Category Archives: vinyl

Linda Ronstadt’s Emotional Performance with J D Souther on Prisoner in Disguise

J D Souther will be remember for his songwriting contributions to the Eagles. However I will always treasure his harmony and song contributions to‘Prisoner in Disguise’ my favourite Linda Ronstadt album. Every one of the ‘covers’ on here can lay claim to being better than the original. Her voice is so multi layered on this, betraying emotion so deep you feel she owns these songs, you can be persuaded that she did in fact write them. The song selection is perfection. It is of the time. That L.A., Eagles, Southern California vibe is stamped right through this with a tight, multi-talented band of Who’s Who of L.A. musicians. Because she was so admired by these contemporaries, and loved, the whole album is one of harmony and joy, it feels like they got great pleasure from the collaboration. Check out the gorgeous tender backing vocals of J D Souther on the ‘Prisoner in Disguise’ track. She chooses some beautiful songs on here.

Sandy Denny – Sandy

Sandy Denny’s solo albums can be flawed to a degree, as is her work with Fotheringay. Sometimes it is the song choice being patchy, it can be over-blown arrangements or just too many musical influences on one album. But in all of them are absolute gems. She is THE English female vocalist of the 20th Century – I do not engage in arguments over that one. If I was encouraging someone coming new to her work, then I would certainly suggest going to a compilation of which there are several worthy ones. I don’t own a vinyl compilation so I must as I write about my collection go to my favourite solo album.

Linda Ronstadt – Prisoner in Disguise

‘Prisoner in Disguise’ is my favourite Linda Ronstadt album. Every one of the ‘covers’ on here can lay claim to being better than the original. Her voice is so multi layered on this, betraying emotion so deep you feel she owns these songs, you can be persuaded that she did in fact write them. The song selection is perfection. It is of the time. That L.A., Eagles, Southern California vibe is stamped right through this with a tight, multi-talented band of Who’s Who of L.A. musicians. Because she was so admired by these contemporaries, and loved, the whole album is one of harmony and joy, it feels like they got great pleasure from the collaboration. Check out the gorgeous tender backing vocals of J D Souther on the ‘Prisoner in Disguise’ track. She chooses some beautiful songs on here.

Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel

Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel Of all the albums I have ‘reviewed’ in my Vinyl collection up to now I would say this is the most difficult. Views on it will always be subjective, so I am writing this as an objective view looking back fifty years rather than how I may have felt backContinue reading “Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel”

Richard & Linda Thompson – I Want to see the Bright Lights Tonight

Richard & Linda Thompson – I Want to see the Bright Lights Tonight I have to say this album scared the life out of me. To say Richard is at his bleakest is a genuine understatement. Love it – it is darkly beautiful. I was heavily into Fairport Convention around this time. In fact, theyContinue reading “Richard & Linda Thompson – I Want to see the Bright Lights Tonight”

Ralph McTell – Spiral Staircase

Ralph McTell – Spiral Staircase Before we headed out for a session at our local tennis club, my friend Chris would want to play an album. Our pre-exercise ritual. His brother was an enthusiastic and talented acoustic guitarist. We weren’t but wished we could pick the strings. We were better than him at tennis thoughContinue reading “Ralph McTell – Spiral Staircase”

Jackson Browne – Late for the Sky

It would be fair to say that Jackson Browne has for me brought out more feelings about life and all that it can throw at you than any other writer. He is my go to songwriter if I want to feel better about just about anything. That may seem strange as he is to some perhaps viewed as a melancholic, slightly cynical writer. True in part, but for me no one captures the human spirit and condition better than he does. For a writer to do that from such an early age is astonishing, as shown with his mature writing of ‘These Days’, one of his first compositions.

‘Late for the Sky’, released in 1974, actually the day prior to me seeing CSNY at Wembley Stadium, a concert that opened for me by hearing ‘Take it Easy’ blasting out over the sound system as I entered the arena. That song would be my first introduction to his work.

Fairport Convention – History of Fairport Convention

I wish I could tell you definitively how Fairport Convention became such an important part of my musical life, but I cannot explain it. No one I knew had ever heard of them let alone had an album to share with me. I suspect it was my friend Chris’s guitar playing brother who left this album lying around. I don’t think it could have been his as he was into introspective guitar playing songwriters. Maybe Sandy Denny prompted an interest. However it happened, one day this album found its way onto our shared turntable and for a time rarely left it – I bought my own copy shortly afterwards.