Day 281: I should have known/That it was comin' down to this...

Album 1018/1031

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Devotional Songs (1992)

1. "Allah Hoo Allah Hoo" - 7:59
2. "Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka" - 7:37
3. "Haq Ali Ali Haq" - 7:26
4. "Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam" - 7:44
5. "Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bachchae" - 6:24
6. "Ni Main Jogi De Naal" - 8:08

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

Golf's verdict: This Sufi Muslim fella made oodles and oodles of albums and was signed to Peter Gabriel's label for a while. He had an absolutely amazing voice and died very young. I am no expert, but this seems like a good place to start, along with its sister album: Love Songs.

Máire's verdict: Not really for me.

Album 1019/1031

Aimee Mann - Whatever (1993)

All tracks by Aimee Mann, except where noted.

1. "I Should've Known" – 4:53
2. "Fifty Years After the Fair" – 3:46
3. "4th of July" – 3:21
4. "Could've Been Anyone" (Lyrics by Mann, Music by Mann, Jules Shear, Marty Willson-Piper) – 4:23
5. "Put Me on Top" – 3:28
6. "Stupid Thing" (Mann, Jon Brion) – 4:27
7. "Say Anything" (Mann, Jon Brion) – 4:57
8. "Jacob Marley's Chain" – 3:01
9. "Mr. Harris" – 4:05
10. "I Could Hurt You Now" – 4:17
11. "I Know There's a Word" (Mann, Jon Brion) – 3:16
12. "I've Had It" – 4:42
13. "Way Back When" – 4:05
14. "Nothing" – 0:09

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whatever_(Aimee_Mann_album)

Golf's verdict: This debut was another real hard one to find. Thank you to YouTube and Aimee's many fans who helped us piece it together into an album playlist. She's a favourite of Nick Hornby and Elvis Costello and this slightly country-tinted rock album will appeal to any fan of literate, well-written rock music. 'Jacob Marley's Chain' is a particular highlight (but I am a sucker for Dickens.)

Máire's verdict: Pleasant enough but nothing more than that.

Album 1020/1031

Milton Nascimento & Lo Borges - Clube da Esquina (1972)

Lado Um

1. "Tudo Que Você Podia Ser" (Lô Borges, Márcio Borges) – 2:56
   Interpretação: Milton Nascimento
2. "Cais" (Milton Nascimento, Ronaldo Bastos) – 2:45
   Interpretação: Milton Nascimento
3. "O Trem Azul" (Lô Borges, Ronaldo Bastos) – 4:05
   Interpretação: Lô Borges
4. "Saídas e Bandeiras nº 1" (Milton Nascimento, Fernando Brant) – 0:45
   Interpretação: Beto Guedes e Milton Nascimento
5. "Nuvem Cigana" (Lô Borges, Ronaldo Bastos) – 3:00
   Interpretação: Milton Nascimento
6. "Cravo e Canela" (Milton Nascimento, Ronaldo Bastos) – 2:32
   Interpretação: Lô Borges e Milton Nascimento

Lado Dois

1. "Dos Cruces" (Carmelo Larrea) – 5:22
   Interpretação: Milton Nascimento
2. "Um Girassol da Cor do Seu Cabelo" (Lô Borges, Márcio Borges) – 4:13
   Interpretação: Lô Borges
3. "San Vicente" (Milton Nascimento, Fernando Brant) – 2:47
   Interpretação: Milton Nascimento
4. "Estrelas" (Lô Borges, Márcio Borges) – 0:29
   Interpretação: Lô Borges
5. "Clube da Esquina nº 2" (Milton Nascimento, Lô Borges, Márcio Borges) – 3:39
   Interpretação: Milton Nascimento

Lado Três

1. "Paisagem da Janela" (Lô Borges, Fernando Brant) – 2:58
   Interpretação: Lô Borges
2. "Me Deixa em Paz" (Monsueto, Ayrton Amorim) – 3:06
   Interpretação: Alaíde Costa e Milton Nascimento
3. "Os Povos" (Milton Nascimento, Márcio Borges) – 4:31
   Interpretação: Milton Nascimento
4. "Saídas e Bandeiras nº 2" (Milton Nascimento, Fernando Brant) – 1:31
   Interpretação: Beto Guedes e Milton Nascimento
5. "Um Gosto de Sol" (Milton Nascimento, Ronaldo Bastos) – 4:21
   Interpretação: Milton Nascimento

Lado Quatro

1. "Pelo Amor de Deus" (Milton Nascimento, Fernando Brant) – 2:06
   Interpretação: Milton Nascimento
2. "Lilia" (Milton Nascimento) – 2:34
   Interpretação: Milton Nascimento
3. "Trem de Doido" (Lô Borges, Márcio Borges) – 3:58
   Interpretação: Lô Borges
4. "Nada Será Como Antes" (Milton Nascimento, Ronaldo Bastos) – 3:24
   Interpretação: Beto Guedes e Milton Nascimento
5. "Ao Que Vai Nascer" (Milton Nascimento, Fernando Brant) – 3:21
   Interpretação: Milton Nascimento

In Portuguese:

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clube_da_Esquina_(%C3%A1lbum)

Golf's verdict: More Brazilian Tropicalia style tunes. As previously stated, whilst the more psychedelic 'Os Mutantes' stuff is likely to get some repeat love, I doubt I will be playing much of this genre again, pleasant enough though it is.

Máire's verdict: I wasn’t that gripped, to be honest.

Album 1021/1031

Hariprasad Chaurasia, Brij Bhushan Kabra & Shivkumar Sharma - Call of the Valley (1967)

1. Ahir Bhairav/Nat Bhairav
2. Rag Piloo
3. Bhoop
4. Rag Des
5. Rag Pahadi
6. Ghara-Dadra (Bonus Track 1)
7. Dhun-Mishra Kirwani (Bonus Track 2)
8. Bageshwari (Bonus Track 3)

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

Golf's verdict: Classical, largely vocal-less sitar and tabla music. Mainly listened to on a walk down to the pub and thoroughly enjoyable. My sitar-album of the challenge though is still Ananda Shankar's.

Máire's verdict: It felt very, very long.

Day 280: Don't fall in love with me yet/ We've only recently met/ True I'm in love with you but/ You might decide I'm a nut...

Album 1014/1031

Notorious BIG - Ready to Die (1994)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"	Christopher Wallace, Sean Combs	Sean "Puffy" Combs	3:24
2.	"Things Done Changed"	Wallace, Dominic Owen, Kevin Scott	Darnell Scott	3:58
3.	"Gimme the Loot"	Wallace, Osten Harvey	Easy Mo Bee	5:04
4.	"Machine Gun Funk"	Wallace, Harvey	Easy Mo Bee	4:17
5.	"Warning"	Wallace, Harvey	Easy Mo Bee	3:40
6.	"Ready to Die"	Wallace, Harvey	Easy Mo Bee	4:24
7.	"One More Chance"	Wallace, Norm Glover, Reginald Ellis, Chucky Thompson, Combs	Bluez Brothers, Chucky Thompson, Combs	4:43
8.	"Fuck Me (Interlude)"	Wallace, Combs	Combs	1:31
9.	"The What" (featuring Method Man)	Wallace, Clifford Smith, Harvey	Easy Mo Bee	3:57
10.	"Juicy"	Wallace, Peter Philips, Combs, Jean Oliver	Poke, Combs (co.)	5:02
11.	"Everyday Struggle"	Wallace, Glover, Ellis	Bluez Brothers	5:19
12.	"Me & My Bitch"	Wallace, Glover, Ellis, Thompson, Combs	Bluez Brothers, Chucky Thompson, Combs	4:00
13.	"Big Poppa"	Wallace, Rudolph Isley, O'Kelly Isley Jr., Ronald Isley, Ernest Isley, Marvin Isley, Chris Jasper	Chucky Thompson, Combs (co.)	4:13
14.	"Respect"	Wallace, Diana King, Harry Casey	Poke, Combs	5:21
15.	"Friend of Mine"	Wallace, Harvey	Easy Mo Bee	3:28
16.	"Unbelievable"	Wallace, Christopher Martin	DJ Premier	3:43
17.	"Suicidal Thoughts"	Wallace, Robert Hall	Lord Finesse	2:50
Total length:				69:05

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

Golf's verdict: This has not aged well. It's a shame he fell victim to the violence that hopefully is now largely a thing of the past in hip-hop, but I'd much rather have seen a Tupac album on the list instead. This is full of crass, sexist narrative bits and some pretty cringe-worthy sound effects. Best avoided.

Máire's verdict: ‘Big Poppa’ is creepy. Rest of the album is just rubbish.

Album 1015/1031

The Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs (1999)

Volume one
No.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Absolutely Cuckoo"	Stephin Merritt	1:34
2.	"I Don't Believe in the Sun"	Merritt	4:16
3.	"All My Little Words"	LD Beghtol	2:46
4.	"A Chicken with Its Head Cut Off"	Merritt	2:41
5.	"Reno Dakota"	Claudia Gonson	1:05
6.	"I Don't Want to Get Over You"	Merritt	2:22
7.	"Come Back from San Francisco"	Shirley Simms	2:48
8.	"The Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side"	Dudley Klute	3:43
9.	"Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits"	Merritt	2:25
10.	"The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be"	Merritt	1:11
11.	"I Think I Need a New Heart"	Merritt	2:32
12.	"The Book of Love"	Merritt	2:42
13.	"Fido, Your Leash Is Too Long"	Merritt	2:33
14.	"How Fucking Romantic"	Klute	0:58
15.	"The One You Really Love"	Merritt, Beghtol	2:53
16.	"Punk Love"	Merritt	0:58
17.	"Parades Go By"	Merritt	2:56
18.	"Boa Constrictor"	Simms	0:58
19.	"A Pretty Girl Is Like..."	Merritt	1:50
20.	"My Sentimental Melody"	Beghtol	3:07
21.	"Nothing Matters When We're Dancing"	Merritt	2:27
22.	"Sweet-Lovin' Man"	Gonson	4:59
23.	"The Things We Did and Didn't Do"	Merritt	2:11
Total length:			55:57

Volume two
No.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Roses"	Beghtol	0:27
2.	"Love Is Like Jazz"	Merritt	2:56
3.	"When My Boy Walks Down the Street"	Merritt	2:38
4.	"Time Enough for Rocking When We're Old"	Merritt	2:03
5.	"Very Funny"	Klute	1:26
6.	"Grand Canyon"	Merritt	2:28
7.	"No One Will Ever Love You"	Simms	3:14
8.	"If You Don't Cry"	Gonson	3:06
9.	"You're My Only Home"	Merritt	2:17
10.	"(Crazy for You But) Not That Crazy"	Merritt	2:18
11.	"My Only Friend"	Merritt	2:01
12.	"Promises of Eternity"	Merritt	3:46
13.	"World Love"	Merritt	3:07
14.	"Washington, D.C."	Gonson	1:53
15.	"Long-Forgotten Fairytale"	Klute	3:37
16.	"Kiss Me Like You Mean It"	Simms	2:00
17.	"Papa Was a Rodeo"	Merritt, Simms	5:01
18.	"Epitaph for My Heart"	Merritt	2:50
19.	"Asleep and Dreaming"	Merritt	1:53
20.	"The Sun Goes Down and the World Goes Dancing"	Merritt	2:46
21.	"The Way You Say Good-Night"	Beghtol	2:44
22.	"Abigail, Belle of Kilronan"	Merritt	2:00
23.	"I Shatter"	Merritt	3:09
Total length:			59:43

Volume three
No.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Underwear"	Merritt, Klute	2:49
2.	"It's a Crime"	Klute	3:54
3.	"Busby Berkeley Dreams"	Merritt	3:36
4.	"I'm Sorry I Love You"	Simms	3:06
5.	"Acoustic Guitar"	Gonson	2:37
6.	"The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure"	Merritt	3:10
7.	"Love in the Shadows"	Merritt	2:54
8.	"Bitter Tears"	Beghtol	2:51
9.	"Wi' Nae Wee Bairn Ye'll Me Beget"	Merritt	1:55
10.	"Yeah! Oh, Yeah!"	Merritt, Gonson	2:19
11.	"Experimental Music Love"	Merritt	0:29
12.	"Meaningless"	Merritt	2:08
13.	"Love Is Like a Bottle of Gin"	Merritt	1:46
14.	"Queen of the Savages"	Merritt	2:12
15.	"Blue You"	Klute	3:03
16.	"I Can't Touch You Anymore"	Merritt	3:05
17.	"Two Kinds of People"	Merritt	1:10
18.	"How to Say Goodbye"	Merritt	2:48
19.	"The Night You Can't Remember"	Merritt	2:17
20.	"For We Are the King of the Boudoir"	Beghtol	1:14
21.	"Strange Eyes"	Simms	2:01
22.	"Xylophone Track"	Merritt	2:47
23.	"Zebra"	Gonson	2:15
Total length:			56:26

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/69_Love_Songs

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Yes, this really is 69 Love Songs (nearly 3 hours worth),  but is actually an absolute joy. Lyrics that Cole Porter would be proud of and some lovely melodies. If you like Divine Comedy, John Grant, Fleet Foxes etc. then you will likely love this. Only 1 song - a jazz pastiche done deliberately to make the point that 'Love is like Jazz' - grates a little. 68 hidden gems. 

Máire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Loved this album (well, apart from one song). Reminded me of Neil Hannon and Kirsty McColl.

Album 1016/1031

Maxwell - Urban Hang Suite (1996)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The Urban Theme"	Maxwell	Maxwell	2:42
2.	"Welcome"	Maxwell, Stuart Matthewman	Maxwell, Stuart Matthewman	5:18
3.	"Sumthin' Sumthin'"	Maxwell, Leon Ware	Maxwell	4:18
4.	"Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)"	Maxwell, Itaal Shur	Maxwell	5:46
5.	"Dancewitme"	Maxwell, Hod David	Maxwell	6:15
6.	"...Til the Cops Come Knockin'"	Maxwell, David	Maxwell, Peter Mokran	6:56
7.	"Whenever Wherever Whatever"	Maxwell, Matthewman	Maxwell, Matthewman	3:45
8.	"Lonely's the Only Company (I & II)"	Maxwell, Stuart Matthewman	Maxwell, Stuart Matthewman	6:22
9.	"Reunion"	Maxwell	Maxwell, Peter Mokran	4:53
10.	"Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)"	Maxwell, Hod David	Maxwell, Peter Mokran	4:48
11.	"The Suite Theme" (ends at 6:00; hidden track at 12:06)	Maxwell	Maxwell, Federico Pena	13:47

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell%27s_Urban_Hang_Suite

Golf's verdict: Slick and well put together soul that reminded me a little of Michael Jackson occasionally, but not not a keeper for me.

Máire's verdict: Not offensive but not something I’d knowingly put on.

Album 1017/1031

Koffi Olomide - Haut de Gamme: Koweït, Rive Gauche (1992)

Tracklist

A1	Papa Bonheur	7:08
A2	Désespoir	6:21
A3	Koweït, Rive Gauche	6:34
A4	Elixir	4:50
B1	Qui Cherche Trouve	6:44
B2	Porte-Monnaie	6:25
B3	Conte De Fées	7:13
B4	Dit Jeannot	6:02

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

Golf's verdict: Congolese and singing in French, so a little outside of my norm, even this year. But this was pleasant to listen to and I would put it on again.

Máire's verdict: Rather enjoyable, to my surprise.

Day 279: Oh, let the sun beat down upon my face and stars fill my dream...

Album 1009/1031

Hugh Masekela -  Home is Where the Music Is (1972)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Part of a Whole"	Caiphus Semenya	9:37
2.	"Minawa"	Sekou Toure	9:37
3.	"The Big Apple"	Caiphus Semenya	7:53
4.	"Uhome"	Miriam Makeba	5:28
5.	"Maseru"	Hugh Masekela	7:07
6.	"Inner Crisis"	Larry Willis	5:52
7.	"Blues for Huey"	Kippie Moeketsi	6:25
8.	"Nomali"	Caiphus Semenya	7:21
9.	"Maesha"	Caiphus Semenya	10:28
10.	"Ingoo Pow-Pow" (Children's Song)	Caiphus Semenya	6:45
Total length:			76:33

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

Golf's verdict: I was expecting 'Graceland' style southern african guitars etc. but this is a pretty much 'American' sounding straight jazz record until the final couple of tracks. Rather enjoyed it.

Máire's verdict: What can I say? It’s jazz.....

Album 1010/1031

Led Zepellin - Physical Grafitti (1975)

Side one
No.	Title	Date recorded	Length
1.	"Custard Pie"	January–February 1974	4:15
2.	"The Rover"	May 1972 (Houses of the Holy outtake)	5:39
3.	"In My Time of Dying" (John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Page, and Plant)	January–February 1974	11:08

Side two
No.	Title	Date recorded	Length
4.	"Houses of the Holy"	May 1972 (Houses of the Holy outtake)	4:04
5.	"Trampled Under Foot" (Jones, Page, and Plant)	January–February 1974	5:36
6.	"Kashmir" (Bonham, Page, and Plant)	January–February 1974	8:37

Side three
No.	Title	Date recorded	Length
7.	"In the Light" (Jones, Page, and Plant)	January–February 1974	8:47
8.	"Bron-Yr-Aur" (Page)	July 1970 (Led Zeppelin III outtake)	2:06
9.	"Down by the Seaside"	February 1971 (Led Zeppelin IV outtake)	5:15
10.	"Ten Years Gone"	January–February 1974	6:34

Side four
No.	Title	Date recorded	Length
11.	"Night Flight" (Jones, Page, and Plant)	December 1970 – January 1971 (Led Zeppelin IV outtake)	3:38
12.	"The Wanton Song"	January–February 1974	4:08
13.	"Boogie with Stu" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant, Ian Stewart)	December 1970 – January 1971 (Led Zeppelin IV outtake)	3:52
14.	"Black Country Woman"	May 1972 (Houses of the Holy outtake)	4:24
15.	"Sick Again"	January–February 1974	4:42

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

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! They were starting to stumble by this point, after a run of great albums. Whilst these sessions produced 'Kashmir' and 'Trampled Underfoot', many of these tracks are taken from earlier album sessions, suggesting the creative well was starting to run dry around this point. The last great Zep album.

Máire's verdict: If you like Led Zep you’ll like this. Not a classic in my opinion, although it does have ‘Kashmir’.

Album 1011/1031

Metallica - S & M (1999)

Disc one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Ecstasy of Gold"	Ennio Morricone	2:31
2.	"The Call of Ktulu"	James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Cliff Burton, Dave Mustaine	9:34
3.	"Master of Puppets"	Hetfield, Ulrich, Burton, Kirk Hammett	8:55
4.	"Of Wolf and Man"	Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett	4:19
5.	"The Thing That Should Not Be"	Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett	7:27
6.	"Fuel"	Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett	4:36
7.	"The Memory Remains"	Hetfield, Ulrich	4:42
8.	"No Leaf Clover" (previously unreleased)	Hetfield, Ulrich	5:43
9.	"Hero of the Day"	Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett	4:45
10.	"Devil's Dance"	Hetfield, Ulrich	5:26
11.	"Bleeding Me"	Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett	9:02
Total length:			67:00

Disc two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Nothing Else Matters"	Hetfield, Ulrich	6:47
2.	"Until It Sleeps"	Hetfield, Ulrich	4:30
3.	"For Whom the Bell Tolls"	Hetfield, Ulrich, Burton	4:52
4.	"− Human" (previously unreleased)	Hetfield, Ulrich	4:20
5.	"Wherever I May Roam"	Hetfield, Ulrich	7:02
6.	"The Outlaw Torn"	Hetfield, Ulrich	9:59
7.	"Sad but True"	Hetfield, Ulrich	5:46
8.	"One"	Hetfield, Ulrich	7:53
9.	"Enter Sandman"	Hetfield, Ulrich, Hammett	7:39
10.	"Battery"	Hetfield, Ulrich	7:25
Total length:			67:38

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%26M_(album)

Golf's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Just the right side of Spinal Tap type pompous excess, this still really rocks, but Michael Kamen's orchestrations - particularly on the 'Black Album' tracks - really do add some additional grandeur. 

Máire's verdict: HIDDEN GEM! Made me want to see them live.

Album 1012/1031

Queen Latifah - All Hail the Queen (1989)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Dance for Me"	James, Owens, Stewart	3:41
2.	"Mama Gave Birth to the Soul Children" (with De La Soul)	Owens	4:25
3.	"Come into My House" (with Quasar)	Owens	4:14
4.	"Latifah's Law"	Owens, Vega	3:51
5.	"Wrath of My Madness"	James, Owens	4:12
6.	"The Pros" (with Daddy-O)	Owens, Bolton	5:43
7.	"Ladies First" (with Monie Love)	Owens	3:45
8.	"A King and Queen Creation" (with 45 King)	Owens	3:34
9.	"Queen of Royal Badness"	James, Welch	3:24
10.	"Evil That Men Do" (with KRS-One)	Owens, Parker	4:03
11.	"Princess of the Posse"	James, Owens	3:51
12.	"Inside Out"	James, Owens	4:11

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

Golf's verdict: Old school fun. Has anyone really surplanted her as monarch since? Where ARE all the female rappers these days?

Máire's verdict: Quite fun.

Album 1013/1031

Ozamatli - Street Signs (2004)

1. "Believe" (Andy Mendoza, Ozomatli, J. Smith-Freeman) – 5:02
2. "Love & Hope" (JB Eckl, Ozomatli, K. C. Porter) – 4:24
3. "Street Signs" (Ozomatli, Smith-Freeman) – 3:45
4. "(Who Discovered) America?" (Eckl, Porter, Jason Roberts, Asdru Sierra) – 4:35
5. "Who's to Blame" (Don Corleon, Daniel Lewis) – 3:13
6. "Te Estoy Buscando" (Ozomatli) – 3:50
7. "Saturday Night" (Ozomatli, Smith-Freeman) – 3:59
8. "Déjame en Paz" (Ozomatli) – 3:29
9. "Santiago" (Ozomatli) – 5:10
10. "Ya Viene el Sol (The Beatle Bob Remix)" (Ozomatli) – 3:39
11. "Doña Isabelle" (Ozomatli, Eddie Palmieri) – 1:05
12. "Nadie Te Tira" (Ozomatli) – 4:47
13. "Cuando Canto" (Ozomatli) – 4:40

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

Golf's verdict: A very enjoyable surprise. A mix of Latin, gypsy, folk and hip-hop. Like a Mexican Pogues/Gogol Bordello/Balkan Beatbox. Recommended.

Máire's verdict: Thoroughly enjoyable, which I wasn’t expecting.