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....