Just curious, and seeing as there is only one other post in this section. What music do you like?

Personally i like a good mix, ranging from Rock to country depending on my mood.

Must admit that i am not keen on quite a lot of the music i hear in the charts, but then i suppose that is all aimed at the newer generation.

Wouldn't be that fun if we all enjoyed the same music i suppose.

Hi "S",

I think the appreciation of different forms of music is strongly linked with how we feel about our hifi systems - hence our presence on this Website

True, music will not alter the flow of the Ocean currents, make the old young again, or lower the price of bread, but it does enrich our lives on a variety of levels.  You've already heard one of the most established contributors, John waxing lyrical in the "Dream HiFi" thread.  When someone is this happy with their system, it's time to stop tweaking and start listening.  The beauty of great hifi is that it can reveal qualities in music that you previously thought unlistenable or uninteresting.

My recent experiences are along these lines and I've being diligently ploughing my way through all the back-of-the-shelf "previously unlistenable" stuff, and I've yet to find an album that hasn't blown me away!  It seemed a terrible waste as most of these albums were either unplayed or only played once and had been sitting there for 25 yrs or more!

 My musical tastes are quite wide ranging.  Like some other members I've been listening to live classical for at least 30 years on a fairly regular basis and to contrast that I can also be a hard-core "heavy metal" fan (go figure !).  For some good "Sunday Morning listening" music to chill to, try "The Return of the Durutti Column" by The Durutti Column (Vinni Reilly) or Kate Bush's "Aerial".  Aerial was very much an acquired taste at first as it was unlike anything Ms Bush had previously done. Initially it seemed to lack the "fire" that characterised her early work and I wrongly formed the impression that it was too sanitised and child orientated.  This changed dramatically with repeated listening and some of the pieces I later found to be deeply moving to the point where it seems more like a work of genius.  With a track such as "Pi" for example the listener really needs to persevere beyond the first or second listen.  After that I guarantee you will know the value of Pi to at least 50 decimal places !!

Happy listening.

Kind regards, Bill.

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your input, you have brought up many valid points. I must admit to enjoying live classical myself on the odd occassion. 

I shall take on board your recommendations and will search them out. Unfortunatly i have yet to purchase a dream hifi system nor one that will remotely do but here is hoping that one day the rainy day fund will allow me to go and buy such things. Being in Wales maybe that will happen sooner rather than later. 

At the moment i have to resort to dancing around with my little mp3 blaring in my ears while doing the hoovering.

I also have to admit to being very jealous of some of the great hifi systems you AVer's have.

One day i shall hopefully join you all and be worshipping my own super dooper sound system.

Kindest Regards

SB. 

Hi S,

If we ever needed an ambassador for classical music look no further than Catherine Jenkins!

Indeed, rewarding hifi doesn't have to cost the earth, but extra cash helps!! .

Here's hoping!!  

 Kind regards, Bill.

Katherine Jenkins does have a fantastic voice. Being welsh of course is an added bonus. !!

I do think that rather than buying a cheaper system and craving a bigger and better one, it might make more sense for me just to save up for my "ultimate" system. Mind you, by then the companies involved will of course just bring out bigger and better just to upset me.

Ah it's nice to dream on this cold Easter morning....

Kindest Regards

SB 

Know what you mean "S"....Hifi can be a little  "extreme" at times.  Look at the £135000 Coltrane Supreme loudspeakers for example?

Only lottery winners need apply !

Kind regards, Bill.

Oh my, i see what you mean. wow!

I suppose now would be a good time to give the lottery a go.... either that or gatecrash a millionaires party.

Kindest Regards

SB

Hi "S",

Returning to your original question, did you ever hear of the "Concept Album"  i.e. music based on a Book, story or idea ?

Here are some that spring to mind :

"Warrior on the Edge of Time" by Hawkind based on the "Eternal Champion" concept by my all time favourite Welshman (Tom Jones excepted) the venerable Michael Moorcock.

"The Snow Goose" by Camel.  Based on the book by Paul Gallico.  The writer disapproved of this in favour of the next interpretation and his personal friend Spike (below) but the Camel music is inspired.

"The Snow Goose" by Spike Milligan.  This is also excellent.  Both concepts are equally heart rending.

"Dust & Dreams" by Camel.  Based on "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck.

"Stationary Traveller" by Camel.  A collection of songs about the Berlin Wall.

"Water Bearer" by Sally Oldfield.  Very Tolkien-esque, but technically not a concept album.  Sally, like her brother Mike, Plays nearly all the instruments and sings nearly all the vocals. Guest appearance by Peter Pears (Tenor) on "Songs of the Quendi".

"Tales of Mystery and Imagination" The Alan Parsons Project. Based on Edgar Allan Poe's work.

"Gaudi" Alan Parsons again. The life and work of Antonio Gaudi.

"I, Robot" Alan Parsons (this man was a concept machine !!) Based on the Asimov Story.

"Turn of a Friendly Card" Alan Parsons - on the "evils" of Gambling.

"Pyramid" Alan Parsons....on the subject of ancient Egypt.

"Ammonia Avenue" Alan Parsons...about the God of Science (and hifi!)...or was that...

"Stereotomy" Alan Parsons again!....Definitely about hifi Brain Surgery this time!

"Eve" Alan Parsons...Based on the dawn of creation (Genesis 1, the Bible)

"Eye in the Sky"  (Dare I say Alan Parsons?) UFOs and all things not covered elsewhere

"Marscape" by Jack Lancaster & Robin Lumley. Needless to say all about Mars, from Phobos & Deimos to the biggest known volcano in the solar system - "Olympus Mons". 25 km high....This is a top class atmospheric recording, as indeed are all those above.  Great music.

"The Legend of Robin Hood" by Clannad.  Based on the tv series and legend.

"The Wall" Pink Floyd.  The views of a WWII  baby turned Rock Star...

There's smoke coming off my fingers now so I'll stop here!!!   

Kind regards, Bill.

Hi Bill,

Thats a post and a half!   and i certainly haven't heard anyone mention Clannad in a very long time. Time for me to go searching the boxes in the outhouse i think, and of course searching ebay for the odd bargain.

I find this quite embarrasing to say i don't know of Alan Parsons apart from a vague recollection he had something to do with the Beatles at one time?? but as you have named several i shall now have to do some research.

The Wall - Pink Floyd what a classic.

Kind Regards

SB 

Hi S,

For Alan Parsons it's even worse than that as he was a former Producer of Pink Floyd during their rise to fame.  His own albums are also very well produced - especially with him having a bit of knowledge of the business

I nearly forgot the most important concept album of all : "The New Worlds Fair" by the mercurial man himself - Michael Moorcock.  How could I forget this!  Based on one of his own stories (well if you can't beat 'em!)

As a teenager, I once read SEVEN of Michael's books in a day. .

Best regards,

Bill.

Hi Bill,

I thought i could read quite a lot in one day, but you beat me,  i think the most i ever read in a day was four. Not heard of Michael Moorcock either...hhhmmm you have certainly given me a list that i will need to check out.

Also have looked Alan Parsons up on Wiki, very impressive. I will certainly be checking out several of your recommendations.

Kindest Regards

SB 

Hi "S" - all,

Rareties are my interest at the moment plus the old "B" sides of 60's 70's.

Rolling stones - THE LONDON YEARS - now this box set has both A-B sides of singles Ah nostalgia - some of the old B sides where better then the A's.

It ticks me off with compilations such as the 60's to present titles - that they only put top 20's of the charted music on the CD's yes there are a lot of naff songs out there - but a lot of great music that did not chart in the top twenties!!    ....Carl

Agree with you totally Carl,i have bought several compilations only to find it is just the same songs.  Some really good songs of the 60's and 70's didn't top the charts.

My memory for titles of music is awful but i often hear something that i catch briefly on the radio/in a shop ect and think "wow i remember that" then spend days/weeks trying to find the title of the song.

At the moment i am back to listening to Enigma and Poison...totally different to each other but equally brilliant. "she says as she bops around the room"

Kindest Regards

SB 

Carl,

I too have a modest collection of ancient singles but my turntable only does 33rpm

(I could buy the Hercules II power board...now there's a thought!)

The Stones early work really rocks !

Best regards, Bill.

Hi bill,/"S",

Don't laugh but at this moment i am looking for an old 1946 track called - I love you for sentimental reasons? - reason being this was a hit for Nat king Cole but was also recorded by Eddy Howard, Charlie Spivak, Art Kassel who in the fifties where big jazz and blues bands - my grandmother gave me this on 78rpm brittle 10" disc back in the early seventy's - but i cant remember by whom, this track had a sax solo that was awesome. Rod Stewart sings his version on The American song book vol 3. 

 - sadly this clown sat on said disc - felt such a plonker??

Carl,

Bad luck with that 1946 recording Carl...it sounded like a collectors item  buddy...

I understand how such recordings can take hold of you.  I remember my younger sisters went through a Gene Pitney phase, incessantly playing the album "Town Without Pity". This was odd as Gene Pitney's initial fame pre-dated my sisters birthdays by about 20 yrs!  I wasn't keen on the album at the time but they brainwashed me !!  In no time I HAD to have my own copy!  I've still got it and the cover is opening at the seams, but the sound....is beyond sublime.

If you haven't got this album already you would love the big band element .  It's as rich a sonic tapestry as you could hope for with an immediacy that makes it feel like it happened yesterday, despite it's natural thermionic "bloom".   Magical...

Cheers, Bill.

Oh i loved town without pity.....

Got to ask a quick question here, but do men listen to certain music depending on what mood they are in? I always wondered if it was just a "woman" thing....

Kindest Regards

SB

Hi S,

It's probably a "yes" to some degree, as music can be used to "de-stress" ?

I think it's a bilateral effect, S...music can create a mood but moods can also demand certain music ...if that makes any sense ?

Although my copy is older, "Town Without Pity" was made famous again in the early 90s by the comedy "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark"

Best regards, Bill.

I must de-stress a lot then.

Listening to Brad Nailer tonight...bet not many of you have heard of him...

Most of you probably don't want to of heard of him though....

All the best

SB 

You've got me there S....

I look forward to the Review !!

Cheers, Bill.