Love That Album

I have been heard to say that I don’t believe in guilty pleasures. You like what you like – end of story. As will be obvious from Episode 19 of Love That Album, I love Billy Joel’s album “The Stranger”. Nowadays in some people’s eyes (and for someone from this list you KNOW who you are), that is an admission tantamount to confessing to having an STD. The fact of the matter is that this album is full of well constructed songs – melodically rich, well arranged, mainly (though not completely) clever lyrically – and it should be held in high esteem. Now I’ll admit that beyond a point his albums started getting very dull (everything after The Nylon Curtain) and his fame for dating supermodels rather than as a musician was a put-off. None of that should get in the way of the fact that for a time, he had a real knack with a song and had a fantastic band to support his musical vision (including the great Liberty Devitto on drums).

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From the mid 70s through to the late 90s, Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook had a songwriting partnership that had the pundits comparing them to Lennon/McCartney. Don’t feel under any pressure, guys. As mainstays of the band Squeeze, Tilbrook’s music and Difford’s lyrics covered a multitude of subjects including spouse abuse, living under cramped conditions, infidelity, and wanking. They survived the new wave label and later on, the AOR label to just make great songs till Squeeze’s demise.

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On Episode 17 of Love That Album, we try something new and something old. For the first time, there are three of us discussing the album of the episode. In addition to LTA regular Geoff Smith, I’m joined from Sydney by Springsteen aficionado John Stirrat (not he of Wilco fame), to discuss Bruce’s latest long player, “Wrecking Ball”. The fact that we’re covering Bruce is the “something old”, since Jeff Jenkins and I went head-to-head way back in Episode 1 discussing Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town” versus “Wild, Innocent & E Street Shuffle”.

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For episode 16 of Love That Album podcast, we see the return of an artist previously discussed on the show, Paul Simon. Back in 1980, the music world was on the cusp of an onslaught of New Wave. Paul Simon wrote and starred in a film called One Trick Pony about a journeyman musician trying to find if he still has a place in the new musical landscape. Famous in the sixties for one anti-war song, he now has to compete with the new popular bands (the B52s make an appearance), swim around the sharks at his record company, work out where he fits with a wife he divorces but still loves, and how to maintain good parenting skills. Most of all he wants to serve his muse – but is being on the road with his band the way to do it? Especially in a climate that’s long forgotten he exists?

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For episode 15 of Love That Album podcast, Michael Pursche (of Sitting in a Bar in Adelaide podcast) discuss the wonderful but seldom talked about album from 1981, the eponymous album for Broderick Smith’s Big Combo. (You might say that we’re doing a Brod-cast) Brod emerged from Carson and The Dingoes to form this fantastic ensemble that reminds me of “Darkness” era E-Street Band and reminds Michael of Van Morrison. Either way, Brod is a gifted songwriter with a talent for painting a picture and telling a story – not always a pleasant one. Aztec Music has re-released this long deleted album, and it sounds a treat. Michael and I discuss the great musicianship and the lyrics to the album, Brod’s history as well as that of the members of the band. With a lineup including Mick O’ Connor on organ and the great Mal Eastick on guitar, you know he has an ensemble capable of great things. If you’ve not heard of him, listen to our chat, and track down the newly mastered CD re-release.

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Why, on a Ramones related show do I have the Allman Brothers song “‘Ramblin’ Man” going through my head? On Episode 14 of Love That Album, the one and only Doctor Zom of Silva and Gold podcast returns to discuss the Alan Arkush / Roger Corman rocksploitation film “Rock and Roll High School” featuring The Ramones in Oscar-worthy performances, as well as their Phil Spector produced album of the same period, “End of the Century”. In true Silva and Gold fashion, there were many detours from the proscribed subject matter (it felt like the end of the 21st century by the time we finished). This is the longest LTA episode yet, but we had to discuss such fundamental issues as how right wing Johnny Ramone and left wing Joey Ramones could stay in the same group for that many years. If Reagan and Bush didn’t split them, girlfriend theft surely should have….but the Ramones were made of sturdier stuff. Zom and I explore all avenues….oh and we sing Rock and Roll High School in harmony – across time zones yet!!!!

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If you were a pop music loving teenager back in 1980 (and face it – we all were) and living in Australia or New Zealand, then Split Enz album “True Colours” was part of your aural landscape. This album and its ridiculously catchy singles “I Got You” and “I Hope I Never” were impossible to avoid. The huge success the album gained came for the band after a rough patch living in England. So how does the album hold up in 2012? On Episode 13 of Love That Album podcast, I discuss the album and its legacy with Michael Pursche, host of “Sitting In a Bar In Adelaide” podcast, and Chris Bourke, author of the Crowded House biography “Something So Strong”, and guru on all things Finn.

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On episode 12 of Love That Album, regular contributor, Geoff Smith returns to discuss with me Suzanne Vega’s second album “Solitude Standing”. I’d heard the album many times. Geoff heard it twice. As a result, Geoff suggests the podcast undergoes a controversial name change. What was his suggestion? What did he have to say about the album? Will Geoff get kicked out of Tom’s Diner next time he’s in New York? All this and more is discussed. Send feedback to [email protected] Search for the show on itunes as “lovethatalbum”, or download from http://lovethatalbum.blogspot.com

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Back in the seventies, San Franciscan band The Tubes set out to shock all those who saw their live shows with their satire of our obsession with materialism, white rich kids with too much time on their hands, and what REALLY went on behind the white picket fences. They were a very theatrical band, but many of their songs stand proudly without the visuals. In 1979, they recorded their final album for A & M records called “Remote Control” recounting the story of a man’s obsession (and ultimate demise) with TV. On this episode of Love That Album, Michael Pursche of the great rock interview podcast, “Sitting In A Bar in Adelaide” goes head to head with me to discuss this overlooked (and unfortunately, more relevant than ever) album. Rolling Stone thought the album stank. Allmusic says it’s great and a career highlight. What do we think? Where does Peter Sellers come into the picture? Are there really 57 channels with nothing on? Can our anti-hero find true love with the girl in the shampoo commercial? All is revealed.

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Love That Album hits double digits, and I celebrate the start of 2012 by focusing on one of the great albums of 2011, Paul Simon’s “So Beautiful or So What”. Simon is in deep philosophical mode here (when isn’t he?), but unlike a couple of his most recent albums he has the melodies to match. This is a beautiful album using a small number of great musicians to convey Simon’s music in the best possible way. At the age of 70, Simon still has things to say and beautiful melodies in him to let out. This album is a career highlight.

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