Day 143: There was a checkpoint Charlie, he didn't crack a smile...

Album 448/1031

The Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965)

All tracks written by Lennon–McCartney except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Drive My Car"	McCartney with Lennon	2:25
2.	"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"	Lennon with McCartney	2:01
3.	"You Won't See Me"	McCartney	3:18
4.	"Nowhere Man"	Lennon with McCartney and Harrison	2:40
5.	"Think for Yourself" (George Harrison)	Harrison	2:16
6.	"The Word"	Lennon	2:41
7.	"Michelle"	McCartney	2:40

Side two
No.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"What Goes On" (Lennon–McCartney–Richard Starkey)	Starr	2:47
2.	"Girl"	Lennon	2:30
3.	"I'm Looking Through You"	McCartney	2:23
4.	"In My Life"	Lennon	2:24
5.	"Wait"	Lennon and McCartney	2:12
6.	"If I Needed Someone" (Harrison)	Harrison	2:20
7.	"Run for Your Life"	Lennon	2:18

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

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Will always fall in the shadow of its more mature and exuberant cousins: 'Revolver' & "Sergeant Pepper', but this is a genuine classic in its own right too. Only the Ringo tune let's it down, not having the longevity of a 'With A Little Help From My Friends' or 'Octopus' Garden'.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Marvellous record.


Album 449/1031

Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Armed Forces (1979)

All songs written by Elvis Costello.

Side one

1. "Accidents Will Happen" – 3:00
2. "Senior Service" – 2:17
3. "Oliver's Army" – 2:58
4. "Big Boys" – 2:54
5. "Green Shirt" – 2:42
6. "Party Girl" – 3:20

Side two

1. "Goon Squad" – 3:14
2. "Busy Bodies" – 3:33
3. "Sunday's Best" – 3:22
4. "Moods for Moderns" – 2:48
5. "Chemistry Class" – 2:55
6. "Two Little Hitlers" – 3:18

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_(album)


Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Having previously proved pretty resistant to the charms of Declan McManus, more recently I have really started to like his late 70s and early 80s output. Even to the point of agreeing that he more or less managed a peerless run of 3 or 4 genuine classics, including this one from 1979. Includes 'Oliver's Army', featuring a word that is nowadays considered so politically incorrect that ANY usage of it draws criticism (a late night American comedian fell foul of this recently) regardless of the context. That has always struck me as completely ridiculous. Words uttered without context should have no inherent level of offence, surely?

Maire's verdict: I didn't realise I liked him as much as I do. Great album.

Album 450/1031

Paul Weller - Wildwood (1993)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Sunflower"	Paul Weller	4:06
2.	"Can You Heal Us (Holy Man)"	Paul Weller	3:41
3.	"Wild Wood"	Weller	3:22
4.	"Instrumental (Pt 1)"	Weller, Brendan Lynch, Steve White	1:37
5.	"All the Pictures on the Wall"	Weller	3:56
6.	"Has My Fire Really Gone Out?"	Weller	3:50
7.	"Country"	Weller	3:39
8.	"Instrumental Two"	Weller, Lynch, White	0:50
9.	"5th Season"	Weller	4:54
10.	"The Weaver"	Weller	3:43
11.	"Instrumental One (Pt 2)"	Weller, Lynch, White	0:34
12.	"Foot of the Mountain"	Weller	3:37
13.	"Shadow of the Sun"	Weller	7:36
14.	"Holy Man (reprise)"	Weller	1:50
15.	"Moon on Your Pyjamas"	Weller	4:00
16.	"Hung Up"	Weller	2:49

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

Golf's verdict: Marked Weller's return to the fold as the Modfather after a number of years in the wilderness, when he went all Northern Soul with The Style Council. Funnily enough, I think The Style Council are well overdue a critical re-evaluation. They did some really good stuff. But still, this album DID make a huge impression and deservedly so - it is very strong and has - in 'Sunflower' and 'Wild Wood' a couple of career-high crackers.

Maire's verdict: This reminds me of my final year at uni when I fell in love with this album. Haven't really listened to it since. Still enjoyable but not as great as I remember.