The Archivist: Runrig - The Big Wheel

 

 

I used to work, many moons ago, in a store that sold extremely high quality audio equipment. You know the type.  where you had to make an appointment to hear a set up of your choice. We also sold CDs - from when they were first released. So I spent many an hour listening to music that I would never have come across. One such CD was Heartland back in 1985. By a band I'd never heard of called Runrig. Unusually, half of the tracks were in Scottish Gaelic. But, not understanding the language wasn't really a barrier as the songs were still very good.

 

So I kept an eye on them and they continued to release good albums which contained both songs in English and their native Gaelic.

 



 

 

 

 

 

The band formed way back in 1973 by brothers Rory & Callum Macdonald in their native Skye. Their sound has been described as Celtic Rock.

 

In 1991, in my opinion, they released their best album, The Big Wheel. Again, it followed the template of their earlier albums but with only two tracks sung in Gaelic and the majority in English. With Donnie Munro's soaring vocals & Malcolm Jones' guitar both featuring, they produced an album of widescreen proportions. With the Macdonald brothers providing all of the tunes, the album was both tuneful and uplifting. Although it also has it's quieter and more reflective moments too.

 



 

 

The landscape provides inspiration for a lot of Runrig songs.

 

 



 

They are also an excellent live band. I've seen them on several occasions over the years and they've always put on a great show.

 

 

 

They even had a hit single with Hearthammer, with Rory on lead vocals.

 

 

 

 

The album ends with the rather majestic Flower Of The West.

 

 

With their next album, Amazing Things in 1993, they even had a couple more hit singles.

 

 

And with the album Mara in 1995, they had another hit album.

 

 

 

This was the last Runrig album to feature vocalist Donnie Munro. He was replaced by Canadian Bruce Guthro who remains the vocalist.

 

 

Although Rory Macdonald also sings some of the songs on the album.

 

 

Donnie, while pursuing a career in politics, has also released some really good solo albums.

 

 

 





 

And in 2012 - The Macdonald brothers, Rory & Callum, released their first album away from Runrig called The Band From Rockall. And a fine album it is too.

 

 

 

 

 

Twitter - for info - @Runrig1973

 

http://www.runrig.co.uk/

 

The Archivist: Christopher Cross - Another Page

March 1980 - My first year in art college. I can remember that year, the soundtrack to my work at home was the first album by Christopher Cross. It caught on in the USA like a wildfire. It produced several top 10 hits and two bona fide classics which are still played today, Ride Like The Wind & Sailing. Although, the whole album has top notch songs and the usual quality glossy American production.



Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Chris won 5 Grammy Awards for his debut album and it was one of the biggest selling albums of 1980. In fact, it has gone 5 times platinum.

I've stated earlier in the Blog, on the Swing Out Sister post, that there are some artists that I'll purchase an album without even hearing it. Christopher Cross is one of those artists.

In fact, Another Page is probably in my top 10 albums.

His second album, Another Page, was finally released in 1983. However, whether it was that the public taste had changed, or it was too long in being released, or if it was Chris' not your usual Rock Star image, Another Page did not get anywhere near the success of his debut. But in my humble opinion, this album should have been even bigger. Although it did go gold in the USA.

The album is unashamedly romantic and lush but never sentimental or cloying.

 The songwriting is even better and the performances and the production are top notch. The album should have been huge. Especially on the other side of the pond. But it wasn't. However, it remains my favourite Christopher Cross album. It contains some beautiful songs. Including the hits Alright & Think of Laura.

But the album is so much more than the singles.

He is probably best known for his theme for the film Arthur, for which he won an Oscar.

Although Christopher has continued to release albums throughout the 80s, 90s & 2000s.





He has even released two lovely Christmas albums.

But let's end with the last track on Another Page

Oh, OK, what about his biggest hit from his 2013 live album, A Night In Paris.



http://www.christophercross.com/

The Archivist: The Beatles - Revolver

 

 

OK, let's get one of the big ones down. There's not much I can add about the Beatles to the history that already exists. I can say that they were with me from an early age when my brother used to play them constantly (together with The Beach Boys - of more later).

 

 

So I was brought up with the early albums and sing along singles. I had no idea at that age what an influence they were having on music and the legacy they would leave future musicians. I just sang the songs like any other little boy would. Just as the little ones in your family are singing Jessie J and Katy Perry these days.

 

 

I didn't really look into the Beatles legacy until I was in my 20s. I already had the Red, Blue & oddly, The White Album which gave you all you really needed to know. But once I started buying the albums, I could see the evolution of the band. Whatever you think of the Beatles, their legacy and seismic influence on popular music cannot be denied.

 

 

 

Of course, not every album is a classic. The first few have enough fillers to establish Polycell as a company but the diamonds just shone out of the dirt. I won't start a roll call of the fantastic singles/songs they produced up to Revolver but suffice to say they had a few.

 

 

 

 

 

Their 6th album Rubber Soul (1965) had highlighted a more thoughtful and acoustic side to the band. With now classic songs such as Norwegian Wood, Michelle & If I Needed Someone, this was the turning point for the band and also the time where they can be seen as individual songwriters. The days of songs by Lennon/McCartney were long gone by now and the boys were all writing separately, only coming together for a few exceptions.

 



 

 

But for me, there was still too much filler in the albums. They were obviously under pressure to churn out the albums and I often think how great some albums could have been if they had been given more time. However, Revolver is probably their most consistent and diverse album of their career. Every song is worthy and every song is different.

 

The first song to be released as a single was ironically not included on the album. It was recorded at the same sessions and released prior to Revolver in 1966.

 

 



 

 

Revolver was also the album where the writing of George Harrison really shone for the first time. Indeed, the first song goes to George and is a striking statement on the times.

 

 



 

 

Paul was responsible for the two other singles that were released from the album, Eleanor Rigby & Yellow Submarine. But he had better songs on Revolver such as the gorgeous Here, There & Everywhere.

 



 

and For No One

 

 

 

But John was not to be outdone and Paul obviously brought the best out of John. Revolver probably contained the strongest set of Lennon songs on ANY Beatles album.

 



 

 

and my favourite song on the album

 

 

 

 

The album ends with two brilliant songs - one pure pop from McCartney, the other by Lennon, pointing the way to the next album in terms of invention. Some people think that Revolver was the first of the psychedelic albums which came to fruition with some little known album called Sgt. Pepper's.

 



 

 

 

However, my favourite song of the Revolver session is tucked away as a B side to the first song released, Paperback Writer. It's another great John Lennon song called Rain.

 

 

 

 

So, if you haven't got it already, go out and get Revolver. It's the ONE Beatles album where very song is worthy.



 

 

Twitter - @thebeatles

 







http://www.thebeatles.com/

 



The Archivist: U2 - Achtung Baby

 

Baby, Baby, Baby, light my way.

 

 

 

U2 have always had a touch of the Grandiose about them. From their early punk beginnings, Bono & the boys have always gone for the jugular with huge chords and even bigger vocals.

 

 

After Queen, U2 were the biggest surprise of Live Aid in that hot day of July 25th 1985. They performed a set which would launch them to Mega Stardom. Extended a version of Bad to such an extent they lost their last song, Pride. But the gamble paid off and they were handsomely rewarded. Following The Unforgettable Fire album, in which they worked with Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois for the first time, they went off to discover THEIR America. The result was the decade defining album, The Joshua Tree. With this album and the subsequent movie soundtrack/new album Rattle & Hum - released in 1988 - they explored their American Dreams just as millions of Irish have before them. Widescreen, panoramic music that encompassed the American landscape and huge ideas. They reached a point where their fame could not be surpassed. Just as Dire Straits had before them. It seemed that U2 would also follow in the same path as the Straits and disband at the top of their game. Where else could they go?

 

 

 

 

In a space of 3 years - to the end of 1991 - U2 set about reinventing themselves, both in sound, visuals and attitude. The result was the career defining album Achtung Baby. Indeed, when other bands try the same sort of reinvention, which is pretty rare, the subsequent album is often referred to as their 'Achtung Baby'.

 

 

 

The band decided to decamp to the Hansa Studio in Berlin. To say it was an fraught recording process is an understatement. The band had constant arguments about the new direction the band were taking and the quality of the material they were recording. But they stuck at it and produced one of the best albums ever committed to vinyl, or cd. 

 

 

 

 

The opening track of the album, Zoo Station, although proceeded by the single The Fly, sets the tone for the album. Bold, Experimental and Direct. U2 had dispatched their American influences for a totally European feel. Hansa Studios had given birth and inspired some of the best albums in recording history, including Bowie's Low & Heroes albums, Iggy's Lust For Life and albums by Tangerine Dream & Depeche Mode amongst others.

 



 

 

 

The opening single The Fly was totally unexpected. I remember the reaction when it was released. People couldn't believe it was U2.

 

 

 

The Achtung Baby Tour was a landmark of live performance. I was lucky enough to catch them at the very first indoor gigs where they hung Trabant Cars from the ceiling of the venue. The band were dressed totally different in sequins, leathers and colour. It was dark, dangerous, moody, introspective, exceptionally camp and totally brilliant. An experience I will never forget.

 

 

 

 

The album lit the touchpaper for what was to become a new career for U2. They went on to have the fabulous ZOO TV tour and release albums that were challenging and new. 

 

 

 

Probably the best known song from the album and the one that has turned into a classic was the song ONE.

 

 

 

From the disappointing response to their previous album Rattle & Hum, the new Achtung Baby garnered terrific reviews, as can be seen in the Rolling Stone review in the link below.

 

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/achtung-baby-19920109

 

 

It is ironic now that U2 find themselves in the same position as they did following Rattle & Hum. I don't expect we'll see another  Achtung Baby moment in the history of U2 - but wouldn't it be just totally fabulous Darling.

 

Twitter - @U2

 

http://www.u2.com/index/home

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Songs in the Key of MY Life: Coldplay - Fix You

 

 

OK, let me come right out and say it straight off. I LIKE COLDPLAY. There, I've said it. And, I'm not ashamed to say so.

 

 

Coldplay are probably the most maligned band to have come about in the last 20 years. They are often perceived to play SAFE rock music. To have below par lyrics and have predictable musical phrasing.

 

 

This is really unfair. OK, they aren't going to push any musical boundaries but Chris Martin & Co have given us some excellent songs since their first outing Parachutes. I always look forward to a new Coldplay album and although some of these may appear bloated & laden, they do contain some beautiful songs.

 

I remember hearing Fix You for the first time and it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The build up in the song is just fantastic and the harmonies at the end of the song are just sublime. So, no apologies. I LOVE this song. So there!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Twitter - @coldplay

 

http://www.coldplay.com/

 

 

 

 



Indispensable: MOJO Magazine

 

 

Long before the advent of the internet, anyone who was interested in rock music could get information through several various channels. Number 1 was the radio. You also had TV in the form of The Old Grey Whistle Test. You had your mates, who would come up with all sorts of info and recommendations. And you also had The Music Press.

 

 

In my formative years of the 70s, we had 2 really big publications for anyone interested in Rock music. The Melody Maker, first published in 1926 and went right through to its merger with NME in 2000 and Sounds who were the new kids on the block and was published from 1970 - 1991.

 

 

 

 

 

These were the setters of taste, the suppliers of information and ne stop shop for anything Rock. I used to get these two EVERY week. I bought many an album on the basis of reviews from these papers. You got to know the journalist's taste. Writers such as Chris Welch and Paulo Hewitt.

 

 

Another major British music paper was first published way back in 1952 and was a mainstay of music journalism all through the 1960s was NME ( New Musical Express). When punk arrived in the mid 70s, jumped wagon and became the New Wave mag of choice.

 

 

 

I bought NME infrequently and relied on Melody Maker and Sounds for my musical info. Now all these were 'papers' and looked and felt exactly like the current newspapers.

 

One short lived 'magazine' was SFX which produced its work on a C60 cassette. I think I may even have a couple in the attic. this lasted about a year from 1981-82.

 

But the big breakthrough came in 1986 with the publication of the first Q magazine.

 

 

established by journalists David Hepworth & Mark Ellen, it brought a fresh new face to Rock Journalism in the UK. Featuring colour photographs and more in-depth articles, it quickly became the place to go for quality Rock journalism. Today, it has more of a POP bias but can still contain some good articles.

 

However, as Q was starting to follow a more Pop template, it left a gap for the more mature music fan. This was duly filled on October 1th 1993 by MOJO magazine.

 

 

 

Since I bought the first publication back in '93, MOJO has become my music Bible. The quality of journalism is fantastic and it has alerted me to many a great new band while still keeping us informed on the comings and goings on our favourite artists.

 

 

 It now includes a monthly CD with lots of great music every month and some excellent themed CDs such as the St Pepper CD where various bands produced cover versions of the songs on  the albums.

 

 



 

They also have a great end of year list of the Best Albums in all the differing genres.

 



 





 

I have received MOJO since edition one and have subscribed for most of that time. Subscribers get some nice souvenir covers as seen in the 20th Anniversary Edition below.

 

 

MOJO also has an excellent online presence and social media offering which gives excellent up to date information if you're out and about or on the move.

 

But nothing is quite like getting your hands on the magazine.

It's the magazine I look most forward to popping on the doormat every month.

 

 

 

Twitter - @MOJOmagazine

 

http://www.mojo4music.com/