365 Albums 1-15

I'm trying to listen to 365 albums this year. Here are 15 I've already listened to.

1. Argus Wishbone Ash 1972
2. Introspection Thijs van Leer 1972*
3. Aranjuez Jan Akkerman Claus Ogerman 1978*
4. T Rex T Rex 1970
5. Please please me The Beatles 1963
6. Guitars Mike Oldfield 1999
7. Heaven and Hell Vangelis 1975
8. Antarctica Vangelis 1983*
9. Titanium Flag Colin Harper 2017
10. Ekseption Ekseption 1969
11. Stratosfear Tangerine Dream 1976
12. American Pie Don McLean 1971
13. Hymns Page CXVI 2009*
14. Close to the Edge Yes 1972
15. Emerson Lake and Palmer Emerson Lake and Palmer 1970

(* Suitable for Sunday playing IMHO)

February again

My mind goes to this piece of nonsense at this time of year.

Retro Album of the Week 15 - American Pie

There was a lot of talk in the media about the song American Pie last week. When I was a young teenager it was hard to find a record collection that didn't include the album American Pie by Don McLean (along with Bridge over troubled waters by Simon and Garfunkel). I eventually bought a copy myself having already fallen for the title track and Vincent played on the radio as singles.

American Pie was McLean's second studio album. It was recorded and came out in 1971 and was a great success. The album comes out of a folk background but was dedicated to Buddy Holly, whose 1959 death kicks off the ten year history that informs the fascinating title track.

The album is evidently supposed to be a unified whole but it has great variety - from the banjo backed multi vocal version of Psalm 136 through the stark Vietnam protest song The grave to the jaunty and ironic Everybody loves me. I like pretty much all the tracks, especially Empty Chairs said to have inspired Killing me softly the song about McLean sung by Roberta Flack (the composer Lori Lieberman denies this).

American Pie

In light of recent posts on Don McLean and Buddy Holly I thought this attempt may be of interest. A little long I'm sorry.

Best ofs 02

Also in the CD drawer of 'Best of' albums is a Don McLean album entitled American Pie - The Greatets Hits. It contains 20 tracks. I like nearly all of them. I was first aware of the tracks American Pie (which fascinated me) and Vincent (which fascinated me adn made me cry) through the radio. At school Graham Pearson (Rev Gary Davies and Leo Kottke fan) assured us all that McLean was the only decent player on the pop scene. I was also aware of McLean being held in high regard by others. The discovery that my mother's version of 'And I love you so' by Perry Como was written by McLean had an effect and whenever I went to someone else's house who was a little older they always had a copy of the original American Pie album, which in the end I bought. My top seven:

1. Empty chairs

2. Vincent

3. American Pie

4. Everyday

5. Crying

6. Fools Paradise

7. Castles in the air

More here

10 Songs about singers

This list was prompted by a question on University Challenge last night.

1. Duke Ellington (Sir Duke) - Stevie Wonder
2. Geno [Washington] - Dexy's Midnight Runners

(This Geno Washington is apparently not to be confused with Gino Washington another artiste)
3. Syd Barrett (Shine on you crazy diamond) - Pink Floyd
5. Paul McCartney - Scissor Sisters
6. John Lennon (All those years ago) - George Harrison
7. (Song for) Bob Dylan - David Bowie
8. (Song to) Woody [Guthrie] - Bob Dylan
9. Don McLean (Killing me softly with his song) - Roberta Flack
10. Kurt Cobain (Tearjerker) - Red Hot Chili Peppers