Some of it is for dancing, some of it makes me laugh. Sometimes I’m awed by the beauty or the mind that created it.
And some of it can crack me up emotionally, film and TV scenes, a story or just a passage in a book, but mostly it’s music what does it.
‘Stay’ by The Blue Nile is one such track. Whenever I try to sing along to it I can’t get through the line, ‘Stay, I will understand you’ without a massive lump in my throat choking up the words. It’s such an unusual line, and so desperate. I think it’s probably their best song.*
So if you care to, why not take an emotional journey and share the art that does you in, cracks you up & hits you in the feels – that is so good you can’t get the words out. [or, just enjoy the video]
It was last week when I heard this track played and discussed on the ‘Underwater Sunshine’ podcast* that I thought about posing the question in the post. Then today, purely by co-incidence – maybe – as I continue re-importing my CD collection at a higher bit-rate [wait, come back!], I find myself with a stack of Blue Nile singles in front of me. Third one down is a collectors pack of ‘Headlights On The Parade’, on the inner slip case is their discography up to that point.
Their first release was ‘Stay’ which came out on April 9th 1984 – 34 years ago today.
Wasn’t I Love This Life before that?
Moosey is correct. I Love This Life came out in 1981, on RSO – the label which made a fortune on the Grease soundtrack (and probably lost it all on The Blue Nile). Stay was the first on Linn Records, and the third.
I think RSO lost it all on that frightful Sgt Pepper film.
Here am I trying to get you lot in touch with your emotions and all you care about is facts.
You are correct. What I should have pointed out was that it listed their discography on Linn/Virgin up to that point, but I was more focussed on the fact that it was released 34 years ago TO THE DAY 😩😩
The emotion I’m mainly feeling is the one which goes “34 years ago? Crikey, I’m getting old”.
Blue Nile box set in the works, apparently. And new Paul Buchanan solo album this year.
I read it on twitter, so it must be true.
That’s weird, I’ve just had two simultaneous emotions. Fan-boy went “hurrah!”, realist went “Oh, FFS – what are they going to do, stick the burnt master tapes back together?”
The only things which didn’t come out on the 2CD jobbers a few years back were B-sides, all of which I already have.
The first PB solo album did little for me.
I like it, though it took a while to grow. The accompanying live gigs were brilliant (essentially, Blue Nile minus PJ Moore) and I hope he tours in support of the new one.
The combination of chord changes, arrangements and singing in both these have me blubbing.
Reefa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEtl-KskHOg
Otis:
I used to have to play the bass part of Try A Little Tenderness in a covers band. I now know what the towel on stage is for – mopping up the lachrymose bassist.
I played my 3 Blue Nile albums last week. Found them a bit lacking. I will be getting shut as part of my collection purge to make room for newer and more vital purchases.
A bit lacking? Shut that door!
Still on The Blue Nile, for some reason it’s “Let’s Go Out Tonight” that does it for me… just the title itself is so simple, but evokes any amount of background about the couple and what they’re going out to forget… here’s Isaac Hayes’ cover for anyone who’s unaware of it…
Another one that always has me in bits is fellow Scots The Pearlfishers’ “When The Highway Ends”, which I played at our wedding… “when the highway ends I’ll still be running, when the morning comes I’ll still be dreaming, when my arms are old they will still bind you, when my eyes are blind they will find you…” Just lovely… only this live version on YT, but you’ll get the idea…
It’s another Blue Nile track that’s one of the ones that always gets me…., Family Life from the Peace At Last album…… one of the saddest songs out there.
“Sailing on no honeymoon
Just seperate chairs in seperate rooms”
That’s the one. It’s merciless.
Little old me.
Peace At last , I cried when I first heard it , still do
When the choir kick in with “Happiness!” – goosebumps every time.
When my eldest was a baby he wouldn’t sleep unless he was held. That was a rough time. I used to have my iPod glued to me on shuffle when I was on that duty. I remember Family Life coming on once and I almost woke him up with my stifled sobs…
Peace At Last is a much underrated album. My fave track is Tomorrow Morning, but I’ve always been a sucker for descending chords and twelve-string guitars.
@fentonsteve
You should like the Church then!
Saw the Church about 15 years ago at a gig in the basement of a pub in Camden – went with a friend who is a fan. I’m afraid they don’t really click with me.
Think I was there…Christmas time? It’s weird. I love them, think my friends will and should. But they don’t.
A few months ago, someone on the Afterword posted a link to a radio documentary about the Blue Nile made originally by RTÉ and broadcast by BBC Radio Scotland.
Thanks for that, whoever you were. It was really good.
A quick summary of the 4 Blue Nile albums
A Walk Across the Rooftops – Brilliant!
Hats – Brilliant!
Peace at Last – half of it great, and half not so great
High – Shite
High is (much ) better than shite.
In the end I grow to love the Paul B solo album especially the instrumental side which to me sounded a lot like Eno’s Airport – no bad thing in my books!
No album with a song like Because Of Toledo on it can be described as shite.
That is so true – perhaps their best song ever? I persuaded a mate who plays in a wee band (two guitars, a fiddle and a cello) to add Toledo to their repertoire. That was me in the corner wiping away a manly tear…
And here’s the man himself