I love lists. So what is it about blokes and lists? It wasn’t until I read Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity that I realised I wasn't alone in the world with this one. I love making lists, talking about lists and while I’m not talking about them or making them I like to think about them. Top ten favourite cars, best 5 goals ever scored, favourite 5 dinners, best films of all time etc etc. My list of lists goes on. To me, however, what’s even stranger than the urge to make them is the urge to share them with other people knowing full well nobody’s in the slightest bit interested.........or are they?
I used to read Smash Hits avidly in the early 80s. Each issue had a famous star who would list their top ten favourite singles. It didn’t matter who it was I was fascinated by their choices and would always start my read with that section. The best list for me however happened annually in the days running up to New Year when John Peel would play 10 songs each night from a list of his listeners all time favourite tracks – The festive fifty. I still cherish the 1978 copy of the list that Peel sent me complete with hand signature and inscription. See end of this blog.
The lists that dominate my life are music ones. Best artist, singles, gigs etc. The most important of these, however, has to be the best album of all time. So I have decided to try and collate mine. But what a task! Music has always been a massive part of my life and I have been through so many genres, bands and albums. Do I stick to one style - Maybe make a list for each style? And what criteria do I use? Stuff I’m really into now? I love Oasis’s ‘What’s the Story’ and have also listened to the Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds CD constantly since it was released. But for some reason these won’t appear. For me the record has to mean more that just great music. It should also reflect the emotions of particular times and events in your life. So perhaps some records in this list would not appear if they were released now. Similarly if Noel had released this great new record in 1978 then maybe it would appear below. So I’m just going to go with that knowing that in a week’s or a month’s time I won’t be happy with my list and will want to change it.
The only rules I have set myself is that I am not allowed to have two albums by the same artist and no compilations. I know I am going to have to miss out some amazing bands and albums from many different genres but with only 20 available to choose from I cant help that. I must stress that’s there’s no order really. It’s difficult enough getting it to 20 so putting them in order would be a task too far. I will give a brief explanation and mention a few characters from my past who link me to the music to add the context.
Please feel free to share any similar list if you too have the urge.
1 - The Undertones / The Undertones (1979)
The order of this list would change daily but this will always be at the top. For me Mickey and the boys from Derry will forever be my favourite. I was obsessed with the Undertones in the late 70s / early 80s. I asked for this record for my 13 birthday and it was the best present I have ever received. I was so excited. I remember putting it on the turntable for the first time, turning the volume up and hearing those opening bars to Family Entertainment. I saw the Undertones live again this year. They came on and Billy kicked off with a rhythmic beat on the base drum. Then the guitar struck up with the opening chords to Family Entertainment. The effect on me then was exactly the same as it was listening to the record over 30 years ago. The razor edge sound of that first record blows me away every time. It will never get any better.
Top Tracks : Every one on the LP (although the original version of True Confessions would have been better than the version included here)
2 - The Clash / London Calling (1979)
For me the Clash have stood the test of time more than any other band. Probably in my top three favorite bands (another list.) Really difficult to decide between this, the first LP or Sandinista. This amazing double album clinches it though. I played in a band at school called Religious Concrete Trousers (RCTs) with ‘Music Rod' on Guitar, ‘Drummer Steve’ on (you guessed it) Drums, ‘Jock’ on vocals and myself on bass. We practiced every Sunday night round ‘Music Rod’s’ house while his mum went off to play bridge. We managed to master three songs. SLF’s Gotta Gettaway, The Dead Kennedy’s California Uber Alles (Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables just missed this list) and the superb Train in Vain from this album.
I don't get too upset when I hear about famous people dying but I was devastated when I heard of Joe Strummer’s death in 2002. To this day I’m not sure why I got so upset about someone passing away that I didn’t know but it affected me a lot. Not too many years before his death I went to see the Who play at Wembley Arena with ‘Poly Ian’. I was looking forward to seeing the Who but didn’t realise that Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros were supporting. I was so blown away by seeing my hero that I spent the whole ‘Who’ set in a happy daydream. I dont remember much about the Who that night. I bought this album off ‘Sweet Jimmy’ at school for £3.25 and 3 mars bars based on the strength of the title track alone. I wasn't disappointed. Best 3 mars bars I ever spent !
Top Tracks – London Calling, Rudy Cant fail, Death or Glory, Hateful, Clampdown.
3 - The Who / Who’s next (1971)
I used to sit next to ‘Mod Darren’ in Technical Drawing. He was probably one of the coolest kids in our year. He wore a Parker and carried it off well. He bought in a tape one day and presented it to me while we were constructing a parabola. It was ‘The story of The Who’ compilation and that’s when I really heard them properly for the first time. I was 14 years old. He then lent me his 'Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy’ LP which was a 1971 compilation. When I met ‘Poly Ian’ at Portsmouth Poly I really got into them as he was a massive Pete Townshend fan. So what Album to choose? Well for me it has to be Who’s Next. Not just because of the amazing Baba but the whole album is just amazing.
Top Tracks – Baba, Wont get fooled again, Behind blue eyes.
4 - The Scream / Siouxsie & the Banshees (1978)
I remember being taken to my parent’s friend's house. They had three sons who were quite a bit older than me. I was about 12 years old. We all went upstairs to listen to music while our parents chatted about boring grown up stuff. I remember seeing an NME cut out on the wall advertising a new album called 'The Scream' by Siouxsie and the Banshees. I hadn't heard of them but was fascinated by the picture of people swimming under water. I thought nothing more of that until I heard ‘Switch’ on John Peels Festive 50. It’s still my favorite Siouxsie track and an amazing debut LP. I just love it !
Top Tracks : Switch, Jigsaw Feeling, Overground.
5 - The Stranglers / Rattus Norvegicus (1977)
For a debut album this is just incredible. So different from all the other punk stuff with a very ‘unpunk’ like use of keyboards. I was never a massive Stranglers fan and to be honest I used to feel quite uncomfortable about many of their lyrics. That said, I followed their music and was amazed that 4 ordinary blokes from Guildford could get together and make such an amazing first album. They produced lots of great stuff after this but as a complete album it never topped this.
Top Tracks : Sometimes, London Lady, Princess of the Streets.
6 - The Doors / The Doors (1967)
One of the great things about ‘Cool Kate’ was that she loved music. I don’t mean in the normal way girls like music but really loved music. She introduced me to many notable bands including the likes of Yes and early Pink Floyd (particularly Meddle). I remember one Saturday she presented me with a C60. On the cover, hand written in Pencil was the words The Doors with a track listing. I remember she just said, ‘I think you’ll like it’. Well I certainly did. I played it and played it over and over again. I didn’t buy the actual vinyl until a many years later but it was one of my most played tapes. I now love all The Doors stuff but that first album is just amazing with every track a winner. I still have the tape.
Top Tracks : Break on Through, Soul Kitchen, Take it as it comes.
7 - Ruts DC / Animal Now (1981)
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I thought I could break the rules here and pretend that The Ruts and Ruts DC are different bands. This would mean I could also include the amazing album ‘The Crack’ in my list. I think they are too close for that so I’m going to stick with this album which I believe is the most underrated record of all time. To date it has never been released on CD but appeared on itunes a couple of years ago. It was the Album the band released after the tragic death of Malcolm Owen in 1980. I remember listening to it at ‘music Rods’ house over and over again. ‘Music Rod’ would borrow his brothers stereo tape player while he was out. We would then insert the tape into the deck and take turns putting our heads between the sparkers and listening to the opening guitar to ‘Mirror Smashed’ - It still sounds amazing.
Top tracks : Mirror Smashed, No Time to Kill, Slow Down.
8 - Pink Floyd / The Wall (1979)
The inaccessibility of Global Super Groups like Pink Floyd has always made me feel uneasy. Maybe it’s because it’s that stadium band, inaccessible, half hour song thing that punk was so against. I like to listen to all of their stuff though. 'Animals' is certainly one of my favourites which ‘Poly Ian’ first played me. I was obsessed with the Wall for a while and used to listen to it with ‘Cool Kate’. ‘Music Rod’ also raved over it and saw the Alan Parker film before I did. I was so jealous. Tracks like ‘Mother’ and the acoustic guitar on ‘Is there anybody out there’ are just 'hair on the back of the neck' tingling good.
Top Tracks – Just think of it as one long amazing track!
9 - Iron Maiden / Iron Maiden (1980)
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The first maiden I actually heard was The Number of The Beast. I had an argument with ‘Mad Steve’ at school. It was about which was best, Punk or Heavy Metal. To try and get the other interested we agreed to swap albums and listen to them. I gave him the first Jam LP ‘In the City’ and he have me a tape of ‘The Number of The Beast’. I really liked it as it was so different to all the punk stuff I was listening to at the time. Then while at ‘Cool Kate’s’ house her brother kept playing the first two albums which were even better. I love the Di’Anno stuff. Difficult to choose between the first two albums but the first has the edge I think. Amazing stuff.
Top Tracks : Remember Tomorrow, Running Free, Strange World.
10 - Altered Images / Happy Birthday (1981)
Now this is definitely a record within a context. I shouldn’t like this album, with it’s silly, twee vocals but I do. I actually don’t like the title track which, of course, was their biggest hit but the rest of the LP is amazing. For some reason I have this very strong memory of being at home, lying on the sofa alone in the house with it pouring down outside and listening to it while waiting for mum to come home from work. The record makes me feel sad for some strange reason but songs like ‘Faithless’ and ‘idols’ are just amazing. I thought the material released after this was not so great but the songs on Happy Birthday were just brilliantly written. I didn’t have too many TV crushes in my youth but I did fall in love with Clare Grogan when I saw Gregory’s Girl (in my top 5 favourite films). It was the B Movie to 'Chariots of Fire' which, in contrast, was very boring, especially when you had just fallen in love. Maybe it’s that which has ensured it’s inclusion here.
Top Tracks : Real Toys, Faithless, Beckoning Strings.
11 - Free / Fire and Water (1970)
Free were to me in my 30s what the Undertones were to me in my teens. I became a bit obsessed with them and all their related bands (Back Street Crawler, Bad Company, The Sharks etc). Paul Kossoff’s amazing guitar sound is incredible. This, along with Rodgers amazing vocal is hard to beat (Just like Teenage Kicks!) This is the album that includes the famous ‘Alright Now’ but for me my least favourite track. It's really bluesy with Paul Rodgers on form with his vocals (when was he ever not though). A few years ago I contacted Paul Kossoff’s dad, the famous actor David Kossoff. He agreed to come to the school where I was working and deliver a presentation to the Year 11’s. It was called ‘Late Great Paul.’ A powerful anti drugs message. I had lunch with him in the Head teacher’s office and he was a lovely man. Sadly no longer with us. I have seen Paul Rodgers a couple of times live, once with Simon Kirke and the other with Andy Fraser, and his voice is still spot on.
Top Tracks : Dont Say You Love Me, Mr Big, Oh I Wept.
12 - Stiff Little fingers / Inflammable Material (1979)
Wow – What an amazing gritty and powerful album. I was listening to the Festive 50 in bed. I had my headphones on under the covers. Number 6 in the festive 50 was Alternative Ulster and that unmistakable opening guitar riff echoed in my ears for the first time. I managed to hit the record button on my cassette payer not to miss too much of the beginning. The next day I played the track to death. Just loved it. ‘Nobody’s Heroes’ and ‘Go for it’ were excellent but this, for me was their pinnacle.
Top Tracks : Johnny Was, Barbed Wire Love, Alternative Ulster.
13 - Led Zeppelin II (1969)
I’m a big Zeppelin fan. To decide on an album here is tricky to say the least. I love the iconic first album. The acoustic side on Led Zep III is just amazing and Houses of the Holy contains some of my favourite songs. Led Zep IV is probably my most played but Led Zep II has a special place. When I was about 13 ‘cousin Ryan’ from Eastbourne came to stay. I didn’t see him very often after we moved from Eastbourne so this was a rare visit. After discussing our common love of music we discovered that we both liked very different bands. We went to the record shop in Romsey where we both made a purchase. I bought the Stranglers ‘No More Heroes’ single and he bought Led Zeppelin II (He had more money than me). When we got back to my house be both played our purchases and I loved his album. I had heard of Led Zeppelin but didn’t think they would sound like that. I’m not sure what I thought they would be like though but I was pleasantly blown away.
Top Tracks : Thank You, Ramble On, Bring it on Home.
14 - AC/DC / Highway to Hell (1979)
I remember flicking through those hinged poster racks in Woolworths. I stumbled across a very strange poster of this guitarist wearing a school uniform. I thought it was hilarious and couldn’t take it seriously. My local video library stocked a copy of the ‘Let There Be Rock’ AC/DC video. I made the connection to the poster in Woolworths so rented it out of curiosity. The video was really poor quality but I was transfixed by Angus. To me now, Angus Young is the Usain Bolt of the music world. Again lots of Albums to choose from but the last outing of Bon Scott has to be the best. Angus Young - I just cant get enough of him !
Top Tracks : Highway to Hell, Touch Too much, Shot Down in Flames.
15 - Blondie / Parallel Lines (1978)
Blondie’s third album but the one that got her noticed. I just love the production and the guitar sound on this record. I nearly didn't include this in my list but I used to listen to it too much for it to be omitted. One of the most beautiful woman to grace this planet and a great voice to boot. Nuff said.
Top Tracks: One Way or Another, Hanging on the telephone, I’m Gonna Love You Too.
16 - Sex Pistols / Never Mind The Bollocks (1977)
It seems that this album is mentioned in most people’s seminal music lists and mine is no exception. I’m not sure it’s quite as instrumental in ‘Changing the face of music’ as it’s always claimed but it certainly is an amazing album that did shake things up. To me it does sound tamer now but maybe because I’ve heard it so much. That’s not taking anything away from the record. It’s still an amazingly good and inspirational album. Jamie Reid's cover design is just so striking.
Top Tracks : New York, Holidays in The Sun, EMI.
17 - Ian Dury / New Boots & Panties (1977)
It was an Art lesson in the second year with Mrs Smith. She was showing us vinyl cutting. Not records but those soft floor tiles every pupil had to cut sometime in their school lives to make stamps. A sort of ART 'right of passage'. Me and ‘Big Rus’ were sitting at the back on the desk. I admired ‘Big Rus’. He was good at everything. The best runner in the school, the best footballer, wore the best clothes, had the most friends and was adored by all the girls. His voice broke before everyone else’s in the year group. On this particular day completely out of the blue, in his deep voice he just said, ‘Good evening, I’m from Essex, in case you couldn’t tell. My given name is Dickie, I come from Billericay, and I'm doing very well.’ After about the fourth rendition he explained that he had discovered this amazing album by Ian Dury & The Blockheads. Unfortunately his parents had overheard the swearing on 'Plaistow Patricia' and had made him take it back. That very next weekend I went to Carrefour Supermarket (now Asda) with my mum and bought the record. It was so different to anything else. The songs were brilliantly crafted and the lyrics were funny. I listen to the album regularly but mainly in the car for some reason. ‘Big Rus’ asked me if I would go the The Gaumont in Southampton to see them. I agreed and so Ian Dury was my first ever gig. I returned the gesture by buying him a ticket to see The Undertones a few months later. ‘Music Rod’ also came to that one – and that’s another great story.
Top Tracks : Sweet Gene Vincent, Clever Trevlor, Billericay Dickie.
18 - The Jam / All Mods Cons (1978)
The Jam were a constant for years. Another band who have stood the test of time. They just churned out hit after hit and I loved them. This, their third album, for me was their peek. It’s amazing to think it’s a studio album because it just sounds like a Greatest Hits.
Top Tracks : Down the tube station at midnight, Bomb in Wardour Street, All Mod Cons.
19 - Kate Bush / The kick inside (1978)
I had heard Wuthering Heights of course. Everyone had. So I’m back at Portsmouth Poly now. Myself, ‘Poly Ian’ and ‘Brooksie’ go down to the student union because this band are playing who are meant to be quite good. They’re called The Bangles. I’m gutted because it’s sold out and we cant get in. We sit at a table in the union bar. While ‘Poly Ian’ and ‘Brooksie’ chat I tune into a conversation that a group of girls are having on the table behind me. One girl is going on about how the 'Kick Inside' is the most beautiful album she’s ever heard and how every track is actually better than Wuthering Heights. I have some money left in my student grant so next day I’m off to Virgin to buy the album - Am I easily persuaded or what!. At college I have to buy cassette tapes as I have no turntable. I loved it on first hearing. It’s beautiful. The Saxophone song still give me goose bumps when the piano comes in over the whale noises. ‘Shadows on your saxophone, a surly lady in tremor.’ – amazing
Top Tracks : Moving, The Saxophone Song, James and the cold gun.
20 - Rush / A farewell to Kings (1977)
I love Rush. I can remember various Rush albums being handed round the playground like contraband. Every year, since school I have a Rush phase where I plough through their back catalogue. I made 2 or 3 trips to Wembley arena to see them in the 80s and they were incredible live. Choosing an album here is mentally hard. Again I was tempted to cheat and choose ‘Archives’ so I could effectively get 3 for 1. But it comes down to either 'Permanent Waves' or 'A Farewell to Kings'. After careful thought it has to be the latter as this was the main one that went round school. The copy belonged to ‘Tall Andy’ so a big thank you to him for spreading the word.
Top Tracks : Closer to the Heart, Xanadu, The title track.
So that's my top 20. I feel guilty that I haven't mentioned the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Joy Division, Neil Young, Marillion, Yes, Pearl Jam, Van Halen, The Damned, The Boomtown Rats, The Cult, Cry of Love, Feeder, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Foo Fighters and many many more bands and albums that I absolutely love but I just cannot squeeze more that 20 into 20.
So here it is. A list sent to me personally by the legendary John Peel.
The 1980 Festive 50
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