listen to the end. The album was Red On Blonde, bluegrass versions of Dylan. It's wonderful.
Cool your boots Toffee old man, I surrender to your wise assessment!
I have put the whole DSAPRSPTIFTE album (crikey its a mouthful) on my Deezer playlist and am listening to it as we speak...and yes, it does sound significantly more lovely than when I bought it. Through a gossamer sheen of nostalgia now, but no matter.
Can't say that I've ever bought an album and then not listened to it throughout but, yes, there have been many albums that I've bought on the basis of one song only to think....'meugh???!!!'. Won't listen to that again.
One album that really springs to mind in this regard is one I bought back in 1987/88 called 'Crimes of Conscience' by Cry Before Dawn on the basis of the single called 'Gone Forever'. I've just had another listen and whilst the snigle stills stands up, the rest is still, erm........what was I going to say? .......Oh, yes 'instantly forgettable'
Sourpus - Oooooh Belouise Some! Grreaaat Smash Hits 80s retro nostalgia one hit wonder name there! Wonder what he's doing now, eh? No indeed. It was the chune 'Tune in, turn on and cop out' which accompanied the tranny in a taxi jeans advert. Am too shattered to hoist my weary carcass off the sofa to check on the CD but you know the one I mean.
"... and I was so close to a clean getaway..." {Identify that quote, film fans}
ReplyDeleteTo bed, I mean. But this, my friend, is a DsD hobby horse. Said albums are the bane of DarceysMam's life.
Off the top of my head, and without daring to walk over to the racks:
Billie Myers, Amanda Marshall, The Purple Helmets, Bram Taylor, The Thirty-Two Twenty Band, The 22-20s, Thompson Twins, Andrew WK (sorry, Blimpy), Muse, Banderas, Laura Cantrell, Alicia Keys, Interpol, Razorlight, Toploader, One Nation, Hundred Reasons, Eve 6, Queensryche, Theatre Of Hate, Allanah Myles, Working Week, Galliano, Passengers, Mudhoney ... actually, scratch Passengers, that has had multiple plays via the CD single of Miss Sarajevo.
Oh, you get the picture.
Note to self - must put Christian on Walkman.
ReplyDeleteDarce - Mr Wk is best on one side of a 7", if you ask me - I love him but don't own any of his albums.
ReplyDeleteWhich Interpol LP was it?
ReplyDeleteTurn On The Bright Lights
ReplyDeletePrimitive Radio Gods - still like the single - but the rest of the album was attempted only once.
ReplyDeleteWould that have been Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth... by any chance, Shoey?
ReplyDeleteThat's the one, will have to dig the rest out now & see if it blows as much as I recall...curse you, Sourpus.
ReplyDeleteBut I LOVE this album - African And White, Red Sails, Seven Sports For All ... every one a winner!
ReplyDeleteThat song 'Creep' was excellent wasn't it... Who did that?
ReplyDeleteSays here the album was called Pablo Honey.. couldn't tell you another song though, bet they all work up Asda now.
Toffee, yes I remember liking 'Seven sports' coz it was the opening track.
ReplyDeleteBut what's it about, by golly?
Miss E ... So Addictive. Bought it for Get Ur Freak On. I don't think I've ever played the whole album.
ReplyDelete@ sourpus - sorry mate but I really have to take issue with you on this. I'm just listening to the album (and let's give its full name: Difficult Shapes And Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun To Entertain) and I really think it's a lost classic. In addition to the tracks I listed before I have to mention No More Blue Horizons (Fool, Fool, Fool) and Some People I Know To Lead Fantastic Lives.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's dated a bit and you really need to listen to it in its 1982 context to appreciate it fully but I won't have a word said against it!!!!
Still, I suppose all publicity is good publicity...
God knows what - it's about. Sounds like pretentious twaddle to me!
ReplyDeleteGraham Bonnet's early 80s solo album not long after he got the sack from Rainbow.
ReplyDeleteCan't even remember the name now, the Russ Ballard-penned single was good commercial hard rock in a cheesy sort of way, but the rest of the album was complete and utter pants. Lame half-arsed effort, not enough guts to be rock, and not enough hooks to be pop.
Guy still had a great voice, which got him the gig with Michael Schenker a year later. That went pear-shaped pretty quickly too.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"Night Games" was the single - still can't remember the album title, though.
ReplyDeleteI bought Immigrant Flower by Siobhan Maher-Kennedy (who?) on the strength of her version of Steve Earle's Fearless Heart. Which is great, but the rest...the very softest of soft country-rock.
ReplyDeleteBut how about albums that you buy having heard one track and then absolutely adore? I was sitting in a car park a few years ago when Tim O'Brien's Lay Down Your Weary Tune came on the radio - just as I was reaching to turn it off. I was a bit late for my appointment as I had to listen to the end. The album was Red On Blonde, bluegrass versions of Dylan. It's wonderful.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCool your boots Toffee old man, I surrender to your wise assessment!
ReplyDeleteI have put the whole DSAPRSPTIFTE album (crikey its a mouthful) on my Deezer playlist and am listening to it as we speak...and yes, it does sound significantly more lovely than when I bought it.
Through a gossamer sheen of nostalgia now, but no matter.
Christian is a great song though.
(Thanks for all the posts boys and girls)
I loved Pablo Honey, and for my next trick I will aim to list the tracks from memory alone:
ReplyDeleteYou
Creep
How Do you
Stop Wispering
Um,
Anyone Can Play Guitar
Bollocks.....
Der Du Du Du Der Du Du Du Du!
ReplyDeleteSome people....
Been driving too fast!
Some people....
Bin havin' a gas!
----
That one.
FP, wasnt that that Belouie Some chap?
ReplyDelete"Imagina-tiooon, will make a man of you"
and all that banana...(?)
Can't say that I've ever bought an album and then not listened to it throughout but, yes, there have been many albums that I've bought on the basis of one song only to think....'meugh???!!!'. Won't listen to that again.
ReplyDeleteOne album that really springs to mind in this regard is one I bought back in 1987/88 called 'Crimes of Conscience' by Cry Before Dawn on the basis of the single called 'Gone Forever'. I've just had another listen and whilst the snigle stills stands up, the rest is still, erm........what was I going to say? .......Oh, yes 'instantly forgettable'
Sourpus - Oooooh Belouise Some! Grreaaat Smash Hits 80s retro nostalgia one hit wonder name there! Wonder what he's doing now, eh? No indeed. It was the chune 'Tune in, turn on and cop out' which accompanied the tranny in a taxi jeans advert. Am too shattered to hoist my weary carcass off the sofa to check on the CD but you know the one I mean.
ReplyDelete@ fp - That'd be Freakpower aka Fatboy Slim aka Norman Cook, n'est-ce pas?
ReplyDeleteWAS THAT FATBOY SLIM???? Crikey. Shall did the album out anon. Cheers Dsd! You're right of course - Freak Power. Which spookily rhymes with FP...
ReplyDelete