Sunday, November 20, 2011

"Great but Overlooked Albums" Review Series: " Robin Gibb's 1983 Solo Album: "How Old Are You?"


I originally wrote this review in late 2009. Since the news of Robin Gibb's liver cancer broke out last weekend, I thought it was worth enlightening everyone once more about this not well known yet brilliant solo album he released in early 80s.

Our thoughts are with Robin & his family as he fights his cancer:

Let me start by saying that I belong to the majority of music fans who find solo works by members of most great rock and pop bands generally disappointing. The world of music is littered with critically panned solo albums, mostly as a result of split in bands due to artistic differences, and some released during a break between group albums. The fact that very few of such solo albums have experienced mainstream commercial success is a concrete proof that artistic tension and collective songwriting dynamics of bands usually contribute significantly to the quality of the end product, a major ingredient which is of course missing in solo works.

Of course, like everything else in life, there are some distinct exceptions to this rule. Take Phil Collins and Sting as examples. Both have had major commercial success in their solo careers as well as with the bands which originally made them household names. Nevertheless, in my view, Collins achieved his success with far more inferior songwriting quality than the collective work in Genesis, whilst Sting achieved his success with a change of musical style whilst continuing to write quality music.

There is also another significant sub category. Quality solo albums which achieve very little commercial or critical success due to the artists' over-exposure to fans and media due to their success as a member of a band.

Robin Gibb's 1983 solo album belongs to this rather tragic category, tragic because worldwide fans do not get the chance to listen to the music as a result of it. Whilst the album charted in mainland Europe, and the single Juliet did well in Germany and a few other western European countries at the time, its obscurity in USA resulted it as only being available as an "Import" in America.

The album has plenty of Bee Gees influence and whilst at the time the relationship between the Gibb brothers was rather strained, some of the songwriting and backing vocals are shared. The lyrics are simple but Robin Gibb's voice adds to the beauty of the love songs and the drum machine and sequenced 80s production have stood the test of time.

The stand out song is "another lonely night in New York". It is as good as any pop ballad written in the 80s and in fact Robin Gibb re recorded a more HipHop/R&B sounding version of the song for his 2003 solo album Magnet.

Other standouts are the single "Juliet", "Don't stop the night" and "Danger" even though I actually enjoy listening to this album in its entirety.

If you are a fan of the "Synth Pop Ballads of the 80s" and like Bee Gees, this album would be a great listen as we get to the end of 2009, especially if like many other music fans, you are coming out of your "I hate the 80s synth pop"!

My Score: 5/5 as an 80s Synth Pop Album, 4/5 as an extended Bee Gees solo Album

Friday, November 11, 2011

Pink Floy'd Wish You Were Here released as an "iTunes LP": A great addition to any serious record collection

Before I start writing about this great new release on iTunes, I must first disclose, and those who have read my previous posts would know this, "Wish You Were Here" is my most favourite rock album of all time!

What Pink Floyd achieved in 1975, in their tribute to their founding wayward member "Syd Barrett" is unique. After all, this was meant to be the follow up to their masterful best selling 1973 album "Dark Side of the Moon" & rock music history is littered with bands failing to repeat their success with an even better album, which is the case here!

I have written reviews on this album in several occasions. This post however is more about the reissuing of the entire Pink Floyd catalogue & in particular as a new concept called "iTunes LP' on iTunes (RIP Steve Jobs). ie I am not sure if this exact version will be available as a hard copy in music stores or is unique to iTunes.

According to iTunes description, this is a new remastered release of the original album, plus previously unreleased live & studio tracks, screen films, memorabilia & more.

For any serious Pink Floyd fan, this "iTunes LP" is a must have & great value for money. The extra tracks include several jewels:
- Live performances of "Shine on you Crazy Diamond" at Wembley in 1974 prior to the release of the album in 1975
- An alternative version of "Have a Cigar" without Roy Harper on lead vocals (album version) as well as an alternative version of their epic "Wish you were here"
- 1974 live performances of songs titled "Raving & Drooling", & "You've got to be Crazy"which finally found their way as the songs "Sheep" & "Dogs" in their 1977 album "Animals"
- Concert screen video of Shine on, and of course PF fans know Pink Floyd are famous for their concert screen videos.

All in all, whilst I will buy the "Discovery Box Set" which features all 14 Pink Floyd albums remastered, I will be looking out for more of the iTunes LPs to purchase as well.
My rating: 10/10 Must have for any serious Pink Floyd & rock fan

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Touring Australia this Summer: Classic Pop Albums of the 80s: "H2O" by Hall and Oates is close to perfection!

Daryl Hall & John Oates will be touring Australia this summer & are supported by Icehouse. They remain one of the most successful pop duo act in the USA pop history with nearly 40 songs in the Billboard Top 100 Pop Singles Chart to their credit. Their fusion of pop & blues/soul which they termed " Rock & Soul" delighted millions of fans around the world during the late 70s to mid 80s (and beyond).

Their unique style is non better demonstrated than in H2O, their most successful release commercially. H2O reached No #3 in Billboard Album Charts & sold 2 million copies in USA alone at a time when Michael Jackson "thrillermania" was still in full force. The album produced three Top 10 hits including the No 1 Hit classic "Maneater" (samples of which were used by Nelly Furtardo in 2008)

One of the way I judge 80s albums contribution to pop music is by listening to them & deciding whether the synthpop drum machine generated beats sound tired & outdated. H20 and almost its entire song list pass this test with flying colours and in doing so earn a deserved "Classic" tag for this album. The songs are far from elaborately produced. In fact many reviewers command Hall & Oates for their "stripped down" production of this album which they suggest in fact is one of the main reason its production still sounds fresh today. The other main reason is of course the "rock/soul" feel of the album.

My favourite songs on the album, "Maneater", "Crime Pays", "Art of Heartbreak", "One on One", "Family Man", "Open all Night" & "Delayed Reaction" "At Tension" are all beautifully structured songs with simple melodies immersed in Daryl Hall's soulful voice. ("Family Man" was a cover of an earlier minor hit by the legendary Mike Oldfield.)

On top of all that, the album is simply fun to listen to! It's a must in any great 80s music collection. I would give it an 8.5/10 due to a few patchy spots in a couple of the songs. Nevertheless, this album is a great introduction to their great pop style & why they were such a phenomenal success.

Even more exiting is their tour will be filled with many classic Top 40 hits of late 70s & early to mid 80s & considering that Iva Davies & Icehouse will be there too, is a must see for all pop fans, old & young!