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

Wired To The Moon sees Chris Rea at his most consistent so far in his career. This is an album that I didn't get much out of in my first listen, but upon revisiting this, I was stunned just how I had misjudged this on my first listen.

00:00 My history with the album

02:12 The personnel

04:40 Song-by-song review

17:46 Bonus: Non album b-sides reviewed

19:17 Summary

Join me as I rank Neil Diamond's 1980s albums, from On The Way To The Sky and Heartlight to Primitive, Headed For The Future and The Best Years Of Our Lives.

00:00 Introduction

03:56 Number 5 - My least favourite

08:32 Number 4

11:28 Number 3

14:06 Number 2

16:00 Number 1 - My favourite

20:48 Summary

The Best Of Me, a 1999 compilation from Bryan Adams, was the first album from Bryan that I listened to. In this video, I tell my story of where I came in with Bryan Adams.

00:00 Rediscovery

01:26 Why I love the music

03:13 Why The Best of Me Works For Me

09:24 I need to hear the later albums!

10:43 Where should you go next?

11:28 Conclusion

The Present is the Moody Blues' second album of the '80s, released in 1983. In this video, I look at The Present and ask whether it's a worthy follow-up to its predecessor, Long Distance Voyager.

00:00 My history with this album

04:25 The album packaging - cover and gatefold

06:10 Song-by-song review

24:01 Summary

The Jazz Singer was Neil Diamond's first film appearance, in 1980. The film and Diamond's acting weren't received well. I disagree with that. In today's video, I discuss the film, how it relates to Neil Diamond's own story, and of course, my thoughts on the soundtrack album.

00:00 Introduction

01:14 Thoughts on the film

05:23 The story of my Vinyl album

06:55 The players on the album

08:52 Thoughts on the film continued

11:31 Song-by-song review

23:06 Summary