Day 237: His mother bought him a synthesizer. Got the Human League into advise her...

Album 817/1031

Sarah Vaughan - At Mr Kelly's (1957)

1. "September in the Rain" (Al Dubin, Harry Warren) – 3:30
2. "Willow Weep for Me" (Ann Ronell) – 5:16
3. "Just One of Those Things" (Cole Porter) – 3:18
4. "Be Anything (But Be Mine)" (Irving Gordon) – 4:50
5. "Thou Swell" (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) – 2:44
6. "Stairway to the Stars" (Matty Malneck, Mitchell Parish, Frank Signorelli) – 5:06
7. "Honeysuckle Rose" (Andy Razaf, Fats Waller) – 3:39
8. "Just a Gigolo" (Julius Brammer, Irving Caesar, Leonello Casucci) – 4:10
9. "How High the Moon" (Nancy Hamilton, Morgan Lewis) – 4:27
10. "Dream" (Johnny Mercer) – 3:38
11. "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter)" (Fred E. Ahlert, Joe Young) – 2:30
12. "It's Got to Be Love" (Rodgers, Hart) – 5:13
13. "Alone" (Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed) – 2:29
14. "If This Isn't Love" (Yip Harburg, Burton Lane) – 2:25
15. "Embraceable You" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 2:47
16. "Lucky in Love" (Lew Brown, Buddy DeSylva, Ray Henderson) – 2:10
17. "Dancing in the Dark" (Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz) – 3:36
18. "Poor Butterfly" (John Golden, Raymond Hubbell) – 4:45
19. "Sometimes I'm Happy" (Caesar, Vincent Youmans) – 2:00
20. "I Cover the Waterfront" (Johnny Green, Edward Heyman) – 4:07

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_Mister_Kelly's

Golf's verdict: A great showcase for a huge talent, with some charming slip ups and asides to the audience captured in this live club recording.

Máire's verdict: Lovely voice (well, up until the last track) but not my genre.

Album 818/1031

The Undertones - Hypnotised (1980)

Side one
No.	Title	Written by	Length
1.	"More Songs About Chocolate and Girls"	Damian O'Neill	2:43
2.	"There Goes Norman"	J. J. O'Neill	2:28
3.	"Hypnotised"	Damian O'Neill, Michael Bradley	2:31
4.	"See That Girl"	J. J. O'Neill	2:25
5.	"Whizz Kids"	Damian O'Neill	2:20
6.	"Under the Boardwalk"	Kenny Young, Arthur Resnick	2:27
7.	"The Way Girls Talk"	J. J. O'Neill	2:30
8.	"Hard Luck"	J. J. O'Neill, Michael Bradley, Damian O'Neill, Billy Doherty, Feargal Sharkey	3:42

Side two
No.	Title	Written by	Length
1.	"My Perfect Cousin"	Damian O'Neill, Michael Bradley	2:36
2.	"Boys Will Be Boys"	J. J. O'Neill, Damian O'Neill	1:27
3.	"Tearproof"	J. J. O'Neill, Michael Bradley	2:21
4.	"Wednesday Week"	J. J. O'Neill	2:17
5.	"Nine Times Out of Ten"	J. J. O'Neill, Billy Doherty	2:38
6.	"Girls That Don't Talk"	J. J. O'Neill	2:27
7.	"What's with Terry?"	Damian O'Neill	3:19

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

Golf's verdict: Despite being raised in Derry, hometown of The Undertones, my wife is strangely immune to their charms. Whilst not as immediately charming as their debut, apart from a ill-advised cover version of 'Under the Boardwalk', this has plenty to like about it, including the classic 'My Perfect Cousin' and 'Wednesday Week'.

Máire's verdict: Still shit.

Album 819/1031

Elliott Smith - Either/Or (1997)

All tracks written by Elliott Smith.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Speed Trials"	3:01
2.	"Alameda"	3:43
3.	"Ballad of Big Nothing"	2:48
4.	"Between the Bars"	2:21
5.	"Pictures of Me"	3:46
6.	"No Name No. 5"	3:43
7.	"Rose Parade"	3:28
8.	"Punch and Judy"	2:25
9.	"Angeles"	2:56
10.	"Cupid's Trick"	3:04
11.	"2:45 AM"	3:18
12.	"Say Yes"	2:19

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Either/Or_(album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! A tragic loss. This was the album that Gus van Sant heard and lead to several of these songs being repurposed for the Good Will Hunting soundtrack. Gus has a good ear.

Máire's verdict:  A thoroughly enjoyable listen.

Album 820/1031

Bruce Springsteen - The Rising (2002)

All tracks written by Bruce Springsteen.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lonesome Day"	4:08
2.	"Into the Fire"	5:04
3.	"Waitin' on a Sunny Day"	4:18
4.	"Nothing Man"	4:23
5.	"Countin' on a Miracle"	4:44
6.	"Empty Sky"	3:34
7.	"Worlds Apart"	6:07
8.	"Let's Be Friends (Skin to Skin)"	4:21
9.	"Further On (Up the Road)"	3:52
10.	"The Fuse"	5:37
11.	"Mary's Place"	6:03
12.	"You're Missing"	5:10
13.	"The Rising"	4:50
14.	"Paradise"	5:39
15.	"My City of Ruins"	5:00

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

Golf's verdict: A very fine album from a man who has produced many. 'Worlds Apart' is an unwelcome detour into world music, but other than that it sticks to the tried and tested approach, with the title track and 'My City of Ruins' the pick of the bunch.

Máire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Haven’t listened to this album before. Really, really enjoyed it.

Album 821/1031

The Stooges - Fun House (1970)

All tracks written by The Stooges (Dave Alexander, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton, and Iggy Pop).

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Down on the Street"	3:42
2.	"Loose"	3:33
3.	"T.V. Eye"	4:17
4.	"Dirt"	7:00

Side two
No.	Title	Length
5.	"1970" (also known as "I Feel Alright")	5:14
6.	"Fun House"	7:45
7.	"L.A. Blues"	4:52

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fun_House_(The_Stooges_album)

Golf's verdict: I discovered this through The Damned's cover of 'I Feel Alright' aka '1970' when I was about 16. Although a big fan of The Stooges, this is not the equal of their self-titled debut nor their 3rd and final (at least until their recent reunion) effort, Raw Power. 'Fun House' and it's saxophone does drag on a bit...

Máire's verdict: It does go on a bit.....