Dolores O'Riordan (The Cranberries) - 6th September 1971 - 15th January 2018

Dolores O'Riordan 

1971-2018

(Getty Images)

Have to confess to being in a bit of a state of shock after only just hearing of the passing of Dolore O'Riordan, lead vocalist of The Cranberries. She was only 46 years old and the details regarding her death are still being investigated.

I was quite pleased last year when The Cranberries returned to releasing music after a five year layoff, Something Else was their second studio album since reuniting in 2009 (the first album, Roses, was released in 2012). Although the album was new acoustic and orchestral versions of some of the older songs by the band it was still nice to hear that familiar sound of O'Riordan's voice again (I have mentioned before on here about how I love singers with an accent like Amy MacDonald and Sinéad O'Connor).

Plans were afoot to tour last year in Europe and North America with the band playing tracks from The Cranberries catalogue and from Dolores' solo releases but those plans came to a grinding halt not long into the European leg as the band were forced to cancel the remaining dates of the tour due to O'Riordan having some health issues. Whether this was related to the Bipolar Disorder, which she had been diagnosed with two years before but only spoke of it for the first time in May 2017, I do not know.

She was in London for a recording session and she passed away in a hotel in Central London. As I said there are no other details regarding the cause at present.

I had planned to include the album Something Else in part two of The Best of 2017: The Honourable Mentions. But it seems fitting to place it here as a stand alone album in honour of the short life and musical legacy of Dolores O'Riordan.

The Cranberries 2017

Something Else - The Cranberries
BMG
Released 28th April 2017

UK Chart #18

Irish Chart #17

US Independent Albums #5

Soundtrack4Life: The Best Albums of 2017 - Honourable Mentions Part 1

I mentioned I was going to do a post highlighting a few of the Albums released in 2017 that are deserving of an Honourable Mention even though they didn't make my list of Top 20 Albums for the Year (You can find all of the links to that list at this link).

As I mentioned when I was putting that list together these are my personal choices and so they may not be the choices you would make. 

Like most of my listening throughout last year this group of albums are very diverse musically from each other. They are in no particular order of merit.

There are links below to a few tracks from each album where available.

Crooked Calypso - Paul Heaton + Jacqui Abbott

Virgin EMI Records

Released July 2017

Tracks To Listen To:

I Gotta Praise.

He Wants To.

If I May.

She Got The Garden.

The Fat Man.

Third Album from Paul + Jacqui and continues on from their first two with great pop tunes (this time with a bit of a funky/soul sound in places) alongside the sometimes humourous lyrics from Mr Heaton.

Velvet Magic - Devil's Witches

Cursed Tounge Records (Vinyl)

Forbidden Place Records (CD)

Golden Dawn Recordings (Cassette)

Released June 2017

Listen To The Album In Full Here.

I wanted to take a moment to point out this one because it's by a friend of mine in Glasgow. James Abilene plays pretty much everything on it as well as writing the songs. Much to his surprise the album really hit a nerve among the community who thrive on this Doom Metal, Stoner Rock and Psychedelia. The Album was a real success selling out Vinyl stocks and the Cassette release in a very fast time. The Vinyl has been reprinted a couple of times and I believe is getting repressed again. The CD stock also sold out. The album would also end up on Best of Lists in various Countries as it spread its wings to South America, USA and around Europe.

I wanted to apologise to James as well because I did promise him at some point last year I would try and get an interview with him for Soundtrack4Life but I failed miserably to get my act together to do it. I hope James this makes up for that just a little. I am so proud of you fella. 😀

Check out Devil's Witches at:

Bandcamp.

Facebook.

Kicking Up The Dust - Cast

Cast Recordings

Released April 2017

Tracks To Listen To:

Do That.

Paper Chains.

We have had to wait six years for a brand new Studio Album from Cast but the wait was worth it I think. The band still sound so brilliant. Kicking Up The Dust was their Sixth album (the first four were released between 1995-2001). Troubled Times (released in 2011) was a magnificent return for the band and this latest one further cements the case for Cast being considered as one of the finest bands to come out of Liverpool.

Lindsey Buckingham/Christine McVie - Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie

Atlantic/Warner Music

Released June 2017

Listen To Select Tracks Here.

The album was pretty much a Fleetwood Mac record only without any input from Stevie Nicks! Songs on the album were written by Buckingham (5 songs) and McVie (2 songs), with them co-writing Feel About You, Red Sun and Too Far Gone. The project was quiet a success with the album Debuting on the Chart in the USA at #17 and in the UK at #5. It was the best chart placing they both have had outside of Fleetwood Mac. It's a great pop record I think and it was great seeing Lindsey and Christine writing together again (it's been a long time since Tango of the Night!)

I have a few more albums that I believe are worthy of an Honourable Mention and I'll try and tackle them next time around.

Full House (The Very Best of Madness) - Madness (November 2017)

 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Full House (The Very Best of Madness) - Madness
Union Square Music
Format: 4LP set or a 2CD set
Released 17th November 2017

(CD Back Cover)

Tracklist for 4LP Edition
A1 The Prince    
A2 One Step Beyond    
A3 My Girl    
A4 Bed And Breakfast Man    
A5 Night Boat To Cairo    
A6 Madness

    
B1 Baggy Trousers    
B2 Embarrassment    
B3 The Return Of The Last Palmas 7    
B4 Grey Day    
B5 Shut Up

    
C1 It Must Be Love    
C2 Cardiac Arrest    
C3 House Of Fun    
C4 Driving My Car    
C5 Our House 

   
D1 Tomorrow's (Just Another Day)    
D2 Wings Of A Dove    
D3 The Sun And The Rain    
D4 Michael Caine    
D5 One Better Day

    
E1 Uncle Sam    
E2 Yesterday's Men    
E3 (Waiting For) The Ghost Train    
E4 Sarah's Song (From the Musical Our House)   
E5 Lovestruck

    
F1 Johnny The Horse    
F2 Drip Fed Fred    
F3 Simple Equation (From the Musical Our House)    
F4 Girl Why Don't You (From The Dangerman Sessions Vol. 1)

    
G1 NW5    
G2 Dust Devil    
G3 Forever Young    
G4 Sugar And Spice    
G5 My Girl 2    
G6 Never Knew Your Name

    
H1 How Can I Tell You?    
H2 Misery    
H3 La Luna    
H4 Mr. Apples    
H5 Can't Touch Us Now    
H6 Another Version Of Me

On the first day of the New Year I wanted to kick off the blog with some bouncy, happy and snappy pop tunes and have turned toward an album that was released in November 2017 and is basically a compilation of the Singles, a couple of B-sides, and some additional tunes from the songbook of that Great British Institution known as Madness.

It seems customary that every couple of years or so that yet another Compilation from Madness appears on the scene. Full House (The Very Best of Madness) released in November was actually the sixth Compilation released by Union Square since 2009!

I usually frown upon bands/artists who seem to continually rehash their back catalogue for an endless stream of Greatest Hits albums but Madness are such loveable rogues that I can't bring myself to do that as everytime I hear a song of theirs it turns that frown upside down! 😀 

Tracks are taken from all parts of their history including the latest Studio Album that was released in 2016, Can't Touch Us Now.

May I take this opportunity to wish one and all a Happy New Year ahead. I trust that for those who had a bad one last year that better days will come your way. For those dealing with health issues that some healing might come your way. For those dealing with loss may comfort come.

So, I hope you enjoy this post, it is indeed the "Nuttiest Sound Around".

Previous Compilations are:

 Complete Madness (Stiff 1982)
Madness (Geffen 1983 US and Canada)
Utter Madness (Zarjazz/Virgin 1986)
Its...Madness (Virgin 1990)
It's Madness Too (Virgin 1991)
Divine Madness (Virgin 1992)
Total Madness (The Very Best of Madness) (Geffen 1997 US and Canada)
The Heavy Heavy Hits (Virgin 1998)
Complete Madness (Union Square 2009 Reissue)
Total Madness (Union Square 2009 not the same as the US album from 1997)
Ultimate Madness (Union Square 2010)
Forever Young: The Ska Collection Union Square 2012)
The Very Best of Madness (Union Square 2014)

Soundtrack4Life: The Best Albums of 2017 - #01 ?

Just before we launch into what my choice for the #1 spot is on the The Best Albums of 2017 is I thought just incase you have missed the previous 19 (where have you been? 😁) I would post links for all of them just so you can look back in either astonishment at some of the choices or bewilderment that I hadn't included something you liked (well stick a comment in and tell what your favourites are, how else am I meant to know these things! 😉).

The Best Albums of 2017

(according to Soundtrack4Life just to say so if it is disagreed with 😉)

20 After Laughter - Paramore.

19 Not Dark Yet - Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer.

18 Freedom Highway - Rhiannon Giddens.

17 11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory - Dropkick Murphys.

16 The Punishment of Luxury - OMD.

15 Unpeeled - Cage The Elephant.

14 Witness - Benjamin Booker.

13 QSP - Quatro, Scott & Powell.

12 How The West Was Won - Peter Perrett.

11 Southern Blood - Gregg Allman.

10 A Big Bad Beautiful Noise - Godfathers.

09 Pollinator - Blondie.

08 If All I Was Was Black - Mavis Staples.

07 Under Cöver - Motörhead.

06 Savage (Songs From A Broken World) - Gary Numan.

05 All American Made - Margo Price.

04  Olympiastadion, Helsinki July 31, 2012 - Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band.

03 Under Stars - Amy Macdonald.

02 The Nashville Sound - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

 

*********************

Way back on 4th June I wrote a piece for the blog on this album (which you can read here). I concluded it by saying, "The album gets a big👍from me and is one of my favourite releases so far this year!"

 

That sense of excitement about it never left and here we are on 21st December announcing it as the #1 pick of the year! I won't really say anything more about it because in the original post from June I think I said what I needed to say and I stand by it.

 

All I will say is that 2017 has seen some really great albums released (quite a few that never even reached my Top 20 but I will be doing a post to spotlight some honourable mentions next time) and I am delighted to announce this as what I think is the best of the crop (and remember it's my personal choice, you will probably think there is one better).

#1

 Soulfire - Little Steven
Wicked Cool Records/Universal Music Enterprises
Produced by Steven Van Zandt
Released 19th May 2017

  Tracklisting and Songwriting Credits
1 Soulfire 4:34 - Written By – Anders Bruus, Steve Van Zandt
2 I'm Coming Back 4:17 - Written By – Steve Van Zandt
3 Blues Is My Business 6:23 - Written By – Kevin Bowe, Todd Cerney
4 I Saw The Light 4:25 - Written By – Steve Van Zandt
5 Some Things Just Don't Change 4:03 - Written By – Steve Van Zandt
6 Love On The Wrong Side Of Town 3:52 - Written By –Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt
7 The City Weeps Tonight 3:30 - Written By – Steve Van Zandt
8 Down And Out In New York City 6:27 - Written By – Barry De Vorzon, Bodie Chandler
9 Standing In The Line Of Fire 4:33 - Written By – Gary Anderson (Gary U.S. Bonds), L. Anderson, Steve Van Zandt
10 Saint Valentine's Day     5:20 - Written By – Steve Van Zandt
11 I Don't Want To Go Home 4:20 - Written By – Steve Van Zandt
12 Ride The Night Away 5:20 - Written By – Steve Jordan, Steve Van Zandt

 

  Personnel
Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Stevie Van Zandt
  Backing Vocals – Audrey Martells, Cindy Mizelle, Elaine Caswell, Lajuan Carter, Martha Redbone, Tawatha Agee, The Persuasions (tracks: 7, 11)
    Baritone Saxophone – Ed Manion
    Bass – Jack Daley
 Drums – Rich Mercurio
    Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar,  
       Organ, Piano, Strings – Andy Burton
    Percussion – Daniel Sadownick
    Piano – Clifford Carter
    Tenor Saxophone – Steven Salcedo
    Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Stan Harrison
    Trombone – Ian Gray (track 8), Michael Davis
    Trumpet – Don Nissenbaum, John Martin, Kent Smith, Steve Jankowski 

 Violin, Viola – Jonathan Dinklage

 

 Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul

23 September 2017 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY

Soundtrack4Life: The Best Albums of 2017 - #02 The Nashville Sound - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (2017)

Sitting at #2 on my list of The Best Albums of 2017 is the sixth studio from Jason Isbell and the first since Here We Rest (2011) to have the 400 Unit credited as the artist (not taking into consideration the Live From Alabama album from 2012.

As with his last album Something More Than Free, Jason Isbell continues to make great strides to being one of the best songwriters around today. He's Country but not Country like some of the nonsense you hear on Country Music Radio. Isbell is Thinking Man's Country and if that wasn't enough to upset some he's also prepared to step outside the boundaries of Country and to embrace other sounds that also throws a spanner into the cogs of the machine!

He is also political but not in that usual redneck, ten gallon hat wearing, card-carrying Repulican way that some of the top players on the Country Scene are. He wears his heart on his sleeve and realises that whilst that may mean some "fans" are lost there are a lot more newer fans embracing what he's doing. Isbell was recently out supporting Doug Jones in the Special Election that saw Roy Moore (the favoured Republican with the allegations of sexual misconduct and other salacious baggage) defeated by the Democrats in Alabama (a sign maybe that people are rising up against the current administration and those ruling the roost in the Sentate).

The Nashville Sound is a wonderful array of sound from the acoustic opening Last of My Kind to full on Rockers like Cumberland Gap. It's loaded with songs for the desperate days in which we live like Hope The High Road. All in all it is a pretty balanced album that deserves a much wider hearing and despite the fact that the album is released on his own label Southeastern, an Independent label, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are making great efforts in being heard in many far away places than just Nashville!

Track-by-track Guide to The Nashville Sound (Rolling Stone 14/06/17).

"It's A Risky Statement" (Rolling Stone 19/06/17). 

Jason Isbell on Modern Country Music (Rolling Stone 28/07/17).

 The Nashville Sound - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Southeastern

Produced by Dave Cobb

Released 16th June 2017

US Charts #4

US Folk Albums #1

US Indie Albums #1

US Country Albums #1

US Top Rock Albums #1

UK Charts #26

Watch and Listen To Performances of Songs 

from The Nashville Sound (and a Bonus NPR Tiny Desk Concert) Here:

 The 400 Unit
    Jason Isbell – lead vocals, harmony vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar
    Derry Deborja – keyboard, Therevox
    Chad Gamble – drums
    Jimbo Hart – bass
    Amanda Shires – harmony vocals, fidle
    Sadler Vaden – electric guitar

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

LiveStream 13/10/17 

from Ryman Auditorium

Soundtrack4Life: The Best Albums of 2017 - #03 Under Stars - Amy Macdonald (2017)

One of the things I love about music is its ability to surprise! I've said it often enough (even on this blog) that if you are thinking in a musically narrow way by only spotlighting on one particular style of music you often miss out on something good that's going on elsewhere within the world of chords, beats, tunes and harmonies. So I have been learning over the years to be a bit more open and sometimes a surprise comes from a place you least expect it to.

Such is the case with my affection for Under Stars by Amy Macdonald. Way back in January I heard the lead single from the album (Dream On) and thought it was such a great song but I actually didn't have a clue as to who it was at first as I had never really explored the music of this young lady from Bishopbriggs in Glasgow before. But that song gripped me and I knew I had to go and find out more. So I saw the video for the song (which I thought was pretty cool) and then began working backwards finding more of her music. Under Stars is Amy Macdonald's fourth studio album and was her first in four and a half years.

I got the album when it came out and again was totally blown away by the sheer quality of the songs (she and her bandmates have written most of them). I can't quite put my finger on why I love this so much. I have to confess that I do like listening to singers who have a bit of an accent (Imelda May, Dolores O'Riordon of The Cranberries and Sinéad O'Connor also have that ability to charm me!) so maybe that might go a little way to my warming to her sound. I also liked the fact that she has performed a couple of Springsteen covers live in concert (and pulled them off very convincingly I hasten to add).

The reason this sits at #3 in The Best Albums of 2017 list is because it's one I have played a lot throughout the year since its release and I have never got weary listening to it. It may not be something that people would expect me to be listening to but hey, as I said I love the fact that at 54 years I can still be taken by surprise musically!

 Under Stars - Amy Macdonald

Virgin EMI Records/Melodramatic Records

Produced by Cam Blackwood, Tim Bran, Roy Kerr, Andrew Britton, Ash Howes and Mikey Rowe 

Released 17th February 2017

UK Charts #2

German Charts #2

Swiss Charts #1

 Tracklist
A1 Dream On    
A2 Under Stars    
A3 Automatic    
A4 Down By The Water    
A5 Leap Of Faith    
A6 Never Too Late    
B1 The Rise & Fall    
B2 Feed My Fire    
B3 The Contender    
B4 Prepare To Fall    
B5 From The Ashes

The Deluxe Edition of the Under Stars Album includes eight Acoustic songs seven of which are tracks featured on the album. The other is an acoustic version of Bruce Springsteen's I'm On Fire (Amy has covered a few Springsteen songs live: Born To Run and Dancing In The Dark).

Under Stars (Acoustic)
Dream On (Acoustic)
Prepare To Fall (Acoustic)
Leap of Faith (Acoustic)
Automatic (Acoustic)
Down By The Water (Acoustic)
The Rise & Fall (Acoustic)
I'm On Fire (Acoustic)

Amy Macdonald Live Düsseldorf 18/10/17


Setlist:
Under Stars 
Spark 
Dream On 
Pride 
Run 
Never too Late
Mr. Rock and Roll
Leap of faith
Automatic
4th of July
Down by the water
Prepare to fall
This is the life
Dancing in the dark
Poison Prince

The S4L Song of the Year 2017 : That's What Makes Us Great - Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers (featuring Bruce Springsteen)

There's been a lot of great songs around this year and instead of providing some kind of chart outlining my favourites of the year I am just going to get right down to business and name this one as The S4L Song of the Year 2017.

I do so because it is a song that not only captures the heartbeat of many of my friends in the USA but the longing of all decent and civilised people who recognise that hate towards people who are not of the same race, gender, sexual identity, political affinity is not what builds a nation whatever country we happen to live in.

After that defining day back in January when the 45th President of the United States of America was sworn into office and all the hullabaloo that has followed from broken promises, to trying to block people from getting into the Country, to surrounding himself with a team of people who are barely qualified to run a nursery let alone a Government and the dismantling of policies designed to help the poor and downtrodden with regard to health, education and social security and wages, it is time once again for the voice of the people to be heard! Add to that the constant cry of "fake news" from anyone who dared to question the President and his mission to pour scorn upon the free press and the elevation of "real news" that had an incredibly right wing bias.

Then there were the terrible scenes in Charlottesville, Virginia where white supremacists clashed with counter-demonstrators, and a car ploughed into the crowd of anti-racist and anti-fascist protesters killing Heather D. Heyer (aged 32). Such an event caused even more questioning of the Government as they were lacklustre in their response and almost unwilling to speak out against the white supremacists!

Joe Grushecky captured some of that distress that people are going through in his song That's What Makes Us Great.

Love Can Conquer Hate and it's been witnessed in many places throughout the year. I think of the awful events of the Grenfell Tower Block Fire here in the UK and how the community bonded together to help. People from the Muslim communties and Christian groups working side by side to alleviate the pain and suffering of those affected by the tragedy. That's how it should be done, not by alienating people because of their colour, creed, nationality etc.

I didn't particularly want to get into a whole political debate about these things but sometimes you just have to say something..."It's up to me and you".

There's a challenge in the song that I think gives one all pause for thought:

"In the quiet of the night
I lie here wide awake
And I ask myself
Is there a difference I can make?"

That's What Makes Us Great - Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers (featuring Bruce Springsteen)
written by Joe Grushecky

Released April 2017

They come from everywhere
A longing to be free
They come to join us here
From sea to shining sea

And they all have a dream
As people always will
To be safe and warm
In that shining city on the hill

Some wanna slam the door
Instead of opening the gate
Aw, let's turn this thing around
Before it gets too late

It's up to me and you
Love can conquer hate
I know this to be true
That's what makes us great

Don't tell me a lie
And sell it as a fact
I've been down that road before
And I ain't goin' back

And don't you brag to me
That you never read a book
I never put my faith
In a con man and his crooks

I won't follow down that path
And tempt the hands of fate
Aw, let's turn this thing around
Before it gets too late

It's up to me and you
Love can conquer hate
I know this to be true
That's what makes us great

In the quiet of the night
I lie here wide awake
And I ask myself
Is there a difference I can make?

It's up to me and you
Love can conquer hate
I know this to be true
That's what makes us great

Soundtrack4Life: The Best Albums of 2017 - #04 Olympiastadion, Helsinki July 31, 2012 - Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band

Okay, maybe it's cheating a little seeing as this one you couldn't buy on the High Street or via Amazon or iTunes (or whatever your particular choice for musical purchases) but it was an Offical Release from the Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Archives via his website.

This particular show has had a lot of play in previous years due to a great Bootleg (see video down below) that was going around and it's cool that what was the longest Springsteen show (at the time) finally got an Official Release. The only disappointment is that they didn't include the five song Pre-show Acoustic Set in the release. Oh well, "you can't always get what you want", as The Rolling Stones remind us!

With Bruce currently the hottest ticket On Broadway there are a number of great shows that have been released this year via the Archives that will soothe those longing for a real concert experience (so you have no complaints that you are going without! Go to the Website!). First and foremost though there was the fourteen shows from the Australian/New Zealand Tour between 22nd January - 25th February.

Then between April - December there have been ten Archive shows released (Click on the links to listen to a song from each of the shows):

April: St Louis 23/08/08 - Magic Tour.

May: Helsinki 31/07/12 - Wrecking Ball Tour.

July: Philadelphia 20/10/09 - Working On A Dream Tour.

August: Albany 07/02/77 & Rochester 08/02/77 - The Lawsuit Tour.

September: Houston 08/12/78 - Darkness Tour (all proceeds going to the MusiCares® Hurricane Relief Fund) and

Belfast 19/03/96 - Tom Joad Tour.*

October: MSG, New York 01/7/00 - Reunion Tour.

November: Stockholm 03/07/88 - Tunnel of Love Tour.

December: Jazzfest, New Orleans 30/04/06.**

(*Springsteen Solo. ** The Seeger Sessions Band.)

There's a great little piece by Stan Goldstein down at the bottom of the page where you can read a bit more about the Helsinki show - just click on the link to read it.

 Olympiastadion, Helsinki July 31, 2012 - Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band

Bruce Springsteen Archives

Released May 2017

A few highlights from the Official Archive Release

(Click on the links)

Rockin' All Over The World.

Loose Ends/Prove It All Night.

My City of Ruins.

Light of Day.

Shackled & Drawn.

Detroit Medley.

I Don't Want To Go Home/Higher and Higher.

 

 The Finnish Finish Bootleg

Set list:
Acoustic Pre-Show
1. I'll Work For Your Love (tour premiere)
2. Leap of Faith (tour premiere)
3. No Surrender
4. For You
5. Blinded By the Light (tour premiere)

Pre-show is not included on the Official Archive Release.

The Main Show
1. Rockin' All Over The World (tour premiere)
2. Night
3. Out In The Street
4. Loose Ends (sign request)
5. We Take Care of Our Own
6. Prove It All Night (with the 1978 Intro)
7. Wrecking Ball
8. Death To My Hometown
9. My City of Ruins
10. Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street? (sign request)
11. Be True
12. Jack of All Trades
13. Downbound Train
14. Because The Night
15. Lonesome Day
16. Darlington County
17. Light Of Day (sign request)
18. Shackled & Drawn
19. Waitin' On a Sunny Day
20. Back In Your Arms (tour premiere)
21. The Rising
22. Badlands
23. Land of Hope & Dreams

Encores:
24. We Are Alive
25. Born In The U.S.A
26. Born To Run
27. Detroit Medley (tour premiere)
28. Glory Days
29. Dancing In The Dark
30. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
31. I Don't Want to Go Home (tour premiere, sign request)
32. Higher and Higher (tour premiere)
33. Twist and Shout 

Stan Goldstein's Article for NJ.com on the show.

Soundtrack4Life: The Best Albums of 2017 - #05 All American Made - Margo Price (2017)

The debut album from Margo Price, Midwest Farmer's Daughter was released on Jack White's Third Man Records in 2016. It gained her a lot of friends even among the critics who were falling over themselves to heap praise upon it (very unusual behaviour indeed especially when you consider it was a Country Album!) and Margo Price joined that rather small band of ladies who make up the Female Wing of The Outlaws of Country Music!

For her second album she went to the Sam Phillips Studio (Phillips Recording) in Memphis with the luxury of having a bit more of a recording budget (see the link for a 2016 Interview below where she discusses the making of the Debut Album that was recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis).

Where the Debut had mainly dealt with her own story, All American Made starts to look at the world around and at times it's not a pretty place (yep that's a harsh reality that some of the more popular County music artists don't always shine a spotlight on for fear of standing out from the crowd) and Price is brave enough to stand up and declare.

(This next section is taken from an Interview in Rolling Stone, the link is down below in order to read the rest. Margo talks a little about politics and the reaction to the election result, the title track of the new album and how important it is to speak up):

"Like a lot of America, I was kind of in shock," she tells Rolling Stone Country, calling between tour stops in September. "The songs had already been written up until that point but it did steer it a little bit, especially deciding to put 'All American Made' on it. During the Obama administration was when that song was initially written, but it just took on a completely different meaning after the election."

"All American Made," a largely acoustic number that closes the album, begins with sampled speeches from Bill Clinton, Martin Luther King Jr. and Richard Nixon, among others, mimicking the way messages often get blended into meaningless noise through our relentless news cycles. "Got a heartache on the bottom and a headache on the top / the part of me that hurts the worst is the hardest one to spot," she sings, taking a hard look at the symptoms and causes of American malaise. With no clear solutions, the song takes an unsparing view of the way our disagreements turn into deep chasms – a scene that's played out repeatedly and even violently on many occasions.

"I've always been one to want to discuss those things and try to make our country the best that it can be," says Price. "But it's so many complex and so many ugly, violent things that have been happening. It's really hard to turn a blind eye to that. I think it's important to voice your opinion and, regardless of people who tell me otherwise, I think that's what makes our country beautiful ... our freedom to express our thoughts and views. Our voices are all we have right now, and it's important to use them." - for the full piece from Rolling Stone check the link below Margo Price Talks Politics etc.

********

One of the other things I love about the album is that she's prepared to not stick to the script of a typical Country album but is prepared to bring in other musical styles to augment her own particular style.

Her debut appeared in many of The Best of 2016 lists and I hope that this one does also because it's a mighty fine slab of All American Made music.

All American Made - Margo Price

Third Man Records

Produced by Matt Ross-Spang and Alex Munoz

Released 20th October 2017

US Chart #89

US Folk Albums #4

US Indie Chart #6

US Country Chart #12

UK Country Chart #1

Listen to songs from All American Made Here:

 Tracklist
A1 Don't Say It    
A2 Weakness    
A3 A Little Pain    
A4 Learning To Lose (with Willie Nelson)   
A5 Pay Gap    
A6 Nowhere Fast    
B1 Cocaine Cowboys    
B2 Wild Women*    
B3 Heart Of America    
B4 Do Right By Me (with The McCrary Sisters)    
B5 Loner*    
B6 All American Made
* Not on the Playlist above as there seems to be no You Tube videos or performances available.

Margo Price 

Rough Trade East - London 

Tuesday 7th November 2017

Meet Margo Price, Your New Favourite Nashville Badass (The Fader 2016).

Margo Price Talks Politics, Willie Nelson Duet on New LP (Rolling Stone October 2017). 

Jonathan Bernstein's Review for Rolling Stone (October 2017).

Soundtrack4Life: The Best Albums of 2017 - #06 Savage (Songs From A Broken World) - Gary Numan (2017)

Back in 2013 Gary Numan released Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind) to great critical and even commercial acclaim (it became his first Top 20 album since Warriors in 1993) peaking at #20 in the UK and only #175 in the USA. I really liked the album and also heard a couple of bootlegs from the tour that were really impressed me as well.

It's funny thinking about that because I have an odd history when it comes to Gary Numan and especially his band Tubeway Army. Way back in 1978 I had quite liked the first two singles from Tubeway Army (That's Too Bad and Bombers) but I saw them live and absolutely hated them! Then in 1979 I heard Down in the Park single and then Replicas album came out a month later and although I was more a guitar and drums kinda guy here's an album that is mainly electronic and I loved it. It was a work of genius. Then there were a few songs here and there I liked but over all I wasn't really taken with many of his albums put out under his own name.

One of the things that I have admired about him though is that he has been persistent in the face of falling sales, unpopularity among the masses, label changes, many knock downs from the music press, and he has continued to get up time and time again and in some way that has merely sharpened him and Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind) was the beginning of people starting to get him all over again.

Four years on from that Savage (Songs From A Broken World) entered into the world in September and once again I find myself stunned by its sheer brilliance. Album #21 and 39 years on from his first with Tubeway Army, Gary Numan has got something to say and I'm not the only one listening as the critics have been lining up to heap praise upon it and the fact that it entered the UK Chart at #2 shows that others have either returned to the Numanoid world or have freshly embraced it.

The Guardian Review.

The Quietus Review.

PopMatters Review.

Savage (Songs From A Broken World) - Gary Numan

BMG

Produced By Ade Fenton

Released September 2017

CD, Cassette and Vinyl and Limited Edition Vinyl Picture Disc (500 Copies only!)

UK Chart #2

US Chart #34*

Australian Chart #76**

* Was Numan's first Top 40 album in the USA since The Pleasure Principle in 1979!

** Was Numan's first chart entry in Australia since I, Assassin way back in 1982!

(Limited Edition Picture Disc)

Listen To Savage (Songs From A Broken World) Here:

 Personnel
Gary Numan – vocals, keyboards
Ade Fenton – keyboards, programming
Steve Harris – guitars
Tim Slade – bass
Persia Numan – backing vocals

(UK & European CD Cover)

 2LP Vinyl Tracklist
A1 Ghost Nation    
A2 Bed Of Thorns    
A3 My Name Is Ruin    
B1 The End Of Things    
B2 And It All Began With You    
B3 When The World Comes Apart    
C1 Mercy    
C2 What God Intended    
C3 If I Said    
D1 Pray For The Pain You Serve    
D2 Broken    
D3 Cold

Soundtrack4Life: The Best Albums of 2017 - #07 Under Cöver - Motörhead (2017)

With the inclusion of this album at #7 I broke my normal protocol for the third time and actually twice with this particular album. I have tended not to include albums of Cover Versions in my Best of the Year posts and this is the third one (the others being Shelly Lynne and Allison Moorer's album Not Dark Yet and Southern Blood by Greg Allman. A case could also be made for the QSP album by Quatro, Scott an Powell but that does include at least half an album of songs written by them so maybe it doesn't fit as a "covers album" as such). The second way of breaking my own protocol was the inclusion of a Compilation (something I don't think I have ever actually done - though I am willing to be proved wrong on that!) because that is essentially what Under Cöver is, a collection of cover versions recorded at various points in time by Motörhead. There's lots of links down below to hear more music from Motörhead and others.

The day after Lemmy's death in 2015 drummer Mikkey Dee confirmed that Motörhead would not continue, stating, "Motörhead is over, of course. Lemmy was Motörhead. We won't be doing any more tours or anything. And there won't be any more records. But the brand survives, and Lemmy lives on in the hearts of everyone."

I guess some folk were not thinking too hard about what the drummer had said - "there won't be any more records" - and were thinking of the possible opportunities to make some cold hard cash (I am a bit of cynic about these things! 😲) as the live Clean Your Clock (which I thought was pretty poor) was released in 2016 and then Under Cöver this year.

Motörhead were renown for playing Cover Versions throughout their career and quite a few have been recorded as singles, albums tracks, as part of tribute albums etc. I'm not sure who was responsible for putting together this particular album but I do have a feeling that we might see an Under Cöver Volume 2 at some point!

Enough of the cynical comments though and onto the positives.

Under Cöver shows that Motörhead could be incredibly diverse when it came to doing cover versions. Lemmy of course had released a couple of albums of Rock and Roll Standards under the banner of The Head Cat (Listen to Walk The Walk...Talk The Talk Here). There are nods to the band's contemporaries with Breaking the Law (Judas Priest), Starstruck (Rainbow), Hellraiser (Ozzy Osbourne) and Cat Scratch Fever (Ted Nugent - though I can't bring myself to add a link for that bitter and twisted man!). Also there's a spotlight thrown on a couple of the "newer" bands who were/are battling for their crown - Shoot 'em Down (Twisted Sister) and Whiplash (Metallica) alongside two covers of The Rolling Stones (Jumpin' Jack Flash and Sympathy For The Devil - which could be the standout track on the album were it not for another that I'll mention in a moment). 

Then there is a highlighting of Punk with covers of God Save The Queen (Sex Pistols) and Rockaway Beach (Ramones). Motörhead were always a bit special to Punks and Lemmy had of course been the bass player when The Damned were about to make their first come back and had played some live shows with them (and recorded Ballroom Blitz with them). The inclusion of a track by the Ramones was a great call as Lemmy had a lot of love for the New York foursome (he even wrote a wee ditty in their honour - R.A.M.O.N.E.S. and played it at their final show).

The most surprising Cover Version on the album has to be David Bowie's Heroes. They had recorded it during sessions for their 22nd and final studio album Bad Magic that was released in August 2015 but it was not included in the release. Anyway, I think they did a pretty good job with it and Lemmy rather than his usual growling through a song actually tries to sing it (and not to shabby if I may say so). It's the best track on the album for me.

Under Cöver - Motörhead

WEA/Silver Lining Music

 Produced by:
    Cameron Webb (tracks 1, 3, 4 and 7 and mixing on track 9), Bob Kulick and Bruce Bouillet (tracks 2, 6, 10 and 11), Peter Solley (track 5), Billy Sherwood (track 8)

Released 1st September 2017

UK Chart #19

German Chart #4

Listen To The Album Here:

Tracklisting/Original Artist/Year Recorded

1. Breaking the Law (Judas Priest) 2008
2. God Save the Queen (Sex Pistols) 2000
3. Heroes (David Bowie) 2015
4. Starstruck (Rainbow) 2014
5. Cat Scratch Fever (Ted Nugent) 1992
6. Jumpin’ Jack Flash (The Rolling Stones) 2001
7. Sympathy for the Devil (The Rolling Stones) 2015
8. Hellraiser (Ozzy Osbourne) 1992
9. Rockaway Beach (Ramones) 2002
10. Shoot ‘Em Down (Twisted Sister) 2001
11. Whiplash (Metallica) 2005

Personnel
Motörhead
    Lemmy Kilmister – lead vocals, bass
    Phil "Zööm" Campbell – guitars, backing vocals
    Michael "Würzel" Burston – Guitars, Backing vocals on track 5 and 8
    Mikkey Dee – drums

Guest musicians
   Biff Byford – lead vocals on track 4

***************

Ian Fraser 'Lemmy' Kilmister

24th December 1945 - 28th December 2015

Lemmy's Grave

Forest Lawn Hollywood

Photo by Arthur Dark