A J MacP
ospreysajm.bsky.social
A J MacP
@ospreysajm.bsky.social
Devotee of many music genres, exiled AFC Bournemouth fan of over 50 years' standing, supporter of women's sport. Early retiree, somewhere in the NW of England. Married to Fuchsia Elf.🍒🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
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This is far from the best Saxon album I've heard - at times they do seem to be going through the motions - but it's entertaining enough.

Not much more to add, really....

Saxon: 'Rock the Nations' (1986)
October 28, 2026 at 12:57 AM
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How come I never knew until today of the existence of this live album from 2018 of the Earl's Court concert on 1 July 1978? WHICH I WAS AT!!!!

Next year it will become a multi-media arena event.🤔🤪

David Bowie: 'Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78)' (2018)
October 27, 2026 at 11:11 PM
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The best post-Beatles album. Contemporary critics (such as the nearly always wrong Robert Christgau) were completely wrong about it - it's utterly joyful.

Not convinced? Don't care - it's my favourite, so there.

Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney: 'Ram' (1971)
October 26, 2026 at 6:21 PM
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I didn't think much of a-ha's debut when I gave it a listen last year, but I have really enjoyed this second album - mostly. I may have to give the debut another chance some time. Just not yet....

a-ha: 'Scoundrel Days' (1986)
October 26, 2026 at 1:11 AM
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Belatedly, it's time to check out some Oct '86 albums, starting with... bloody hell, that's a unique cover!

I loved the classic 'Centerfield', but this is not as highly rated. Not sure why - I think it's really good.

John Fogerty: 'Eye of the Zombie' (1986)
October 25, 2026 at 5:37 PM
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In spite of believing that Genesis suffered after the departure of Steve Hackett, I still quite liked the first album from the trio... but how much better could it have been with Steve's input? Guess we'll never know.

Genesis: '...And Then There Were Three' (1978)
October 25, 2026 at 2:26 PM
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Final Oct '76 album is a solid gold masterpiece. Chick Corea has a massive catalogue, but I can't imagine he's done much finer work than on this double album. What a magnificent achievement.

Chick Corea: 'My Spanish Heart' (1976)
October 24, 2026 at 11:28 PM
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The ultimate Marmite band's 7th album is, as ever, one I've got to be in a certain mood for.

Today, I'm in just such a mood. Hence, loving it.

Van der Graaf Generator: 'World Record' (1976)
October 24, 2026 at 5:17 PM
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I have a rule of thumb for Palmer's 70s albums: the more Little Featers involved, the better the album. There's more of them on this than the others, therefore it's his best. Just the way it is, folks.

Robert Palmer: 'Some People Can Do What They Like' (1976)
October 24, 2026 at 3:05 PM
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The Ash in soft rock mode. I rather like this era, but I do wish their heavier songs could have been... well, heavier. They seemed afraid to let themselves off the leash.

Wishbone Ash: 'New England' (1976)
October 24, 2026 at 1:43 PM
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I once bought, and sort-of played(!), a bouzouki. That I did so was entirely due to its use by the great Dónal Lunny, who passed away yesterday. I recently played a Bothy Band album, so let's go for Planxty's 2nd.

RIP.

Planxty: 'The Well Below the Valley' (1973)
October 24, 2026 at 11:41 AM
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I doubt that many other youngsters, by their 12th birthday, owned all 6 (by late '73) Alice Cooper albums! This is, of course, 'Pretties for You' and 'Easy Action' reissued. From the days when Alice was still Vince....

Alice Cooper: 'School Days' (1973 [1969/1970])
October 23, 2026 at 10:06 PM
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After the brilliance of Robin's first 3 solo classics, I remember this was something of a disappointment. Not a bad album, but it's certainly hampered by a muddy production. And who needed another cover of bloody 'Sailing'?

Robin Trower: 'Long Misty Days' (1976)
October 22, 2026 at 11:42 PM
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Is it as good as 'The Red Planet'? Probably not, but it's still a damn fine prog showcase - and not just for Grumpy Old Rick! The supporting cast is uniformly excellent.

Rick Wakeman & The English Rock Ensemble: 'Return to the Red Planet' (2026)
October 22, 2026 at 9:37 AM
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I can't help but view much of the music of the late 70s through the prism of cover versions played by bands I was in. Case in point: an album dominated by hit single 'Couldn't Get It Right'. The rest of the album is fab.

Climax Blues Band: 'Gold Plated' (1976)
October 22, 2026 at 12:18 AM
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Question: is 'Deep Cuts' an underappreciated gem?

Answer: no. The playing is workmanlike but the songs ('The Soldier's Tale' aside) are simply not as strong as on earlier albums. Pity.

Strawbs: 'Deep Cuts' (1976)
October 21, 2026 at 10:21 PM
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For me, Miranda is at her best when the production doesn't get in the way of the songs. I fear that is the problem on her new album. Given my antipathy to 'disco', though, I suspect that a 'country disco' album was never for me!

Miranda Lambert: 'Crisco' (2026)
October 21, 2026 at 9:36 AM
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I could have sworn that the band released a different album the previous month!

And so they had, but this was their first on a major label. And what a tour-de-force it is!

Funkadelic: 'Hardcore Jollies' (1976)
October 21, 2026 at 12:25 AM
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Late night jazz fusion courtesy of Di Meola's first (of many) solo albums, although it inevitably features many of the great and good of the fusion world.

Equally inevitably, it is sensational.

Al Di Meola: 'Land of the Midnight Sun' (1976)
October 20, 2026 at 11:37 PM
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Given that I had bought the previous 3 Sparks albums ('Kimono...', 'Propaganda' and 'Indiscreet'), why did I never even hear this at the time?

Whatever the reason, this is actually another fine LP. Pity it didn't really sell here.

Sparks: 'Big Beat' (1976)
October 20, 2026 at 6:59 PM
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It's another 'as sure as night follows day' situation....

David Bowie: 'Hunky Dory' (1971)
October 20, 2026 at 9:31 AM
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3 minutes of 'Starman' on Top of the Pops. World shifted on axis.

David Bowie: 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars' (1972)
October 19, 2026 at 10:32 PM
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Another year, another Rory album... and this one is an absolute corker. Yet another I used to own on cassette, but haven't not replaced. (My bank probably says 'let's keep it that way', but sod them!)

Rory Gallagher: 'Calling Card' (1976)
October 19, 2026 at 4:01 PM
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I only have a couple of Harry's albums missing from my collection, and this is one of them. It's another fine album from the master storytelling songwriter. It won't be missing much longer.

Harry Chapin: 'On the Road to Kingdom Come' (1976)
October 19, 2026 at 1:01 AM
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Sad to learn, via the new Mojo, of the death last month of the great Paddy Keenan of The Bothy Band. This is not only a great folk album but one of my very favourite live albums. They kicked ass....

The Bothy Band: 'After Hours (Live in Paris)' (1979)
October 18, 2026 at 10:03 PM