The Beatles

Still catching up on classic albums. Here are my thoughts on The Beatles by The Beatles (that’s the album we all know better as The White Album). Some Historical Context I was six when this came out. I don’t remember it being released, but I have vague memories of singing Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da when I was… Continue reading The Beatles

Graceland

Still several weeks behind on the classic album front. But I wanted to leave this one until I cam back from my holiday in South Africa – it’s Paul Simon’s Graceland. Some Historical Context I’m not sure I can remember a time when I didn’t know this album. When it was released I was frequenting… Continue reading Graceland

OK Computer

Attempting to get less behind on the classic albums… The next one is Radiohead’s OK Computer. Some Historical Context Like REM, I don’t really remember when I first heard Radiohead. I expect I was aware of things like “High and Dry” and “Creep” when they were released as I’m sure they both had lots of… Continue reading OK Computer

The Joshua Tree

Last week’s classic album (I’m still a week behind) was U2’s Joshua Tree. Some Historical Context I don’t remember listening really early U2. I remember liking New Years Day when it came out. But then Under a Blood Red Sky was released and everyone played it all the bloody time. I grew to hate it… Continue reading The Joshua Tree

Songs of Faith and Devotion

I’m running a couple of weeks behind on classic albums again. Today I’m catching up by listening to Depeche Mode’s 1993 album Songs of Faith and Devotion. Some Historical Context Depeche Mode are very much my era. Their first singles came out in 1980 – when I was eighteen. But while I’ve always really liked… Continue reading Songs of Faith and Devotion

Let It Bleed

This week’s (ok, it’s actually from a couple of weeks ago – I’m catching up) is the Rolling Stones’ Let it Bleed. Some Historical Context My earliest memories of popular music are from the late 1960s. It was a time when the Beatles dominated. But the Stones were the only band who came close to… Continue reading Let It Bleed

System of a Down

Last week’s classic album is System of a Down’s eponymous début album. Some Historical Context System of a Down completely passed me by. I had never heard of them until at some point in the last few years I read an article on the Guardian web site called “100 essential albums from the last ten… Continue reading System of a Down

Machine Head

This week’s (actually two weeks ago’s – I’m a bit behind here) classic album is Deep Purple’s Machine Head. Some Historical Context I’ve never heard this album before. Oh, I know Deep Purple, of course. When I was a teenager, we all had, at least, a copy of 24 Carat Purple. Later on I also… Continue reading Machine Head

Nevermind

This week’s classic album is Nirvana’s Nevermind. Some Historical Context I know I heard this soon after it first came out. A colleague at work lent me a cassette (remember cassettes?) of it. I remember listening to it for the first time on my Walkman (not really a Sony Walkman – some other brand) and… Continue reading Nevermind