Day 92: Maire is overjoyed as we get to Randy Newman.

Album 281/1031

U2 - War (1983)

All tracks written by U2.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sunday Bloody Sunday"	4:38
2.	"Seconds"	3:09
3.	"New Year's Day"	5:38
4.	"Like a Song…"	4:48
5.	"Drowning Man"	4:12

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"The Refugee" (produced by Bill Whelan)	3:40
7.	"Two Hearts Beat as One"	4:00
8.	"Red Light"	3:46
9.	"Surrender"	5:34
10.	"40"	2:36

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_(U2_album)


Golf's verdict: Opens with one of the most irresistible drum beats in rock and roll as 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' gets underway. 'New Year's Day' is another very strong track, but collectively this is not as vital an album as I remember from 1985/6 when I was an absolute U2 obsessive. Not sure time has been as kind to this, nor any of their early albums. But the one that came after this: 'The Unforgettable Fire' - now that's still got what it takes. And guess what? It's not included on the 1001 list! 

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Brings me right back to my early teens when I thought that this album was the best ever set down on vinyl. Still know every single word and it stands the test of time. Love it.

Album 282/1031

Peter Gabriel - 1 (1977)

All songs written by Peter Gabriel, except where indicated.

Side One
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Moribund the Burgermeister"	4:20
2.	"Solsbury Hill"	4:21
3.	"Modern Love"	3:38
4.	"Excuse Me" (Gabriel, Martin Hall)	3:20
5.	"Humdrum"	3:25

Side Two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"Slowburn"	4:36
7.	"Waiting for the Big One"	7:15
8.	"Down the Dolce Vita"	5:05
9.	"Here Comes the Flood"	5:38

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Gabriel_(1977_album)

Golf's verdict: Gabriel's debut solo effort, famous for 'Solsbury Hill', which must still make him a fortune from radio airplay 40 years later. It's much broader than just that classic single though, being more like 9 distinct songs drawn from all sorts of styles and genres than anything more cohesively curated, as if he was wanting to try out as many styles as possible. 'Here Comes the Flood', now a stripped down piano led highlight of his live concerts, is an epic, multi-tracked beast that wraps up this nicely.

Maire's verdict: I don't get Golf's love of Peter Gabriel. He's got a nice enough voice but there's only one song on this album that I'd listen to again.

Album 283/1031

Randy Newman - Sail Away (1972)

All tracks written by Randy Newman.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sail Away"	2:56
2.	"Lonely at the Top"	2:32
3.	"He Gives Us All His Love"	1:53
4.	"Last Night I Had a Dream"	3:01
5.	"Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear"	2:00
6.	"Old Man"	2:42

Side two
No.	Title	Length
7.	"Political Science"	2:00
8.	"Burn On"	2:33
9.	"Memo to My Son"	1:56
10.	"Dayton, Ohio - 1903"	1:47
11.	"You Can Leave Your Hat On"	3:18
12.	"God's Song (That's Why I Love Mankind)"	3:36

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sail_Away_(Randy_Newman_album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! I genuinely think Randy Newman is a genius. Maire, on the other hand, would rather burn his records than listen to them. He is one of relatively few artists that we can agree no common ground on. This album - to me - sounds almost like a best of, peppered with genuinely memorable songs as diverse as the ironic 'Lonely at the Top', the still relevant 'Political Science' and one of the best songs about religion ever written 'God's Song'. 

Maire's verdict: If only the whole fucking album would sail away.

Album 284/1031

Ian Dury & the Blockheads - New Boots and Panties (1977)

Side one

1. "Wake Up and Make Love with Me" – 4:23
2. "Sweet Gene Vincent" – 3:33
3. "I'm Partial to Your Abracadabra" – 3:13
4. "My Old Man" (Dury, Steve Nugent) – 3:40
5. "Billericay Dickie" (Dury, Nugent) – 4:17

Side two

6. "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" – 3:04
7. "Clevor Trever" – 4:53
8. "If I Was With a Woman" – 3:24
9. "Blockheads" – 3:30
10. "Plaistow Patricia" (Dury, Nugent) – 4:13
11. "Blackmail Man" (Dury, Nugent) – 2:14

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Boots_and_Panties!!

Golf's verdict: Dury was considered part of the punk movement, but this has more in common with music hall and pub rock than it does with The Clash or The Pistols. It is a really strong debut with 5 or 6 tracks that either were or could have been singles and which still get a lot of airtime. The Blockheads were (and still are) one of the tightest backing bands ever to inhabit a studio and Dury unique lyrical expression make for a highly entertaining listen.

Maire's verdict: Not a huge fan but I do have a bit of a soft spot due to 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' being a favourite of Pops. Pleasant enough but not sure why it's on the list.