‘Paradise’, ‘Love Is Stronger Than Pride’, ‘Siempre Hay Esperanza’ … the laid-back summery grooves just keep on coming.
Stand-Out Track: Nothing Can Come Between Us
1988
All posts tagged 1988
‘Running In The Family’ was always going to be a hard act to follow, and so it proved. That is not to say that there are not strong traces of the musical recipe that made Level 42’s previous album a huge success, as well as some more experimental tracks (e.g. ‘Man’). Try this one.
Stand-Out Track: Take A Look
With an industrial symphony, a tribute to a murdered ANC activist (Dulcie September), a collaboration with legendary Shadows guitarist Hank Marvin, you would be right to label this as a mixed bag. Not one of his best as a whole, but strangely enough it’s ‘London Kid’ with Marvin’s iconic guitar work rising above the pounding electronic drums and general synth layers which captures one’s attention most.
Stand-Out Track: London Kid
A real mix (almost hotch-potch) of cover versions, guest artist appearances, live tracks, interview excerpts and new material, which almost works. It provided the soundtrack to the ‘rockumentary’ of the same title, which itself was a little self-indulgent in places. The gospel version of ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’ takes this particular song to new heights, ‘Heartland’ is brooding and moody, but I have a real soft spot for …
Stand-Out Track: Angel Of Harlem
The diva pioneer of the Christian music scene of the 80’s, Amy Grant veered away from the mainstream for this album and the result is an intelligent mix of real-world-experience lyrics and mature arrangements that were (both) so often lacking in Christian music of the time.
1974, Lead Me On, Sure Enough and Say Once More are all worth a listen, but hats off to ‘Shadows’ whose conclusion still sends shivers (maybe nostalgia-fuelled) after all these years.
Stand-Out Track: Shadows
The pattern of ‘album-followed-by-remix-album’ was maintained by Neil and Chris into the late 80’s with this successor to the highly popular ‘Actually’ (see 13th January). Only 6 songs again, but with ‘Left To My Own Devices’ for starters, it is clear that these are no fillers.
My favourite is their own version of a song written originally for Patsy Kensit’s band Eighth Wonder entitled ‘I’m Not Scared’. The extra space (7 and a half minutes) given to the track allows for full development of the string-driven background.
Stand-Out Track: I’m Not Scared
Seemingly the Marmite of pop in the late 80’s (and far beyond too!), the mellow-voiced Rick Astley (former Bradford lorry driver – I think – and Stock Aitken Waterman hireling) followed up his 1987 debut album with this one in 1988.
Some fluffy naffness, but some highlights too.
Stand-out Track: Take Me To Your Heart
Oh good, a Sprouts album!
Following on from ‘Steve McQueen’ is like trying to improve on perfection. Hardly surprising then that this one takes a slightly different direction. Jaunty, commercial (King of Rock N Roll reached the top 10 if memory serves) but still beautifully crafted in all areas. Having Stevie Wonder on harmonica (Nightinglaes) is the icing on the cake …
Stand-Out Track: Nightingales
One of the first few CDs I bought. It was in Zwettl, Austria during my year abroad and cost me far more Schillings than I really could afford at that time. But the idea of owning the latest Vangelis CD (a man whose music was surely made for just this new-fangled digital medium) was too much temptation to resist. I wasn’t disappointed either. Possibly the most played of his that I own.
Stand-Out Track: First Approach
Introduced me to some of the later PF material from ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason.’ Bought this at Christmas 1988 and took back a cassette recording with me to Austria for the rest of my year abroad. Nearly wore the thing out, I think.
Stand-Out Track: Comfortably Numb
Musique365 