Tag Archives: vinyl records

Below the Salt – Steeleye Span

First of all – what a great album cover. The frisky play on being peasants well and truly ‘below the salt’ is riotously captured by the band playing up to the camera. I cannot help thinking they are also saying to the traditionalists that actually we do not care what you think but this is our version of traditional folk. This album captures all that is wonderful about these old songs but does so in a way that is more palatable, shall we say, for the non-devotee of traditional folk. This album will never, can never date. The songs are so old anyway at the time of recording that another couple of hundred years will not age them.

The Band – Best of The Band

With the passing of Garth Hudson THE BAND is no more. I was listening to The Band well before I started listening seriously to Dylan. I encourage you to seek out or stream a collection and enjoy America’s finest Canadians bottling the spirit of the States in a way no one else has been able to do. Musically they had few if any peers as a collective group of musicians.
The Band – yes, THE band. Enjoy their legacy as with Garth Hudson’s passing we will not see their like again. TAKEN FROM MY BOOK ‘Tracks of our Years’ bit.ly/bookneal

Paul Simon – Paul Simon

Paul Simon released his second solo album in early 1972, having spent two years moving forward from the breakup of his partnership with Art Garfunkel. Looking back some fifty years from the release of this album you can see the template for Simon’s love of using varying styles of music gathered from all over the world. There is a sense of release from the constraints of working as a duo in this work. It is intensely personal, as is most of Simon’s writing. The album represents a crossroads for him but one that he negotiates with a fresh impetus to his writing, but most especially to his musicality. This has a feel of a great starting album from an exciting new artist, one not fully developed, but one of exceptional promise of what is to come. http://www.nealatherton.com

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.

Paul Simon – Live Rhymin’

Live ‘Rhymin’ is a largely forgotten gem in Paul Simon’s catalogue. It captures the Simon of the time beautifully, as well as giving an insight into how he must have sounded in those heady mid ’60s days touring the bleak Northern towns of England.

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”

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”