Day 1: New Years Day 2017

Hello, if you don't know us then you probably have far too much time on your hands*. If you do, then you will know that we rarely make New Year resolutions, but we often do set ourselves a challenge for the coming year. Last year we bored/astonished you with our 52 cocktails in 52 weeks challenge. This year we've upped the ante a little, but with less impact on our sobriety.

2017's Major Challenge is to listen to all 1001 albums you should hear before you die - as decided by the music writer Robert Dimery and based on the 2005 edition of his book of the same name. (More details can be found here:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1001_Albums_You_Must_Hear_Before_You_Die)

This means listening to just short of 3 albums a day for the 365 days of 2017, so it is going to take some doing. Luckily, one of our other 2017 challenges is to run the Queenstown Half Marathon in November, so we'll have plenty of time to listen as we pound the paths and pavements of Cornwall Park in training. Unfortunately, our 3rd and final challenge for 2017 is to watch every Best Picture Oscar winner from 1927 to 2016, so there is likely to be some late nights/early mornings later in the year! (You can follow the progress of our Oscar Challenge here: www.allthebestpictures.blogspot.com)

The Rules:

1) Both of us (Maire & Golf) must listen to the album on the same day, either separately (like when we are running) or together.
2) We have to listen the whole album, no matter how little we are enjoying it.
3) We will then post a short review/opinion of the album here for you to ignore/agree with/take great offence with.
4) We'll post a link on Maire's Facebook link to this blog, so all you social media types can enjoy it.

*If you really have stumbled across this then you can find out more about us in the next posting on the blog.

Album 1/1001 


ABBA - Arrival (1975)

Track listing:

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"When I Kissed the Teacher"	3:00
2.	"Dancing Queen" (Andersson, Stig Anderson, Ulvaeus)	3:50
3.	"My Love, My Life" (Andersson, Anderson, Ulvaeus)	3:52
4.	"Dum Dum Diddle"	2:50
5.	"Knowing Me, Knowing You" (Andersson, Anderson, Ulvaeus)	4:02

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Money, Money, Money"	3:05
2.	"That's Me" (Andersson, Anderson, Ulvaeus)	3:15
3.	"Why Did It Have to Be Me?"	3:20
4.	"Tiger"	2:55
5.	"Arrival"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_(ABBA_album)

Golf's verdict: The Spotify version of the album even threw in Fernando for good measure. Quite glam rocky in places, with little sign of the introspection and pathos from the later albums.

Maire's verdict: I prefer Abba Gold.

Album 2/1001

Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies (1973)

Track Listing:

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Hello Hooray"	Rolf Kempf	4:15
2.	"Raped and Freezin'"	Alice Cooper, Michael Bruce	3:19
3.	"Elected"	Cooper, Glen Buxton, Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith	4:05
4.	"Billion Dollar Babies"	Cooper, Bruce, Reggie Vinson	3:43
5.	"Unfinished Sweet"	Cooper, Bruce, Smith	6:18

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"No More Mr. Nice Guy"	Cooper, Bruce	3:06
7.	"Generation Landslide"	Cooper, Buxton, Bruce, Dunaway, Smith	4:31
8.	"Sick Things"	Cooper, Bruce, Bob Ezrin	4:18
9.	"Mary Ann"	Cooper, Bruce	2:21
10.	"I Love the Dead"	Cooper, Ezrin	5:09

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billion_Dollar_Babies#Track_listing

Golf's verdict: Grew on me. I guess it's been quite influential? Lots of theatrical flourishes that reminded me a little of both Bat Out of Hell, but also Rocky Horror.

Maire's verdict: Elected was a good tune. The rest I can do without.


Album 3/1001

The Mamas & the Papas - If you can believe your eyes & ears (1966)

Side one

1. "Monday, Monday" (John Phillips) – 3:28
2. "Straight Shooter" (J. Phillips) – 2:58
3. "Got a Feelin'" (J. Phillips, Denny Doherty) – 2:53
4. "I Call Your Name" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:38
5. "Do You Wanna Dance?" (Bobby Freeman) – 3:00
6. "Go Where You Wanna Go" (J. Phillips) – 2:29

Side two

1. "California Dreamin'" (J. Phillips, Michelle Phillips) – 2:42
2. "Spanish Harlem" (Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector) – 3:22
3. "Somebody Groovy" (J. Phillips) - 3:16
4. "Hey Girl" (J. Phillips, M. Phillips) – 2:30
5. "You Baby" (Steve Barri, P. F. Sloan) – 2:22
6. "The 'In' Crowd" (Billy Page) – 3:12

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_You_Can_Believe_Your_Eyes_and_Ears#Track_listing

Golf's verdict: Never heard this, except for the hits. California Dreamin' is one of the best singles of all time and there is very little filler on this debut from the one of the greatest four part harmony groups ever.

Maire's verdict: Just beautiful.