I realised I don’t really listen to any music from the 1960s or 70s other than The Beatles, early Springsteen and Neil Young.
Anyhow, over Christmas I made a commitment to broaden my horizons and I stumbled across a couple of Spotify playlists that are based on recent compilations released by Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs.
One is set to the “autumnal sound of Britain at the turn of the seventies, looking out through wet window panes with a mixture of melancholy and optimism for what come next. With the Beatles gone and the pound sinking, a new distinctive sound emerges, led by flutes and mellontrons.”
The other one, State of the Union – The American Dream in Crisis is billed as “the sound of a country trying to work its way out of a crisis.”
Both are great listens. Personal favourites are;
Elvis Presley. Clean Up Your Own Backyard.
Ray Stevens. Mr. Businessman.
The Tokens. Some People Sleep (all 39 seconds of it).
Van Der Graaf Generator. Refugees.
Daevid Allen. Wise Man In Your Heart.
English Weather
https://open.spotify.com/user/qune/playlist/2VW0sOtN6lKphQac0YN34e?si=F6CRs3a5S9CNcu7RtxOPEA
State of the Union
https://open.spotify.com/user/thomasscholing/playlist/3gBW2TVoFj8iqKKi6j28Ka?si=Pm7TzNRrQii3wFGagacwsQ
Will definitely be checking these out – thanks! Have a couple of older compilations by Bob & Pete that introduced me to some rare gems.
Not heard the state of The Union release but the English Weather CD is an absolute gem
They’ve also compiled some CD (and the dreaded vinly) releases for Sainsbury’s.
Next time I’m there I definitely plan to get the “Meet on the Ledge – A Taste of Folk Rock” one.
20 tracks – £3.
One of St. Etienne supports Hendon F.C. I saw him (it wasn’t Sarah Cracknell unfortunately!) at a Leyton-Hendon match about 15 years ago and he was, reassuringly given his occupation, carrying a record bag. I was heartened. Hendon are exactly the kind of football club someone out of St. Etienne should support.
It’s Bob Stanley from St. Etienne who supports Hendon. He’s quite a big follower of non-league football generally I think.
Were you a Leyton supporter then @deramdaze ?
Yep, until they folded in 2010 – it was about a 10 minute walk.
Mind you, I used to see all the hopeless teams in North-East London … Barnet, Ford United, Dagenham, Finchley, Hornchurch, Clapton, Ilford … all the old Amateur Cup teams who had seen better days.
I go back every 3 months or so and try to cram in 3 or 4 games.
I’m never happier than when I’m standing on a freezing cold terrace in a crowd of about 100 watching Ilford and the like getting hammered.
I’m slightly disappointed if they win, it somehow doesn’t follow the narrative!
I completely get what you mean there. Went over to Leyton to see Hampton quite a few times over the years. I’m still a season ticket holder. There’s just something about non-league football that is addictive.
The Paris in springtime collection they did last year was excellent.
I love that English Weather comp. Being born and bred in Australia, and hating the heat, and being an Anglophile all my life, that album has an extraordinarily strong pull (perhaps more than for those who have actual experience with the feelings the music evokes? – A nostalgia for something I’ve never experienced myself.)
Ironically, I couldn’t find a copy in London on my last visit so bought it on returning home from Red Eye Records in Sydney in 40 degree heat.