Toby Jones Talks Music

Phil Lynott's first solo album Solo In Soho, was released in 1980, while Thin Lizzy were still delivering commercial success. The album sees Phil experimenting with a larger group of musicians, while still retaining Lizzy alumni on some tracks; outside musicians include Mark Knopfler and Huey Lewis.

In this video, prior to the fast approaching release of the 8CD The Story Of My Life box set, I look back at where Phil's solo career began, with Solo In Soho.

00:00 Introduction

00:26 Context behind the album

06:42 Song-by-song review

20:06 Summary

Whatever Happened To Benny Santini, Chris Rea's debut album from 1978 marks a strong start to Rea's career, with a sound that highlights a band enjoying themselves on this record. In this video, I'll dive deep into this album and review how it compares to Chris Rea's other early material.

00:00 Introduction

00:21 Context behind the album

07:08 Song-by-song review

17:33 Summary

Serenade marks Neil Diamond's first studio album with Columbia, following his Jonathan Livingston Seagull soundtrack album a year prior. Serenade continues where Jonathan Livingston Seagull left off, with songs containing emotional depth and introspective ideas. Yet the album is still somewhat isolated, not part of either his previous Uni era or the change that Robbie Robertson's production would bring about with Diamond's next album, Beautiful Noise.

In this video, I do a deep dive on Neil Diamond's 1974 album, Serenade.

00:00 Introduction

00:40 Context behind the album

12:06 Song-by-song review

27:16 Summary

Night Flight is Justin Hayward's second solo album, and it sees Justin working with someone other than Tony Clarke on production for the first time; it's Jeff Wayne, who Justin worked with on the War Of The Worlds album.

In this video, I'll be taking a look at Justin Hayward's 1980 solo album, Night Flight.

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Context behind the album

06:41 Song-by-song review

16:40 Summary

21:13 Looking forward to the next episode

Sting turns 75 today. To celebrate, I pick out 7 songs that I've decided to play today to mark the occasion, all the way from Synchronicity to Brand New Day.

00:00 Introduction

00:45 If I Ever Lose My Faith In You

01:41 Shadows In The Rain

03:04 Wrapped Around Your Finger

04:55 Brand New Day

06:38 All For Love

07:33 Mad About You

08:55 They Dance Alone

10:21 Summary

Justin Hayward's first solo album Songwriter, released in 1977, is the album I've been looking at this week. After his first non-Moodies effort, collaborating with John Lodge and long term Moodies producer Tony Clarke; Hayward turns to Clarke once again to produce this album.

Does this deliver an album as strong as those classic Moodies efforts?

1977 TV DOCUMENTARY

https://youtu.be/Jr3TiXtAjDE?si=3HrZSv11UpnPsvcm

00:00 Introduction

00:23 Context behind the album

07:02 Song-by-song review

19:11 Summary

I'm joined by Jay from The Drum Den to talk all things music. In this episode, we discuss the lost art of intentionally listening, digesting an album, and how music, literature, and film can provide an escape from daily life.

The Drum Den - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRigLreObVzwrzWCoE8oWmQ

00:00 Introduction

01:37 Jay's Channel - The Drum Den

06:18 Jay's Green Day listening journey

08:38 Video game and film soundtracks

09:24 Where did you get the inspiration for your taste in music?

12:09 Jay picks 2 of his favourite albums

15:22 Forcing yourself to read more

21:13 Music and books as an escape from daily life

22:38 How we ensure we take time to take in music and literature

29:02 Talking Springsteen - Jay's first listen of Nebraska and Born In The USA

39:53 Can live performances eclipse studio versions?

44:27 Songs that require the listener to have patience

Moods was Neil Diamond's final studio album for the Uni Records label, released in 1972, the first of two releases of the year, the second of those being Hot August Night. In this video, I discuss how perhaps I've undervalued Neil Diamond's Moods and my current relationship with the album and its songs.

00:00 Introduction

00:15 Context behind the album

06:46 The vinyl & CD packaging

09:05 Song by song review

27:27 Summary

Justin Hayward & John Lodge's first project outside of the Moody Blues saw them collaborate with producer Tony Clarke on a 1975 release, Blue Jays. I had high hopes for this album; did the album live up to those very high expectations?

In this video, I talk all about my first listen of Justin Hayward and John Lodge's Blue Jays.

00:00 Introduction

00:26 My story with the album

02:16 Context behind the album

04:38 The players on the album

05:35 The physical Vinyl album and its packaging

07:45 Song by song review

27:56 Summary

After listening to the 80s catalogue, here are 7 songs from this period from Neil Diamond that in particular I've been relistening to most, since my initial deep dives on each album.

00:00 Introduction

02:10 The Story Of My Life

04:59 I'm Guilty

08:16 In Ensenada

09:45 Sleep With Me Tonight

11:15 Turn Around

12:59 Front Page Story

14:38 A Fool For You

16:52 Close