BS UK albums

Subject: BS UK albums
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 01 - 03:56 PM

This week's top 20 UK albums
Eva Cassidy, Songbird at 1
Eric Clapton, Reptile at 12
Pogues, The Very Best of just entered at 18
What's going on out there?

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 03:18 AM

People getting more fussy about their music??? Aquiring a bit of sense??? Sick of talentless manufactured pop stars??? Pick any reason - I'm sure it fits! Not sure why the Pogues were included in the above list though..;-)

I noticed that Eva Cassiday made her posthumous debut on Top of the Pops the other day as well. Is this a first?

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: Lanfranc
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 05:33 AM

Quality does sneak in to the charts from time to time. I, too, have my reservations about the Pogues, but if they only led people to listen to Kirsty MacColl and the Dubliners who wouldn't otherwise have done so, they fulfilled a function.

McGowan's teeth, tho' ............. Definitely pays to listen rather than see!

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 08:36 AM

Having listened to a few Eva Cassidy tracks, and hated all of them, I am surprised at the amount of media coverage being given to an "unknown dead singer". It also seems strange that within a couple of weeks of thew Rainbow single being released, that it is being advertised on so-called compilation CDs. I cannot but harbour a suspicion that someone out there has seen her material as an easy marketing goldmine. The fact that a performer is not around seems to make otherwise sensible people suddenly become totally non-critical of any flaws in their work. The marketing machines can make any claims they want, and not be contradicted by the performer. Because they are no longer with us, everybody thinks it is bad manners or poor taste to publically question whether they would have been given the time of day by the radio stations if they were still alive.
Some people seem to like the single, but I sincerely doubt it would ever have been played, never mind hyped-up to the level it has reached if the performer was still alive.

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 08:41 AM

Well check it out...in the US Modern Rock tracks, the No.2 sonf (soon to be No.1) is "Outside" by Aaron Lewis, the lead singer of hard band Staind. "Outside" is a live recording of Aaron sitting on the steps of the stage, singing and accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. Of course Fred Durst, lead singer of Limp Bizkit sits behind him, adding harmony to the chorus. What does that say about modern music? A totally live acoustic performance with just 2 voices and a guitar as the no.1 rock song in the country? YE-YES I say.

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: Margaret V
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 08:45 AM

While we're talking about charts... I have a 16-year old neice who will be visiting London in a few weeks with her school. Besides the three chart-toppers listed above, are there one or two albums that are really popular there right now that I could find here in the U.S. to give her as a birthday present ahead of her trip? Remember, she's a fairly normal 16-year old, and will no doubt be content with standard pop/rock stuff... thanks. Margaret

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 08:49 AM

Hmmm...you might want to try All That You Can't Leave Behind by U2. It's a great album, filled with great songs about love and romance.

And I would HIGHLY recommed The Man Who by Travis. It's beautiful music...what more can I say? Lots of acousticness, quietude, beautiful, aching....totally reflecting winter in Scotland, (when and where the album was written and recorded).

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: GUEST,Margaret V at work
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 11:15 AM

Thanks, Matt, those are good suggestions (and maybe she'll let me borrow them too!). Margaret

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: GUEST,Sam Pirt
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 11:38 AM

Geoff the Duck, I am afraid to disagree. Eva cassidy is only known the way she is because 'Over the rainbow' was played on Radio 2 on Terry Wogan and the rest you could is history. Contry to the belife that she is easy pickings, she is not as her family are all involved in the music and as a result her promotion, or lack off it. When she was alive she could not get signed because she sung in so many genre's jazz, blues, gospel and yes folk. I set you the tasjk of finding me a singer that can sing so many types of music with a talent for all!! She is finally an example of the masses apreciating fine singing and great guitar playing. Why did people start to buy her records purly after hearing her on Radio 2 probably because they were moved. So why is she now at number 3 in the charts, well, so many people have now heard from other people, radio 2 or Top of the pops 2 and steadly kept buying her records. I think what people are saying by buying her music is they are fed up of all of these commecial bands like hearsay and want real music, surly that is a big enough reason to buy her stuff anyway, I have to say I now have 3 Cd's of her's and I ONLY buy CD if I think I may enjoy it, want to get something from it or am genuinly moved by their abilitys, it is for all reasons I have bought her CD's. Listen again, is she telling the story to you? YES can she hit every note with all of the confidence in the world? YES has she had much publisity? YES I do realise that everyone is entitled to their opinion and I do respect that, but I also reconise an rare talent of a singer, better than any I can currently think of who can sing the range of songs she can with meaning and a depth of understanding that is just so rare. If anyone knows anyone else please say..

Cheers, Sam

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 01:45 PM

I agree with you, sam; i don't watch much TV, and don't buy Hyped albums; I bought mine because I'd heard several "folkies" raving about Eva, listened to a couple of tracks in the shop and decided I loved it.

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: Matt_R
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 02:59 PM

Just picked up Gomez's Bring It On EP for $4 today. Awesome stuff here! This one "Chicken Bones" sounds like a mariachi dixieland jazz band!

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: Lanfranc
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 05:59 PM

Unkind, Geoff, but chacun a son gout.

As has already been said, Eva Cassidy didn't fit into any of the conventional "categories", and so was not considered worthwhile in her lifetime by the media moguls.

Nice to see them proved wrong again, sad she didn't survive to enjoy the benefits.

If you can live on in your recorded music, it is an immortality most musicians would choose.

The lesson is simple, produce a record of simplicity and charm and send it to Terry Wogan's producer, Paul Walters c/o BBC London. If he likes it, Wogan will play it, as he does many other folk and country/folk-oriented artists.

As far as I know, being dead is not a required qualification. Ironic that it's often a good career move, though!

Subject: RE: BS UK albums
From: FOG(Friend of Gnome)
Date: 26 Mar 01 - 06:57 PM

Hey Geoff there was I thinking I was a real cynic and you come along and reduce me to tears while Eva was on the radio. Seriously though -why do you hate her songs? She has a voice to die for and phrasing only matched by some of the great female jazz/blues singers. Try having a bottle of good malt and put Songbird on. If you dont feel anything then I hold my hands up, but check your pulse -youre probably already dead