Well this is the latest instalment in the My Top Ten album posts. I've known Kev quite a few years now and over that period have realised his musical tastes are quite eclectic and he hasn't disappointed with this tasty selection including a couple of nice curveballs. This is what I love about reading other peoples Top Tens, you get a real feel of their musical heritage and the artists that have had an impact on their lives through the years. It really is only a snapshot and we all know our tastes and choices change over time but this is a great selection and there's a couple of albums in there that I'll definitely be checking out. Only one complaint Kev. No punk albums. I might have to dig out a couple for ya!
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy – Elton John
First heard this album when a friends dad put it on during our Saturday night snooker competitions back in the early 80s. Loved it from then on. The songs are varied and fit well together on the album. Up tempo numbers such as “Better Off Dead” , “Bitter Fingers” and “Meal Ticket” nicely offset the slower tempo of “Writing” and “Tower of Babel”. The album ends with one of the most wonderful sequences of music that Elton has ever put together in my opinion. Two songs, "We All Fall In Love Sometimes" and "Curtains" are segued together into a seamless piece of music lasting over 10 minutes. ". Inspiring, and, well, fantastic!
City to City – Gerry Rafferty
From the files of “I haven’t listened to this for more than two decades” comes City to City. The exception of course is the brilliant “Baker Street” which was the inspiration for me taking up the saxophone due to what has to be the best sax solo of all time. There's no doubting the beauty of the opening track, “The Ark”, which has a real celtic feel to it, and the piano ballad “Whatever's Written in Your Heart” to the sax driven “Island” which almost strays into country territory at times. This album from top to bottom is musically and lyrically beautiful
The War of the Worlds – Jeff Wayne
There’s no music to begin with, just a voice, the voice of the late great Richard Burton. The voice does not tremble, mutter, or stumble over words, but what it says is frightening; an almost overwhelming sense of foreboding creeps into Burton’s voice, as he whispers, ‘….slowly, and surely, they drew their plans against us’! Scared the crap out of me when I first heard this at the wee age of 8! I have always loved this musical. Stand out tracks include the spectacular “Eve of the War”, the haunting "Forever Autumn", the tragic “Thunder Child” and the wishful “Brave New World” The spectacular music crashes ahead like a steam train throughout, and then suddenly fades or stops completely, using the power of silence to set the mood. The transitional key change into "Dead London", a slow piece that gives imagery of pain, sadness, and loss, gives me goose bumps every time I hear it. Epic production that is yet to be surpassed
The Collection – Ultravox
A seductive combination of the subtle and intense from the desolate and haunting songs of “Vienna”, “Visions in Blue”, “The Thin Wall” and “The Voice”, the livelier efforts of "Love's Great Adventure", "Dancing With Tears in My Eyes" and “All Stood Still” , to the broodiness of "The Hymn" which harbours its own brand of gothic charm, and not forgetting the solemn and sombre ballad of “Lament” The Collection has mystery, atmosphere, power and had me hooked from the start.
Hot August Night II – Neil Diamond
This is the album that got me hooked on Neil Diamond. ND is a great live performer and this album, in my opinion, is his best concert to date (and ive seen him live 3 times!). It starts mellow enough, then breaks into "Headed for the Future", which gets the crowd on their feet. ND continues to belt out early greats such as “America”, “ Sweet Caroline”, “Hello ” and “Love on the Rocks”. ND has the ability to keep every song sounding fresh and injects energy into each performance, as witnessed in a loud, hardcore version of "Forever in Blue Jeans", and the most aggressive song on the album "Cracklin Rosie". This energy is easily transformed into the ballads "I Dreamed a Dream" (from the Les Miserables musical), “September Morn” and the classic “ I Am…I Said” added intimate moments throughout the show. Superb!
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son – Iron Maiden
An eerie concept album about sin and the devil, and in my opinion Maiden’s greatest accomplishment to date.. How does one even begin to describe an album as good as this? It's a dark, but polished album with a chilling atmosphere for its entire duration. The composition and songwriting is more dynamic than ever before, and this is evident at the start and finish of the album as Bruce voices the same haunting lyrics: “Seven deadly sins, Seven ways to win, Seven holy paths to hell and your trip begins. Seven downward slopes, Seven bloodied hopes, . Seven are your burning fires, Seven your desires.” After these eerie lyrics, the opening track “Moonchild” kicks in with a combination of ominous atmospheric synthesizers and guitars that can be heard throughout the entire album. Each song brings with it the next part of the story with their mellow introductions which move onto heavy and complex instrumentals. “Infinite Dreams”, “ Can I Play With Madness”, “ The Evil That Men Do”, “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son”, “The Prophecy”, “The Clairvoyant” and “ Only The Good Die Young” all play their part in adding to the mystique, especially in final moments of “The Prophecy” as the guitars fade out and the beautiful acoustics blend over the top This kind of musical diversity and intelligence just doesn’t exist on Maiden’s other albums Timeless Classic!
…And Justice for All – Metallica
This has to be my favourite Metallica album due to its sheer heavy, aggressive and unforgiving sound from start to finish! It literally is a rollercoaster ride of the mind with plenty of twists, turns and complex topics. This is as close as Metallica has ever come to a concept album and they pulled it off in a brutally honest and serious way. Politics, corrupt justice systems, world destruction, horrors of war and child abuse are just a few of the topics touched upon. Songs such as "One" (limbless, deaf, dumb and blind soldier existing in just a shell of a body), "Blackened" (death of mother earth), and "And Justice for All" (rant against U.S. justice system) epitomize the overall feel of this album very well. Pure thrash throughout. Brilliant!
Divine Intervention – Slayer
This album is arguably Slayer's crowning achievement. Divine Intervention is as dark and heavy as their earlier material. It all starts with a track called “Killing Fields”, which is such a change of track for them. It almost takes your breath away, Other impressive and infectious songs are “Circle of Belief”, "Fictional Reality", the furious “Dittohead", "Divine Intervention", and "Serenity in Murder." What makes this album a true masterpiece of thrash is the combination of all the elements that have made Slayer thrash metal gods: powerful yet eerily melodic, haunting and hate-filled, utterly merciless metal reprisal.
Danger of Infection – Dirty Deeds
Danger Of Infection was released in 1998 and I had the pleasure of watching them perform most of the album live at Shepherds Bush where they were supporting Iron Maiden, who were performing to a cosy 2000 fan club members, which made for a great, memorable night First 'n' foremost, Danger Of Infection is a guitar oriented album, and the opening track, "Nothing To Lose", drives that point home with authority, which sets the pace for the entire album. "Cry Out", the Maiden-esque, "Promised Land” and the hard charging "Dividing Line" which is propelled by a fantastic galloping guitar riff, are as good a start to a metal album that I have heard, while "Too Scared to Run", "In The Name Of The Law", "I Am The One" and "Ruled By The Gun", blow out the walls. From start to close, Danger Of Infection is fast and aggressive, with driving rhythm and strong, snarling vocals which deliver the goods, Impressed? I was and still am!
Listen Without Prejudice Vol 1 – George Michael
This album features a different sound, a somewhat acoustic feel, which suits the songs perfectly and for this, it will probably remain my favorite work of George Michael Songs of note are "Praying For Time" which is an ultimate ballad that has been compared to Lennon's "Imagine" in terms of beauty and uniqueness.. The cover of Stevie Wonders 70s classic "They Won't Go When I Go" is even better than the original. "Mother's Pride" is a heart breaking, haunting song about war,. "Heal The Pain" and "Waiting For That Day" are both more uplifting. But to me, shining moment of this collection must be "Cowboys And Angels".. It's a classy, jazzy number, with a quality sax solo at the end that carries itself well.
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