Thursday 19 May 2011

News, Views and Music Issue 100 (Intro)




May 19th:

Well, here we are at issue 100 guys (I know we celebrated our 200th article seven issues ago but that was 101 reviews, five specials and three april fool’s day articles to take into account!) There were times when I didn’t think we’d ever get here what with computers crashing, websites uprooting, business plans and health crises getting in the way but nevertheless here we are some 33 months after I first wrote those words ‘welcome everyone to Alan’s Album Archives’. What a lot has changed in those few months (in fact we’ve been going for longer than some bands I could mention like the Buffalo Springfield or the Small Faces) – we’ve lost Rick Wright, Pete Quaife, Tony Clarke, legends all. We’ve seen The Beatles turned into a successful computer game and been re-issued and re-mastered (properly at last!) to delight a whole lot of audiences all over again. We’ve had the unexpected resurgence of Brian Wilson, ‘comebacks’ for Belle and Sebastian and Yusuf/Cat Stevens, the break-up of Oasis, seen some career highs from Paul McCartney, Oasis/Beady Eye and Cat Stevens/Yusuf again, had some pretty good documentaries and TV and radio programmes (Lulu even got her own show for the first time in 40 years!) and seen several projects sadly crumble into dust before our eyes. Alas that Pink Floyd reunion – so talked about in the wake of Live 8 – never happened, CSNY never did get to make that career best album with Johnny Cash producer Rick Rubin and The Who reunion seems to have fizzled out before time. In fact of the news stories we covered in our original issue, only the Brian Wilson solo album ‘That Lucky Old Sun’ actually happened as expected (I did eventually buy it – for £1 rather than £22 would you believe – and it’s reviewed in newsletter no 55) and alas the CSN/Y rebirth I hoped for never appeared. I could add at least another hundred songs to my very first top five for fibromyalgia sufferers as well (The Stones’ ‘Rocks Off’; The Beatles’ ‘I’m So Tired’ Cat Styevens ‘I’m So Sleepy’ Belle and Sebastian’s ‘We Are The Sleepyheads’ and Lindisfarne’s ‘Sleepless Nights’ among them) and am still fighting the effects of chronic fatigue every day. In addition, we’ve lost an incompetent prime minister in Gordon Brown and got a corrupt one and his lackey in instead – there’s the power of democracy at work for you. We’ve also had fun plugging the site in a million and one ways I’d never have dreamed of a decade ago: Amazon lists of the greatest and most neglected AAA albums, a Facebook page and a Twitter profile, answering questions on ‘Yahoo Answers’ (yes the Beatles were pretty crucial to the 1960s actually – and yes they most definitely are better and more popular than Justin Bieber!) a thousand and one adverts for the site spread across various directories and music fansites and forums, plus five videos starring a dog with a cane and a big hat talking about music with his Grand-doggy! Along the way we’ve also had a whole host of unexpected and wacky newsletters, including a whole review by Lulubelle III (the cow on the front cover of Pink Floyd album ‘Atom Heart Mother’), been sent articles from our future and been sent back into the past to review a live gig 37 years in the past, seen the mess the Coalition make of our days to come and discussed what messes Nixon and co made of our past. We’ve been a time capsule, you and me, attempting to sum up and unravel just exactly what’s been going on those past 33 months. I can’t say I understand much more of it now to be honest, but I’ve had fun learning titbits along the way – such as the fact that Coaltions are always going to fail when their parties are diametrically opposed, that I still really really hate the Spice Girls and that music can be the most powerful tool on Earth (and beyond) when used in the right way by people who have talent. Here’s to the next 100 issues and what we’ll have learnt by then (assuming, of course, Alan’s Album Archives survives the cataclysms of December 2012!) Till then enjoy this latest issue, which starts off far back into the distant past (1964) and goes back up to date with a mini review of last month’s Human League CD ‘Credo’...



                                                                

Hollies News: One last week of comments on the new Hollies box set The Clarke-Hicks-Nash Years and then Ill stop, I promise. Because now after a week of waiting its finally back in stock and I now own a copy! And what a fab set it is too EMI have really done the band proud with their packaging and even use my favourite picture of the Hollies, the little seen Dear Eloise/King Midas sleeve for the CD inlay of disc six (which has been my laptop screensaver whilst writing up at least the last years worth of newsletters!) Theres also an intriguing interview with Graham Nash, which manages to be revealing despite telling us little we didnt already know although its a shame that theres nothing from Allan Clarke or Tony Hicks. The unusual running order I commented on last time around also makes much more sense now Ive read the booklet and realised that all the tracks are in recorded order (The Hollies are one of the few acts whose sessionography is complete and its regularly reprinted (in the Hollies excellent On A Carousel fanzine, in three issues of the 1990s Record Collector magazine and recently the other Hollies box set The Long Road Home) although its a shame that none of the oodles of unfinished songs have made their way onto this set). This should really irritate me, as on other sets that do the same it means you get ballads next to ballads and one guys vocals for three or four tracks in a row, but The Hollies were so eclectic that this alternative viewpoint of their canon is fascinating, with even misfires like Stewball sounding all the better in their new home.

Talking of Stewball there are also three Hollies songs sung in French which have never been released before (in addition to Regardez Par Des Fenetres on Rarities) including that track which oddly sounds better than it does in English with much tighter harmonies, theres the long awaited B-side to the bands San Remo Song Contest entry of Non Prego Per Me which until now had only been released in Italy, the long lost 1966 version of A Taste Of Honey (which isnt up to the 1968 version but is still nice to hear) and a cracking eight song concert from one of Nashs last shows in Lewisham in 1968 of which only a decidedly Mancunian version of The Times They Are A Changin has been released till now. Oh and contrary to the running order I saw before release EMI have done the sensible thing and added all nine hard-to-find tracks from the Rarities album in addition to the alternative Were Through and Schoolgirl from the two At Abbey Road sets, the three EP only tracks (What Kind Of Love When Im Not There and Honey and Wine), three compilation-only songs (Poison Ivy Little Bitty Pretty One and Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah) and bits and pieces from the Long Road Home box set. If only EMI had added the three short songs from the live disc of Long Road Home then this set really would be complete for the 1963-1968 period (as released so far) and its also irritating that we have to wait until 1966 for the Hollies recordings to be heard in stereo (the bands stereo mixes are pretty much all superior to the mono recordings I think although conversely Butterfly, the last album here, has always sounded more mysterious and other-worldly in mono!) No matter this set is still 99% perfect and long overdue for recognising what a cracking and consistent band The Hollies were and is the perfect (and cheap!) introduction to newcomers who want to know what the band were all about. Lets hope a follow-up Clarke-Hicks-Sylvester Years set comes out soon...In fact this set is a shoe-in for released of the year come December (although see below for two other main competitors...)       

Human League News: Hmm why do all the good releases have to come out in the same month? Yes thats right Ive finally got hold of Credo, the new League album, and its pretty darn good, vastly superior to last album Secrets and deeply undeserving of the sniffy reviews that have followed it. I know Id normally give you a full review of new AAA releases but Im deeply suspicious of what will happen if I review the League in full my computer has had to be repaired both times I tries to start one!  Anyway all you really need to know is this: the band have finally returned to their earlier Travelogue era sound of dark edgy lyrics and hypnotic trance-like backing, with themes about being an outsider. In fact album highlight Night People is a dead ringer for Only After Dark with its tale of people who live unusual, non-regular lives seeing more of the world than the people who are always in bed early. The line-up meanwhile has changed yet again with newcomer Robert Barton now Phil Oakeys main sparring partner, although thankfully cocktail waitresses Joanne Catherall and Susan Sulley continue the recent League trend of records by having much more involvement. Not every track is great the album dips badly on the last three tracks, especially the lyrics which are always the Leagues Achilles heel but its still the bands most consistent album since my own personal favourite and overlooked gem Romantic? Never mind the two star reviews I keep seeing this record gets a fat 7/10 for me. 

Pink Floyd News: First up, the bad news. Im sorry fellow Floyd fans but its come to this. Come September were going to have to go without food for at least a year, borrow a bed from any neighbour who can spare it, trade in everything we own that isnt directly musical (or the computer you use to read these articles, obviously!) and mortgage the house. Its the only way. The good news is that EMI and the remaining members of the Floyd have finally come to an agreement over re-issue series of the bands back catalogue that will see all of the 14 Floyd albums re-issued with new tracks. Most of the new tracks are said to be substantial Dark Side Of The Moon, for instance, will be available as a six CD box set featuring every possible alternate mix, version and live performance under the sun such as an early work-in-progress version of The Great Gig In The Sky before Clare Torry added her vocals and an early version of Money when the song still went at a faster pace. The earlier Floyd albums meanwhile feature important live tracks from the tape vaults and collectors. Wish You Were Here will now be a five disc set featuring a series of alternate mixes, including violinist Stephane Grapellis contribution to Wish You Were Here up high in the mix at last, after four decades being buried under a series of storm sound effects. The Wall will now have seven CDs including Roger Waters original demo for almost the entire album as presented to the band in 1978 alongside The Pros and Cons Of Hitch-hiking so they could sort out which project to work on and which should be a Waters solo album. Theres also a rare early version of Another Brick In The Wall Part II with Rogers original lyrics (We dont need your adulation, we dont need your starry gaze...) Best of all, though, must be the news that the band have unearthed unheard recordings of Syd Barrett in concert with the band a live recording from Broadhearst Gardens in 1966 recorded so the band could enter a Melody Maker competition!

All the albums, released under the advertising banner Why Pink Floyd?, are due out in one great whoosh just like the Beatles sets of 2009 and have been worked on for more than a year according to an EMI report. The news comes just four months after the band agreed to drop a legal dispute against EMI over having their mainly concept albums split up for downloading individually in fact the band have now re-signed to EMI for another five years! More news if and when we hear it with lots to be discussed around September I dare say...




ANNIVERSARIES: We’re 100 issues old, but how aged are our AAA members this week (born between May 21st and 27th)? Pete Sears (bassist/keyboardist with the Jefferson Starship/Starship 1973-86) turns 63 on May 27th and honorary AAA man Paul Weller turns 53 on May 25th . Anniversaries of events include: two important dates for The Who on May 21st : 1965 sees the release of second single ‘Anyway Anyhow Anywhere’ and the band’s first appearance on Ready Steady Go, the TV show that will become synonymous with the group (1965) while Pete Townshend marries first wife Karen Astley in 1968; The first – of many – posthumous CSNY releases, the live record ‘4 Way Street’ is released (May 22nd 1971); The Beach Boys release their ‘response’ to Beatlemania with ‘I Get Around’ (May 23rd 1964); Another legendary release – The Who’s double album ‘Tommy’ turns 41 on May 23rd; The Beatles’ posthumous album Let It Be’ sets a then-record amount for pre-order sales (3.7 million – May 23rd 1970); the Grateful Dead play their first ever date in the UK in Newcastle some five years after their debut despite their cult following in Britain (May 23rd 1970); Jefferson Starship find that their planned free concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park – a venue they made their own 10 years before – has now been outlawed after authorities ban the use of electronic instruments at outdoor events. The ban inspires the #1 Starship hit ‘We Built This City’ some eight years later (May 23rd 1977);  milestone ‘comeback’ single ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash restores the Rolling Stones to the top of the charts for the first time in three years (May 24th 1968); Simon and Garfunkel become the first artist since The Beatles to replace themselves at the top of the album charts when ‘Bookends’ replaces ‘The Graduate Soundtrack’ (May 25th 1968); The Who perform a secret gig to a handful of fans to end the rockumentary film ‘The Kids Are Alright’  - it will be the last time Keith Moon plays with the band (May 25th 1978) and finally,  John and Yoko begin their second bed-in at a hotel in Montreal (May 26th 1970).

News, Views and Music Issue 100 (Top Five): AAA Songs Featruing The Number '100'!




You’d think there’d be hundreds of songs about the number hundred wouldn’t you? Well, actually, in truth there’s only four – and one sneaky one we’ve pretended we’ve misheard. But never-mind because this week seems the perfect one to tell you what those songs are...

5) The Byrds “One Hundred Years From Now” (a track from the 1968 album ‘Sweethearts Of The Rodeo’): One hundred years from this day, will everybody feel the same way, still think the things that they’re thinking right now? Well possibly a hundred issues from now – I’m not sure about a century we’ve seen such changes already! Anyway back to the song – for me this is by far the best and most original song on ‘Sweethearts’, the influential but in truth not all that good template for future country-rock hybrid albums to come. The only problem is there isn’t much rock, barring this sterling Gram Parsons song, best heard on the two Byrds box sets or as a bonus track on the CD re-issue with Gram on lead rather than Roger McGuinn. It’s a bouncy song about how people are getting a little bit shirty about a simple misdemeanour – as the narrator correctly guesses what he’s done won’t even bat an eyelid in a hundred years’ time. An excellent song for summing up generational differences and differences in time. After all who’d have guessed about the 1960s rock and pop movement a century ago in 1911, never mind the internet and Alan’s Album Archives!

4) The Rolling Stones “One Hundred Years Ago” (a track from the 1973 album ‘Goat’s Head Soup’): When out walking through the woods the other day, the world lay like a carpet lay before me and I got out my laptop and visited Alan’s Album Archives. Don’t you sometimes think it’s wise not to grow up? Now its the turn of the opposite point of view – that mankind is so stubborn that even after a hundred years of living, change and culture, nothing really moves on that much. One of the more over-looked Stones songs about the 1970s, this starts off as a gentle ballad about a Rip Van Winkle waking up from hibernation hoping that his problems are over – only to discover a whole lot more in a thrilling rock climax that finds Mick Taylor on particularly stunning form. It all seemed like a hundred years ago this song came out, at a time when the Stones were still inventive and original.

3) The Moody Blues “I Never Thought I’d Live To Be A Hundred” (a track from the 1969 album ‘To Our Children’s Children’s Children’): I never thought I’d get to write all those things that other people see, look at me. The first two verses of a sensitive Justin Hayward ballad (the third verse is cut off to make ‘I never Thought I’d Live To Be A Million’ later on in the album), this is a song about being so busy fighting for freedom and rights that you never quite realise where the time has gone. I never thought I’d write a hundred issues either – not so very long ago my maker was threatening to refuse me the pleasure of the view too. I’m still waiting for my freedom however – but then that’s what happens when coalition Governments that nobody voted for pass laws to keep themselves in power illegally.

2) Cat Stevens “100 I Dream” (a track from the 1973 album ‘Foreigner’): They brang our website with horns, so they do (what on earth does that line mean?!) but that hasn’t stopped us dreaming of a hundred issues or of ‘rising up to be free’ (as a voice whispered to me) in the hope that we’ll all ‘awake’! I have to say I love this Cat Stevens song’s gentle philosophy even if I haven’t got a clue what’s going on in the beginning - and has there ever been a better motto for our site then the following middle eight?: ‘Pick up the pieces you see before you, don’t let your weakness destroy you, you know wherever you go the world will follow, so let your reasons be true to you’. And in this way we will all awake – come on Cameron and awake!

1) The Beatles “One After 99” (a track from the 1970 ‘Let It Be’ album or 1994 compilation of rarities ‘Anthology One’ if you prefer): Eh, what’s that? The Beatles are singing about the one after 909? Erm, yes, Ok, I did know that but how else can I find another AAA song involving the word hundred? Picked up my laptop, ran to the station, railman said I had a bad connection yeah, pick up my bag, run right home, then I find I got the web address wrong. Well, don’t – its www.alansalbumarchives.moonfruit.com ok?! This funky early Beatles track was a shoe-in for becoming a Beatles B-side before first Paul came up with ‘PS I Love You’ and then John came up with ‘Ask Me Why’ before the band forgot about this song entirely. They did return to it though, with this song one of many ‘oldies’ revived by the band during the ‘Get Back to basics’ sessions for Let It Be. No wonder this one made the record (unlike other forgotten and unloved Lennon/Macca classics like ‘Thinking of Linking ‘Hello Little Girl’ and ‘I Lost My Little Girl’, all revived during the sessions) because The Beatles sound like they’re having great fun – for possibly the only time on the record. Lennon’s vocal sees him become a decade younger, Paul’s whoops are genuinely exciting, George’s guitar solo is fabulous and Ringo? Well, Ringo’s just trying to cope with a cold while playing up on a windy rooftop so it’s no wonder he’s a bit off colour here. Said move over once, move over twice, try on Alan’s Album Archives for size!

Well, that’s it for another issue. As we signed off all those months ago goodbye – and best wishes from the Albums Alcoholics Anonymous. Now I wonder where the next 100 issues will take us?...

A NOW COMPLETE List Of Top Five/Top Ten/TOP TWENTY  Entries 2008-2019
1) Chronic Fatigue songs http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/news-views-and-music-issue-1-top-five.html

2) Songs For The Face Of Bo
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/news-views-and-music-issue-2-top-five.html

3) Credit Crunch Songs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/news-views-and-music-issue-3-top-five.html

4) Songs For The Autumn
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/news-views-and-music-issue-4-top-five.html

5) National Wombat Week
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/news-views-and-music-top-five-national.html

6) AAA Box Sets
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/news-views-and-music-issue-6-top-five.html

7) Virus Songs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/news-views-and-music-issue-7-top-five.html

8) Worst AAA-Related DVDs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/news-views-and-music-issu-8-top-five.html

9) Self-Punctuating Superstar Classics
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/news-views-and-music-issue-9-top-five.html

10) Ways To Know You Have Turned Into A Collector
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/10/news-views-and-music-issue-9-top-five.html

11) Political Songs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/11/news-views-and-music-issue-11-top-five.html

12) Totally Bonkers Concept Albums
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/11/news-views-and-music-top-five-totally.html

13) Celebrating 40 Years Of The Beatles' White Album
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/top-five-issue-13-40-years-of-beatles.html

14) Still Celebrating 40 Years Of The Beatles' White Album
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/news-views-and-music-issue-14-top-five.html

15) AAA Existential Questions
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/news-views-and-music-issue-15-top-five.html

16) Releases Of The Year 2008
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/news-views-and-music-issue-16-top-five.html

17) Top AAA Xmas Songs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2008/12/news-views-and-music-issue-17-top-five.html

18) Notable AAA Gigs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/news-views-and-music-issue-19-top-five.html

19) All things '20' related for our 20th issue
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/02/news-views-and-music-issue-20-aaa-songs.html

20) Romantic odes for Valentine's Day
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/02/news-views-and-music-issue-22-top-five.html

21) Hollies B sides
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/news-views-and-music-issue-23-top-five.html

22) 'Other' BBC Session Albums
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/news-views-and-music-issue-24-top-five.html

23) Beach Boys Rarities Still Not Available On CD
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/news-views-and-music-issue-25-top-five.html

24) Songs John, Paul and George wrote for Ringo's solo albums
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/news-views-and-music-issue-26-top-five.html

25) 5 of the Best Rock 'n' Roll Tracks From The Pre-Beatles Era
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/news-views-and-music-issue-27-top-five.html

26) AAA Autobiographies
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/news-views-and-music-issue-28-top-five.html

27) Rolling Stones B-sides
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/04/news-views-and-music-issue-29-top-five.html

28) Beatles B-Sides
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/news-views-and-music-issue-30-top-five.html

29) The lllloooonnngggeesssttt AAA songs of all time
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/news-views-and-music-issue-31-top-five.html

30) Kinks B-Sides
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/news-views-and-music-issue-32-top-five.html

31) Abandoned CSNY projects 'wasted on the way'
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/news-views-and-music-issue-33-top-five.html

32) Best AAA Rarities and Outtakes Sets
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/news-views-and-music-issue-34-top-five.html

33) News We've Missed While We've Been Away
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/news-views-and-music-issue-35-top-five.html

34) Birthday Songs for our 1st Anniversary
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/news-views-and-music-issue-37-top-five.html

35) Brightest Album Covers
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/news-views-and-music-issue-37-top-five.html

36) Biggest Recorded Arguments
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/news-views-and-music-issue-38-top-five.html

37) Songs About Superheroes
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/news-views-and-music-issue-39-top-five.html

38) AAA TV Networks That Should Exist
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/news-views-and-music-issue-40-top-five.html

39) AAA Woodtsock Moments
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/news-views-and-music-issue-41-top-five.html

40) Top Moments Of The Past Year As Voted For By Readers
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/news-views-and-music-issue-42-top-five.html

41) Music Segues
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/news-views-and-music-issue-43-top-five.html

42) AAA Foreign Language Songs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/news-views-and-music-issue-44-top-five.html

43) 'Other' Groups In Need Of Re-Mastering
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/10/news-views-and-music-issue-45-top-five.html

44) The Kinks Preservation Rock Opera - Was It Really About The Forthcoming UK General Election?
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/news-views-and-music-issue-46-top-five.html

45) Mono and Stereo Mixes - Biggest Differences
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/news-views-and-music-issue-47-top-five.html

46) Weirdest Things To Do When A Band Member Leaves
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/nerws-views-and-music-issue-48-top-five.html

47) Video Clips Exclusive To Youtube (#1)
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/11/news-views-and-music-issue-49-top-five.html

48) Top AAA Releases Of 2009
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/news-views-and-music-issue-50-top-five.html

49) Songs About Trains
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/news-views-and-music-issue-51-top-five.html

50) Songs about Winter
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/news-views-and-music-issue-52-top-five.html

51) Songs about astrology plus horoscopes for selected AAA members
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/news-views-and-music-issue-53-top-five.html

52) The Worst Five Groups Ever!
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/news-views-and-music-issue-54-top-five.html

53) The Most Over-Rated AAA Albums
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/news-views-and-music-issue-56-top-five.html

54) Top AAA Rarities Exclusive To EPs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/03/news-views-and-music-issue-57-top-five.html

55) Random Recent Purchases (#1)
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/news-views-and-music-issue-58-top-five.html

56) AAA Party Political Slogans
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/news-views-and-music-issue-60-top-five.html

57) Songs To Celebrate 'Rock Sunday'
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/news-views-and-music-issue-61-top-five_21.html

58) Strange But True (?) AAA Ghost Stories
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/05/news-views-and-music-issue-61-top-five.html

59) AAA Artists In Song
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/news-views-and-music-issue-63-top-five.html

60) Songs About Dogs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/news-views-and-music-issue-65-top-five.html

61) Sunshiney Songs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/news-views-and-music-issue-67-top-five.html

62) The AAA Staff Play Their Own Version Of Monoploy/Mornington Crescent!
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/news-views-and-music-issue-68-top-forty.html

63) What 'Other' British Invasion DVDs We'd Like To See
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/news-views-and-music-issue-69-top-five.html

64) What We Want To Place In Our AAA Time Capsule
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/news-views-and-music-issue-70-top-five.html

65) AAA Conspiracy Theroies
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/news-views-and-music-issue-72-top-ten.html

66) Weirdest Things To Do Before - And After - Becoming A Star
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/news-views-and-music-top-ten-aaa-stars.html

67) Songs To Tweet To
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/news-views-and-music-issue-74-top-five.html

68) Greatest Ever AAA Solos
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/news-views-and-music-issue-75-top-ten.html

69) John Lennon Musical Tributes
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/news-views-and-music-issue-77-top-five.html

70) Songs For Halloween
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/news-views-and-music-issue-78-top-five.html

71) Earliest Examples Of Psychedelia
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/news-views-and-music-issue-79-top-five.html

72) Purely Instrumental Albums
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/news-views-and-music-issue-81-top-five.html

73) AAA Utopias

74) AAA Imaginary Bands
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/news-views-and-music-issue-82-top-five.html

75) Unexpected AAA Cover Versions
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/news-views-and-music-issue-83-top-five.html

76) Top Releases of 2010
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/news-views-and-music-issue-84-top-five.html

77) Songs About Snow
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/news-views-and-music-issue-85-top-five.html

78) Predictions For 2011
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011_01_02_archive.html

79) AAA Fugitives

80) AAA Home Towns
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/news-views-and-music-issue-88-home.html

81) The Biggest Non-Musical Influences On The 1960s
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/news-views-and-music-issue-89-top-five.html

82) AAA Groups Covering Other AAA Groups
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/news-views-and-music-issue-90-top.html

83) Strange Censorship Decisions
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/news-views-and-music-issue-91-top-ten.html

84) AAA Albums Still Unreleased on CD
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/news-views-and-music-issue-92-top-five.html

85) Random Recent Purchases (#2)
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/news-views-and-music-issue-93-top-ten.html

86) Top AAA Music Videos
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/news-views-and-music-issue-94-top-ten.html

87) 30 Day Facebook Music Challenge
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/news-views-and-music-issue-95-top.html

88) AAA Documentaries
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/news-views-and-music-top-five-aaa.html

89) Unfinished and 'Lost' AAA Albums
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/news-views-and-music-issue-97-top-ten.html

90) Strangest AAA Album Covers
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/newsa-views-and-music-issue-98-top-ten.html

91) AAA Performers Live From Mars (!)
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/news-views-and-music-issue-99-top-ten.html

92) Songs Including The Number '100' for our 100th Issue
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/news-views-and-music-issue-100-top-five.html

93) Most Songs Recorded In A Single Day
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/news-views-and-music-issue-101-top-five.html

94) Most Revealing AAA Interviews
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/news-views-and-music-issue-102-top-five.html

95) Top 10 Pre-Fame Recordings
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/news-views-and-music-issue-103-top-ten.html

96) The Shortest And Longest AAA Albums
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/news-views-and-music-issue-104-top-ten.html


97) The AAA Allstars Ultimate Band Line-Up
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/news-views-and-music-issue-105-top.html

98) Top Songs About Sports
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/news-views-and-music-issue-106-top-ten.html

99) AAA Conversations With God
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/news-views-and-music-issue-107-top-ten.html

100) AAA Managers: The Good, The Bad and the Financially Ugly
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/news-views-and-music-issue-108-top-ten.html

101) Unexpected AAA Cameos
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/news-views-and-music-issue-109-top-ten.html

102) AAA Words You can Type Into A Caluclator
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/news-views-and-music-issue-110-top-five.html

103) AAA Court Cases
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/news-views-and-music-issue-111-top-five.html

104) Postmodern Songs About Songwriting
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/news-views-and-music-issue-112-top-five.html

105) Biggest Stylistic Leaps Between Albums
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/news-views-and-music-issue-113-top-ten.html

106) 20 Reasons Why Cameron Should Go!
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/news-views-and-music-issue-114-top.html

107) The AAA Pun-Filled Cookbook
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/news-views-and-music-issue-115-top-five.html

108) Classic Debut Releases
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/news-views-and-music-issue-116-top-five.html

109) Five Uses Of Bird Sound Effects
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/news-views-and-music-issue-118-top-five.html

110) AAA Classic Youtube Clips Part #1
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/news-views-and-music-issue-119-top.html

111) Part #2
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/news-views-and-music-issue-120-top.html

112) Part #3
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/news-views-and-music-issue-121-top.html

113) AAA Facts You Might Not Know
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/news-views-and-music-issue-122-top-ten.html

114) The 20 Rarest AAA Records
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/news-views-and-music-issue-123-top.html

115) AAA Instrumental Songs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011_12_04_archive.html

116) Musical Tarot
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/news-views-and-music-issue-125-top-23-i.html

117) Christmas Carols
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011_12_18_archive.html

118) Top AAA Releases Of 2011
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2011_12_25_archive.html

119) AAA Bands In The Beano/The Dandy
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/news-views-and-music-issue-128-top-five.html

120) Top 20 Guitarists #1
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/news-views-and-music-issue-129-top-ten.html

121) #2
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012_01_15_archive.html

122) 'Shorty' Nomination Award Questionairre
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012_01_22_archive.html

123) Top Best-Selling AAA Albums
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012_01_29_archive.html

124) AAA Songs Featuring Bagpipes

125) A (Hopefully) Complete List Of AAA Musicians On Twitter
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012_02_19_archive.html

126) Beatles Albums That Might Have Been 1970-74 and 1980
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012_02_26_archive.html

127) DVD/Computer Games We've Just Invented
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012_03_11_archive.html

128) The AAA Albums With The Most Weeks At #1 in the UK
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012_03_18_archive.html

129) The AAA Singles With The Most Weeks At #1 in the UK
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012_03_25_archive.html

130) Lyric Competition (Questions)
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012_04_15_archive.html

131) Top Crooning Classics
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012_04_22_archive.html

132) Funeral Songs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/news-views-and-music-issue-142-top-five.html

133) AAA Songs For When Your Phone Is On Hold
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/news-views-and-music-issue-143-top-five.html

134) Random Recent Purchases (#3)
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/news-views-and-music-issue-144-top-five.html

135) Lyric Competition (Answers)
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/news-views-and-music-issue-146-top.html http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/news-views-and-music-issue-145-top-five.html

136) Bee Gees Songs/AAA Goes Disco!
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/news-views-and-music-issue-147-top-five.html

137) The Best AAA Sleevenotes (And Worst)
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/news-views-and-music-issue-148-top-ten.html

138) A Short Precise Of The Years 1962-70
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/news-views-and-music-149-top-eight.html

139) More Wacky AAA-Related Films And Their Soundtracks
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/top-five-for-news-views-and-music-150.html

140) AAA Appearances On Desert Island Discs
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/top-eight-aaa-desert-island-discs.html

141) Songs Exclusive To Live Albums
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/news-views-and-music-issue-153-top-10.html

142) More AAA Songs About Armageddon
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/aaa-armageddon-songsalbums-top-5-for.html

What difference does a name make? Arguably not much if you’re already a collector of a certain group, for whom the names on the album sleeves just...

This week’s top ten honours the humble motor car. The death trap on wheels, the metaphor for freedom, the put-down of capitalism, a source of...

This week we’re going to have a look at the 10 AAA singles that spent the most weeks at number on the American chart ‘Billboard’ – and it makes for...

Following on from last issue’s study of the American Billboard charts, here’s a look at which AAA albums spent the most weeks on the chart. The...

There are many dying arts in our modern world: incorruptible politicians, faith that things are going to get better and the ability to make decent...

This week we’ve decided to dedicate our top ten to those unsung heroes of music, the session musicians, whose playing often brings AAA artists (and...

Naturally we hold our AAA bands in high esteem in these articles: after all, without their good taste, intelligence and humanity we’d have nothing to...

What do you do when you’ve left a multi-million selling band and yet you still feel the pull of the road and the tours and the playing to audiences...

‘The ATOS Song’ (You’re Not Fit To Live)’ (Mini-Review) Dear readers, we don’t often feature reviews of singles over albums or musicians who aren’t...

In honour of this week’s review of an album released to cash in on a movie soundtrack (only one of these songs actually appears in ‘Easy Rider’...and...

Hic! Everyone raise a glass to the rock stars of the past and to this week’s feature...songs about alcolholic beverages! Yes that’s right, everything...

154) The human singing voice carries with it a vast array of emotions, thoughts that cannot be expressed in any other way except opening the lungs and...

Everyone has a spiritual home, even if they don’t actually live there. Mine is in a windy, rainy city where the weather is always awful but the...

Having a family does funny things to some musicians, as we’ve already seen in this week’s review (surely the only AAA album actually written around...

Some artists just have no idea what their best work really is. One thing that amazes me as a collector is how consistently excellent many of the...

159) A (Not That) Short Guide To The 15 Best Non-AAA Bands http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/a-not-that-short-guide-to-15-of-best.html%20%0d160

160) The Greatest AAA Drum Solos (Or Near Solos!) http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-greatest-aaa-drum-solos-or-near.html%20%0d161

161) AAA Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall Of Fame Acceptance Speeches http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/aaa-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame.html%20%0d162

162) AAA Re-Recordings Of Past Songs http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/aaa-re-recordings-of-past-songs-news.html%20%0d163

163) A Coalition Christmas (A Fairy Tale) http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/a-coalition-christmas-news-views-and.html%20%0d164

164) AAA Songs About Islands http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/aaa-songs-about-islands-news-views-and.html%20%0d165

165) The AAA Review Of The Year 2012 http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-aaa-review-of-year-2012-news-views.html



166) The Best AAA Concerts I Attended
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-best-aaa-concerts-i-attended-news.html

167) Tributes To The 10 AAA Stars Who Died The Youngest http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/tributes-to-10-aaa-stars-who-died.html



168) The First 10 AAA Songs Listed Alphabetically
http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-first-10-aaa-songs-if-listed.html


171) The 10 Best Songs From The Psychedelia Box-Sets ‘Nuggets’ and ‘Nuggets Two’ http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/the-best-of-two-nuggets-psychedelia.html%20%0d172

172) The 20 Most Common Girl’s Names In AAA Song Titles (With Definitions) http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/girls-names-in-aaa-song-titles-from.html 








180) First Recordings By Future AAA Stars http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/first-





185) A Tribute To Storm Thorgerson Via The Five AAA Bands He Worked With http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/a-tribute-to-hipgnosis-via-five-aaa.html



188) Surprise! Celebrating 300 Album Reviews With The Biggest 'Surprises' Of The Past Five Years Of Alan's Album Archives! http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/celebrating-300-album-reviews-10.html


190) Comparatively Obscure First Compositions By AAA Stars http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/comparatively-obscure-debut.html



193) Evolution Of A Band: Comparing First Lyric With Last Lyric: http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/evolution-of-band-comparing-1st-lyric.html







200) The Monkees In Relation To Postmodernism (University Dissertation) http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/university-dissertation-monkees-in.html


202) Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain': Was It About One Of The AAA Crew? http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/carly-simons-youre-so-vain-was-it-about.html















217) AAA 'Christmas Presents' we'd most like to have next year http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/aaa-christmas-presents-wed-most-like-to.html




221) Dr Who and the AAA (Five Musical Links) http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2014/01/dr-who-and-five-musical-links-to-alans.html

222) Five Random Recent Purchases http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2014/01/five-random-recent-purchases-news-views.html

223) AAA Grammy Nominees http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2014/02/aaa-grammy-nominees-top-twelve-news.html

224) Ten AAA songs that are better heard unedited and in full http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2014/02/ten-aaa-songs-that-are-better-unedited.html

225) The shortest gaps between AAA albums http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-shortest-gaps-between-aaa-albums.html

226) The longest gaps between AAA albums http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-longest-gaps-between-aaa-albums.html

227) Top ten AAA drummers http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2014/03/top-ten-aaa-drummers-news-views-and.html

228) Top Ten AAA Singles (In Terms of 'A' and 'B' Sides) http://www.alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/top-ten-aaa-singles-and-b-sides-news.html

229) The Stories Behind Six AAA Logos http://www.alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/the-stories-behind-six-aaa-logos.html

230) AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!! The Best Ten AAA Screams http://www.alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/the-best-aaa-screams-top-ten-news-views.html

231) An AAA Pack Of Horses http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/aaa-songs-about-horses-top-ten-news.html

232) AAA Granamas - Sorry, Anagrams! http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/aaa-anagrams-news-views-and-music-issue.html

233) AAA Surnames and Their Meanings http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/aaa-surnames-and-their-meanings-news.html

234) 20 Erroneous AAA Album Titles http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/twenty-erroneous-aaa-album-titles-news.html

235) The Best AAA Orchestral Arrangements http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/fifteen-great-aaa-string-parts-news.html

236) Top 30 Hilariously Misheard Album Titles/Lyrics http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/top-thirty-hilariously-misheard-aaa.html

237) Ten controversial AAA sackings - and whether they were right http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/ten-controversial-aaa-sackings-news.html

238) A Critique On Critiquing - In Response To Brian Wilson http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/a-critique-on-critiquing-in-response-to.html

239) The Ten MusicianS Who've Played On The Most AAA Albums http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/the-ten-musicians-whove-played-on-most.html

240) Thoughts on #CameronMustGo http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/thoughts-on-cameronmustgo.html

241) Random Recent Purchases (Kinks/Grateful Dead/Nils Lofgren/Rolling Stones/Hollies) http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/six-random-recent-purchases-kinksg.html 

242) AAA Christmas Number Ones http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/aaa-christmas-number-ones.html 

243) AAA Review Of The Year 2014 (Top Releases/Re-issues/Documentaries/DVDs/Books/Songs/ Articles  plus worst releases of the year) http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/aaa-review-of-year-2014.html

244) Me/CFS Awareness Week 2015 http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/mecfs-awareness-week-at-alans-album.html

245) Why The Tory 2015 Victory Seems A Little...Suspicious http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/why-tory-victory-seems-deeply.html

246) A Plea For Peace and Tolerance After The Attacks on Paris - and Syria http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/a-plea-for-peace-and-toleration.html

247) AAA Review Of The Year 2015 http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/the-aaa-review-of-year-2015.html

248) The Fifty Most Read AAA Articles (as of December 31st 2015) http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/the-fifty-most-read-aaa-posts-2008-2015.html

249) The Revised AAA Crossword! http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2016_07_10_archive.html


251) Half-A-Dozen Berries Plus One (An AAA Tribute To Chuck Berry) http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/an-aaa-covers-tribute-to-chuck-berry.html

252) Guest Post: ‘The Skids – Joy’ (1981) by Kenny Brown  https://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/guest-post-skids-joy-1981.html


254) Guest Post: ‘Supertramp – Some Things Never Change’ by Kenny Brown https://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2018/06/guest-review-supertramp-some-things.html

255) AAA Review Of The Year 2018 https://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-aaa-review-of-year-2018.html

256) AAA Review Of The Year 2019 plus Review Of The Decade 2010-2019 https://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-alans-album-archives-review-of-year.html



257) Tiermaker https://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2019/06/alans-album-archives-on-tiermaker.html

258) #Coronastock https://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2020/04/coronastock.html

259) #Coronadocstock https://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.com/2020/05/coronadocstock.html