THE JOURNEY CONTINUES PT.2....

Time to listen to music (old or new) has been scarce lately, as has the time on my own to do so - listening to music has rarely been a communal thing for me - so although i've made a few more additions to the collection i've rarely had the chance to play them. There have been a few purchases from the iTunes store, downloaded directly onto my new iPod Touch, which i've been listening to at work - a few old Rock 'n' Roll compilations and a Billy Fury 2 for 1 featuring his first two albums, which i bought after seeing a Billy Fury documentary on the iPlayer. I've always had the ability to enjoy music that was made long before i was born, and the music of American diner jukeboxes has always stirred a curious nostalgia in me, a fascination for a time that i've never known. Early R'n'R, doo wop, r'n'b, all from a time that seemed more simple. I've also downloaded a huge New Romantic compilation packed full of Synthpop, Electronica, and Pop from the creative explosion of the late 70's/early 80's, from the usual suspects (Vienna, Don't You Want Me, Chant No.1) to the slightly more obscure (Telex' "Moskow Diskow", The Normals' "Warm Leatherette"). It makes the time pass more quickly at work when you have a good soundtrack! Another iPod discovery has been Van Morrison, someone whose music i have read more about than actually heard. A few songs have slipped into my subconscious over the years, through radio, adverts, and film soundtracks - "Into The Mystic", "Domino", "Moondance", and of course the radio favourites of "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Here Comes The Night". With a few quid to spend on an iTunes voucher, i decided to pick a compilation, The Essential Van Morrison, and again it was to play at work on a quiet late Sunday shift. What i've heard has made me determined to actually buy some of his albums, mainly the stuff from Astral Weeks onwards, the late sixties and seventies stuff. Once again my musical tastes have been broadened. As i've gotten older i've found myself liking music that i wouldn't have given the time of day in my younger years, even though i've always thought i had pretty eclectic tastes! Clearly i still have much to learn.

Even though i've been doing a fair bit of downloading recently, i've still been making additions to my CD and Vinyl collections. Whilst rooting through the Vinyl in one of Nottingham's oldest used record shops, Good Vibrations, looking for old singles and albums for my Dads birthday, i picked up a slightly worn (the sleeve) copy of Skids (as with Buzzcocks, there is no definitive article) third album The Absolute Game. It's got the embossed cover and the free disc Strength Through Joy with it. I've only just had the opportunity to play it, and it's a great record: aside from the anthemic Celtic new wave rock they were famed for in "Out Of Town" and the playground chant of Top 40 hit "Circus Games", there are synth touches in "Goodbye Civilian", a didgeridoo on "Hurry On Boys",  it contains my favourite Skids track, the majestic "A Woman In Winter", chugging and melodic guitars, clattering drums, and spine-tingling, rousing vocal harmonies. That it failed to become a hit when released as a single baffles me.

I've also repurchased The Stone Roses classic self-titled debut album, after missing it first time round, buying it on CD and somehow failing to appreciate its brilliance (with the exception of two or three tracks). I bought the vinyl in (whispers) Tesco, and played it several times through, singing loudly along. I finally get it. My favourite songs have always been "Made Of Stone" and "I Am The Resurrection", and they remain so, but i understand now why this album is so revered.

I've also bought the CD/DVD combo reissue of Madness live album Madstock!, recorded at their now legendary reunion concerts at Finsbury Park in August 1992. I've already written about my experience at the Sunday concert as a 16 year old, so i won't go into that, but watching the DVD a good 17 years after my VHS copy wore out bought back a lot of memories, and gave me a much needed boost of happiness.