Sad that the festive season is all over? Nah, nor me. I’m more happy that spring is less than two months away and soon the evenings will be brighter and longer.
Anyway, to cheer the gloom, here’s the first random iPod shuffle of 2017, live from my man cave.
1. Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. Nice start to the year with this blinder from Thriller.
2. The Song Is Over by the Who. Who’s Next remains their finest album, all killer no filler. On this one, Daltrey hits some notes he will never see again but Townsend sings most of it in one of his better vocal performances. Brilliant.
3. Jump, Jump, Jump by Rick Derringer. Derringer’s All American Boy remains a stellar record and this track gives you a big clue as to why.
4. Throw by Paperclip People. I bet you you thought I’d run to the iPod when this came on, didn’t you, utterly clueless as to who this was? You’d have been right then. Nice bit of techno, as the kids might say.
5. Lookin’ for reason by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Early CCR and out and out country music here, including pedal steel. It’s from their farewell record Mardi Gras which has two great original Fogerty tunes, of which this isn’t one.
6. This is the One by the Stone Roses. From the boys’ first record back in 1989. This is the Roses sound I’d like to remember them by.
7. Sweetness Follows by REM. I so miss REM when I hear cuts like this from Automatic for the People but then again I like it better than they quit at the top.
8. I’m Not In Love by 10cc. Question here: do you own The Original Soundtrack LP from whence this mighty classic hails? Do yourself a favour and get it. Still sounds bright and new today, nearly 42 years since it was released.
9. (Wish I could) Hideaway by Creedence Clearwater Revival. John Fogerty is astounding on this deep cut from the Pendulum record.
10. Two Different Roads by Michael Nesmith. A gem from old wool hat’s And the Hits Just Keep on Comin’ album.
That’s all, folks!
