Next Meeting

Greetings Hoylake Album Clubbers!

Next session is set for Jo's house at 8.00 pm on Friday 22 February. Choices are:

Jackson Browne, Late for the Sky (1974)





Patti Smith, Horses (1975)

I thought it would be worthwhile to continue the debate relating to the identity of the texts that constitute the focus of Album Club. The following is of course not intended to be prescriptive in any way, and I welcome contributions to the debate.

This is my understanding: an ‘album’ is a discrete collection of songs by an artist (single or collective). Such collections retain their coherence, and constitute an identifiable category, by dint of a recognizable musical, sonic or lyrical signature. At the same time, they are constrained (to a greater or lesser extent) by the technological limitations which were instituted by the invention of vinyl in the 1940s - which is to say: approximately 30 – 50 minutes of music, organized into ‘songs’, dispersed over two sides of a 12-inch, 33-rpm record.

I think it’s possible to regard most CDs since their invention in the early 1980s as operating along the same continuum as vinyl albums, because they adhere more or less to this model -  i.e. an artist releases a collection of new songs with which they are identifiably associated.

To my mind, such a model allows for a multitude of texts - 'albums' - but is clearly set against other texts, models and practices, including:

* Best of … and Greatest Hits collections;

* random compilations of the Now That’s What I Call Music variety;

* random compilations organized in terms of genre (e.g. folk or jazz), style (e.g. punk or Britpop), scene (e.g. Northern Soul or Seattle), era (e.g. 1960s), or any other arbitrary category;

* recordings of works conceived under the auspices of alternative musical dispensations – e.g. symphonies, lieder, opera; this would also bar recordings of event-oriented dance music (e.g. trance or house) unless intentionally released by an artist as a coherent collection;

* alternative formats generated as a result of digital technology (Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, etc.).

The key issue, so far as I can see, is that between the ‘album’ and the ‘record’, which in itself mirrors the difference between the ‘novel’ and the ‘book’. There are some great ‘books’ (poetry, drama, cookery, travel, history, etc.) that would be out of place in a club dedicated to discussing ‘novels’; just so, from my perspective there are some great ‘records’ that are out of place in a club dedicated to discussing ‘albums’.

Next Album Club is on Friday 16th November at Corina and Ian's house. Choices are St Matthew Passion by J.C. Bach (chosen by Corina, controversial) and Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret by Soft Cell (chosen by Gavin, controversial).

On Friday 21 September we enjoyed Album Club hospitality at Fiona and Tom's house, discussing No Fences (1990) by Garth Brooks and The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) by Pink Floyd - controversial choices both. Generally 'thumbs-down' for the former, and 'thumbs-up' for the latter.

Next meeting is in Corina and Ian's before Xmas, with Corina and Gavin calling the shots - what will they choose?? Ooh, the excitement!

Position after 7 votes!!

Antony and the Johnsons, Now I Am a Bird                         88
Guillemots, Through the Windowpane                                 77
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Rattlesnakes                    73
Muse, The Resistance                                                            67
Alabama 3, Exile on Coldharbor Lane                                 65
Kate Bush, Never For Ever                                                   63
Whipping Boy, Heartworm                                                   63
Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Imperial Bedroom          56
R.L. Burnside, Come On In                                                   55
Sparklehorse, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot              50
The Hoodoo Gurus, Stoneage Romeos                                  46
Roy Bailey, Never Leave a Story Unsung                             39
Frank Sinatra, In the Wee Small Hours                                  37
Primal Scream, Screamadelica                                              37
Carole King, The Colour of Your Dreams                            24

Vote for your favourite!!

Yes, Album Clubbers, here's your chance to vote for your favourite album from the past eighteen months or so. Just rank the fifteen titles listed below in order, awarding 15 points to your favourite, and 1 point to your least favourite, and keeping your comments about it could be better organised to your self! Results announced at next meeting, which, as things are shaping up, is looking to be featuring 'Cobblestone Runway' by Ron Sexsmith as Dave's choice, and 'Slayed?' by Slade as Jim's choice.

Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Imperial Bedroom

Sparklehorse, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot
Kate Bush, Never For Ever
Roy Bailey, Never Leave a Story Unsung
Whipping Boy, Heartworm
Muse, The Resistance
Carole King, The Colour of Your Dreams
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Rattlesnakes
Alabama 3, Exile on Coldharbor Lane
Primal Scream, Screamadelica (1991)
Antony and the Johnsons, Now I Am a Bird
Guillemots, Through the Windowpane
R.L. Burnside, Come On In
Frank Sinatra, In the Wee Small Hours
The Hoodoo Gurus, Stoneage Romeos

Next Album Club

No dates yet but the sections have been made!
Joe's choice is Frank Sinatra's In the Wee Small Hours (1955).



Wyn has gone for Stoneage Romeos (1984) by Aussie band Hoodoo Gurus.