Re: Floydy's All-Time Top 1000 Favourite Albums

No.167: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon And Garfunkel (1970)
The final studio album from the legendary duo. They did return for occasional one-off performances but their bickering was always in attendance and so unfortunately we never saw any new music. This album was a tremendous high to go out on though. And it does include THAT single which is as stately as a hymn.

Re: Floydy's All-Time Top 1000 Favourite Albums

No.166: “Empty Rooms” by John Mayall (1970)
A very understate album indeed from John Mayall. Minus his Bluesbreakers, the daddy of the British blues showed he was equally in fine form with a singer-songwriter album. His best work IMO. Here’s the full album:

Re: Floydy's All-Time Top 1000 Favourite Albums

No.165: “Hanx (live)” by Stiff Little Fingers (1980)
My favourite SLF album is this live outing for the band. It has such fire and intensity within it’s grooves, you almost feel as though were in the audience.

Re: Floydy's All-Time Top 1000 Favourite Albums

No.164: “Original Sin” by Pandora’s Box (1989)
Mentioned briefly a few days ago whilst talking about Steinman’s Bad For Good album, Pandora’s Box was a record produced, directed (!) and wholly written by Steinman and featured a massive orchestra, band and four beautiful female vocalists in its line-up. It's an incredibly over the top production and in parts rather too much so with massive orchestra and choir and even the 20th Century Fox theme at one point. But it is marvellous!
Entirely a studio project, Steinman had great aspirations for this disc and thought it would rival Bat Out Of Hell as his most successful work. In the event it virtually sank without trace, which is a shame because I think it’s a masterpiece. Jim did make up quite a lot of royalty receipts as many of these songs were handed to some famous recording artists to record over the subsequent years, including Celine Dion and even Meat Loaf himself. Definitely Steinman’s Phil Spector moment!
Below are two songs from the record, plus part one of an interview in the following post.

Re: Floydy's All-Time Top 1000 Favourite Albums

Jim Steinman extra interview:

Re: Floydy's All-Time Top 1000 Favourite Albums

No.163: “Into The Music” by Van Morrison (1979)
Propelled along by the first single ‘Bright Side Of The Road’, this pleasantly uptempo record was Van at his most ebullient, a rare thing indeed for this legendary grump.

Re: Floydy's All-Time Top 1000 Favourite Albums

No.162: “Dead Ringer” by Meat Loaf (1981)
A full four years after Bat Out Of Hell, and following legal wrangles with both his record company and partner-in-crime songwriter Jim Steinman, not to mention losing his voice so he couldn’t record anything, Meat Loaf was due to record the album Bad For Good which became Steinman’s solo album instead.
Disgruntled, he took Steinman’s songs and brought in rock producer Bob Clearmountain to produce the record instead. It was a gamble paid off handsomely as the record was by no means a limp affair, it was very good indeed. The title song duet with Cher was probably a career lifesaver though.

Re: Floydy's All-Time Top 1000 Favourite Albums

No.161: “Trial By Fire” by Journey (1996)
The return of this classic American band of hard rockers after ten years arrived with this wonderful collection of songs which has all the old Journey trademarks in place. Hard, driving rocks, tender and emotional ballads and Steve Perry’s soaring vocals. A brilliant record.

Re: Floydy's All-Time Top 1000 Favourite Albums

No.160: “Can’t Buy A Thrill” by Steely Dan (1972)
Debut from the jazz-rock fusion band, and to me, their best work – but what do I know, I’m no expert on the band. Solid grooves, mellow music, what more do you want from a great American band? And I do agree, some of their other albums should have been higher in the list, but again it's each to...etc.





That little lot should keep you going for a couple of days.
Have a great weekend

Re: Floydy's All-Time Top 1000 Favourite Albums

This album is a timeless classic, as are their voices. I still think S&G had the best harmonies of any singers or bands.