Alan
Released 2017 Top 5 'new' albums
1. ‘Transparent Days: West Coast Nuggets' - Various Artists (1960's US psychedelia)
2. ‘OK Computer-OKNOTOK' - Radiohead (sort of re-issue)
3. ‘From the trees' - Peter Hammill
4. ‘Unripened'- Velvet Underground (Pre-major label signing, original recordings)
5. ‘Live On-Air 1964-1965’ The Kinks (live BBC sessions, limited brown vinyl, numbered edition)
Released 2017 Top 5 Re-issue albums
1. Rufus Thomas-'Walking the dog'
2. Otis Redding- '....sings soul ballads'
3. Mary Wells- 'Sings My Guy'
4. Crystals- 'Twisting Uptown'
5. Various Artists- 'Shapes and Sounds' (various 1960's UK psychedelic groups, BBC sessions)
Top 5 Re-issue singles/EP's purchased 2017
1. Miller- 'Baby, I've got news for you'*
2. Game- 'It's shocking what they call us'*
3. Dave Anthony's Moods- 'The New Direction' EP
4. Spiders- 'Why don't you love me' EP (early pre- Alice Cooper tracks)
5. Clique- ‘64 Rave Up’ EP
(*’Semi’-legal re-issues)
Top 5 Boot-sale/Market Albums
1. Various Artists- 'Midnight Soul' (various 1960's Atlantic Records artists)
2. Helen Shapiro- '.....in Nashville'
3. Cat Stevens- 'Matthew and Son'
4. Booker T/MG's- 'Soul Limbo'
5. Various Artists- ‘This is Sue’
Top 5 Boot-sale/Market Singles
1. Sir Douglas Quintet- 'She's about a mover'
2. Syndicate of Sound- 'Little Girl'
3. Inez Foxx- 'He's the one you love' (with uncredited Charlie!!)
4. John Hammond- 'Baby, won't you tell me'
5. Goldie and the Gingerbreads- ‘Sailor Boy’
Watson household ‘most listened to’ during 2017
Albums:
1. Beatles
2. P J Harvey
3. Peter Hamill/VDGG
4. Tim Buckley
5. Small Faces
Singles:
1. Who
2. Small Faces
3. Big Boy Pete/Miller
4. Beatles
5. Rolling Stones
Jean
1. Human by Rag ‘n’ Bone Man
2. Carry Fire by Robert Plant
3. Long Live the Angels by Emeli Sande (Released in 2016 but I bought it in 2017)
4. Listen without Prejudice by George Michael (Re-released in 2017 after his death)
5. Tour de Force Live in London by Joe Bonamassa
( Released in 2014 but I listen to it all the time and even watch the concert on Sky Arts every time it’s shown)
John
Top 5 Albums Bought at a Car boot or Charity Shop in 2017
Purchases, all on vinyl, from Car Boot Sales (CB) and Charity Shops (CS).
1 Spirogyra - St. Radiguns (CB)
2 Caravan - For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night (CS)
3 Jimmy Smith - Best Of (CB)
4 Wishbone Ash - 1st Album (CB)
5 Lenny Bruce - Unexpurgated (CS)
John & Sal's Combined Top 5 New Albums List of 2017
Hitchhicker by Neil Young (LP)
Drunken Songs by Julian Cope (LP)
On Air by The Rolling Stones (LP)
Afterglow by Jon Boden (CD)
Wide Open by Weaves (CD)
Philip
I've bought more albums than usual this year, so coming up with a top 5 was quite difficult as I would recommend most of those that I acquired.
Let’s start with an album of the month for each month of the year.
Jan. - 50 by Michael Chapman
Feb. - The Navigator by Hurray for the Riff Raff
Mar. – Wrangled by Angaleena Presley
Apr. – Songs from a Room Vol. 1 by Chris Stapleton
May – The Nashville Sound by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Jun. – American Epic: The Sessions by Various Artists
Jul. – Hurry Home by the Deslondes
Aug. – Poor David's Almanack by David Rawlings
Sep. – Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Oct. – Undivided Heart & Soul by J.D. McPherson
Nov. – A Long Way from Your Heart by Turnpike Troubadours
Dec. – Songs from A Room Vol. 2 by Chris Stapleton
Top 5 Albums of 2017 (I reserve my right to change my mind tomorrow)
1. The Nashville Sound by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
2. The Navigator by Hurray for the Riff Raff
3. Poor David’s Almanack by David Rawlings
4. Hurry Home by The Deslondes
5. Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
Here’s another half-dozen terrific records that might be considered on another day in a different mood.
Way Out West by Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
So You Wannabe An Outlaw by Steve Earle and The Dukes
Southern Blood by Gregg Allman
This Sweet Old World by Lucinda Williams
All American Made by Margo Price
Ready The Horses by Jarrod Dickenson
The Allman album is a moving valedictory statement, while Lucinda's is largely a re-recording and
re-arrangement of her 1992 album "Sweet Old World". Notice the subtle retitlng.
(Philip also submitted 4 more Top 5s which. although not relating to 2017, I’ll list here for your interest…Tim)
Top 5 Live Albums
1. The Allman Brothers Land Live at Fillmore East (1971)
2. It’s Too Late to Stop Now by Van Morrison (1974)
3. B.B.King Live at the Regal (1965)
4. Bob Marley & the Wailers Live at the Lyceum (1975)
5. Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison (1968)
Top 5 Dead Albums
1. American Beauty by The Grateful Dead (1970)
2. Workingman’s Dead by The Grateful Dead (1970)
3. Live Dead by The Grateful Dead (1969) (Didn’t quite make the above list)
4. Dead Rekoning * by Kieran Kane (1995)
5. Dead Letter Office by R.E.M. (1987) (Outtakes, covers etc.)
*That’s how it’s spelt.
I considered the Dead Boys, The Dead Kennedys and The Dead Weather but decided to restrict myself to
records that are listenable.
Top 5 Rock-Related Soundtracks
1.American Graffiti by Various Artists (1973)
2. The Harder They Come by Jimmy Cliff, et al (1972)
3. A Hard Day’s Night by The Beatles (1964)
4. Saturday Night Fever by The Bee Gees, et al (1977)
5. The Last Waltz by The Band, et al (1978)
Top 5 Greatest Hits Albums
1. Big Wheels of Motown by Various Artists (1978)
2. Creedence Chronicle by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1976)
3. Legend by Bob Marley & The Wailers (1984)
4. Motorvatin’ by Chuck Berry (1977)
5. Elvis’ Golden Records by Elvis Presley (1958 – 1st of a series)
Piers.
(This is what I love about Piers; Top 5s end up as Top 10s……and a Top 10 has 11 entries!! Brilliant……..Tim)
My Top 10 new
1. Folk Hotel by Tom Russell
2. Wandering Heart by Brooke Sharkey
3. Sky Trails by David Crosby
4. Bidin' My Time by Chris Hillman
5. Poor David's Almanack by David Rawlings
6. Cardiology by Alissa Klein
7. Wildflower Blues by Jolie Holland
8. Acoustic Classics II by Richard Thompson
9. Street Rituals by Stone Foundation
10. Bury Me Naked by Roving Crows
My Top 10 catch ups
1. Down by the River by Jerimiah Marques (2016)
2. Choose Your Weapon by Hiatus Kaiyote (2015)
3. One Dress by Brooke Sharkey
4. Family Dinner by Snarky Puppy (2013)
5. The Carpenter by The Avett Brothers (2012)
6. Long Story Short by Clive Gregson (2004)
7. The Motorcycle Diaries OMPS by Gustavo Santaolalla (2004)
8. Shalom Dub by King Tubby & The Aggrovators (1975)
9. Nobody knows by Willis Earl Beal (2013)
10. Gideon Boot by Richie Spice (2008)
11. Tales of Love, War & Death By Hanging Ray Cooper (2010)
Sal
Top 5 Car Boot Sale finds for 2017
All are on CD, and, the most expensive one cost me 50p!
1 Magazine - Real Life (50p)
2 Gladiator Soundtrack (20p)
3 Joy Division - The Best Of, 2CD (33p; 3 for £1)
4 Elbow - The Take Off And Landing Of Everything (20p)
5 Nirvana - Unplugged In New York (33p; 3 for £1)
Tim
Top 5 Albums of newly released music, 2017
1. Other People by The Rails
2. Into The Woods by Hawkwind
3. So You Wanna Be An Outlaw by Steve Earle
4. Carry Fire by Robert Plant
5. Heavy Fire by Black Star Riders
Top 5 Re-issue Albums of 2017
1. Songs From The Wood by Jethro Tull - 40th Anniversary “Country Set” Edition, 3 CDs & 2 DVDs…my
favourite Tull LP given the Steven Wilson remix treatment with extra live concert. Oh joy!
2. Rodrigo and Gabriella by Rodrigo and Gabriella - 10th anniversary vinyl edition with extra live concert
disc.
3. New Jerusalem by Tim Blake - remastered cd
4. Crystal Machine by Tim Blake - remastered cd
5. King of the Delta Blues Singers by Robert Johnson - very nice 180g vinyl picture disc.
Top 5 Second hand albums bought during 2017
1. Live Gong by Gong – finally, after 35 years of searching for a vinyl copy with a die cut sleeve with
no rips, find one at VIP music fair……..YESSSSSSS!!
2. Going Back Home by Dr Feelgood – Cd and DVD of their triumphant 1975 Southend Kursaal gig.
Simply brilliant. £2 at the Elsing Village Hall Craft Market!
3. The Business Trip by Hawkwind – at last, the illusive limited-edition vinyl copy.
4. Be Seeing You by Dr Feelgood – the post Wilco LP………..still good though.
5. Piano Rags by Scott Joplin Vols.1-3 played by Joshua Rifkin - 3 vinyl LPs found in a
charity shop………taking these as 1 choice………so there.
Top 5 Cassette Tapes found in a drawer one day during December 2017.
1. Steve Earle live bootleg, Norwich Waterfront 10/8/91
2. Jimi Hendrix: Stone Free, Radio 1 documentary 1991
3. Once Around The Graveyard…(Then Back To Bed) by Silas Ibey
- Norfolk prog band from 1985.
4. The Number Two Band, Live at the Festival House, Norwich 1984
- The sweaty, smokey, jumping atmosphere of this great ex-music venue is positively tangible.
5. Laying Down The Law by Folklaw, 1997.
- Not bad for a days recording in a small garden shed.