The Soundtrack4Life Albums of the Year 2013

It's a tough choice this year thinking about what the possible favourite Album of the Year is. I started with a very long list and have edited it down to a bit of a shorter long list. Out of that I selected what I can consider to be my best of the year. I make no apologies for the choices because they are my choices. They may not have been the biggest selling albums or even by artists who are particularly "hip", but they are my choices. These are the things that excited me in music this year and as ever it is a nice mixture of different sounds that somehow have collided together give me a whole lot of joy.
Here's a Playlist of some of my favourites from the year including many that didn't quite make the Top Ten.

#10

Boz Scaggs - Memphis

 Click here to see a previous post where I spotlighted the 'Memphis' Album.

  #9

Eddie and the Hot Rods - Live at The Rainbow 1977

Previous Post relating to 'Live at The Rainbow 1977'.

#8

Jars of Clay - Inland

Click Here to Listen to the 'Inland' Album in Full.

A Brief History of Jars of Clay.

#7

Jelly - Troubadour, Wizard, The Queen and The Machine

Previous Post regarding Jelly.
 

#6

Various Artists - A Concert For Kirsty

Previous post regarding Kirsty MacColl that included a spotlight on this superb concert.

#5

The Godfathers - Jukebox Fury

Interview with Del Bartles of The Godfathers originally posted in March 2013.

 #4

The Strypes - Snapshot

Previous post relating to The Strypes.

#3

Tankus The Henge - The Last Days Are Coming.

Previous post spotlighting Tankus The Henge and this really exceptional album.

#2

John Fogerty - Wrote A Song For Everyone

Previous post from May 2013 spotlighting this brilliant album by a true Rock and Roll Legend.

#1

Ruts DC - Rhythm Collision Volume 2

 

Click Here to Listen to The Soundtrack4Life Album of The Year.

Previous Post spotlighting The Ruts DC Live.

Eddie and The Hot Rods - Live at the Rainbow 1977 CD/DVD (April 2013)

Can't wait to see this in full. This was prior to the recording of 'Life on the Line' and a period of  minor chart success that began with 'I Might Be Lying' (#44), 'Do Anything You Wanna Do' (#9), and 'Quit This Town' (#36).

The concert was recorded on February 19th 1977 at The Rainbow in Finsbury Park.

 

This is available at Amazon and at Cherry Red Records. The cheaper option is the Cherry Red Records Store.

Trailer for the DVD.

Track Listing

CD 1. GET ACROSS TO YOU 2. 96 TEARS 3. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON 4. ALL I NEED IS MONEY 5. SHOW ME 6. WOOLY BULLY 7. HORSEPLAY 8. WHY CAN’T IT BE 9. THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT 10. TEENAGE DEPRESSION 11. BEEN SO LONG 12. HARD DRIVIN’ MAN 13. DOUBLE CHECKIN’ WOMAN 14. ON THE RUN 15. GET OUT OFDENVER 16. GLORIA 17. WRITING ON THE WALL

DVD 1. GET ACROSS TO YOU 2. 96 TEARS 3. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON 4. ALL I NEED IS MONEY 5. SHOW ME 6. WOOLY BULLY 7. HORSEPLAY 8. WHY CAN’T IT BE 9. THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT 10. TEENAGE DEPRESSION 11. BEEN SO LONG 12. HARD DRIVIN’ MAN 13. DOUBLE CHECKIN’ WOMAN 14. ON THE RUN 15. GET OUT OF DENVER 16. GLORIA 17. WRITING ON THE WALL

Gems From My Collection: Eddie and the Hot Rods - Island Years

Eddie and the Hot Rods formed in 1975 (though their official site says 1976) and are constantly name-checked as belonging to the Pub Rock circuit of music. In their early days they performed many great 1960's R 'n' B tracks alongside their own material, which in many ways was influenced by their Essex neighbours Doctor Feelgood (founding guitarist Dave Higgs had played in a band with with Feelgood frontman Lee Brilleaux called The Fix).

After a residency at the Nashville in South West London with The 101er's they got a record deal with Island Records.

Not totally sure when this TV appearance first took place but it must have been before 1976 because Lew Lewis is on the harmonica and he left the band by the start of that year. Have to admit I had never seen these videos before this morning and must say that it was great watching them.


Writing On The Wall



Horseplay (Weary of the Schmatlz)



Get Out Of Denver Baby


In 1976 they released their debut album 'Teenage Depression'. It included three cover versions (The Who's 'The Kids are Alright', Joe Tex's 'Show Me' and Sam Cooke's 'Shake' - which was the b-side to the single 'Teenage Depression'). They also hit the charts for the first time with their 'Live at The Marquee EP'

This was basically an EP of cover versions they were performing in their set at the time ('96 Tears', 'Get Out of Denver' and 'Gloria/Satisfaction'). When they first performed at The Marquee their support band was none other than the Sex Pistols (who smashed up all the Hot Rods equipment).

Get Out of Denver Baby (Top of the Pops)


Teenage Depression (Supersonic)


1977 saw the band more linked to the Punk/New Wave movement and they released a couple of classics. First up 'I Might Be Lying' which only got as far as #44 on the charts but got them an appearance on Top of the Pops.



The b-side, 'Ignore Them (Always Crashing In The Same Bar)' is one of their finest tunes.



Then came their biggest hit, reaching #9 in the UK charts:

Do Anything You Wanna Do (The Marc Show)


The album that followed, 'Life On The Line', is one of my favourites of all time.

Nine brilliant tracks were on the original release (including two that would be released as singles in 1978 - 'Quit This Town', which reached #36 in the charts and 'Life On The Line')

Quit This Town (Top of the Pops)


Life On The Line (Promo Video)


My favourite track from the album though is 'Beginning of the End' and here is a classic performance from The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1978.



Their final album for Island Records was released in 1979:

Shortly after the release of the album they were sacked from the label. Two singles, 'Media Messiahs' and 'The Power & The Glory' were released from the album.

The Power & The Glory


The band went on to record a couple of more albums for EMI and then disbanded in 1981 but reformed again and to date they are still out doing shows. Barrie Masters on vocals is the only steady original member of the band.