Dr Nick McKerrell

Sad news I wont engage with the forgotten80s radio show anymore. It has been part of my Sunday night life for years including very difficult times. But reports of the presenter's behaviour to female listeners is shocking and unacceptable. Solidarity with all #forgotten80s

Sorry Fables of the Reconstruction!

Also 1985! Made NME's top 10 albums of the year and there was lot of heavy competition then. Well above Life's Rich Pagent interestingly.

I got into Bob Mould via Sugar which was definitely more on the pop front but this is great. A band on the verge of a new stage (in this case splitting up) so music is transitional. To that extent similar to REM's work pre-Green and Bleach by Nirvana. Engaging listen.

Bad news at my work today. We have fought back redundancies before and we can do it again.

3rd 80s album in a row mind!

A key track is The Sound of the Crowd . First hit from the album and brilliant combination of quite obscure electronica with pop.

It was their 3rd album but was really a re-launch/hostile take over by Edinburgh based svengali Bob Last and Phil Oakey. Bringing in the backing singers and experienced song writers. Album culminates with one of best singles ever with Don't You Want Me. Brilliant!

C'mon this is a slice of pop perfection. Although the HL had some cracking singles after this they never came close in an album format again nor did they really try. Every track stands alone including "Law" but together so powerful. Dug out old vinyl to listen

This is obscure. Difficult to find but not unpleasant sounds. All over the place it seemed in a good way. Also from 1988 and I note they are all wearing suits on cover (not their usual look) This along with title suggests it is meant to be a commentary on the Thatcher/Reaganomics era at its peak?

This is brilliant. I am surprised this 1988 release passed me by at the time and after. Quite sparse but tuneful. Interesting Stipe link as in some ways the musical arrangement reminds me a bit of early REM with string and guitar sound. The wonder of music that something like this can appear.

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Today. It all starts up again today. Listen out 📻for Alison on BBC Woman’s Hour this morning some time after 10am talking all things #spycops.

I was thinking how different this was from the easy listening reggae Holt release (also Jamaican) we listened to but saw that KH produced him early in his career! Just a couple of years before.

This is excellent. Such an innovative sound and decades ahead of its time. Alongside King Tubby who I think developed his dub method independently of KH - took reggae and arguably modern pop in new directions.

Great show Robin.

What a tune! Remember discovering this on free NME CD

Musically I note that piano and drums are quite well integrated into his sound. Again part of his pioneering nature. Died in 1976 so was around longer than I thought.

Brilliant. I think because of his vocal currently Howlin' is my favourite 20th century Blues man. Great songs as well though - lyrically quite good for their time "I asked for water, she gave me gasoline" the irony of "Sittin' on top of the world". Makes up for another compilation.

Scotcast - Is Swinney respecting the Supreme Court on gender? - BBC Sounds The looming court battle over where transgender prisoners are housed.

Was on BBC Scotcast today discussing the upcoming For Women Scotland Judicial Review of Scot Gov prisons policy #JudicialReview www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Peter Gabriel style!

Unusually for the time did not put their singles on the debut album (including one that topped Peel's festive 50 that year). Initially I got this confused with their 1990 album (same title) which was on major label with plusher sound and produced a hit but ultimately a weaker piece of work.

First 80s album for a while. 1988! Glad to hear this again remember my pal played it a lot. Although draws on 60s guitar sounds actually now sounds quite ahead of its time. A few years later lots of bands were playing this style. Christine is great opener but whole album strong.

My big book on global music has an interesting bit comparing JLH's style with West African guitar and composition notably Ali Farke Toure. Inconclusive but you can hear similarities.

Brilliant music (of course) but this is not even a compilation it's a box set! NOT AN ALBUM. You could argue that the old blues men can only be captured this way but JLH recorded quite a few specific albums late in his career with Ry Cooder and others. Choose one of them!

Also Homer Simpson does good version

If you can bear it look for the video of disgraced Kevin Spacey performing this over Xmas in Israel!

The birth pangs of the CD in the 90s!

Reflecting the quite long history of reggae on the UK Charts. The Holt version of Killing Me Softly must have been an influence on Fugees too with their cover 20 years later.

My god the softest of soft reggae (there's even a Cilla Black cover in there) - one listen max. Also compilations are not albums - though I note that this was on the reggae record label of note Trojan strangely. It is a bit of a phenomenon though as Make it through the night was a 1974 top 10 hit!