Day 48: We get to play some of last week's vinyl buys

Album 155/1031

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - Born in the USA (1984)

All tracks written by Bruce Springsteen.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Born in the U.S.A."	4:40
2.	"Cover Me"	3:27
3.	"Darlington County"	4:48
4.	"Working on the Highway"	3:13
5.	"Downbound Train"	3:35
6.	"I'm on Fire"	2:40

Side two
No.	Title	Length
7.	"No Surrender"	4:00
8.	"Bobby Jean"	3:48
9.	"I'm Goin' Down"	3:29
10.	"Glory Days"	4:15
11.	"Dancing in the Dark"	4:04
12.	"My Hometown"	4:34

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_in_the_U.S.A.

Golf's verdict: The album that made him huge is, ironically, weak when compared to those that immediately came before and after. But they did not have the anthem 'Born in the USA' - a song so chronically misinterpreted that 'Make America Great Again' cap-wearing mouth-breathers are probably still playing it in their pick-up trucks to this day.

Maire's verdict: This was my first introduction to Bruce and therefore will always be a favourite even though it's certainly not one of his best albums. Second side is better than the first.

Album 156/1031

David Bowie - Station to Station (1976)

All songs written by David Bowie, except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Station to Station"	10:11
2.	"Golden Years"	4:00
3.	"Word on a Wing"	5:59

Side two
No.	Title	Length
4.	"TVC 15"	5:31
5.	"Stay"	6:13
6.	"Wild Is the Wind" (Ned Washington, Dimitri Tiomkin)	6:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Station_to_Station

Golf's verdict: From back when it was perfectly respectable for an album to feature just 6 tracks and less than 40 minutes of music. Sometimes less is more. Worth buying for the title track alone, 'TVC15' and 'Wild Is the Wind' are my other 2 favs. 'Golden Years' has never been one of my go-to Bowie tracks but it shows the range of what he was producing in this era very well.

Maire's verdict: Not my favourite Bowie but pleasant enough to listen to on a Saturday afternoon.


Album 157/1031

The Who - Who's next (1971)

All tracks written by Pete Townshend, except "My Wife" by John Entwistle.

Side one
No.	Title	Lead vocal	Length
1.	"Baba O'Riley"	Roger Daltrey (verses), Townshend (bridge)	5:08
2.	"Bargain"	Daltrey (verses), Townshend (bridge)	5:34
3.	"Love Ain't for Keeping"	Daltrey	2:10
4.	"My Wife"	Entwistle	3:41
5.	"The Song Is Over"	Townshend (verses), Daltrey (chorus)	6:14

Side two
No.	Title	Lead vocal	Length
6.	"Getting in Tune"	Daltrey	4:50
7.	"Going Mobile"	Townshend	3:42
8.	"Behind Blue Eyes"	Daltrey	3:42
9.	"Won't Get Fooled Again"	Daltrey	8:32

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who's_Next


Golf's verdict: If you had to explain rock music to a visiting alien then all you need to do is play them the opening to Baba O'Riley. The bit when Keith Moon comes in is one of the GREATEST pieces of recorded music ever. They repeat the trick with 'Won't Get Fooled Again' just in case you missed it the first time, this time at around the 7.5 minute mark. The Who never managed an entirely great album, but this is the closest they got to it, with 'Behind Blue Eyes' being the other stand-out track.

Maire's verdict: I'm not and never have been a Who fan. I was dragged to see them at The Forum in London and seem to remember spending most of the gig sitting at the back reading a book while Golf enjoyed the noise. I must have soften as this wasn't as offensive as I was expecting - must be because of all the CSI episodes I've seen. Wouldn't put it on if I was by myself, though....

Album 158/1031

The Auteurs - New Wave (1993)

All songs written by Luke Haines.

1. "Show Girl" - 4:06
2. "Bailed Out" - 3:44
3. "American Guitars" - 3:31
4. "Junk Shop Clothes" - 2:42
5. "Don't Trust the Stars" - 2:25
6. "Starstruck" - 2:59
7. "How Could I Be Wrong" - 3:53
8. "Housebreaker" - 2:57
9. "Valet Parking" - 2:55
10. "Idiot Brother" - 5:45
11. "Early Years" - 2:40
12. "Home Again" - 3:24 / "Subculture (They Can't Find Him)" - 2:13 (hidden track; it follows 20 seconds of silence after the end of "Home Again")

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Wave_(The_Auteurs_album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM!: One of music's genuine, largely ignored, geniuses, Luke Haines is a prolific song-writer and performer under many guises. The Auteurs were his first successful band, but he's also worth discovering though Black Box Recorder, Baader Meinhof and as a solo artist. This was the debut album that should have made The Auteurs the equal of Blur, but life is not fair and they ended up a footnote, rather than a headline. I still buy everything Luke Haines releases.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM!: Golf introduced me to Luke Haines many years ago and I was a fan pretty much immediately. This is a gorgeous album, with 'Show Girl' a particular favourite. Hunt out some Black Box Recorder as well if you can - you won't regret listening to anything he records. If only he'd tour NZ.