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SDE’s Self Isolation Playlist #1

By Paul Sinclair

Comments

134

Let music help you through…

First and foremost, best wishes go out to the SDE community around the globe right now. Stay indoors and stay safe, please. In these troubled times, stuck at home, it’s an opportunity to let the pleasure and the power of music shine some light into what are becoming, at best, very routine days.

I’m trying to make an effort to listen to albums that I may have been guilty of not playing very much, or maybe even at all. CDs or vinyl records that have been satisfyingly slotted into the shelving or storage system and then semi-forgotten about, for whatever reason.

With that in mind, I’ll be semi-regularly posting what has been on the SDE playlist for any particular day with a view to offering some inspiration and to generate some discussion in the comments section about what you’ve been listening to. As you will see from the list below there’s some familiar favourites, too.

Below is for yesterday, Tuesday 24 March 2020.

Snow Patrol / Final Straw SACD

I knew there was an SACD version of Snow Patrol‘s third album and if I ever glimpsed a copy in a charity shop I’d always give it a close look, in case it was this relatively rare variant. Lo and behold a few years back I came across it, albeit someone realised it wasn’t the bog-standard CD edition and priced it up at £8. Still, a good price for this, so I duly snapped it up. It has been guilty of just sitting on the shelf since then, but with my newly set-up 5.1 system in the SDE office, I thought now would be a good time to give it a spin. I don’t really know the album at all but of course I was aware of the ludicrously anthemic ‘Run’ which never fails to sound great. The 5.1 mix sounded really good to me, so I’ll be returning to this one.

Act / Love & Hate: A Compact Introduction (2CD set)

This 2015 two-CD compilation from the-band-Propaganda-could-have-been (© Alan Partridge) is a brilliant overview of the short-lived career of Act (Claudia Brücken and Thomas Leer). I only listened to CD 1, but in the past I’ve been rather guilty of playing the various mixes of ‘Snobbery & Decay’ and not much else, so this was progress. Great stuff although the sheer digital nature of these recordings can get a bit tiring on the ears after a while, hence I skipped the 12-inch versions of CD 2, but I will return…

Tangerine Dream / Phaedra (from the In Search of Hades box)

Probably like many of you, I have the 18-disc In Search of Hades Tangerine Dream box set. But I’m still mesmerised by Phaedra so keep playing the first CD and not moving on! Such a great album and quite relaxing to work to.

Talking Head / Remain in Light (DualDisc)

The Talking Heads album needs no introduction, but you may not know now phenomenal the 5.1 mix is. I have the DualDisc version which I picked up on a trip to Canada back in 2010 and as mentioned above, with my new surround set-up I’m digging out more SACDs, DVD-As and DualDiscs in order to make the most of it. Didn’t actually make it all the way through this – but will be returning to it. One of my very favourite albums.

Sting / The Dream Of The Blue Turtles (MFSL CD)

I watched the Bring On The Night documentary over the weekend and marvelled at how good Sting‘s band was in 1985 and how great the songs are. It’s a great music documentary. Inevitably, it brought me back to his 1985 debut, although I do own the Bring On The Night live album as well, of course. This is the ‘Ultradisc II’ Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab edition which sounds fantastic. One thing that had never occurred to me was how Sting chose not to play bass on either the album or the tour. Interesting decision; could you imagine Paul McCartney doing the same? I made a mental note to dig out my 25 Years box set and listen to the Blue Turtles stereo remixes. Very frustrating that Sting refuses to reissue this album.

David Bowie / Is It Any Wonder? CD edition

The new David Bowie EP, mini-album, compilation thingy. Very enjoyable and ‘Stay 97’ sounds amazing. Not surprised he kept ‘Baby Universal’ off of Earthling, mind. Always interesting to her alternative versions of songs but I prefer the Tin Machine II original. The best thing on her is the ‘live Eno mix’ of ‘The Man Who Sold The World’ but I remember that well from the ‘Strangers When We Meet’ CD single back in 1995. Still Parlophone are to be applauded for giving this a physical release, and especially putting it out on CD.

Thanks for reading – what have you been listening to? Leave a comment.

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134 Comments

134 thoughts on “SDE’s Self Isolation Playlist #1”

  1. I’m currently working my way through the comprehensive list of all the albums that have featured in the several editions of Robert Dimery’s 1001 albums to hear before you die. (1079 in total) using a random number generator. 738 down, 341 to go. It has broadened my horizons to be fair. Lots of stuff so far that I wouldn’t have listened to and a few purchases off the back of it.

    When I’m working (which I still am) it’s a variety of playlists. My 80s playlist which is 496 tracks long and mainly 12″ versions and some playlists of my favourite artists like Garbage, Talking Heads, OMD and Madness or 2 tone.

    When the Wife and Daughter vacate the living room I’ve been working my way through the TFF box sets.

    I don’t want to overdo it though. Retirement is 7 years off and part of my plan is to have one day per week listening to music.

  2. Can i recommend captain sensible the collection,tony Mansfield (aha) produced and Robyn Hitchcock wrote with the captain a lot of songs on it, absolutely brilliant and you can get the c.d for next to nothing, Brenda,im a Spyder and a lot more,ok you get happy talk,but please listen to this cd,its amazing,for half a raindeer,its a bargain, Chris squier trust me you’ll love it,thanks john.and the captain is a great guy and his aunt Sadie’s a great women’amen.

    1. I’ve got Sensible Singles on LP right here in the apartment, and “Damned On 45″ on a 12” single. They’re getting played today. Thanks, John. The Captain is a treasure (“yar!”)

  3. I’m feeling anxious, so it’s difficult for me to delve into new music (or music I haven’t listened to in quite awhile), since it requires a bit more concentration on my part, and I can’t do that when I’m tense. So during challenging times, I find myself turning to Elton John. Because of the great familiarity with his songs, it has a comforting effect on me.

    Everyone, please stay safe, and be creative with the extra time you have at home.

  4. Starting to sort out all the records that I’ve picked up in the last few months mostly in job lots. There’s over 500 7″ inch singles, plus over 250+ albums. That doesn’t include what I have brought online. Plenty of listening material while I’m painting my bedroom. Please stay safe everyone. I have to be especially careful as I have cardiac issues. Paul, you are doing a fantastic job with the website during this difficult time.

  5. I’ve been listening to Simple Minds over the past few days. Giving the albums I’ve never listened to a crack. I was a HUGE fan of their output up until Once Upon a Time and Live in the City of Lights, but fell out of love with them after that. Have had the Street Fighting Years super deluxe on repeat and listening to Real Life today. Might try some of their later stuff from this century as the lockdown progresses. Nice to have the time to experiment and discover.

  7. In High Rotation:
    Before Lock down – either/or – Elliott Smith
    After Lock down – Violator – Depeche Mode

    Song before/after Lock down:
    Sunday – David Bowie
    Gold Against The Soul – Manic Street Preachers
    Plainsong – The Cure
    Ticks & Leeches – Tool
    Chinese Democracy – Guns N’ Roses
    Sign O’ The Times – Prince
    You Can Live At Home – Husker Du
    Aneurysm – Nirvana

  8. I have started listening all of my King Crimson. Boxsets. I chose a personal way to do that. I started with disc 1 from Larks Tongue, then disc 1 from Starless, disc 1 from Road to red and you guess the rest. I think there’s enough material for two or three self-isolation periods..
    It is a compelling listening experience, and it has the advantage of avoiding repetition, as there are a lot of different versions of the same songs in these boxes..

  9. Great to see the posts on the varied choices on SDE. Still great to visit. I have a change in purchasing of late. Trying to buy new releases rather than re-release
    Still always check in and read SDE.

    New stuff
    Nadia Ried

    Sort of new stuff
    Kiwanuka
    Didn’t get it last year, this year I get it

    SDE inspired purchase
    The Human League ‎– Octopus (cheers guys)

    Old stuff
    just picked up Beth Orton’s 1st 2 albums on vinyl

    Keep safe all,
    Massive thanks Paul for such a great site

  10. Needed some light hearted singalong tunes so decided to do a Best Of Stock Aitken Waterman playlist on Spotify…..
    Hazell Dean – Whatever I Do (Wherever I Go)
    Divine – You Think You’re A Man
    Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)
    Princess – After The Love Has Gone
    Bananarama – Venus
    Mel & Kim – Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)
    Dead Or Alive – Brand New Lover
    Bananarama – I Heard A Rumour
    Kylie Minogue – I Should Be So Lucky
    Rick Astley – Together Forever
    Sinitta – Cross My Broken Heart
    Hazell Dean – Who’s Leaving Who
    Bananarama – I Want You Back
    Brother Beyond – The Harder I Try
    Donna Summer – This Time I Know It’s For Real
    Jason Donovan – Too Many Broken Hearts
    Kylie Minogue – Hand On Your Heart
    Sonia – Listen To Your Heart
    Lonnie Gordon – Happenin’ All Over Again
    Kylie Minogue – Better The Devil You Know
    Sybil – When I’m Good And Ready
    Steps – Last Thing On My Mind

  11. Just got the last four Dio solo albums on vinyl so I decided, since I have the time, why not listen to all of them in order? Gotta’ make goals! Very enjoyable time passer in these isolation times!

  12. Hello there,

    We’ve been in lockdown for 10 days now in France and I must admit I have a sweet tooth for box sets! So far I’ve listened to The Walker Brothers’ 5 CD-set from 2006 “Everything Under the Sun”, Lulu’s “Decade 1967-1976”, The Sweets’ 9 CD-set “Sensational Sweet”, Kraftwerk’s complete output from 1974 “Autobahn” to 2003 “Tour de France” and the Bowie Live albums released since 2017 (“Cracked Actor”, “Glastonbury 2000” and “Welcome to the Blackout” mainly). Etta James, Georgie Fame, Dusty Springfield, Kiki Dee, The Small Faces, Frank Sinatra and Françoise Hardy are duly waiting in line!

  14. rediscovering Pet Shop Boys Alternative. what an epic, epic collection. and those were just the b-sides. it’s hard not to think their best days are behind them.

  17. Having made a start on clearing out the loft (sound familiar anyone?) I found a set of 11 CDs that I burned in 2004, which contained a selection of songs from my collection. I have no track listings and only vaguely remember the criteria I had for selecting the songs (I think only one from each album, plus b-sides) Each track is placed chronologically by year and then in alphabetical year. It makes for some interesting juxtapositions.
    So I’ve had fun rediscovering these songs which run from 1978 to 2004, which include Kraftwerk, Joy Division/New Order, Depeche Mode, OMD, Tears For Fears, U2, REM, The Cure, New Model Army, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, George Michael, The Primitives and many, many more…
    I now think I need to work on 2005-2020 and leave them somewhere for me to find in 2036.

  18. Listening to Ghost V, the new Nine Inch Nails album, together with Ghost VI available as a free download at nin.com.
    I know, wrong website to promote digital, but no physical release announced yet.

    very ambient, absolutely no March of the Pigs or Head like a hole kind of music

  19. Love the comments and the site. I’ve discovered some great music here and must say thanks.
    A few that top the list:
    Cardigans – Long Gone Before Daylight, love love love this album!
    Also Super Extra Gravity. Went and grabbed all Cardigans and these 2 stand out especially.
    The Wannadies, missed these guys completely…
    Been revisiting a lot of Bowie and R.E.M. as well.
    I selfishly keep hoping they will reunite.
    Going stir crazy after only a week at home in the Midwest, but understand how serious the situation is.
    Love and Prayers to All.
    Stay Safe and Be Well!

  20. Got my music ready for another night in…it’s gonna be pixies – surfer Rosa…talking heads – stop making sense… miles Davis – live evil….the big moon – walking like we do….rose Royce – greatest hits…..

  21. Hoping the remaining Simple Minds albums yet to get a reissue might get collectively the ‘Rejuvination’ treatment

    Real Life (1991, Virgin)
    Good News From The Next World (1995, Virgin)
    Neapolis (1998, Chrysalis)
    Our Secrets Are The Same (2000)

    I have decided to listen to all four on Youtube. I’ve started with ‘Our Secrets Are The Same’. Not got the Silver Box so never heard it before, brilliant and dfifferent, I do hope it gets re-issued at some point.

  23. DaveM and Hans, we’re ALL Jackie leven fans here.
    :-)

    In the meantime i have been thinking about people I know and people i don’t even know in China, Italy and Spain. These are available on YouTube.

    Cao Fang, in summer. You’ll know part of it from an advert.
    Tina arena, sorrento moon
    Luz casal, no me importa nada

    Not only honours these countries, the songs also form the basis of a lovely summer compilation.

  24. Just spinning the Bowie Is It Any Wonder EP (vinyl) that arrived this morning. More of an interesting curio rather than essential, really nice pressing. Glad I got it as it’s all sold out on Rhino store.
    Must give that Act CD another spin, love the Propaganda album but thought Act were rather meh when i first listened.
    Been watching the Dylan Rolling Thunder Revue and a Rush doc on Netflix which I have enjoyed.
    Be safe.

  25. Oh yes definitely a time to re discover some hidden gems in our music collections,
    A lot of us me included lead busy lives with family and work etc and are always hungry for new music by artists we already like and some older albums we have maybe long forgotten how good they are.
    So with our ever expanding music collections a lot of us are guilty of not getting around to play recent new release purchases or just simply forgotten about ones we have not heard in years, with a lot of us currently in isolation/ lockdown it’s now the perfect time that all said my current listening album playlist is as follows…
    Marc Cohn – Marc Cohn..His debut from 1991 an absolute classic of quality songs and songwriting.
    OneRepublic – Native..2013..Fronted by the mega talented Ryan Tedder this is an uplifting listen for sure just love every song.
    The Fixx – Beautiful Friction..2012..A criminally underrated and over looked UK band that deserve to be checked out by anyone who likes thought provoking melodic music with great guitar textures.
    David Knopfler – Wishbones..2001..A very talented and underrated singer songwriter who is greatly overshadowed by his older brother Mark, This album is quality from start to finish always got time for a bit of David’s wonderful music.
    Journey – Escape..1981..Classic melodic rock everyone should have this superb album in their collection.
    Toto – XIV..2015..Strong songs on this their final album.
    Dido – Life For Rent..2003..Love Dido such a gorgeous voice.
    Gerry Rafferty – Sleepwalking..1982..Never fails to deliver on all his albums sadly missed singer songwriter.
    Peter Cincotti – East Of Angel Town..2008..includes ”Goodbye Philadelphia” Think of a modern day version of Billy Joel, Peter certainly knows how to string a good song together great stuff on here.
    Yes – 90125..This album always lifts my spirits, A classic from the 80’s.

      1. I know and many of his fans have come to realize that the modern day Billy Joel will not release any new material so there’s no modern day Billy Joel to go on…only his past hits…Peter Cincotti fly’s the flag for any Joel fans who want and need that type of music now.

    2. Normally I find it quite hard to listen to my 5.1 discs but we’re having a new kitchen fitted – great timing! – so my computer desk is now in a different room which luckily has surround sound. So I have been listening to the following 5.1. discs –

      Depeche Mode
      Doors
      Talking Heads
      Nick Cave
      Beatles
      John Lennon
      XTC
      REM
      Guns & Roses

  26. All good comments and makes for a good diversion, thanks all!
    Just had on The Who Live at the Isle of Wight, first time in a long time…

    Greetings from Warsaw!

  27. Current playlist

    Tears For Fears – Songs From The Big Chair extra disc
    one of the Electronic Sound CDs

    and has someone who thinks the 21st century is a musical desert …..well perhaps not
    listening to all of these artists ‘ stuff’
    Anna Meredith
    Keeley Forsyth
    The Orielles

  28. Having recently changed my system to Marantz CD6006 and PM6006, I have been all over the place comparing what the new stuff sounds like compared to my old system. I have been distracted listening at details, a more ‘technical’ listen if you like. But, two albums over the weekend drew me back in to the heart of music and the emotional power of music given the current context and situation the world is in. They were:
    The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin Live at Red Rocks (I have always been a sucker for strings and choirs and some of the subject matter kind of fits)
    Zero 7 – When it Falls (this album gives you the space to think whilst carried on a bed rock of sublime melody)

  29. I think I must be extremely lucky. I work from home anyway as a distance learning tutor. Other than having my wife and daughter here all the time as well, there is not a lot different about the ‘stay at home’ protocol than my usual working week. If anything, staying at home gives my students globally more time to study! A big virtual and very self-distanced empathetic hug to all those serving their self-confinement in foreign climbs away from the familiarity of their domestic environments and things. Also a big shout of eternal thanks and gratitude to all those key workers on the front line or who have family there in every country.

    Musically, I don’t have the opportunity to play my CDs over speakers now in our little house with my family here so I have gone back to my old Sony Discman (which oddly outlived my Ipod!) and a decent pair of head phones. So, since the schools all shut in UK last Friday……

    Simple Minds – 40 – Best of 3 x CD pack. It was a fiver a while back so snagged it. A good
    selection with everything you’d expect on it and a variation to the listening to them in terms of full albums.

    Ash – Teenage Wildlife: 25 Years Of Ash 2 x CD. Brilliant! Loud! I just wish their albums
    would get the box set treatment. There’s a lot that says punk pop and power pop about these songs. All fast and guitar heavy apart from a few with a bit more sensitivity but they are great hooks and tunes with good differentiation within the genre(s) overall. A very smart set and not a duff track on the 38 titles throughout, play loud, play often. There’s a limited lenticular covered 3 x CD set as well that adds a disc of oddities.

    Death In Vegas – The Contino Sessions / Scorpio Rising Great stuff from the late 90s.
    These tunes are largely one simple riff that builds and layers up as it proceeds until it gets pretty intense and has a nice pulse going on. Again, I’d like a box set of their back catalogue please.

    The Brains – The Monster Within (35m). Short and sweet like its successor Out In The
    Dark but it’s worth every penny. All fourteen tunes are top notch fast and furious melodic psychobilly with great riffs. It seems like a lot more in it than the timing shows. Each tune has a great sensibility for the melody and the riff with great guitar breaks in as well. The singer sings (well) no gnarly shouting here. Wonderful, exciting enjoyment all round. Should be played back to back with Out In the Dark for one long 70 minute full on melodic psychobilly blast.

    Martin Rossiter – The Defenestration of St Martin (2013, 45m). This is the singer in the 90s
    band Gene. He has a lovely soulful singing voice. All these ten songs are accompanied by piano only except for the last part of track ten which for some reasons explodes into a full band and guitar work out. The album was crowd funded so clearly the artist felt it a worthwhile project. It is clear to see why. The lyrics are seemingly very personal (abusive father, personal relationships). Puts me in mind to some extent of the sort of thing that Elvis Costello recently did with Bert Bacharach (‘He’s Given Me Things’ for instance). It has the lyrical intensity that Spartan accompaniment lends to a song and keeps you engaged all through and emotionally involved. A quite lovely and perhaps bitter-sweet journey as life so often is and an under the radar album well worth investigating. He released a live version a year or so later I think.

    Lining up next…. The Monochrome Set – Little Noises (5 x cd 90s albums set), V/A A Band For All Seasons 4 x CD set on Fruts De Mar and David Bowie Live Box 2 (10 CD set). I’ll dip in and out of these with further deviations no doubt. Keep safe and mentally well. The music helps with that!

  30. Hello, I have quit a broad musical taste. For The last days I have listened to,:
    Two sides of peter banks (it was ok, lacking the energy of yes and Flash first albums). Arthur Lee – vindicator – ok, go for forever changes for The best of arthur Lee. Renaissance – ashes are burning, this is one of my top records. Doll by doll ‘doll by doll’ ok, i am a great fan of jackie leven since many years. Today I Will listen to script by marillion. Best regards hans

    1. @Hans, good to know I am not the only Jackie Leven fan on here:) Funny was thinking about Shining Brother Shining Sister just this morning.

  31. Rick Wagner “Der Ring des Nibelungen” also helps to dig out during this coronaquarantine.

    I Have 2 different physical renditions and some older ones on NAND.

    Recommended!

    1. I’ve struggled with the Ring Cycle and sold my special Solti edition a few years ago. I’ve also tried Kleiber’s Tristran, but couldn’t get into that either. I find he has moments of great beauty (hidden in hours of ugliness).

      I have the John Elliot Gardener box of his JS Bach Pilgrimage – 55 CDs recorded live around the world over the course of a year. I’ve only listened to a handful of discs so far, so that will be my headphone go-to for the next twelve weeks. When I add in the Christmas Oratorio, the two passions and the Easter Cantanta that gives 63 discs for the full Church year.

  32. Pretty much business as usual here in Tokyo. Shops, restaurants, all still open as ever. There was even toilet paper in the stores yesterday! Or at least things were OK until yesterday evening when the Mayor declared an unofficial weekend lockdown. So today the stores were heaving and the shelves were fast bare. The good money is on the idea that Japan, which still hasn’t closed its borders or set up restrictions (it has merely suggested that schools close), hasn’t actually started to feel the virus yet. Oh joy. Cases are beginning to spike up now.

    Still, everybody shut in but who needs a fix from here, now you won’t have the Olympics anytime soon, should try to handle Shiina Ringo’s 2003 album “Kalk Samen Kuri No Hana” (her name and the English title vary, so hunt around) — it’s the one with the black cover with the cup on it — which I continue to think the most exciting and challenging album of the century to date. You’ll need a good long lockdown to get fully to grips with it.

    And then, of course, when your mind is suitably mangled, cue up “Koko De Kiss Shite” on YouTube with the rose garden video and the world’s a better place. Guaranteed.

  33. Great idea, Paul and best wishes to you and all SDE denizens.

    My ‘home office’ is conveniently the room with my record player so I only play vinyl when working in here. This has given me an opportunity to play some stuff I haven’t heard in years. Two which have stood out are ‘Lifes Hard and Then You Die’ by Its Immaterial and ‘XYZ’ by Andy Summers. Totally forgot about this last one but its pretty good. Am eyeing up Prince’s ‘Graffiti Bridge’ for this afternoon. Wish me luck!

    And how flimsy was vinyl in the 80’s?!? Some of them are more like flexi disks.

  34. My playlist this week so far has been;
    TFF – The Hurting & SFTBC boxes
    Robert Plant – Lullaby and the Ceaseless Roar & Carry Fire
    Morrissey – I Am Not A Dog On A Chain
    Ramones – It’s Alive (double coloured)
    KT Tunstall – Eye To The Telescope
    Boomtown Rats – Citizens Of Boomtown

    Waiting on The Shires latest arriving today (hopefully)

  35. @ Tony Walton.
    David Coverdale’s Northwinds is such a fantastic album. Thanks for reminding me – duly on the turntable as I punch the keyboard.
    How I wish he would put out another “softer” album – Perhaps, Into The Light Part II would be a good start

    1. Coverdale is a great blues singer. He’s NOT a rock singer. Every time he tries to sing in a rock register he sounds like a drowning cat !
      I agree the early Whitesnake stuff is great but the yankee dollar and MTV called and poodle rock was born.

  36. For anyone with damaged Bowie EP….
    My vinyl sleeve arrived with a split down the spine last Friday.
    I let them know straight away and replacement arrived Tuesday, so they are good at sorting things out based on my experience.

    1. Thanks for the Bowie comment Markyp. My cd came pretty bent up. They ended up comping by cd because it is sold out. Oh well–at least it was free!

  38. Paul – Thanks for starting this thread! I really enjoying seeing what everyone is listening to and often times find some new artists/releases to check out. I love Snow Patrol, Sting and Act…so several of your choices resonated with me.

    I’ve been working most of these recent days while staying at home here in Texas, but have been getting out for a walk/run in the afternoon to break up the monotony. During those afternoon breaks, I’ve listened to:

    Ride – This Is Not a Safe Place
    Ride – Weather Diaries
    Pet Shop Boys – Hotspot
    electronic- electronic
    Morrissey – Your Arsenal
    TV On the Radio – Seeds
    M People – elegant slumming

    As an added bonus, my 16 year old son has been on a massive Depeche Mode kick, so we’ve been making our way together though the DVDs included with the deluxe re-issues from ~14 years ago. It’s been great to see him get into the history of the band.

    I hope all of the SDE faithful and their families are staying safe and well.

  39. Are you familiar, Paul, with the intrigue about the chorus riff in ‘Fortress Round you Heart’ on the Sting album? Play ‘Nothing to Say’ (wait for the riff that first appears at 1:07-1:20) by Jethro Tull, from ‘Benefit’ and compare the two.

    Anyway, what did I listen to today? The new Tommy Halferty Trio album, purchased from JazzIreland.ie – where all monies go direct to the artists. And it’s terrific. :-)

    1. Colin, when I first heard The Dream Of The Blue Turtles I was astonished at how like Van Morrison it sounded. So much so that when, a year later, No Guru, No Method, No Teacher came out, I assumed the lyrics “Copycats ripped off my songs, Copycats ripped off my melody” in A Town Called Paradise were a rebuke to Sting. But I was a teenager then and perhaps I read too much into it. It’s a very long time since I’ve heard either album, so I don’t know if I’d still think Sting was guilty of borrowing too much from Morrison.

  40. Paul sounds like a nice 5.1 set up for sure, this is a fine time to pull out SACD’s and Dualdiscs for those who have them. One really impressive SACD is NIN ‘the downward spiral’, along with the Elton John SACD’s. The dualdiscs of the Bjork catalogue also sound pretty cool.
    Recently discovered the OMD live albums they’ve been putting out through their website and on Amazon, in particular their album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, along with their full album shows and standard ‘hits plus’ shows. They seem a bit quiet at first then I realized they thankfully didn’t overly compress or use much limiting so when the volume’s turned up they sound pretty well-recorded. Good luck to everyone and good listening in your homes!

  41. Currently continuing to rip my CD collection to FLAC (only about another 2,000 to go…) but, because my girlfriend is working from home, I’ve spent the last three days listening to Wave 105 radio station.

  42. Re: Bowie’s “It Any Wonder?” I had the same message from MusicGlue regarding shipping being delayed until April. Frustrating as they have sent some orders out and, coupled with the fact that Rhino orders (UK and US) haven’t had an issue, I’m guessing it’s a stock problem so I’ve pretty much given up hope of getting this. In the grander scheme of things, it’s not so important, but still a little frustrating.

    On topic, I’m spinning:
    – Motown Chartbusters Vols. 1-5 (around £10 for the set)
    – Underworld’s Drift box (The Necks collaboration is fantastic)
    – Selections from Wilco’s Roadcase series that I’ve picked up over the years
    – Both TFF boxes courtesy of the SDE shop

  43. Great thread/topic Paul…yesterday & the past week, I’ve been concentrating on dubbing my old VHS tapes to DVD, now that I luckily recently got the proper remote (I had bought the unit used as no electronics stores were selling these converter machines new) and a set of 50 blanks…most of these tapes were all music, so some I recall copying were the Brit Awards 1998, the 1999 Glastobury Festival, the Burt Bacharach tribute concert, various videos, TV performances, Badfinger Behind the Music on VH1, etc…on CD, yesterday, what I recall listening to were Volume 4 of Blank & Jones’ So80s series & the new 6CD Sister Sledge box… keep it going…

  44. I’m stuck in, Covid-19 finally caught me, music and books in storage. My digital drive is been repaired/rescued. So my only music offerings is Now 70s on cable TV. What joy.

  45. Meat Loaf is a really good shout. Coincidentally I’ve been giving Bat out of Hell 2 a go this week. Haven’t played it for many years but got to thinking about it due to this year’s RSD release which is now postponed obviously. I also advise giving Jim Steinman’s Bad for good album a go as it’s great and he does a lot of songs (very well) that Meat Loaf did later. Stay safe and well everyone!

    1. I was very fortunate to see Meatloaf on tour when he did most of the Bad for Good album – 1988, I think. I wasn’t a big Meat fan at the time, but my mate was in seventh heaven. He had no idea that meatloaf would be doing that material, as at the time it was thought that he and Steinman were still having “creative differences.” It was billed as the Bat Out Of Hell 10th anniversary tour.

  46. Today:
    Side 1 of Sketches of Spain – Miles;
    Side 2 of The Band – The Band;
    H1 of Side 2 of Desire – Bob Dylan;
    All vinyl
    Yesterday:
    ALL of In a Silent Way – Miles (again)
    Streaming / on phones

    Whilst the streaming was fine, the vinyl this afternoon felt purer, more human to have wash over the ears . Don’t know WHY – but it just was!

  48. Hello to everyone from the U.S. I’m hoping everyone is healthy and being responsible. Enforced isolation is a funny thing. I had to use some annual leave from work, and I’m on vacation right now (alright, on holiday, then) but I’m stuck in my apartment. Plans to take the break were made two months ago, and up until maybe ten days ago, a road trip with my family was all set to go.
    As Bryan Ferry might say, “You can guess the rest.”
    I doubt I’ll get too bored, with an embarrassment of musical riches to trawl through right here in my little place. I’ve been on a” late 1979 into 1980″ 40th anniversary kick of my own for a few months and have revisited every bit of music I bought at the time (as well as a few I got around to later, when I finally had an income!) So in addition to some 7″ singles (a few dozen) I’ve revisited albums like:
    Fleetwood Mac – Tusk, The Specials, Madness- One Step Beyond, Tom Petty – Damn The Torpedoes, Supertramp – BIA (I was late on that one), Police – Reggatta de Blanc, Romantics, Pretenders, Buggles – The Age Of Plastic, Elvis Costello – Get Happy!!, Squeeze – Argybargy, The Whispers (1979 eponymous album), The Jam – Setting Sons box set, Michael Jackson – Off The Wall, Rush – Permanent Waves and a bunch of K-tel albums out at the time (I still like “The Rock Album” and always will.) There were a lot of swell albums coming out at during those months. A golden era, and I’m still discovering more all the time.
    My tastes obviously evolved and expanded since I was 13, so I have mixed things up by pulling stuff off the shelves at random, or I’ve inspired by a song suddenly popping into my head. In the last few days, I’ve enjoyed these albums:
    Canned Heat – Living The Blues (I was really into the two-sided 40 minute “Refried Boogie” as a four year old. My mother was horrified, even though it was her album! Then it somehow disappeared…)
    Climax Blues Band – 1st album (since I was already getting my electric blues fix)
    Go-Betweens – 1978-1990 compilation (Send Me A Lullaby up next)
    Sisters Of Mercy – Some Girls Wander By Mistake compilation
    Simple Minds – Celebrate (3cd edition – in progress)
    Richard and Linda Thompson – I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight, and Pour Down Like Silver. I heard “Bright Lights” come on the radio while stopping at a house (I was delivering the mail) talking to the lady who lives there, and I almost welled up with tears. It happened two days after I played the album for the first time in ages. I wonder if the DJ interpreted the song’s sentiment the same way I did this week. Coincidence? Or emerging anthem?
    Tim Buckley – just about everything (“Danang” from Works In Progress is gorgeous)
    The Who – Maximum As & Bs box set (in progress)
    Neil Young – Tonight’s the Night and Time Fades Away, for starters
    Distractions – Nobody’s Perfect (straight from SDE – never heard of it, took a chance, really glad I did. And it happens to be exactly forty years old… Thanks Paul!)
    Josef K – The Only Fun In Town, Sorry for Laughing and Young and Stupid.
    All the latest Pet Shop Boys releases. I like them all. Too long a fan to change!
    Buzzcocks – Every 7″ single from Spiral Scratch to What Do You Know, in order, because I’m a freak, but what a blast. I could have just played a CD but this felt like old times, when I first heard their music.
    Coming up today – Roger Waters – Is This The Life We Really Want? – haven’t heard it yet.
    Pink Floyd – The Wall (close enough to the 40th of buying my first copy)
    Tim Hardin 1 and 2 (they’re so damn short!)
    Al Green – Gets Next To You (but I couldn’t stop with just one)
    Minutemen – Double Nickels On The Dime
    and if there’s time tonight, Frank Sinatra – in the wee small hours – for that all-alone feeling, especially if I make a dent in that beer collection in the fridge.

    Apologies for such a lengthy post. I haven’t seen a face or talked with anybody since Sunday and this feels good to “bond” with my kind of people. This site is like a daily vitamin for me. Thank God for the music. And thank you, Paul, for giving us a place to go, all the time. Everybody take care.

    P.S. to Chris Squires (now I have to pull out Fish Out Of Water),
    About FGTH – WTTP, I’ve had a 35 year obsession with that track. At almost the same time I first heard it I picked up a three-year old album on a whim – Steve Miller Band – Circle of Love, from 1981. There’s a 16 minute song that takes up all of side two called “Macho City” that is so very similar to the Frankie track that I have to wonder if someone on the Frankie team was into it too. The music is strikingly similar, even if the tempo is much slower. Also, after a weird, spoken, rap-ish three minutes, the song plays out as a spacey, trance-y instrumental for the next eleven minutes, ending with a couple of minutes of rainfall, which is a little bit like how WTTP starts with the drizzly water sounds … Way ahead of its time. I think it’s better respected now than it was in 1981. I’m a sucker for long spacey songs (I’m looking at you, Temptations, Pink Floyd and The Orb too) and the SMB and FGTH tunes are two of the most played songs I have, despite the abundance of choices at my fingertips. Seriously, investigate this song if this interests you (or anyone still reading!)

    2. Hi Spiral

      One of the things I have loved about these pages for the last 6 or 7 years is the recommendations, some are wide of the mark, some are OK and some are just amazing. Things I have wisely, shamefully or accidentally avoided for the last 40-odd years or so.

      I listened to Macho City (a song I had never heard before) three times already this morning and I have fallen in love with it. Your synopsis of it was spot on and for me I could go even further. It starts with hints of Bowie’s “Fame”, moves into something David Byrne-ish until at three minutes is moves swiftly from Nile Rodgers funk into something AutoBahn / Equinoxe like. Then it goes into semi-Pleasuredome mode until at around the 6.15 minute mark when you might as well be playing me Welcome to the Pleasuredome. It is absolutely remarkable and I am surprised lawyers didn’t get involved. At 11.50ish there is a section that was almost lifted in it’s entirety and it is so obvious. Then to top it all it finishes beautifully by going into Concerto for a Rainy Day and I half expected it to segue into Summer and Lightning.
      Talk about the sum of it’s parts!
      Thank you for the recommendation, it is a lovely piece of music.

    3. Thanks Spiral Scar for the interesting read, but mostly for the SMB “Macho City” tip as I also have a mild “WTTP” obsession.

      I’d never heard “Macho City” before so have just listened to it on ‘You Tube; loved what I heard, ordered the vinyl, and now have the digital version playing in the background!

      That’s what I love about Super Deluxe Edition and why it’s a must read everyday.

      Stay safe everyone.

      1. I’m very happy to hear from you all about enjoying this song. I was drawn to it because of all the negativity in record reviews at the time of release. Rolling Stone was confused by it, another called it “unlistenable” and so on. I must have been reading about it in a review guide, probably because I had just picked up Steve Miller Band’s Italian X-Rays album, and was surprised at how much I really loved that album straight away. It was not what you would have expected from them. I pick up a reference book or chart book maybe every single day for one reason or another. Sometimes a scathing review is enough of a reason to investigate. Especially if the reviewer is a smug little prig. Perhaps there are also some of those working in the UK press, no?
        Perverse as it sounds, Italian X-Rays is the album that got me into SMB, or at least changed my mind about them enough to think SM might just be a little weird… so I took a chance on the album everybody dismissed.
        If you ever get a chance to go for a drive again, and you will, play Macho City on a rainy day, preferably when you have a long uninterrupted stretch of road to cover. After I experienced it that way the first time, it became my favorite way to listen to it. Headphones in the dark isn’t a bad alternative.
        Great to hear from you guys. I also try a lot of things I read about in these comments. I never tire of exploring. Thanks to all of you for the recommendations.

  49. Wow, was listening to Both Remain In Light and Fear of Music today. Hope everyone and their families are healthy. The SDE site is a relief in these trying times. Tomorrow I am going to make it a The Fall marathon. He careful everyone.

  50. The Archers has got good in the last week with the fall out from Linda Snell nearly dying!

    I picked up a scratched version of the Eurythmics single I Need a Man, which I really bought for the embossed metal case. Fortunately it plays fine and the Macho Mix is great.

    Jamie Cullum’s Taller album is on a lot and the track The Age Of Anxiety sums up the mood at the moment.

    Bat For Lashes The Hunted Man passed me by at the time, but I picked it up in a charity shop and have enjoyed playing that, along with the current album.

    I must dig out Bat Out Of Hell as mentioned by Wayne Olsen. It’s such a good album.

    I was lucky enough to see Sting on The Dream Of The Blue Turtles tour in Newcastle City Hall, and it was brilliant. It’s still a good album – how come some albums never age and some sound dated within a few years?

    Regards to all,

  51. We’re miserable out here in Kuwait right now. Myself, my wife, and two kids aged 3 and 2 are stuck in a 4th floor tiny two fed flat. The country has been locked down for three weeks, and a 5pm to 4am curfew in place for a week. There are rumours it will be extended to 24 hour curfew in next few days. We have nowhere for the kids to play.

    My entire music collection is still in England, my wife’s mother is undergoing cancer investigations back in Hungary.

    It’s a pretty horrendous time. To be fair Kuwait is more on top of this thing than any other country and that’s a very very good thing. But unfortunately being on top involves severe measures which I very much fear you will all eventually experience…..:(

    Please stay safe and stay well SDE community……thinking of you all….

  52. Stevie Wonder.
    I have hammered Hotter Than July for 30 years – and of course ‘I Just Called To Say I Love You’ (My secret guilty pleasure, makes me cry) though the rest of the cannon I never got around to.
    Thank goodness I got around to it. Its mind blowing

  53. Great idea Paul. Really enjoyed this and the LPs listed in the comment section. I will be here every day, I love the enthusiasm of real music fans, even if I don’t always enjoy the same music.

  54. Dear all,

    Just when Don looks like winning with his jellyfish hand of cards.
    Chris squires plays a brilliant card.
    Hall and oates, abandoned luncheonette.
    Is there any music debate that that album doesn’t win or score very high? Not in my opinion.
    Ps Chris, what do you mean by Friday version.?
    Oh for a deluxe version of that album.

    1. Morning Foggy.
      It’s the 2010 American re-release (180g Black Vinyl) on the Friday Music label FRM7269.
      I picked it up from eBay in 2018 for £22 as I didn’t know it existed and there was a conversation about it somewhere on these pages.
      Is it better than the 1982 MFSL version? Well I have played both back to back and I think it is ever so slightly improved.
      I struggle to believe it is 47 years old and the same age as Tubular Bells. Ridiculous.
      It was one of the albums I was never letting go when I sold my collection last year. First heard it in 1984 and it is head and shoulders above any other H&O album, even the monster sellers. I am fond of “Back together again” though.

  55. Townes Van Zandt “Waitin’ ’round to Die”
    Kevin Ayers Joy of a Toy
    Bettie Serveert Plays Venus in Furs
    Dr. Feelgood Down by the Jetty

  56. Today I been grooving to
    Thin Lizzy – Black Rose, The Best Of Big Star, Utopia Oops Wrong Planet, America 1st album, Kansas leftoverture and The Kids Are Alright The Who

  57. Great idea for a thread. I’ve been listening to stuff I just haven’t got round to it. Went through the 50 Years of Fleetwood Mac box set today which was interesting and good fun. I’ve been enjoying An American Treasure by Tom Petty and tonight I’m listening to Hazell Dean Heart First which is a bit odd as I dont remember buying it – or why. It’s good though. Just bought a 6 cd compilation of soul and funk compiled by Craig charles which looks ridiculously good

  58. Yesterday and today I’ve been listening to….vinegar Joe – rock n roll gypsies….Rush – 2112…..David coverdale – northwinds…..Neil young – live rust…….the slits – cut……

  59. Envious of your Bowie CD mine has been delayed by MusicGlue (via DavidBowie.com) until April 17th don’t know why, but it probably has something to do with Corvid19

  60. hello paul. first i wish you and your family all the best for the next weeks and months. i’m self isolated with my mum ( 82 ) since 2 weeks to get hopefully well through this very hard and sad time. we order foods, drinks and delectations every week. i work from here now – no photo shootings, no video shootings. i sale now what i have from the last years of my work for clients. chosoe works for new collections and support my models however i can. the world is burning now and i feel sad every day about the horrible news. my heart breaks every evening about the horrendous anguish in italy and spain…. now in the USA too….but between the news i try to find a little fun in my private 4 TB music collection.
    i hope we all – greetings to all here with love from germany – are still here at the end of this year to write and discuss over music we like most. take good care !!

    1. Hi Daniel.. wishing you and your mum the very best. Terrible times as you say; all we can do is stay inside as much as possible, hope to stay healthy and make the best of a bad situation. P

  61. I purchased the Snow Patrol SACD about 15 years ago from the now defunct BMG Record Club for like $5.99 (shipping included) but I’ve never really listen to it. For a while they were selling lots of UMC SACD titles Elton John, Clapton, NIN, Sheryl Crow to name a few and I bought all the ones I’d hadn’t already purchased. Guess I’ll have to dig that one out.

  62. Does watching count,the clash,rude boy Blu-ray, absolutely amazing picture quality,got some nice scenes out side the old Glasgow appolo and mr chips the chippy and lauders pub,spent a lot of my childhood in the appolo and chippy as I lived in townhead Just at Buchanan bus station and we used to skip in to the gigs,

  63. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been listening to:

    – Howard Jones – “Humans Lib”, “Dream Into Action”, and “One To One” SDEs
    – Jellyfish – “Bellybutton” and “Spilt Milk” (the best indie pop/rock band of the 90s)
    – Dillon Fence – “Best/+”
    – Prince – “1999” SDE
    – Yes – Steven Wilson remixes of “Fragile”, “Close To The Edge”, etc.

    In the next few days, I should receive the TFF “Hurting” and “Big Chair” SDE reissues! So that will kill some time, definitely.

  64. I am going through CDs currently stored in two groups A list (bedroom storage) and B list (cupboard storage) with possible relegation/promotion between the two.
    A list and keepers so far – Cast, All change
    The Beatles, Capitol albums
    B list – James bond live and let die ost
    Hard fi stars of CCTV
    The strands the strands — couldn’t even give my b list away yet!
    Coming up tomorrow – primal scream sonic flower groove, rem reveal, manics this is my truth, suede head music…
    Stay safe all.

  65. whilst I’ve been home this week I’ve listened to the following

    Chris Standring – Real Life his new album which is absolutely superb and recommended.
    Depeche Mode – Ultra, revisited this fav.
    Genesis – Selling England By The Pound.
    Miles Davis – Bitches Brew.
    Beck – Sea Change
    Bruce Springsteen – The River

    Also I’ve read this site, and read older articles and reviews that Paul has discussed and it’s helped with the boredom that sometimes happens.

    Keep safe and stay positive.

  66. Very nice list. Almost as nice as mine! Ha
    Amazon UK just informed me that my Marillion and Bangles orders are in limbo. I expect this is going to be happening more and more.
    New Jersey is #2 in the USA in COVID. So here’s a goodbye playlist for all of us in Jersey:
    Bruce Springsteen “Darkness on the Edge of Town”
    Paul Simon “Graceland”
    The Smithereens “especially for you “
    The Feelies “Fa ce La”
    The Roches “The Roches”
    Jim Steinman “Meat Loaf: Bat out of hell”
    Bon Jovi “new Jersey”
    The Isley Brothers “Fight the Power”
    The 4 Seasons “genuine imitation life gazette”
    New Order “Ceremony” recorded in West Orange
    Jethro Tull “Living in the Past” recorded in West Orange
    Too many jazz legends to mention
    Any Sinatra if you’re cooped up with your significant other…

  67. I have the first five Talking Heads albums on DualDisc, but no DVD-A player. So I ripped my favorite songs (stereo 24-bit/96kHz) from these albums and burned them onto a DVD to play through my regular DVD player. Did the same for DVD-A songs by R.E.M. and The Jesus and Mary Chain. I think it’s time I revisited these burned DVDs while self-isolating.

    Can’t say I’m sad that DVD-A never took off. I’m all in favor of high-resolution audio, but why not put the files on standard DVDs or Blu-Ray discs? Why was DVD-A (or SACD) ever needed in the first place? I’ve never heard a difference in audio quality between SACD/DVD-A and hi-res files found on other formats (DVD, Blu-Ray, .WAV files).

    1. MFG:

      SACD (1999) and DVD-A (2000) were the first hi-res formats on the market long before Blu-ray (2006) which initially was a video format. Both SACD and DVD-A could support multi-channel 96/24 whereas regular DVD (1996), aka DVD-V, could not. I loved SACD because one could play hi-res multi-channel without turning on the TV. DVD-A was menu driven and needed a TV but potentially could hold more than a SACD if it were double layered. Poor marketing and the need for another player killed the market. All CDs should have been produced as hybrid CD/SACDs so that all could play the music but give those with the set up the chance to enjoy the hi-res.

      Was hoping that Blu-ray would become the preferred hi-res format for music but it seems like there has been resistance to Blu-ray adoption (despite most people having 1080 TVs) and Blu-ray players getting much more affordable, but mostly its because of the demise of physical formats in general. I am still surprised that when a multi-channel recording is released, it often still is released only on a lossy DVD-V – a 25-year old technology!

      SACD/DVD-A/Blu-ray/hi-res FLAC/.WAV typically are similar resolutions and the same music should/will sound similar or identical from them, but they are all superior to CD and DVD-V. I can tell the difference between 44.1/16 and 96/24, and Dolby Atmos is a totally different way to present sound and is stunningly lifelike.

      I have maybe 50 SACDs and 20 DVD-A’s and an increasing number of Blu-ray music discs, some with 5.1 and now a few Dolby Atmos recordings (Kraftwerk – 3-D, INXS – Kick 30, Beatles – Abbey Road).

  68. Great idea this!,
    Today I listened through all of the Public Image Is Rotten, except the live disc,then it was on to Blondie Greatest Hits, Massive Attack Collected (both discs), SFA Zoom,(well I skipped a few tracks), St Etienne Tiger Bay, Slowdive Souvlaki (not listened to it before pretty mellow). All in all very enjoyable.
    Tomorrow thanks for the inspiration Paul, it’ll be Remain in Light & Fear of Music (which I much prefer) 5.1 mixes of both, like yourself i’ve just set up my 5.1 system so I’ll also listen to the Dukes of Stratosphear.
    Incredibly at the age of 56, i’ve only just got into the Byrds, they’re one of my favourite bands now, I’ll go through the complete album collection (well up to Untitled/Unissued, the following two are pretty bad!).
    Then a bit of ambient Global Communication 76:14, Banco de Gaia Last Train to Lhasa, then finish it off with the Fall singles 3cd set.
    Although this may change. Sorry for the long post, but maybe not, as this is the nature of these lists.
    Looking forward to reading more ‘work, rest & playlists’!. Goes without saying, Best site out there.
    Paul

    Paul

  69. The Snow Patrol is fantastic and one I play fairly regularly.

    Gary Lightbody has been playing a selection of songs on Instagram. The next one is this Thursday. Just him & his guitar. If you like a Snow Patrol it is an excellent way to spend an hour. It starts at 7.30pm GMT.

    He also wrote a song with the assistance of his followers last Saturday. Again it was an excellent watch to see how he works. I think he is doing it again this week

  70. Hi Paul-

    Thanks for sharing your list. My mother passed recently and I’ve been going through her varied (rock, pop, jazz, soul, new wave) collection which has brought back great memories. She took us to our first Springsteen snow in New Jersey in 1980. Although close to 90 music new and old was still a part of her daily life. I’ve been playing several of her favorites lately:

    Barbara Streisand-My Name is Barbara
    Yaz-Upstairs @ Eric’s
    Talking Heads-Stop Making Sense
    Joe Cocker-Mad Dogs and Englishmen
    Springsteen-The River
    Johnny Hartman/John Coltrane-Self Titled
    Dinah Washington-What a Difference a Day Makes
    Otis Redding-Otis Blue
    Paul Young-No Parlez

    Thanks for the inspiration and stay safe in the UK.

  71. My Bowie disc arrived two days ago and the case was bent pretty badly. Very poor packaging. Debating whether to send it back or suck it up. I’m worried if I do get a new one it will not be in any better shape if it is shipped the same way.

    1. Just as an aside: Why don’t we suggest songs that would pertain to isolation/disease that would make an appropriate playlist. For example, the Police re-release “Don’t Stand So Close to Me”; Depeche Mode – Shake the Disease.

      1. Deanery, here’s a playlist I put together to amuse myself, loosely based on the sequence of events here in Australia. Some of the connections go beyond just the title and/or can be a little obtuse (e.g. ‘Stand’ – for those suddenly required to telecommute) so make of it what you will:

        Stand – R.E.M.
        Shut Down – Australian Crawl
        You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere – The Byrds
        Isolation – John Lennon
        Hey Nineteen – Steely Dan
        Catch My Disease – Ben Lee
        Infected – The The
        Ventilator Blues – The Rolling Stones
        In Between Days – The Cure

        I had PIL’s ‘Covered’ tucked in there as well, but pronunciation differences could leave people in certain countries scratching their heads over that one. It did have the “I Give, I Give, I Give…” hook in its favour, though.

  73. Really enjoyed your playlist. You’ve inspired me to dig out my copy of “Final Straw” by Snow Patrol. Fantastic record but I haven’t listened to it in years – about time it got revisited!

    I got a new turntable for Christmas so have been playing vinyl like crazy this last week! Over the last 24 hours I’ve listened to things like Depeche Mode’s “Delta Machine”, Chris Isaak’s “Forever Blue” and Tom Waits “One From The Heart” (AMAZING soundtrack – going to be spinning this record a lot more over the next few weeks).

    Also been spending my time looking at a few indie record online stores here in the US. My local store Music Millennium has been posting a vinyl deal a day which has really given me something to look forward to (deals on Pink Floyd, Iggy Pop, Nirvana etc…) – been having the same effect that the SDE deals have on me! Anybody got any good recommendations for online stores? If I can’t go and dig in stores physically then I’d like to do it online and help support our community.

  75. You and the family stay safe too, Paul.

    Thanks for this, and more please! I am preparing myself to devour Bowie’s Leon Suites (which I’ve been saving for a rainy day for a few years now, for some crazy reason), the giant 1999 box set and all 8 or 9 volumes Andy Partridge’s Fuzzy Warbles collection to start things off. They may take a while, but I can’t wait.

    Take care and much love to the whole SDE village.

    1. The Fuzzy Warbles stuff is great – so many genius gems. The Leon suites….. hmmm (much as I love Bowie and 1. Outside I found them hard going…).

  76. Great topic, Paul!

    I am taking the opportunity to go through lengthy releases, or series of related releases. To date in the last two weeks:
    – Underworld’s CDs from the best release from 2019, “Drift Series 1” CD/BD box set;
    – Dead Or Alive’s CDs from the “Sophisticated Boom Box” CD/DVDs box set;
    – Heaven 17’s “Play To Win” 9xCD box set;
    – Queen’s three “Deep Cuts” compilations;
    – James Bond soundtracks from the 60’s to the 90’s;
    – Visage’s excellent releases on the Rubellan Remasters label.
    – Underworld’s live CDs released by Live Here Now in the late 2000’s.

  77. Hi Paul

    Firstly I wanted to say what a great site this is so Thankyou

    Whilst being at home I’ve been listening to

    Level 42 – World Machine
    Kraftwerk – Minimum Maximum
    Ben Folds – Songs for Silverman
    Gary Numan – Pleasure Principle
    Blancmange – Happy Families

    Keep up the good work and stay safe

    All the best

    Steve

    2. Steve, which version of Songs For Silverman do you have? I bought a job lot of CD’s off ebay and there was a special version of it amongst the others. It was a hard back book type affair and came with a nice lyric booklet and making of DVD. Unfortunately the CD inside was the wrong one (Air – Moon Safari). If you have the original CD I’d be happy to post this to you and you could ‘upscale’ it to a deluxe version.

  78. In the 70’s there was a song called “Nothing going on in the city” by White Honey fronted by Hanneke Kappen. It keeps going through my head while cycling through Amsterdam these days.

    1. I have 5 x B&W M1 speakers with a B&W PV1 subwoofer and a Yamaha RX-V675 theatre amp. Vinyl goes through a separate rega brio amp and two Wharfedale speakers.

  82. I have also been revisiting or introducing myself to titles long languishing on the shelf. I love to see the surround titles mentioned as I am a big fan of surround music. Here are a few titles I played yesterday.

    Dana Gillespie- Weren’t Born A Man
    A bit of a smokey cabaret lounge vibe with appearances/help from Bowie, Ronson, Rick Wakeman, Bobby Keyes, and the other Spiders as well. Very relaxing.

    Stevie Nicks- Rock a Little
    I rarely reach for this album but I have no idea why….it is excellent. Yes it is full on 80’s production but Stevie sounds great and “Talk to Me” has some great lyrics concerning communication within relationships.

    Tom Petty-Damn the Torpedoes
    I sometimes forget about the fine Tom Petty offerings in surround. This 5.1 Blu-Ray is a real treat. The mixes are great and you also get the generous bonus tracks in surround as well. 2 videos too! Tom’s voice really shines here as does Stan Lynch’s drums. A bit pricy 10 years later but a great release.

  84. Sting = frustration!

    Frustration 1. No interesting re-issues of either Sting solo (Blue Turtles live as well) with extra’s, or any reissues of Police albums with extra’s, there should be tons in the vaults.
    Frustration 2. No new interesting Sting material at all. 57th & 9th didn’t do it for me.
    (Yes Paul, the 1985 band was terrific. Seen them live in Leiden (NL), never better)
    Frustration 3. No new Police reunion. They should do it one more time, including a new album with new material by all three. If they ever go on tour again, this should include some Summers and Copeland songs.

    Stay well people, hope this corona blows over in a while, so we can enjoy live concerts again.

  85. Great choices all of them!
    Listening to Act’s Laughter, Tears and Rage right now (thank you for reminding me of that band!), I bought the three cd edition when I visited London in 2003!
    Always loved that one but it’s been a while since I’ve listened to it so now is a great time to put it out of the shelves.
    Interestingly a few days ago I found Claudia Brücken’s Love: And a Million Other Things cd so I will spin that one after that!
    Stay safe everyone!!

    1. Love and a Million Other Things is a fantastic album. I enjoy it even more than ACT or Propaganda. Great songs, great sounds and great production. It also has the talented Steve Jansen on some of the tracks.

      I saw her live at a small venue called Surburbia (or something like that) in London at the time and I think Jansen was in the band. Great concert (Vic Reeves was in the audience which seemed strange to me at the time).

      If you don’t know the album already you are in for a treat!

  86. Lovely to see Act here.
    I am a big fan of propaganda and also a fan of Thomas Leer. Back in the day His track international made many a compilation tape of mine. (Including some where I played the 45 at 33!, it worked!!) plus I picked up the original dr mabuse 12″ at the time after listening to it on Janice longs Sunday 12″ show.
    It may well be heresy to say it, yet I encourage people to check out propaganda’s 1234.
    It has a different vocalist, Betsi miller,and line up, derek Forbes Brian McGee and Michael martens, to the classic one. This has arguably led to it being a bit ignored by their label. The music perfectly evokes the era yet it still sounds fresh and it remains one of my favourite pop albums. And deserves a wide audience.
    Heaven give me words and only one word are two superb tracks on an album that doesn’t have a single bad track.

  87. I’ve been listening to newer releases such as Brian/Roger Eno’s Mixing Colours, Morrissey’s IANADOAC, Deacon Blue’s City of Love, and Gary Daly’’s Gone From Here (2019 but new to me)

    Also been dipping into the past listening to various XTC Instrumentals from the deluxe editions, Mike Lindup’s On The One, Bowie’s ChangesBowie (from last week’s SDE post), Ruby Blue’s Down From Above, Muddyhead’s Land And Sea, and The South’s Sweet Refrains

  88. I’ve been listening to Joni Mitchell’s ‘The Complete Geffen Recordings’.
    It’s jaw-dropping how the social and political commentary on those albums from the 80s’ describe our present time so accurately.

  89. I listened to Talking Heads’ Remain In Light for the first time on Monday night – what an amazing album that is! Also really enjoyed Morrissey’s new one plus really digging Pink Floyd’s The Wall now I have some time to listen to the whole thing.

    1. Is it wise to listen to The Wall at the moment. It’s a bit intense. I have trouble listening to it when I’m in a good frame of mind.

  90. I bought the ACT CD set a couple of years ago. I had the original Snobbery and Decay CD single and played it to death. I just loved the sound but like you Paul, I rarely ventured beyond that hit single that I had already played over and over again. It just sounded so like it should have been a Stephen Duffy B-side from the Cocksure era.
    I have also been playing the Blank and Jones ZTT set over the last couple of days and have developed a bit of an obsession for the track Welcome to the Pleasuredome.
    I think many people have said here before they have far too much stuff, now is the perfect time to dig out those little played gems.
    Playlist today.
    Abandoned Luncheonette – Friday Version
    Voulez Vouz – Half Speed 2LP version
    Autobahn – Original version.
    Stay safe everyone.

    1. I have the 3 CD set from 2004 and the Absolutely Immune Extended version is sublime IMO.

      Fortunately (financially) though unfortunately (music-wise) I am working from home and either have to listen through the computer or not at all. I can’t listen to engaging music while working – I get too distracted.

  92. Love that Talking Heads album Paul! I’ve been making a conscious decision to dig out albums I haven’t played for years ( also watching old DVD’s too ) I made a rule that I have to listen to the album in full twice to fully appreciate it:

    1, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds” Push the sky away”
    2, Japan “Gentlemen take Polaroids”
    3, “Django Unchained” Soundtrack
    4, Miles Davis “Bitches Brew” 40th anniversary that astonishingly I’ve never played.
    5, Beatles “White Album” Giles Martin 3 disc reissue.

    Happy listening everyone & stay safe!!

  94. Sting’s “Dream Of The Blue Turtles” is a difficult album for me to process. It came out during the second half of my first year of college. My good friend Fritz loved it, and listened to it over and over. Me personally, I was so over Sting and the Police at this point, I couldn’t get into any of the songs. (I still can’t.) But Fritz (who was an amateur musician himself) pointed out the jazz stylings under the surface of many of the songs, and broke down the interesting structures of the songwriting. So… I still don’t like the album, but there’s a sweet spot for it in my heart due to my memories of hanging with my friend (and him gently introducing me to how awesome jazz can be).

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