Day 217: Well long, tall Sally: she's built for speed, she got everything that Uncle John need...

Album 740/1031

Little Richard - Here's... (1957)

Side one

1. "Tutti Frutti" (Richard Penniman, Dorothy LaBostrie, Joe Lubin) – 2:25
2. "True, Fine Mama" (Penniman) – 2:43
3. "Can't Believe You Wanna Leave" (Leo Price) – 2:28
4. "Ready Teddy" (Robert Blackwell, John Marascalco) – 2:09
5. "Baby" (Penniman) – 2:06
6. "Slippin' and Slidin'" (Penniman, Eddie Bocage, Al Collins, James Smith) – 2:42

Side two

1. "Long Tall Sally" (Enotris Johnson, Blackwell, Penniman) – 2:10
2. "Miss Ann" (Penniman, Johnson) – 2:17
3. "Oh Why?" (Winfield Scott) – 2:09
4. "Rip It Up" (Blackwell, Marascalco) – 2:23
5. "Jenny, Jenny" (Johnson, Penniman) – 2:04
6. "She's Got It" (Marascalco, Penniman) – 2:26

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here's_Little_Richard

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! About as influential as you can get and extraordinary to think that this is basically his debut and only album of note. In about 2 years he recorded half a dozen touchstone rock and roll classics, then essentially turned his back on it for gospel music for about 30 years before joining the comeback trail as a cabaret act. Remove him from history and the path of rock would have been incredibly different.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Just brilliant!

Album 741/1031

Youssou N'Dour - Immigrés (1988)

Except where noted, all tracks composed by Youssou N'Dour.

1. "Immigrés/Bitim Rew" - 7:03
2. "Pitche Mi" (Kabou Gueye) - 9:27
3. "Taaw" - 11:56
4. "Badou" - 5:35

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigr%C3%A9s

Golf's verdict: Really enjoyed this. Know him almost exclusively from his duet with Neneh Cherry (Seven Seconds), which I love, but not sure what to expect. A great mashup of US blues and European pop influences with traditional North African sounds.

Maire's verdict: Pleasant enough. Not my usual listening material and probably wouldn't listen to it again. Just not my genre.

Album 742/1031

Malcolm McLaren - Duck Rock (1983)

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Obatala (La Republica Dominicana)"	Horn, McLaren	4:17
2.	"Buffalo Gals"	Dudley, Horn, McLaren	4:22
3.	"Double Dutch"	Horn, McLaren	5:53
4.	"El San Juanera"	Horn, McLaren	1:56
5.	"Merengue"	Horn, McLaren	3:52
6.	"Punk it Up"	Horn, McLaren	4:11

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
7.	"Legba"	Horn, McLaren	4:03
8.	"Jive My Baby"	Horn, McLaren	5:35
9.	"Song for Chango"	Horn, McLaren	2:49
10.	"(living on the road in) Soweto"	Horn, McLaren	3:53
11.	"World's Famous"	Dudley, McLaren	1:41
12.	"Duck for the Oyster"	Horn, McLaren	2:57

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

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Splices southern african (Bhundu Boys / Ladysmith Black Mambazo) sounds with US East Coast hip hop beats to fantastic effect. Hugely influential and ahead of its time.

Maire's verdict: No idea what this sounded like but I was expecting to hate it based on my feelings towards Malcolm McLaren. Surprised when I actually rather enjoyed it.

Day 216: One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small...

Album 736/1031

David Bowie - Low (1977)

All lyrics written by David Bowie; all music composed by David Bowie except where noted.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Speed of Life"	2:46
2.	"Breaking Glass" (Bowie, Dennis Davis, George Murray)	1:51
3.	"What in the World"	2:23
4.	"Sound and Vision"	3:03
5.	"Always Crashing in the Same Car"	3:29
6.	"Be My Wife"	2:55
7.	"A New Career in a New Town"	2:51
Total length:		19:18

Side two
No.	Title	Length
8.	"Warszawa" (Bowie, Brian Eno)	6:20
9.	"Art Decade"	3:43
10.	"Weeping Wall"	3:26
11.	"Subterraneans"	5:39
Total length:		19:08

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_(David_Bowie_album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! What an extraordinary talent he was. My favourite 'Berlin Era' album, ablely assisted by Brian Eno who coincidentally is our next album.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! I may have found my favourite Bowie album. Really, really enjoyed it.

Album 737/1031

Brian Eno - Before and After Science (1977)

All tracks written by Brian Eno, except where noted

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"No One Receiving"	3:52
2.	"Backwater"	3:43
3.	"Kurt's Rejoinder"	2:55
4.	"Energy Fools the Magician" (arranged by Percy Jones, Eno)	2:04
5.	"King's Lead Hat"	3:56

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Here He Comes"	5:38
2.	"Julie With ..."	6:19
3.	"By This River" (Eno, Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Dieter Moebius)	3:03
4.	"Through Hollow Lands" (for Harold Budd) (arranged by Fred Frith, Eno)	3:56
5.	"Spider and I"	4:10

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

Golf's verdict: Made at roughly the same time as Low and Heroes with Bowie, but a great demonstration of the difference between being an enabler and being a creator. Brian is a genius in his own right, but more for how he brings out the best in others, rather than for his own work. Following this he hooked up with Talking Heads and brought them to their full potential.

Maire's verdict: Sounds pretty run of the mill to my ears.

Album 738/1031

Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow (1967)

Side one

1. "She Has Funny Cars" (Jorma Kaukonen, Marty Balin) – 3:14
2. "Somebody to Love" (Darby Slick) – 3:00
3. "My Best Friend" (Skip Spence) – 3:04
4. "Today" (Balin, Paul Kantner) – 3:03
5. "Comin' Back to Me" (Balin) – 5:23

Side two

6. "3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds" (Balin) – 3:45
7. "D.C.B.A.–25" (Kantner) – 2:39
8. "How Do You Feel" (Tom Mastin) – 3:34
9. "Embryonic Journey" (Kaukonen) – 1:55
10. "White Rabbit" (Grace Slick) – 2:32
11. "Plastic Fantastic Lover" (Balin) – 2:39

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


Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Was expecting to enjoy 'Somebody to Love' and 'White Rabbit' and little else, but this really does deliver quite consistently throughout with plenty of psychedelic fabness. Quite extraordinary to think that they ultimately morphed into Starship, of 'We Build This City' infamy.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Thoroughly enjoyed the album. Will be listening to it again soon.

Album 739/1031

The Louvin Brothers - Tragic Songs of Life (1956)

1. "Kentucky" (Karl Davis) – 2:40
2. "I'll Be All Smiles Tonight" (A. P. Carter) – 3:14
3. "Let Her Go, God Bless Her" (Traditional) – 2:55
4. "What Is Home Without Love" (Traditional) – 3:00
5. "A Tiny Broken Heart" (Charlie Louvin, Ira Louvin, Eddie Hill) – 2:34
6. "In the Pines" (Traditional, Alan Riggs) – 3:15
7. "Alabama" (C. Louvin, I. Louvin, Hill) – 2:43
8. "Katie Dear" (William Bolick) – 2:34
9. "My Brother's Will" (Ken Nelson) – 3:16
10. "Knoxville Girl" (Traditional) – 3:49
11. "Take the News to Mother" (Walter "Joe" Callahan, Homer "Bill" Callahan, W. R. Caloway) – 2:48
12. "Mary of the Wild Moor" (Traditional, Dennis Turner) – 3:11

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragic_Songs_of_Life_(The_Louvin_Brothers_album)

Golf's verdict: Traditional C&W Kentucky style with close harmonies delivered by a brother double act, from the 50s. The obvious benchmark is The Everly Brothers and sadly the Louvins fall short at every turn: the tunes, the harmonies and the stories of the songs. Having said that, it was far from being a wasted listen and I rather enjoyed it.

Maire's verdict: Typical old-school country. Felt quite long despite it only being about 35 mins. 'Knoxville Girl' was a charming little ditty....

Day 215: There is woman pie in here, Mr Evangelist says she's hit...

A 'Triple Gem' Day for me. Golf.


Album 733/1031

The Triffids - Calenture (1987)

All tracks written by David McComb, unless otherwise noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Bury Me Deep in Love"	4:04
2.	"Kelly's Blues"	4:34
3.	"Trick of the Light" (David McComb, Graham Lee)	3:50
4.	"Hometown Farewell Kiss"	4:33
5.	"Unmade Love"	4:01
6.	"Open for You" (Jill Birt)	3:05
7.	"Holy Water"	3:17
8.	"Blinder by the Hour"	4:24
9.	"Vagabond Holes"	3:57
10.	"Jerdacuttup Man" (McComb, James Paterson)	4:59
11.	"Calenture"	1:10
12.	"Save What You Can" (McComb, Paterson)	4:30

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

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! A really well put together record that mines a similar vein to The Waterboys and Hot House Flowers. Have never knowingly heard them before, though the name has been familiar for years.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Never even heard of them before. Absolutely loved the album.

Album 734/1031

Shack - HMS Fable (1999)

All tracks written by Michael Head, except where indicated.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Natalie's Party"	3:50
2.	"Comedy"	5:27
3.	"Pull Together" (Michael Head, John Head)	3:33
4.	"Beautiful" (John Head)	3:22
5.	"Lend's Some Dough"	3:51
6.	"Captain's Table"	4:14
7.	"Streets Of Kenny"	3:52
8.	"Reinstated"	3:54
9.	"I Want You"	4:06
10.	"Cornish Town" (John Head)	3:59
11.	"Since I Met You"	3:16
12.	"Daniella"	3:31

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.M.S._Fable_(album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! A really fine album. Noticeably part of the 90s Liverpudlian canon of retro-psychedelia and classic 60s rock from the likes of The Coral, Cast, The Zutons etc. and amongst the best examples.

Maire's verdict: A pleasant enough listen.

Album 735/1031

The Birthday Party - Junkyard (1982)

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music by	Length
1.	"She's Hit"	Nick Cave	Cave, Tracy Pew	6:06
2.	"Dead Joe"	Cave, Anita Lane	Cave	3:09
3.	"The Dim Locator"	Rowland S. Howard	R. Howard	2:50
4.	"Hamlet (Pow, Pow, Pow)"	Cave	R. Howard	5:33
5.	"Several Sins"	R. Howard, Harry Howard	R. Howard, H. Howard	2:56
6.	"Big-Jesus-Trash-Can"	Cave	Mick Harvey	3:00
7.	"Kiss Me Black"	Cave, Lane	Cave	2:48
8.	"6" Gold Blade"	Cave	Harvey	3:35
9.	"Kewpie Doll"	Cave	Harvey	3:32
10.	"Junkyard"	Cave	Cave, R. Howard	5:49

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

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Hardly a surprise, but this was a real pleasure to rediscover as it has lain - largely unplayed - in the record box for many years. I suspect I may originally have bought this (in 1988 or 1989) because I loved the cover so much. If I did then it had positive repercussions that have lasted nearly 30 years, as this was to be my introduction to Nick Cave. All members contribute to the music, whilst Cave's lyrics start to demonstrate what a vivid and evocative writer he will become.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Despite being a massive Nick Cave fan I've haven't really listened to much Birthday Party. That will be rectified immediately.

Day 214: Ça, c'est l'histoire De Melody Nelson...

Album 730/1031

Elvis Costello - Imperial Bedroom (1982)

All songs written by Elvis Costello unless otherwise indicated.

Side one

1. "Beyond Belief" – 2:34
2. "Tears Before Bedtime" – 3:02
3. "Shabby Doll" – 4:48
4. "The Long Honeymoon" – 4:15
5. "Man Out of Time" – 5:26
6. "Almost Blue" – 2:50
7. "...And in Every Home" – 3:23

Side two

8. "The Loved Ones" – 2:48
9. "Human Hands" – 2:43
10. "Kid About It" – 2:45
11. "Little Savage" – 2:37
12. "Boy with a Problem" (music: Costello; lyrics: Chris Difford; additional lyrics: Costello) – 2:12
13. "Pidgin English" – 3:58
14. "You Little Fool" – 3:11
15. "Town Cryer" – 4:16

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

Golf's verdict: Talented chap Mr Costello, much like his namesake. This is another gem, demonstrating once again that I have perhaps previously been a bit cloth-eared to his talents.

Maire's verdict: I really enjoyed this album. Need to re-listen as a potential Hidden Gem. 

Album 731/1031

Kate Bush - The Dreaming (1982)

All tracks written by Kate Bush.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Sat in Your Lap"	3:29
2.	"There Goes a Tenner"	3:24
3.	"Pull Out the Pin"	5:26
4.	"Suspended in Gaffa"	3:54
5.	"Leave It Open"	3:20

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"The Dreaming"	4:41
7.	"Night of the Swallow"	5:22
8.	"All the Love"	4:29
9.	"Houdini"	3:48
10.	"Get Out of My House"	5:25

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

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Mad as cheese and utterly irresistable. Bringing sea-shanties to the masses. Somebody has got to.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Absolutely loved the album. Can't believe it's taken me so long to realise the genius that is Kate Bush.

Album 732/1031

Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire de Melody Nelson (1971)

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

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Tros funky pour toi.

Maire's verdict: Very French, obviously.....

Day 213: Words in papers, words in books...

Album 724/1031

The Jam - All Mod Cons (1978)

All songs written by Paul Weller except as noted.

Side one

1. "All Mod Cons" – 1:20
2. "To Be Someone (Didn't We Have a Nice Time)" – 2:32
3. "Mr. Clean"* – 3:29
4. "David Watts" (Ray Davies) – 2:56
5. "English Rose"** – 2:51
6. "In the Crowd" – 5:40

Side two

1. "Billy Hunt" – 3:01 (UK release)/"The Butterfly Collector" – 3:11 (US release)
2. "It's Too Bad" – 2:39
3. "Fly" – 3:22
4. "The Place I Love" – 2:54
5. "'A' Bomb in Wardour Street" – 2:37
6. "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" – 4:43

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

Golf's verdict: Paul Weller is a great song-writer and some of his best work features here. But he's not as good as Ray Davies and that is why David Watts is still the best track on All Mod Cons.

Maire's verdict: Solid album. 'Down in the Tube Station at Midnight' is the stand-out track.

Album 725/1031

Massive Attack - Protection (1994)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Protection" (sampled "The Payback" by James Brown)	Vowles, Del Naja, Marshall, Tracy Thorn	7:51
2.	"Karmacoma"	Vowles, Del Naja, Marshall, Tricky, Tim Norfolk, Bob Locke	5:16
3.	"Three"	Vowles, Del Naja, Marshall, Nellee Hooper, Nicolette Suwoton	3:49
4.	"Weather Storm" (sampled "It's Time for Love" by Pieces of a Dream)	Vowles, Del Naja, Marshall, Nellee Hooper, Craig Armstrong, Curtis Harmon, Cedric A. Napoleon, James K. Lloyd, C.C. Murray	4:59
5.	"Spying Glass" (sampled "Chapter 3" by Joe Gibbs & the Professionals and "Shaft in Africa" by Johnny Pate)	Vowles, Del Naja, Marshall, Nellee Hooper, Horace Andy	5:20
6.	"Better Things" (sampled "Never Can Say Goodbye" by James Brown)	Vowles, Del Naja, Marshall, Tracy Thorn, Ben Watt, James Brown	4:13
7.	"Eurochild" (sampled "Cheetah" by Startled Insects)	Vowles, Del Naja, Marshall, Tricky, Tim Norfolk, Bob Locke	5:11
8.	"Sly" (sampled "Africa Talks to You 'The Asphalt Jungle'" by Sly and the Family Stone)	Vowles, Del Naja, Marshall, Nellee Hooper, Nicolette Suwoton, Vivien Goldman	5:24
9.	"Heat Miser"	Vowles, Del Naja, Marshall, Nellee Hooper, Marius de Vries	3:39
10.	"Light My Fire" (live) (sampled "Light My Fire" by Jackie Wilson)	The Doors	3:15

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protection_(Massive_Attack_album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Is this what got Tracy Thorn and Ben Watt to permanently drop the cardigan-folk for trippier dance music and reinvent their sound for Everything But The Girl? If so, it deserves even more plaudits. Also features some great work by Tricky. 

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Just wonderful.

Album 726/1031

Tom Tom Club - Tom Tom Club (1981)

1. "Wordy Rappinghood" – 6:27
2. "Genius of Love" – 5:34
3. "Tom Tom Theme" – 1:24
4. "L'éléphant" – 4:51
5. "As Above, So Below" – 5:22
6. "Lorelei" – 5:05
7. "On, On, On, On..." – 3:33
8. "Booming and Zooming" – 4:35
9. "Under the Boardwalk" – 5:46

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

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! A real find. I knew 'Genius of Love' but had never heard this great album that demonstrates it was not just David Byrne in Talking Heads who soaked up influences from Brian Eno and others like a sponge and then were able to craft them into some of the best pop music of the 80s.

Maire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! What a great album. Another one I haven't listened to before.

Album 727/1031

Big Black - Atomizer (1986)

All tracks written by Big Black.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Jordan, Minnesota"	3:20
2.	"Passing Complexion"	3:05
3.	"Big Money"	2:30
4.	"Kerosene"	6:05
5.	"Bad Houses"	3:10
6.	"Fists of Love"	4:21
7.	"Stinking Drunk"	3:27
8.	"Bazooka Joe"	4:23
9.	"Strange Things"	3:54
10.	"Cables" (Live)	3:09

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

Golf's verdict: The great Steve Albini's old band (latterly a producer of note, Nirvana's In Utero being amongst his work). Did not challenge my assumptions in any way, nor did it ever make me look up from what I was doing at the time. If it's possible for hardcore punk to become background music then this was it. May have just been the day.

Maire's verdict: Rather enjoyable noise for an afternoon spent dealing with silly people via email.

Album 728/1031

Joni Mitchell - Blue (1971)

All tracks written by Joni Mitchell.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"All I Want"	3:32
2.	"My Old Man"	3:33
3.	"Little Green"	3:25
4.	"Carey"	3:00
5.	"Blue"	3:00

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"California"	3:48
7.	"This Flight Tonight"	2:50
8.	"River"	4:00
9.	"A Case of You"	4:20
10.	"The Last Time I Saw Richard"	4:13

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_(Joni_Mitchell_album)

Golf's verdict: Really not my cup of tea at all. I understand she is very highly rated, but this sort of thing does nothing for me.

Maire's verdict: One of the few albums from this challenge that I've seriously considered lying about finishing. The first few bars really, really grated and then it got worse. The absolute opposite of a Hidden Gem. Hated it.

Album 729/1031

Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey (1975)

All tracks written by Winston Rodney and Phillip Fullwood except as indicated.

1. "Marcus Garvey" — 3:27
2. "Slavery Days" — 3:34
3. "The Invasion" (W. Rodney, C. Paisley, P. Fullwood) — 3:22
4. "Live Good" (Marcus Rodney, Mackba Rodney, Winston Rodney) — 3:14
5. "Give Me" (W. Rodney) — 3:11
6. "Old Marcus Garvey" — 4:03
7. "Tradition" (D. Hines, R. Willington, W. Rodney) — 3:30
8. "Jordan River" (W. Rodney, M. Lawrence, P. Fullwood) — 3:00
9. "Red, Gold & Green" (A. Folkes, W. Rodney, P. Fullwood) — 3:14
10. "Resting Place" (W. Rodney) — 3:10

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

Golf's verdict: Reggae is not my favourite genre by any means, but I understand that John Peel was a big fan of Burning Spear so I was expecting this to be good. It was, but I am not likely to be putting it on regularly. 

Maire's verdict: After the trauma of 'Blue' I meant to pick an album I loved. Ran out of time so downloaded the first one I saw on the spreadsheet. It's reggae. I'm not a fan of the genre but it's still 100 times better than that Joni shite.