Warning: some of these albums contain covers that might offend some of you out there.
Pop Eyes - Danielle Dax (Biter of Thorpe, 1983). A criminally under-rated woman of the 80's indie scene. The music is a confused mish-mash of sonic Indian mantras, funk, folk, and some eerie snatches of flutes and saxophones.
Kimono My House - Sparks (Island, 1974). Hailed by some as the 70's Pet Shop Boys, these perverse brothers from UCLA ditched their post-psych band and headed for the UK with some glam-punk session men. Fusing delicate Bach piano etudes with pile-driving guitars and bass and a falsetto to put Tori Amos to shame, the album contains songs about Albert Einstein, the glories of being with the out crowd, masturbation, complaining girlfriends and overpopulation.
Revolver - Beatles (Parlophone, 1966). "I know what it's like to be dead....and she's making me feel like I've never been born." Dear me, what were Liverpool's favourite sons doing? First of all we have John Lennon angering the RRR by stating that kids were more interested in going to Beatles concerts than worshipping Jesus, then they upset mainstream parents by admitting to eating some funny mushrooms. They entered a land of surrealism with stoner songs about sleeping, yellow submarines, a doctor who gives people vitamin shots. The harsh realities of life were also addressed with songs about breaking up and lonely old people.
Morrissey - Your Arsenal (His Master's Voice, 1992). The frail martyr of self-loathing 80's indie rockers The Smiths signed to a mainstream label normally reserved for classical music, raided the 70's glam rock vaults for some T. Rex, Sweet, David Bowie and Gary Glitter records to come up with this big stomping delight featuring hits like "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful", "Certain People I Know" and "You're The One For Me, Fatty". It showed Morrissey at his best in the 90's, but unfortunately after the record was made he lost his manager and record producer in a few short months.
His new single "I Have Forgiven Jesus" is also doing well.
Suzi Quatro - Can The Can (RAK, 1973). The debut album for the undisputed Queen of Rock'n'Roll. There's something in it for everyone with some tough butt-kicking rockers about the male menopause "48 Crash", a cheating boyfriend who has sex with his g/fs mum and sister "Can The Can", junkies "Glycerine Queen" and some great bluesy numbers "Primitive Love" and 'Skin Tight Skin'. One of the album tracks "Get Back Mamma" is still played at her gigs with an elongated bass solo where the rest of the band leaves the stage and she struts around with it.
The photo is a classic too with Suzi looking like a gang leader, really cute and accessible but you don't stare at her, cos her guitarist (whom she later married for 16 years) would beat you over the head with his beer bottle!
