Day 185: It's better to burn out than to fade away...

Album 620/1031

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Rust Never Sleeps (1979)

All tracks written by Neil Young except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)"	Neil Young, Jeff Blackburn	3:45
2.	"Thrasher"		5:38
3.	"Ride My Llama"		2:29
4.	"Pocahontas"		3:22
5.	"Sail Away"		3:46

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Powderfinger"		5:30
2.	"Welfare Mothers"		3:48
3.	"Sedan Delivery"		4:40
4.	"Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)"	Neil Young, Jeff Blackburn	5:18

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

Golf's verdict: Completely dominated - as well as bookended - by My, My, Hey, Hey. This was the song quoted in Kurt Cobain's suicide note. Otherwise it is solid, but not classic, Young, though the lyrics to 'Pocahontas' are a little absurd.

Maire's verdict: Not one of his best. And I'd argue that Johnny Rotten hasn't gone anywhere....

Album 621/1031

The Style Council - Cafe Bleu (1984)

All Songs Written By Paul Weller, except where noted.

Side one

1. "Mick's Blessings" (Mick Talbot) – 1:15
2. "The Whole Point of No Return" – 2:40
3. "Me Ship Came In!" – 3:06
4. "Blue Café" – 2:15
5. "The Paris Match" – 4:25
6. "My Ever Changing Moods" – 3:37
7. "Dropping Bombs on the Whitehouse" (Weller, Talbot) – 3:15

Side two

8. "A Gospel" – 4:44
9. "Strength of Your Nature" – 4:20
10. "You're the Best Thing" – 5:40
11. "Here's One That Got Away" – 2:35
12. "Headstart for Happiness" – 3:20
13. "Council Meetin'" (Weller, Talbot) – 2:29

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caf%C3%A9_Bleu

Golf's verdict: I remember how deeply unfashionable and unpopular they were, presumably due to the many die-hard mods who could not believe that Weller would abandon The Jam for Mick Talbot and his Hammond organ. Whilst some of it is a little cringey, 'You're the Best Thing' has long term appeal.

Maire's verdict: 'You're the Best Thing' is a good track but I prefer The Jam and Paul Weller's solo output. 'Me Ship Came In!', in particular, annoyed the hell out of me.

Album 622/1031

Dusty Springfield - Dusty in Memphis (1969)

Side one

1. "Just a Little Lovin'" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:18
2. "So Much Love" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 3:31
3. "Son of a Preacher Man" (John Hurley, Ronnie Wilkins) – 2:29
4. "I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore" (Randy Newman) – 3:11
5. "Don't Forget About Me" (Goffin, King) – 2:52
6. "Breakfast in Bed" (Eddie Hinton, Donnie Fritts) – 2:57

Side two

1. "Just One Smile" (Randy Newman) – 2:42
2. "The Windmills of Your Mind" (Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand) – 3:51
3. "In the Land of Make Believe" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) – 2:32
4. "No Easy Way Down" (Goffin, King) – 3:11
5. "I Can't Make It Alone" (Goffin, King) – 3:57

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

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Hard to imagine this was a flop at the time, especially given the inclusion of her most famous track. Pleased to spot a couple of early Randy Newman written songs in there too.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! One of my favourite songs appears on this album, 'Son of a Preacher Man', but didn't know many of the others. Would highly recommend.

Album 623/1031

Scott Walker - Scott 2 (1968)

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Jackie"	Jacques Brel, Gérard Jouannest and Mort Shuman	3:23
2.	"Best of Both Worlds"	Mark London and Don Black	3:14
3.	"Black Sheep Boy"	Tim Hardin	2:39
4.	"The Amorous Humphrey Plugg"	Noel Scott Engel	4:31
5.	"Next"	Jacques Brel and Mort Shuman	2:50
6.	"The Girls from the Streets"	Noel Scott Engel	4:11

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
7.	"Plastic Palace People"	Noel Scott Engel	6:06
8.	"Wait Until Dark"	Henry Mancini, Jay Livingston and Ray Evans	2:59
9.	"The Girls and the Dogs"	Jacques Brel, Gérard Jouannest and Mort Shuman	3:10
10.	"Windows of the World"	Hal David and Burt Bacharach	4:25
11.	"The Bridge"	Noel Scott Engel	2:50
12.	"Come Next Spring"	Lenny Adelson	3:24

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_2

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Noel Scott Engel aka Scott Walker has one of the most incredible voices of modern music. Add Mort Shuman's fantastic translations of Jacques Brel then you have the basis for a classic album.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Gorgeous voice and amazing tracks. What more could you ask for?