What's Happening on Soundtrack4Life in 2025?

So, we are 11 days into the New Year and this is the first post of the year on the Blog. Firstly let me thank everyone who has continued to visit the Blog even though I have had quiet spells throughout last year after reactivating it after a few years on hiatus. Despite not posting as much as I felt I should have I was quite happy with a few of the things I got to do. Also let me say that I hope your 2025 will be special to you. Each new day is a blank page and I wonder what you and I will write on it.

 What's going to be happening on the Blog this year? A seed of a plan is to highlight some albums that will be 40 and 50 years old this year, so that means jumping in the time travel machine and going back to 1975 for the 50th Anniversary and 1985 for the 40th Anniversary. In between that I'll try and find some new music that I like and even some old stuff that might be new to my ears. I would also like to share some of my Favourite Debut Albums (I have very strong candidates who made the list) and we will see if that can happen and in what form.  I'm not promising to post every day because sometimes I will not be up to it. Whatever happens I do hope you'll enjoy many of the things that I do end up posting (there's already a few ideas jotted down and ready for writing)

 I'll finish this short post with an Elvis Costello & The Attractions  tune that might inspire you on your journey in 2025.

 Thanks for reading.

Doug

My Favourite Albums of 2024: An Assortment of Albums

 Here's a few more of My Favourite Albums of 2024. These ones I have already posted about on the Blog so I will just include the link to the particular posts I put up. It's a mixed bag of the new and some reissues as well as a really compilation spotlighting the songs of Tom Petty.

Depending on if I have the time I might get to do a couple more posts on My Favourite Albums of 2024.

Here we go then:

Hand On Heart - Cock Sparrer  (5th April) 

Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty - Various Artists  (21st June)

Louis In London - Louis Armstrong (12th July)

Will Anything Happen (2024 Remaster Expanded Edition) - Shop Assistants (July 26th)

The Mighty Several - Paul Heaton (11th October)

1985 - The Waterboys (23rd February)
 

Gospel According To Al Green (1984 Film)

 I had noticed recently on Al Green's You Tube Channel that they had uploaded the excellent Robert Mugge film 'Gospel According To Al Green', which is celebrating its 40th Year. It's also available on Amazon Prime to watch.

The film combines a three-fold insight into the life of the Soul Man with an excellent interview, a live performance at a very small venue in Washington D.C. and a spotlight on the Reverend Al Green in action from his pulpit.

As far as I'm aware it is still avaible on Blu-ray DVD and you can probably pick it up at quite a decent price if you go searching.

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Songs of a Lost World - The Cure (November)

 Studio Album #14 from The Cure and their first since '4:13 Dream' back in 2008. 'Songs of a Lost World' provided a lot of joy on the opening day of November (I realise how odd that must read seeing that we are considering a pretty dark album from Robert Smith and gang, but it actually was a day of celebration with  joy and happy tears).

Songs of a Lost World - The Cure (November 2024)
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Fiction Records
1st November 2024

LISTEN HERE.

Also to celebrate the release, The Cure put on a live streamed concert that began with a full live performance of the album from start to finish and then after a short Intermission they gave a superb second set of fan favourites and singles.

Live at The Troxy Theatre 1st November 2024

01. Songs from a Lost World Set

02. 2nd Set

Victoria Segal Review for Mojo

My Favourite Albums of 2024: VOWS - Hot Water Music (May)

Founded in October 1994 in Gainesville, Florida, Hot Water Music released their 10th Studio Album, VOWS, earlier this year. Chuck Ragan (lead vocalist) and the chaps rarely disappoint.

VOWS - Hot Water Music

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Equal Vision Records (USA & Canada)/ End Hits Records (UK & Europe)
10th May 2024

LISTEN HERE. 

 The Album features members of Thrice, Amy Interrupter, Dallas Green and Brendan Yates.

The Soundboard Review by Luke Nuttal.

 "Without a single dud track and a sound so self-evidently brilliant in everything it strives for, you can’t really ask for more in a Hot Water Music album, let alone one that’s not had its back broken by three decades of prior history. And when even the wear-and-tear contributes positively to an already colossal achievement, that’s when you know a band is on a good path." - Luke Nuttal

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Because there some total music nerds out there who like these types of things and some crazy collectors who want everything and enjoy the challenge of findind them all, I'll include this list I found on Discogs.

Vinyl pressing history:

US: 1st Pressing, Equal Vision Records (5/10/2024):
?? - White Label, Custom Color
50 - Clear w/ 8mm Film Inlay (Equal Vision Store Exclusive)
250 - Rose, Red & Pink Ripple (Band Store Exclusive)
250 - Clear Black w/ Metallic Red Splatter (Band Store Exclusive)
250 - Red w/ Black Splatter
250 - Clear Turquoise w/ Black Splatter
250 - Marbled Grey/ White w/ Red Ripple
250 - Half Rose Stem Green/ Half Rose Pink w/ White Splatter
250 - Clear w/ Black Splatter (US Tour Variant)
300 - Orange (Florida Retail Exclusive)
500 - Light Brown w/ Black, White & Grey Splatter
500 - White w/ Green Splatter (Cooking Vinyl Australia Exclusive)
500 - Clear (US Indie Retail Exclusive)
1500 - Transparent Black (Retail Exclusive)

US: 2nd Pressing, Equal Vision Records (5/10/2024):
400 - Silver & Black Marble

250 - Clear w/ Tan, Pink & Green Splatter (Hot Water Music Webstore Exclusive)

EU: 1st Pressing, End Hits Records (5/10/2024):
35 - Test Press
35 - Super Deluxe - Clear w/ Enclosed Pulmonary Artery Trace (End Hits Exclusive)
100 - Red/ Yellow Swirl (Devil Dog UK Exclusive)
150 - Deluxe - White w/ Screenprinted Cover (End Hits Exclusive)
200 - Deluxe - Mushroom/ Toffee Pinwheel (End Hits Exclusive)
210 - Yellow w/ Black Splatter (Flight 13 Exclusive)
250 - Deluxe - Green/ White Quads (End Hits Exclusive)
300 - Transparent Green/ Clear (JPC Exclusive)
1000 - Cherry Red (Retail Version)

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Teach Yself WAH! - A Best Of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! - Pete Wylie (March)

Some folks can get a bit overly precious about adding a Reissue or a Compliation to the their Favourite Albums of the Year Lists mainly for the reason "it's not new" or "it's unnecessary". I thought about this very thing quite frequently and to a degree I understand. I get fed up with labels that seem to constantly be reissuing the same albums time and time again with the only difference being the colour of the vinyl. or the label that just seems to rehash a "Greatest Hits" album two years after the previous one came out and there's either one or two different songs on it or the tracklist has just been swapped around. Hopefully I was able to point out how annoying also this practice is when it came to the release of a recent Springsteen Compilation and a deep dive into a number of the totally unnecessary releases that came before it (CLICK HERE TO READ THAT POST). 

I don't believe we are dealing with an "unnecessary release" here because, as far as I'm aware, there hasn't been a new Pete Wylie Compilation for 24 Years! For many this might be a good introduction to the music by one of  Liverpool's modern day musical greats..

Teach Yself Wah! - A Best of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! - Pete Wylie
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Chrysalis Records
1st March 2024

One of the coolest wee collections of the music of Pete Wylie & The Mighty Wah! (and a couple of other named Wah! bands or is it brands?) since the excellent 'The Handy Wah! Whole : Songs From The Repertwah!: The Maverick Years 2000' (2CD set on Castle Music, 2000). Included are of course a few of the classic Singles (I'm guessing the licensing of the other tracks was problematic, hence their exclusion) and freshly Remastered tracks from 'Songs of Strength & Heartbreak' (2000) and the long spoken of but finally appeared, 'Pete Sounds!' (2017).

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Veritas - P.O.D. (May 2024)

 

Veritas - P.O.D.
Mascot Records
3rd May 2024

 01. Drop (feat. Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God)
02. I Got That
03. Afraid to Die (feat. Tatiana Shmayluk of Jinjer)
04. Dead Right
05. Breaking
06. Lay Me Down (Roo's Song)
07. I Won't Bow Down
08. This Is My Life (feat. Cove Reber of Dead American)
09. Lies We Tell Ourselves
10. We Are One (Our Struggle)
11. Feeling Strange 

The Links in the above Tracklist are for the Promo Videos

 Line Up
Sonny Sandoval – vocals
Marcos Curiel – guitars
Traa Daniels – bass

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'Veritas' is the 11th studio album by San Diego Rockers P.O.D. (Payable On Death), and was their first album since 'Circles' in 2018.

My Favourire Albums of 2024: Silver Patron Saints - The Songs of Jesse Malin - Various Artists (September 2024)

I don't think you are going to find a more artistically stacked album than this album which celebrates the songs of one particular artist. To name a few of them will give you an idea of what I mean: Bruce Springsteen, Billie Joe Armstrong, Dinosaur Jr., Lucinda Williams & Elvis Costello, Susanna Hoffs, Graham Parker, The Hold Steady, Ian Hunter, Willie Nile and Rancid. I think that in itself is a good reason to grab a copy.

The purpose of the album is twofold. Firstly to celebrate the songs of Jesse Malin, and he's written some absolute gems. Secondly to raise money for the ongoing treatment for Jesse Malin as he recovers from a rare spinal stroke that left him paralysed in 2023 check out the Sweet Relief Artist Fund.

Silver Patron Saints - The Songs of Jesse Malin - Various Artists

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Glassnote

 Released 21st September 2024

1 Bleachers – Prisoners Of Paradise
2 Counting Crows – Oh Sheena
3 Bruce Springsteen – She Don't Love Me Now
4 Billie Joe Armstrong – Black Haired Girl
5 Dinosaur Jr. – Brooklyn
6 Frank Turner – About You
7 Alison Mosshart, Wayne Kramer, Tom Morello, Steve Van Zandt, Mike Watt, Joey C. – Turn Up The Mains
8 Lucinda Williams, Elvis Costello, Ray Kennedy – Room 13
9 The Wallflowers – Don't Let Them Take You Down (Beautiful Day)
10 Spoon – The Way We Used To Roll
11 Rocky O'Riordan – Shane
12 Butch Walker – In The Modern World
13 Susanna Hoffs – High Lonesome
14 Graham Parker – Greener Pastures
15 Alejandro Escovedo – Meet Me At The End Of The World
16 The Hold Steady – Death Star
17 Tommy Stinson, Ruby Stinson – Riding On The Subway
18 The Walker Roaders – St. Mark's Sunset
19 Ian Hunter – Dead On
20 Danny Clinch, Daniel Donato – Almost Grown
21 Aaron Lee Tasjan – Shining Down
22 Low Cut Connie – When You're Young
23 Willie Nile – All The Way From Moscow
24 Rancid – No Way Out
25 Gogol Bordello – You Know It's Dark When Atheists Start To Pray
26 Agnostic Front – God Is Dead
27 Murphy's Law – Frankie

 

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Ian Corbridge Review on Louder Than War.

My Favourite Albums of 2024: Girl Friends - Dion (March)

Two of my favourite pieces to work on this year for Soundtrack4Life are both Dion related:

Firsty, an interview with Mike Aquilina from back in March. Mike has been writing songs with Dion for many years now and kindly gave up some time to answer a few questions for The S4L Interview. You can read that HERE.

Secondly, a deep dive into the musical career of Dion called 'Dion DiMucci - The King of the New York Streets Into The 21st Century'

Girl Friends - (Listen Here) -
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Keeping The Blues Alive Records
8th March 2024

 

Legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Dion delivers a new album that transcends generations: Girl Friends. His latest from KTBA Records sees him collaborating with a stellar lineup of female artists including the soulful Susan Tedeschi, powerhouse Shemekia Copeland, icon Carlene Carter, virtuoso Joanne Shaw Taylor, and the versatile Maggie Rose, among others. Dion's timeless voice, and the distinct styles of these acclaimed artists, create a fusion celebrating the rich tapestry of American music.

1 Soul Force - Featuring Susan Tedeschi*
2 I Aim To Please - Featuring Danielle Nicole*
3 Stop Drop And Roll - Featuring Valerie Tyson
4 Do Ladies Get The Blues - Featuring Christine Ohlman & Debbie Davies
5 An American Hero - Featuring Carlene Carter*
6 Don't You Want A Man Like Me - Featuring Rory Block
7 Sugar Daddy - Featuring Christine Ohlman
8 Endless Highway - Featuring Randy Fishenfeld
9 I Got Wise - Featuring Maggie Rose
10 Hey Suzy - Featuring  Sue Foley
11 Mama Said - Featuring Shemekia Copeland*
12 Just Like That - Featuring Joanne Shaw Taylor

 

Tracks with * next to them have Music Video Links 

 

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My Favourite Albums of 2024: Grace Will Lead Me Home - Angeline, Cohen & Jon - (May)

I thought I would begin sharing some of My Favourite Albums of 2024. It's certainly going to be a very varied collection and I make no apologies for that. It is worth repeating that these are My choices and not what might be considered to be the Best Albums of 2024 by the music press or the critics (you have to go and look elsewhere if you want that sort of thing). I've listened to a lot of albums throughout the year but due to a lack of money in the pocket I haven't bought loads (at least one per month) so they have had to be pretty good for me to go out of my way to buy them.

They will not be in any particular order, like a chart, but rather the fact that they appear under the banner of My Favorite Albums of 2024 should be enough to let you know how they are regarded by me.

My first choice is a "Folk" album, definitely not something I ever could have seen me saying, but I really like the whole "concept" behind the creation of this album and how a lot of research and discussion has gone into the subject before a song had ever been recorded.

Grace Will Lead Me Home - Angeline, Cohen & Jon

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17th May 2024
Available on BANDCAMP £7 for Download or £10 for a CD


Tracklist    
1 Dear Polly 02:58
2 Press Gang Song 02:50
3 Grace will lead me home 04:18
4 Turn Round Newton 01:54
5 The President Sang Amazing Grace 03:23
6 Fantasia on a West Indian Burial Theme 03:16
7 I'm going to hear John Newton Preach 04:29
8 The choir still sings Amazing Grace 03:16
9 Sorry 03:13
10 Amazing Grace (Jesu Thy Words) 03:55
11 Eyes on the prize 02:34
12 Amazing Grace 05:05

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Angeline Morrison (The Sorrow Songs), Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (Granny's Attic) and Jon Bickley (The Invisible Folk Club) came together to create a new album marking the 250th anniversary of the writing of Amazing Grace (2023) and the 300th anniversary of the birth of its writer John Newton (2025).

Jon Bickley headed a partnership between Invisible Folk, the Arts Council and the Cowper & Newton Museum in a project entitled 'Grace will lead me home.' It explored the love that people have for Amazing Grace including those who are descended from the slaves that Newton shipped across the Atlantic. Interviews covering every aspect of Newton's life, the slave trade and the evolution of the beloved hymn was undertaken (including Judy Collins) and these were turned into a series of podcasts that can be found HERE.
 

Cohen and Angeline were invited to join the project, review the research, meet the folks at the museum and write new songs and the end result is this album.

The majority of the information above is taken from the Bandcamp Page for the album.