To quote Junior Kimbrough, God knows I tried. Two lunchtimes, 6 LPs, 1 single, a smattering of birthday money, 2 friends who utterly failed to restrain me, storm conditions yesterday and 0 sandwiches. Yup, if I had a ‘Sandwiches Eaten’ database* I’d be recording ‘nil’ in the columns for Thursday and Friday this week.
I blame the record shops for their seductive wares, I blame my unusual mid-month solvency**, I blame emotional upset at Mrs 1537 being in New York, I blame society, I blame the crooked media, I blame my upbringing, I blame the additional emotional upset at Wales being beaten by Ireland last week^, I blame the sunshine, I blame the moonlight and I blame the (endless) boogie. True story.
So anyway, here’s what I ended up with:
Neil Young Roxy: Tonight’s The Night Live
Recorded in 1973 a full 2 years before TTN saw the light of day, this is a blisteringly good record. Early days yet, but for me this utterly surpasses the studio versions, both versions of ‘Tonight’s The Night’ are just really far out there and I haven’t got the superlatives for ‘Tired Eyes’. Great to hear Young in a daft, good mood between tracks and the closing take on ‘Walk On’ is superlative. My new fave 3-sided LP.
Man Maximum Darkness
Once you go Welsh, you won’t go back – as the ancient saying goes. This is a great improvisational 1975 live LP featuring John Cipollina as a special guest. The track ‘Many Are Called But Few Get Up’ is just genius+. A brilliantly bonkers insert helps too.
Pentangle Basket Of Light / Fairport Convention Liege And Lief
Somebody traded their folk collection in to the second-hand shop. Both of these highly-acclaimed beauties have been snapped up.
Talking Heads Fear Of Music
I had no idea I wanted this so much until I picked it up and realised that the cover is textured (for my pleasure?). A couple of duds on this one but more than made up for by the utterly classic ‘Life During Wartime’ and the sinister as hell ‘Memories Can’t Wait’.
Sting Dream Of The Blue Turtles
I am a bit embarrassed by this one, I shouldn’t be, there are a few absolutely cracking tunes here – I dreamed about the song ‘We Work The Black Seam’ a couple of weeks ago for no apparent reason and I can always skip ‘Russians’ – EVERY SINGLE TIME!!
Brian Eno Apollo Atmospheres And Soundtracks
The second side of this LP is just incredible music. ’nuff said.
Hawkwind Shot Down In The Night
7″ bought because it had been almost 24 hours since I’d bought a Hawkwind record and for the version of ‘Urban Geurilla’^^on the B-side, which is not on Live Seventy Nine.
I quite fancy a sandwich but I’m too frightened financially to get up out of this seat …
981 Down (among the dead men).
*and why the hell haven’t I?
**now remedied, you’ll be relieved to hear.
^I’m a more emotional person that I realised, I now realise…
^^once the most appallingly timed sequel to a hit single ever.