Jul 14: 1986

Forty years ago, what new music was emerging...

I previously (back in May) shared details of the Peter Gabriel album 'So'. This was a real highlight of 1986 and I still listen to this regularly today.

This was a year when I started training to be a teacher having spent the first part of the year completing a computer science course back in Rotherham. I'd graduated but wasn't sure what to do, and luckily graduated at a time when that was less of an issue than it is for young people

Here's Gabriel's own reminiscences of the album.

And the first track on the album is epic.

The hi-hat really makes this one come to life... from Stewart Copeland of the Police.

Sledgehammer was the real break out hit with its video made by Aardman animation studios.

The dancing chickens were animated by Nick Park, who later won several Oscars. 

I went to the premiere of the latest Chicken Run movie at the London Film Festival a couple of years ago and he walked past me.

The album that I remember most of all from this year though was Bruce Hornsby and the Range's album 'The Way it Is'.

The title track was all over MTV and used as music for several TV programmes. There are some classic tracks on this album, which doesn't really have a duff song on it...

Pierre Moerlen's Gong made a 'Breakthrough'... I had this on vinyl... great percussion as always from Pierre Moerlen...

Steve Winwood has a distinctive voice, and this year he was 'Back in the High Life' again....

What were you listening to back in 1986?

May 19: The anniversary of 'So'

  It's the anniversary of the release of this - I believe the phrase is 'absolute banger'....

I saw the tour that accompanied this album when it was first released - I saw a couple of the concerts, with the swooping lights and amazing musicians that Peter took on the road with this album. A powerful experience, ending with arm raised for 'Biko'.

Twenty five years later, I was in Glasgow at the Hydro to see the return of the album played in full with the same musicians. I wonder whether the music of today will have the same longevity with students of today. Will they have the same lengthy connections with music as we had, with reduced access and different formats to access it.

Second image copyright: Alan Parkinson, shared under CC license

What's your favourite track from the album? Let me know in the comments.

Here's one of mine:

May 19: So

Another post for today about 'So' as I seem to have written two without realising.

Today, in 1986, Peter Gabriel released his fifth album, and the first with a title.

It was also the start of his new phase of music.

I was privileged to see his live tour in support of this album in 1987, complete with its amazing staging, and the moment when he fell backwards into the audience and they supported him and carried him around as he sang. I also attended the concerts that were held 25 years later... heading up to the Hydro in Scotland to see that one.

And the final song remains a live performance closer... before the encore of Biko.

And here's a DNA video created in 2013:

Feb 5: Weather: Songs for a rainy day

The weather features in a number of songs. 

I'll do a few posts looking at different weather conditions as they appear in lyrics or song titles. Brendan Conway also has some forthcoming posts on a similar theme.

Here are a few on the theme of rain...

One of my favourites is 'Mandolin Rain' by Bruce Hornsby.

This version is from an album he made with Ricky Skaggs on a "bluegrass" album. The lyrics refer to a "bluegrass band".

Red Rain is the opening track on Peter Gabriel's 'So' which resulted in a massive change in public awareness of his work following four self titled albums and some soundtrack work. It's one of my favourite tracks of his with wonderful drumming from Manu Katché

.

And of course The Rain Song, from Led Zeppelin's album 'Houses of the Holy' (whose cover has been featured previously as the work of Hipgnosis.

What other rain or weather songs would you suggest?

Let me know in the comments?