Shackleton by Fiennes

I recently bought a copy of Ranulph Fiennes' biography of Sir Ernest Shackleton. I haven't really thought about polar explorers since I was a child. Shackleton was something of an adventurer with several downsides to his character. It was right, however, that Antarctica should be explored and so, although he did not achieve many of his goals (reaching the South Pole being the main one) he did advance science and understanding through his intrepid work. While I was reading the book, which is informed by Fiennes' own experiences in this field, I noticed a film on Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer, on BBC iplayer (more here) and enjoyed watching that. Amundsen was presented in a similar light to what I had read about Shackleton. They can't all have been the same as Birdie Bowers, part of Scott's team, was a decided Christian, as notd in Peter Masters's book Men of Destiny. (see here) I must check out again the Vangelis album of music for the film Antarctica (see here) and Colin Harper's album Titaniium flag a concept album on similar themes. (see here)

Aphrodite's Child (Roussos, Vangelis, Sidaris) Spring Summer Winter & Fall

Blast from the past

365 Albums The Final Ten in the Series

1. The Bells of Dublin The Chieftains 1991
2. Winter Carols Blackmore's Night 2006
3. Kerstconcert met dochters Thijs van Leer 2000
4. Keep Walking Emily Maguire 2007
5. El Greco Vangelis 1998 *
6. Rosetta Vangelis 2016
7. The Long Black Veil The Chieftains 1995
8. Down The Old Plank Road The Chieftains 2002
9. Focus Live in Europe Focus 2019
10. Tin Whistles Paddy Moloney & Sean Potts 1973

365 Albums 316-330

1. Life in Slow Motion David Gray 2005
2. Thief Soundtrack Tangerine Dream 1981
3. Heaven's Open Mike Oldfield 1991
4. I'm in the Mood Live Recorded Selections 2002/2003 Jan Akkerman 2003
5. Sorcerer Soundtrack Tangerine Dream 1977
6. Charisma Joachim Kuhn 1977
7. L'Apocalypse Des Animaux Vangelis 1973
8. Parallel Lines Blondie 1978
9. The City Vangelis 1990
10. Whirlwind Spin 1977
11. Forcefield III To Oz and Back 1989
12. Wild Connections Jack Lancaster & Rick van der Linden 2007
13. Gabrielle Gabrielle 1996
14. QE2 Mike Oldfield 1980
15. Incantations Mike Oldfield 1978

365 Albums 136-150

1. Ekseption 3 Ekseption 1970
2. Come away with me Norah Jones 2002
3. Live at the Priory Jan Akkerman 1997*
4. The Celtic Harp Tribute to Bunting The Chieftains (& Belfast Harp Orchestra) 1993
5. Thunder from the Blue Sky The Vlatko Stefanovski Trio 2008
6. Beatles for Sale The Beatles 1964 (M20)
7. Every Valley Public Service Broadcasting 2017
8. After the Break Planxty 1979
9. Green River Creedence Clearwater Revival 1969
10. Pilgrim Days Indelible Grace 2 2008*
11. Platinum Mike Oldfield 1979
12. Willy and the Poorboys Creedence Clearwater Revival 1969
13. Sounds of Silence Simon & Garfunkel 1966
14. Chariots of Fire Soundtrack Vangelis 1981
15. Spiral Vangelis 1977

365 Albums 121-135

1. Jan Akkerman 3 Jan Akkerman 1979 
2. Modern Vampires of the City Vampire Weekend 2013
3. Poland Tangerine Dream 1984
4. Cosmo's Factory Creedence Clearwater Revival 1970
5. Violunar Kagermann 1992
6. Tangram Tangerine Dream 1980
7. Adrenalin Rush Gareth Pearson 2006
8. Oceanic Vangelis 1997
9. All that you can't leave behind U2 2000
10. The Memory of Trees Enya 1995
11. Noise of Art Jan Akkerman 1990
12. Hymns III Page CXVI 2010*
13. Beyond the Storm Edgar Froese 1995
14. Happy to meet - Sorry to part Horslips 1972
15. Rubber Soul The Beatles 1965

365 Albums 16-30

1. Graceland Paul Simon 1986
2. Laser Love After the Fire 1979
3. Book of Invasions Horslips 1976
4. The Slider T Rex 1972
5. Philosophers, poets and kings Kate Rusby 2019
6. New York City The Peter Malick Group ft Norah Jones 2003
7. Angel on the mantlepiece Charles O'Connor 1999*
8. Solitude Standing Suzanne Vega 1987
9. Shepherd Moons Enya 1991
10. Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel 1969
11. Play to Win Gabrielle 2004
12. China Vangelis 1979
13. Cyril Cyril Havermans 1973
14. Hyperborea Tangerine Dream 1983
15. The Race for Space Public Service Broadcasting 2015

(* Suitable for Sunday playing IMHO)

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)

10 Great Acts from the Seventies

1. Focus
2. Yes
3. Horslips
4. Tangerine Dream
5. Vangelis
6. Mike Oldfield
7. Free
8. T Rex
9. Roxy Music
10. The Chieftains

Retro Album "of the week" 48 - Heaven and Hell

We have a had a Vangelis before in this series and I could add more but I'm limiting it to two selections. This second one appeared way back in 1975 and was the fifth solo album. Sensibly instead of trying a heaven section and a hell one, the themes are mixed. The LP contained one part on each side but originally track titles were included. These were "Bacchanale" – 4:40; "Symphony to the Powers B" (Movements 1 and 2) – 8:18; "Movement 3" (from "Symphony to the Powers B") – 4:03 "So Long Ago, So Clear" – 5:00; "Intestinal Bat" – 3:18; "Needles and Bones" – 3:22 (a favourite of mine); "12 O'Clock" (in two parts) – 8:48 (also brilliant); "Aries" – 2:05 and "A Way" – 3:45.

Apparently the album gained worldwide recognition through the use of "Movement 3" as the theme for the TV documentary series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. The album was the first composed and recorded by Vangelis in his new Nemo Studios in London, the studio he used until 1987.

The album has classical overtones, in contrast to the progressive rock of other albums. Vangelis would return to classical style work ten years later, on Mask (1985). He dabbles with choral sections (featuring the English Chamber Choir conducted by Guy Protheroe; Vana Veroutis also features on "12 O'Clock") joined with his now typical electronic washes of sound, a concept he would again return to in the nineties with Conquest of Paradise and Mythodea. The album marks the first collaboration between Vangelis and Jon Anderson, on "So Long Ago, So Clear" (it came about when Yes tried to recruit Vangelis as their keyboard player and continued more fully a few years later). Heaven and Hell reached number 31 in the UK album charts in January 1976.

Retro album of the week 8 - Oceanic

Oceanic appeared at the end of 1996 and was Vangelis's seventeenth solo studio album. By this time he was in quite a new age groove, which is not to everyone's taste but I really like this instrumental album, which is more of a classical album in style than a rock thing. The theme is the sea (with tracks such as "Bon Voyage" - 2:33 "Sirens' Whispering" - 7:59 "Dreams of Surf" - 2:43 "Spanish Harbour" - 6:42 "Islands of the Orient" - 7:24 "Fields of Coral" - 7:44 "Aquatic Dance" - 3:44, etc). The sound effects of the sea between tracks that turn it into one continuous track are done seamlessly. They even lifted a single from it (the gloriously Shadows-inspired "Song of the seas"). This album will not be to everyone's taste but I just love it. Interestingly, it did best in Hungary, where they have no sea. I'm not a sea lover a such myself. Appropriately enough the US version came out on the Atlantic label.

Another one bites the dust, Demis Roussos

Continental seventies rockstars seem to be falling like flies at present. German Edgar Froese was not widely covered but Greek star Demis Roussos was. I have very little Roussos in my collection but this opening title track from Aphrodite's Child (yes that's Vangelis on keyboards and before Demis got fat and wore khaftans) is a great track. It's power to induce nostalgia (a Greek word after all that really refers to homesickness) is powerful. I like particulalry the way it really does seem to be 5 pm (in winter) when I listen to it.

Vangelis improvising

Concept Albums 2

At number 2 I've put Vangelis's beautiful instrumental Oceanic. Some would say 'just another Vangelis album' but that would be unfair. This 'new agey' album really takes you on a journey out to sea and back and is most pleasant to listen to.
Tracks: 1. Bon Voyage
2. Siren's Whispering
3. Dreams Of Surf
4. Spanish Harbour
5. Islands Of The Orient
6. Fields Of Coral
7. Aquatic Dance
8. Memories Of Blue
9. Song Of The Seas

Check here for samples

Top Concept Albums 10-6

6. Eli/Jan Akkerman & Kaz Lux 1976
Theme - a day in the life. One reviewer says 'Sort of a concept album here with Akkerman joining up with his old Brainbox buddy vocalist/lyricist Kaz Lux. Lyrically, the album develops around a rather simple man (Eli) and his old fashioned values while also exploring his fantasies and dreams. Lux`s powerful and emotive vocals convey these sometimes dark themes very effectively, supported by Akkerman's upbeat guitar which sometimes reaches disco-funk (yet very textured) proportions, particularly on Can't Fake A Good time.' Tracks: 1. Eli 2. Guardian Angel 3. Tranquillizer 4. Can't Fake a Good Time 5. There He Still Goes 6. Strindberg 7. Wings of Strings 8. Naked Actress 9. Fairytale.

7. Beggar Julia's Time Trip/Ekseption 1969
Mostly instrumental. Theme - history of music. This fascinating album by Holland's version of ELP has been described as 'an ambitious and continuous concept-album that stands as one of the band's finest moments. The concept told the story of a female beggar who lived in year 900. One day she encounters some kind of a time-machine/space-ship that takes her on a journey through the centuries and up to our time. Musically, the album mixes classical themes with original material written by Rick van der Linden.' The links are rather naff but the music is just great.
Tracks: Ouverture [3:21] Prologue [2:23] Julia [2:21] Flying power [0:31] Adagio/Space/ Italian concerto [4:59] Concerto [3:52] Space II [0:26] Pop giant/Space III [0:22] Feelings [3:09] Epilogue [0:57] Finale: Music for mind/Theme Julia [3:55]


8. The Snow Goose/Camel 1975
This is the best Camel album of their many. Tracks: 1. Great Marsh 2. Rhayader 3. Rhayader Goes To Town 4. Sanctuary 5. Fritha 6. Snow Goose 7. Friendship 8. Migration 9. Rhayader Alone 10. Flight Of The Snow Goose 11. Preparation 12. Dunkirk 13. Epitaph 14. Fritha Alone 15. Princesse Perdue 16. Great Marsh
Theme - based on Paul Gallico's novella. Check here for samples.


9. Six Wives of Henry VIII/Rick Wakeman 1973
Instrumental. Theme - one for each of the queens. Lots of analogue synthesizers so it sounds a bit dated now but this is really good fun. I love his use of 'The day Thou gavest Lord is ended' on Anne Boleyn. Check here for samples.


10. Heaven and Hell/Vangelis
Instrumental. Theme - Heaven and hell! Check here for samples. This album is in two long parts and you can buy them from i-tunes for just 79p each. Bargain!