Peter Viney's Blog

I gaze at the fifty best albums of the year chosen by UNCUT or the seventy-five chosen by MOJO, then there’s RECORD COLLECTOR and I’ve got maybe two of them. UNCUT in November had eight pages of new record reviews, another six of archive releases. MOJO had twelve pages of new releases in its January 2023 (aka December2022) issue, plus ten pages devoted to reissues. The output is beyond any individual, so this is MY choice and its quirky and based on my interests.

I’ll start with live music and the amount I’ve seen is tiny compared to a few years ago. We were put off in late 2021 when we went to see John Lydon speak at the Tivoli, Wimborne. We wre the only masked people. None of the staff were masked. It was a cacophony of coughing. There was no live music though John “Johnny Rotten” Lydon led us in a karaoke audience participation rendition of Anarchy in the UK which we thoroughly enjoyed. The incongruity reminded me of mid-article on Jefferson Airplane being in my car singing along to Volunteers, “Up against the wall, motherf*ckers! Tear down the walls.” Was this appropriate in my 70s, I thought.

BEST LIVE MUSIC

These are rated in order. The Unthanks were the best by a mile.

Links are to the reviews done at the time.

The Unthanks,
April 2022 Poole Lighthouse

I’ve never seen a less than brilliant show. This was at the very best end because they had the accompanying musicians. The sound in the hall was perfect. It was in the theatre, not the concert hall, as was the Joni Mitchell Tribute which also had perfect sound.It might be that the theatre sounds better than the concert hall, full stop!

Emma Swift
June 2022, The Swiss Cottage, Twyford
With Robyn Hitchcock

A small audience for an invitation gig. This was so incredibly good. She has the material- all Bob Dylan. She has Robyn Hitchcock accompanying. It’s intimate, acoustic and as so often, a woman makes the better job of covering Dylan. The same is true of Leonard Cohen covers. Perhaps men are up for direct comparison, while shifting to a female voice helps.

Joni Mitchell’s Hejira & Mingus: Nu Civilisation Orchestra
November 2022, Poole Lighthouse

Also in the theatre. Sublime playing. Perfect sound. The bess bass guitarist I’ve seen in many years too. Then you getthe great Joni Mitchell songs.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra: Triumphal Elgar
October 2022, Poole Lighthouse

I don’t see enough classical, though I listen to quite a lot. To be remedied next year. I was here for the Respighi.

Al Stewart
November 2022, Bournemouth Pavilion

Back in his home town, playing where he used to back Tony Blackburn in the early 60s. The relaxed and interesting chat between songs should be an object lessons to the surly buggers like Van Morrison and Bob Dylan. It sent me back through his albums, revealing that they are so many great songs in his catalogue that I’d forgotten … and Year of The Cat may be his best-selling album, but others are even better.

The Bootleg Beatles
Bournemouth Pavilion

Not quite as good as last time at the BIC. It may be the focus on Get Back era, but also they had messy sound balance on some songs in the middle. However, I wouldn’t miss them. It’s a theatrical as well as a musical experience. This is way more than a Tribute Band because they play stuff The Beatles could not technically have performed live.

The Dave Kelly Band
Tivoli, Wimborne

Not reviewed because my old friend Rob Millis was playing bass guitar (replacing Homer K-T on the poster at the last minute) and I don’t review friends. Great show though. Unexpected Americana covers like Up On Cripple Creek, City of New Orleans.

The Delines
July 2022, St Mary’s Church, Twyford

Anything at Twyford is worth seeing. This was in the church and the band didn’t allow for un-raked seating so eye lines were difficult at the back. I really got into The Delines in preparation too. Do investigate their catalogue.

WORST LIVE SHOW

Bob Dylan, Rough & Rowdy Ways Tour,
November 2022, Bournemouth International Centre
Excellent band. Poor sound on his voice which is a disaster when the latest is all about lyrics. Back catalogue totally unrecognisable. My dad was wrong in 1963- he could sing then. My dad would be right in 2022 though- he can’t sing. My review was far too kind. Al Stewart, who I first saw singing Dylan songs, was vastly better.

BEST SUPPORT ACT

The Empty Pockets, Al Stewart, Bournemouth. They also backed him. I bought three CDs. That’s how good they were. Their version of The Beatles Oh, Darling was outstanding.

BEST ALBUMS – NEW

Carry Me Home- Mavis Staples & Levon Helm

Sample Track: The Weight

Sample video: This May Be The Last Time

Sorrows Away – The Unthanks

Sample track / video: The Bay of Fundy

Refugees – Jimmy Cliff

Sample Track: Refugees (with Wyclef Jean)

Blonde on The Tracks – Emma Swift

Also an award for the best LP title since Status Quo’s In Search of The Fourth Chord.

Sample track: Queen Jane Approximately

Thiswas on the live show, but sadly NOT on the album: Visions of Johanna

All The Bright Coins – Simone Felice

Sample track: No Tomorrows

Get On Board – Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder

Sample track: Hooray Hooray

Only The Strong Survive – Bruce Springsteen

Sample Track: Nightshift

Black Acid Soul – Lady Blackbird

Sample Live Video: Feel It Comin’
Sample track: Ruler of My Heart

Entering Heaven Alive – Jack White

Sample track: If I Die Tomorrow

The Sea Drift- The Delines

Sample track: Little Earl

TRIBUTE ALBUM OF THE YEAR

A Tribute to Leonard Cohen – Here It Is / Various Artists

Sample track? You Want it Darker by Iggy Pop.

BEST REISSUES & ARCHIVE MATERIAL

Revolver- The Beatles

SEE ARTICLE “The Best Beatles Album?” on Around and Around

In My Own Time – Karen Dalton

B Sides and Rarities Vol. 2 – Rumer

Sail on Sailor- The Beach Boys

Nancy & Lee – Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood

Link to probably the longest article on this site: NANCY SINATRA
I had an original LP, and a CD, but could not resist pristine new vinyl.

Frabjous Days – Frajboy & Runcible Spoon

Too-Rye-Aye: As It Should Have Sounded: Dexy’s Midnight Runners

Muswell Hillbillies / Everybody’s in Showbiz – The Kinks

Toy- David Bowie

LIVE FROM THE VAULTS

Perfectly Imperfect At The Ryman – Margo Price

Sample Track: Honey We Can’t Afford To Look This Cheap (with Jack White)

Live At The Fillmore 1997 – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Sample track: Louie Louie

Ramble in Musuc City – Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers

Sample track: Boulder to Birmingham

BEST TRACKS

Links to YouTube. These would change on a daily basis.

Rain (2022 stereo mix) – The Beatles

SEE ARTICLE “The Best Beatles Album?” on Around and Around

Do I Love You (Indeed I Do) – Bruce Springsteen

SEE ARTICLE on AROUND AND AROUND

This Is My Country – Mavis Staples & Levon Helm

Bridges – Jimmy Cliff

OK, it might be Many Rivers to Cross 2022, but all the better for it.

Sorrows Away– The Unthanks

Shaky live audience video- not an official one

What A Beautiful City– Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder

I Contain Multitudes – Emma Swift

I Wanna Roo You– Rumer

Big Dreams and Faded Jeans– Dolly Parton

Stage Name– Van Morrison

Year Around The Sun – Simone Felice

BEST SECONDHAND / PRE-LOVED VINYL

I spend more time, effort and money on second-hand buys. Thanks to my favourite record shops Boiler Room (Poole), Big Brother (Parkstone), Rocket Records (Moordown, Bournemouth), SJ Records (Stratford-on-Avon), Helter-Skelter (Chichester), Pandemonium (Tuckton, Bournemouth), Castle (Christchurch).

The best buy of all was on my first visit to Vinyl Van (Dorchester). This is an album I’ve been searching for over fifty years, since I saw it performed live in Norwich in 1969. OK, I’ve had the CD for years. I walked in, the shop guy asked if there was anything I was particularly looking for. I said, ‘You won’t have it. Volunteered Slavery by Roland Kirk.’ He went straight to it. It’s a US copy with a tiny ‘cut-out’ notch on the sleeve. It sounds new, possibly unplayed. There are no signs of spindle marks on the centre hole. It’s an original 1969 Atlantic pressing too. Forty quid. Worth every penny.

Title track: Volunteered Slavery

BEST BOOK ON MUSIC

It has to be Bob Dylan’s The Philosophy of Modern Song, full of pithy comments on well-known and lesser known songs. Dylan is canny though. It’s like Lionel Messi writing a book on football, and devoting a chapter to Bourmemouth & Boscombe Athletic’s 1957 FA Cup Run. Dylan goes nowhere near his contemporary songwriting peers. No comments on Lennon & McCartney, Jagger & Richards, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Ray Davies, Pete Townsend, Brian Wilson, David Bowie, Carole King, James Taylor, Robbie Robertson, Randy Newman.

Jarvis Cocker’s Good Pop Bad Pop is a thoroughly entertaining read, and like the Dylan makes use of current printing technology in having copious colour illustration throughout. It’s not particularly focussed on music, which may be a virtue.