Doubt Joy Division had been released in the US, just as the Clash's debut wasn't issued right away. I wonder if P&J rules required releases that readers could actually buy. Gotta assume the Village would have been one of the first places with indie import bins. Wonder how many people outside of NYC would have read these lists in 1979?
― bendy, Thursday, 4 April 2019 17:09 (five years ago) link
some kind of bizzaro universe that I don't want any part of
New board description, certainly?
The absence of B-52's is problematic
My album of 1979, certainly!
― While My Guitar Gently Wheedly-Wheedly-Wheedly-Weeps (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 4 April 2019 17:17 (five years ago) link
I've never heard it more than once truthfully but Rock Lobster would certainly be my #1 single of that year.
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Thursday, 4 April 2019 23:17 (five years ago) link
The album that is. Obviously I've heard Rock Lobster thousands of times. It even was a reissued hit in the UK late 80s
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Thursday, 4 April 2019 23:19 (five years ago) link
The 1979 Pazz & Jop Critics PollAlbums
1. Graham Parker: Squeezing Out Sparks (Arista) 767 (63)
literally never heard of this guy
― ( ͡☉ ͜ʖ ͡☉) (jim in vancouver), Thursday, 4 April 2019 23:21 (five years ago) link
I have but I've still never met anyone who claims to be a fan of him. Not sure I've ever heard any of his music.
He would've been on Stiff Records in the UK.
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Thursday, 4 April 2019 23:23 (five years ago) link
I've never seen even Mark Grout mention him or Stewart O formerly of this parish ever mention him and they would be the likeliest two
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Thursday, 4 April 2019 23:24 (five years ago) link
dude was considered the savior of rock in the late 70's if you read Rolling Stone back then
― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Thursday, 4 April 2019 23:32 (five years ago) link
I was born in '73, in Scotland.
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Thursday, 4 April 2019 23:47 (five years ago) link
Missing Nurse With Wound, but especially Robert Ashley's 'Automatic Writing'.
― Uptown VONC (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, April 4, 2019 6:58 AM (nine hours ago)
Chance Meeting on a Dissecting Table of a Sewing Machine and an Umbrella and Automatic Writing both feel like all-time great albums to me
― Dan S, Thursday, 4 April 2019 23:56 (five years ago) link
Pazz & Jop voters were and are cross-country, but even so why isn't Gang of Four in P&J '79? It couldn't have been that hard to find; I got mine in Tuscaloosa. Something about release dates? Parker was punk in attitude, white r&b-based musically, with some Highway 61 Revisted in there: either way, a mid-60s-to-mid 70s honking at rotting traffic jams, a more illin' and more fun Elvis C., fi in some ways--- ehich incl. a limited range, vocally and otherwise, but xgau got it right about these peaks (and some uneven ones in between; I stopped listening later and so did most people apparently):
Howlin' Wind [Mercury, 1976]Parker builds his white r&b of such familiar materials that it takes awhile for the songs to sort themselves out, but their fury is unmistakable--in the time-honored English manner, bass and drums play the house-rocking rhythms of Chicago and Detroit for righteous anger rather than good-time escape. Then songs come clear, marred at times by the white bluesman's chronic romanticism of the blood--"Gypsy Blood," to be precise--but so passionate that every personal animus takes dead aim at the great world...A
Graham Parker and the Rumour: Squeezing Out Sparks [Arista, 1979]An amazing record. Parker's mood, which has narrowed into existential rage with a circumstantial root, makes for perfect, untamable rock and roll. Guitar, drums, vocals, lyrics, and hooks (and more hooks) mesh into ten songs so compelling that you're grateful to the relative lightweights for giving you a chance to relax. And if Graham is pissed off merely because he's not a big star yet, he translates his frustrations into credible, emotionally healthy anger--the kind you feel when they can't fit the real news into print. AThe Real Macaw, from the early 80s, is the last one I heard; some good stuff on there. Still at it, the last I read!
― dow, Friday, 5 April 2019 00:06 (five years ago) link
the blue Rolling Stone guide had a similarly ridiculous 5-star review of that Parker LP
― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Friday, 5 April 2019 00:15 (five years ago) link
I never got into Sparks bar a couple of songs
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy)
fair enough but how do you feel about giorgio fucking moroder
― Jaki Liebowitz (rushomancy), Friday, 5 April 2019 00:20 (five years ago) link
Entertainment! was in the P&J top 10 in 1980. I don't think I heard it until sometime in the mid '80s
I've never heard Graham Parker and the Rumour, always wondered they sounded like but never bothered to check them out
The B-52's, Bowie, Gang of Four, Fleetwood Mack, Germs, Holger Czukay, Joy Division, Japan, Pere Ubu, PiL, Swell Maps, Tangerine Dream, Talking heads, The Clash, The Cure, The Fall, The Jam, The Pop Group, The Specials, The Undertones, This Heat, Throbbing Gristle, Wire………. there were so many great albums from this year
I have to believe we going to feel that way about 2018, 2019 in the coming decades
― Dan S, Friday, 5 April 2019 00:23 (five years ago) link
*Fleetwood Mac
― Dan S, Friday, 5 April 2019 00:27 (five years ago) link
Nope, Oor Neechy's right to have it in this year's poll: https://www.discogs.com/Gang-Of-Four-Entertainment/master/6309CD versions of 'Entertainment!' all include bonus tracks from the Gang Of Four EP and other material. Also available the compilation Entertainment! & Yellow EP. Did not know that, only have the old LP.
― dow, Friday, 5 April 2019 00:35 (five years ago) link
listening to Squeezing Out Sparks now, it's nice, surprised it's been so forgotten
it's in the Springsteen, Garland Jeffries, Nick Lowe, Replacements bar-band continuum that The Village Voice seemed to really love
― Dan S, Friday, 5 April 2019 01:00 (five years ago) link
Totally dig that first wave of Rough Trade(-affiliated) albums.The reflexive answer for me is Dragnet or Fear of Music as they've probably been most firmly embedded in my brain for the longest time but I could probably happily choose from at least a dozen others.
― Nag! Nag! Nag!, Friday, 5 April 2019 01:07 (five years ago) link
I always thought Fear of Music was the equal of Remain In Light
those two for me were everything in 1979-1980
― Dan S, Friday, 5 April 2019 01:41 (five years ago) link
can understand if Tusk, London Calling, Entertainment!, Metal Box, Unknown Pleasures, Off the Wall, 154 or one of the others here is the favorite though
― Dan S, Friday, 5 April 2019 01:54 (five years ago) link
gah that list almost makes me regret voting for This Heat but not quite
― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Friday, 5 April 2019 01:58 (five years ago) link
Yeah, I think I'll vote for This Heat. Really fantastic band.
― jmm, Friday, 5 April 2019 02:25 (five years ago) link
I should listen to Einstein on the Beach one of these days.
― jmm, Friday, 5 April 2019 02:29 (five years ago) link
it's so good!
― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Friday, 5 April 2019 02:39 (five years ago) link
my favorite Glass by far mostly because of the voices & narration
Listened to a couple of songs from that Graham parker album. Not bad, but not some forgotten gem imo. Vocal style reminds me of elvis costello for sure
― findom haddie (jim in vancouver), Friday, 5 April 2019 02:42 (five years ago) link
I love the This Heat album, it was proto-post rock, foreshadowing Tortoise, The Sea and Cake, Bark Psychosis, Ben Frost, and others
― Dan S, Friday, 5 April 2019 02:43 (five years ago) link
Yes, I think Graham Parker was like gold dust to rock critics in their late 20s upwards - esp. in the US.
― Angry Question Time Man's Flute Club Band (Tom D.), Friday, 5 April 2019 07:10 (five years ago) link
I've never seen even Mark Grout mention him or Stewart O formerly of this parish ever mention him and they would be the likeliest two― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Thursday, 4 April 2019 23:24 (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Thursday, 4 April 2019 23:24 (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I saw him plus Rumour at the first Reading Festival, he was very good. Next up was Thin Lizzy.
Oh, he did a sort-of encore (never seen that happen since for a non-headliner at RFest), where the power had been cut except for the microphones, and he got the audience to chant "Turn The Power On!" while he improvised some lyrics, then when the power was restored, they broke into "Hold back the night" seamlessly. Some years later, I found that the first bit was a 'pastiche' of "Out Demons Out".
Anyway, he put it quite well recently when he said that the main difference between himself and Elvis C was that Elvis could actually sing.
Some years later, I found one of his first two albums at a car boot, and was pleased. Then I played it, and was "hmmm... nah, sorry. It's OK, but".
There you go.
― Mark G, Friday, 5 April 2019 10:28 (five years ago) link
(at the first Reading Festival I went to, not the first ever, obv)
NME 1979 Albums of the Year
1. Fear Of Music - Talking Heads2. Metal Box - Public Image Ltd.3. Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division4. Setting Sons - The Jam5. Entertainment - Gang Of Four6. Armed Forces - Elvis Costello7. Do It Yourself - Ian Dury8. London Calling - The Clash9. Squeezing Out The Sparks - Graham Parker10. The Specials - The Specials11. Forces Of Victory - Lintin Kwesi Johnson12. The B52's - The B52's13. Bop Till You Drop - Ry Cooder14. The Raincoats - The Raincoats15. Tom Verlaine - Tom Verlaine16. I Am - Earth, Wind & Fire17. The Undertones - The Undertones18. 154 - Wire19. Repeat When Necessary - Dave Edmunds20. Drums & Wires - Xtc21. New Panic Time - Pere Ubu22. Cut - The Slits23. Risque - Chic24. Regatta De Blank - Police25. Humanity - The Royle Rasses26. Same Song - Israel Vibration27. Katzenmusic - Michael Rother28. Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young29. Brudder Des Schattens, Sohne Des.. - Popol Vuh30. Dragnet - The Fall31. Even Serpents Shine - The Only Ones32. Eskimo - The Residents33. Slow Train Coming - Bob Dylan34. Blue Valentine - Tom Waits35. This Heat - This Heat36. A Train To Marineville - Swell Maps37. I’m The Man - Joe Jackson38. Soldier Talk - The Red Crayola39. Reproduction - The Human League40. Lodger - David Bowie
1979 NME Singles
1. Eton Rifles - The Jam2. Gangsters - The Specials3. London Calling -The Clash4. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor5. Strange Town - The Jam6. Message In A Bottle - The Police7. Oliver's Army - Elvis Costello8. Spacer - Sheila B Devotion9. Shake Your Body - The Jacksons10. Memories - Public Image Ltd.11. Death Disco - Public Image Ltd.12. My Feet Keep Dancing - Chic13. Rock Lobster - The B52's14. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson15. Making Plans For Nigel - Xtc16. Queen Of Hearts - Dave Edmunds17. The Pictures On The Wall - Echo & The Bunnymen18. Life During Wartime - Talking Heads19. She's Beyond Good & Evil - The Pop Group20. Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wing And Fire21. Rowche Rumble - The Fall22. Living On The Front Line - Eddie Grant23. The Prince - Madness24. Boys Don't Cry - The Cure25. Touch - Lori & The Chameleons26. Transmission - Joy Division27. Get Over You - The Undertones28. Memphis Tennessee - Silicone Teens29. On My Radio - Selector30. Pop Music - M31. Girls Talk - Dave Edmunds32. Heart Of Glass - Blondie33. We Are Family - Sister Sledge34. Stop Your Sobbing - Pretenders35. Where’s Bill Grundy Now - Tv Personalities36. Saturday Night Beneath The Plastic Palms - Leighton Buzzards37. Time Goes By So Slow - Distractions38. Protection - Graham Parker39. A Message To You Rudi - The Specials40. Electricity - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Friday, 5 April 2019 11:18 (five years ago) link
Other way surely?
― Angry Question Time Man's Flute Club Band (Tom D.), Friday, 5 April 2019 11:20 (five years ago) link
... other way round, that is.
― Angry Question Time Man's Flute Club Band (Tom D.), Friday, 5 April 2019 11:21 (five years ago) link
29. Brudder Des Schattens, Sohne Des.. - Popol Vuh
This was '78, NME guys.
― Angry Question Time Man's Flute Club Band (Tom D.), Friday, 5 April 2019 11:22 (five years ago) link
btw tom to answer an earlier question by you i simply haven't heard any of the later 70s popol vuh
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Friday, 5 April 2019 11:33 (five years ago) link
Any albums missing from my lists should be assumed ive not heard them or the odd case where i forgot about them.In the case of Rush, Kiss , Later Pink Floyd or Yes, I simply dont like them
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Friday, 5 April 2019 11:55 (five years ago) link
nme's list is actually very good! way more interesting, and much better albums, imo than the fairly boring us critical consensus of the era. honestly, reading a list like that just makes me pity the american critics more for being stuck with such a tepid and blinkered view of music
― Jaki Liebowitz (rushomancy), Friday, 5 April 2019 13:32 (five years ago) link
Was that because so much of 'punk' was UK centric and not available in the US or were they just too old and 60s hangovers looking for music like they had as a youth?
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Friday, 5 April 2019 15:32 (five years ago) link
Here's the acclaimed music list for 79
http://www.acclaimedmusic.net/year/1979a.htm
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Friday, 5 April 2019 15:33 (five years ago) link
Rolling Stone 1979 Critics
Album
• Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young
Single Of The Year
• Tusk - Fleetwood Mac
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Friday, 5 April 2019 16:12 (five years ago) link
Melody Maker End Of Year Critic Lists - 1979
Albums
1. Fear Of Music - Talking Heads2. Bop Till You Drop - Ry Cooder3. Entertainment - Gang Of Four4. Forces Of Victory - Linton Kwesi Johnson5. Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young6. The Undertones - The Undertones7. Off The Wall - Michael Jackson8. I Am - Earth, Wind & Fire9. Metal Box - PIL10. London Calling - The Clash11. The Original Sin - Cowboys International12. Squeezing Out Sparks - Graham Parker13. We Are Family - Sister Sledge14. Armed Forces - Elvis Costello15. Tom Verlaine - Tom Verlaine16. 154 - Wire17. Drums And Wires - XTC18. Exposure - Robert Fripp19. Rock On - Raydio20. Bad Girls - Donna Summer
• Public Image Limited - Death Disco
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Friday, 5 April 2019 16:14 (five years ago) link
Most critics were on board with punk, though boundaries have shifted since. Elvis Costello's vitrol got him called punk. There was a year or more lag for a lot of those NME records getting issued in the States, Metal Box becoming Second Edition. Mid-eighties, when I started buying these records, Slits, Wire, The Fall were all still hard to find. Urgh A Music War is a pretty good example of the New Wave acts that were promoted and distributed more thoroughly in the US.
https://www.discogs.com/Various-URGH-A-Music-War/release/1104550
― bendy, Friday, 5 April 2019 17:28 (five years ago) link
btw found a person on ilx who is a graham parker fan. He's a former ilxor from way back in the early days.
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Friday, 5 April 2019 20:07 (five years ago) link
tough one. went with Throbbing Gristle.
― buttigieg play the blues (crüt), Friday, 5 April 2019 21:07 (five years ago) link
do you know what Throbbing Gristle is Yorkshire slang for?
― Thus Spoke Darraghustra (Oor Neechy), Friday, 5 April 2019 23:13 (five years ago) link
I wouldn't call myself a Graham Parker *fan* exactly but Squeezing Out Sparks is a decent pub rock LP
― Colonel Poo, Friday, 5 April 2019 23:17 (five years ago) link
i don't know what the hell was wrong with american critics in the '70s, i was three, and i'm a little grumpy about it because complaining about their utterly tepid and anodyne tastes makes me sound like fucking lj or something, i try to be a live and let live person, but jesus fucking christ their list looks like the shit the grammy voters come up with.
― Jaki Liebowitz (rushomancy), Friday, 5 April 2019 23:39 (five years ago) link
"60's hangover" gets closest to the vibe imo, it is very distinct and I mostly blame Dave Marsh
― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Saturday, 6 April 2019 00:29 (five years ago) link
yes. also agree about the lag in US availability of a lot of the UK albums
― Dan S, Saturday, 6 April 2019 00:40 (five years ago) link
this IS The B-52's, but in absence of that Joy Division.
this was the very first year i did the acclaimed series, which i ended up doing over five summers and then singles in the fall. what happened when i did the 1979 one is that the B-52's won. i did not know the B-52's at that time and knew that if it won a poll on ILM that it must be a special album. flash forward to 2018 and here i am doing the B-52's artist poll for ILM which Karl Malone ended up having to finish for me. i will never forget my reaction on the winning of the poll and being introduced to a band that i now love with all my heart. all thanks to ILM and why i love this place.
― Bee OK, Saturday, 6 April 2019 01:21 (five years ago) link