Tuesday 26 November 2019

Sing it Again, Ray


It's back. Swedey McSwedeface - the series I nicked shamelessly from my good friend The Swede - makes a welcome return. And who better to kick things off than Raymond Murray. Ray is my older (and, some would say, wiser) cousin who, among many other life skills, has been known to drink a pint of Guinness in less than two gulps whilst simultaneously whistling Danny Boy. Added to which, his chart knowledge covering the period 1971 to 1975 is simply unparalleled. Quite apt then that the first album Ray bought with his own corn was released slap bang in the middle of the above mentioned 'golden era'. In your own words, Ray...


The title immediately reveals my first album purchase as a compilation. That was a tactic of mine in the cash strapped, limited pocket money era of the 1970s. Splashing out the best part of two quid needed a guaranteed return. In 1973 none of us could have imagined just how often and for how long Rod would indeed sing it again.
Mandolin Wind, Reason to Believe, and Handbags and Gladrags contribute to a magnificent Side 1, with Bernie Taupin's Country Comfort a worthwhile addition. But my generation just can't get away from Maggie May as quintessential Rod - superb lyrically and an early challenger for Song of the 70s.
Side 2 was almost obliged to be less spectacular, and so it proved. All things considered though I reckon it was £1.99 well spent.

Rod Stewart (with Ronnie Wood) - Mandolin Wind

8 comments:

  1. Sing It Again Rod was the first Rod Stewart album I didn't buy* - mostly because I had all the tracks on it already. One of them is a cover of the Stones' "Street Fighting Man" which features an acoustic intro - and there's a great piano outro by Ian McLagan which is actually a cover of the intro to The Stones "We Love You", if that makes sense...listen to both and see what I mean.

    *although strictly speaking, I didn't buy his 4th solo album "Never A Dull Moment" as I got a copy of that one to review (Happy days).

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    1. Rod (and the Faces) could do no wrong in the first half of the 70s; the wheels began to fall off around the time spandex found a place in his wardrobe. As you say, there's so many acoustic noodlings, stride piano riffs and general musical mischief going on - every album was full of 18 carat gems.

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  2. I didn't have this album back in the day, but I with I had. I started a new series last year over at my place called Rod Stewart Decade By Decade as he is still making new music today but it became apparent all the best stuff was from this period so the series ended more quickly than I intended.

    As for your cousin's claim that "his chart knowledge covering the period 1971 to 1975 is simply unparalleled" - I reckon I could give him a run for his money. All those notebooks recording the chart show on a Sunday evening!

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    1. A - As I said to Furry Boots, Rod's purple patch was, without shadow, the front half of the 70s; which, interestingly, coincided with Edward Heath's tenure in No. 10. Read into that what you will.

      Charts? I must introduce you to Ray: he too has notebooks. I've seen them! I think we all listened to Tom Browne on a Sunday evening didn't we? Just before Sing Something Simple!

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    2. Ah Sing Something Simple, you are dead right - You always ended up catching the start of it, just as you were "finalising the administration" of the Chart Notebooks and/or checking that the C60 you had used to tape the charts had worked ok. Happy days.

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  3. Good to see this series return.

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    1. Always looking for new recruits, Rol. One hundred words and a silly selfie is all it takes...

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    2. Sadly don't own any vinyl anymore.

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