5 GREAT ALBUM TRACKS FOR FRIDAY (Part 3)

One of the few bands whose decision to reform and then perform tempted me along.

Lloyd Cole & The Commotions genuinely created a buzz around Glasgow in the early 80s, and by the time the material was recorded and released in mid 1984, it was clear they were going to live up to the hype.

I've never grown tired of the three albums they recorded in a career that was all too brief. Thankfully, the front man has enjoyed a long solo career that hasn't always made the critics happy but has delivered constantly for his fans. Just the other night, he was back in Glasgow for a gig promoting his excellent new LP. Sadly, I wasn't there - I've actually been in Ireland this past four days sorting out some more business after my brother's sudden death earlier this year. It was really disappointing to miss out.....but I'm looking at maybe catching one of the dates in Europe next month if I can pull things off.

Furthermore, keyboardist Blair Cowan was an important member of Paul Quinn & The Independent Group, Neil Clark and Steven Irvine worked alongside Chris Thomson (ex Friends Again) for a while in a band called Bloomsday, while Lawrence Donegan became one of the most entertaining journalists and authors post-musical career. So none of the band ever really disappeared from my conscience.

The re-union came back in 2004 when there was a short your to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Rattlesnakes. A truly amazing night that couldn't be spoiled.....not even by the fact that the truly awful and then unknown James Blunt was the support act.

So enough words. Which five songs have made the cut this week (and more to the point, do any of you care??)

Bear in mind that the following tracks are excluded for having been singles

Perfect Skin
Forest Fire
Rattlesnakes
Brand New Friend
Lost Weekend
Cut Me Down
My Bag
Jennifer She Said
From The Hip

All of which still get regular airings to huge cheers during the solo Lloyd Cole gigs. So here goes:-

mp3 : Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?
mp3 : Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Charlotte Street
mp3 : Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Perfect Blue
mp3 : Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Speedboat
mp3 : Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - These Days

Just as The Smiths fans unofficially declare that There Is A Light That Never Goes Out is the band's best-ever song so too is the view of the majority of Commotionites (that's a word I've just made up incidentally) with Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken? The closing track on the debut album, even nowadays all it takes is for the instantly recognisable guitar intro to be played live and the hairs on my neck stand up. It is a song I simply never tire of and don't expect I ever will.

The fact that there are two more songs lifted from Rattlesnakes is testament to just how strong a debut LP it was and how it does to this day stand head and shoulders above the follow-ups. Indeed, all five tracks could easily have come from that one album, but it is Charlotte Street and Speedboat that make the cut.

The former has a tine that is a blend of indie, pop and country and contains the unforgettable line 'And so I forced a smile contrary to my style'. Its also the song that reminds me a lot of the first headlong but ultimately doomed rush into love in a student betsit......

The latter is the one that I think captures The Commotions at their best with some great keyboards and guitar work to the fore. There was a great live performance of this on Whistle Test at the time whcih I have on VHS tape. I hope someone else has converted it for youtube usage and I'll link to it at the foot of these ramblings.

Perfect Blue is the song that closes the 1985 LP Easy Pieces. Opening with a lonesome slide guitar and harmonica, it soon becomes another great Commotions song-by-numbers....and I dont mean that as an insult. It really should have been a single in its own right. Oh and if the version you know is the one re-recorded/remixed for the post break-up compilation then cast it to one side and enjoy the original and best.

Turns out that the song I've chosen from Mainstream, released in 1987, is also the album closer. These Days is a far from typical number - its all keyboards and voice for the most part - but is one that I think all of the band will be proud of. It's a sad, poignant and haunting number written when AIDS was a relatively new phenomena and anyone regarded as promiscuous, hetro or homo, seemed a sure-fire bet to die young. And a brave song to close any LP on, far less one that all concerned knew was likely to be their last.

So yes, it was a realtively easier task this week after The Jam and Joy Division. I'm taking on the equivalent of Raith Rovers playing an away tie at Barcelona next week. Tune in and see who I'm talking about. In the meantime, the search round youtube didn't unveil said OGWT clip, but there was some stuff of interest. Look how young they all were:-



Heavy rain in Glasgow.....who would have believed it????

And how about this for a fine cover?