Entertainment For Lively Minds
James Grant (and Holy Love)
Due to my car being written off in an accident, I've had a hire-car for the last month - and thus a CD player for journeys - so have been listening to more music direct from CD. I've been rotating discs into and out of the car, but amongst them at any one time has been several by James Grant; either solo, or with Love & Money.
At the moment his Holy Love solo album is getting a heck of a lot of play; what an album, phew! For those that aren't up on Mr Grant, this particular album is a heady, bitter-sweet spiritual rush, stood in the dusky shadows of some crossroad cutting between folk, country, gospel and soul; a ballsier Gram Parsons but with whiskey tinged Scottish poetry for lyrics.
I've often wondered why the heck James Grant isn't greatly respected or treasured; or simply big, especially in these folky/acoustic times, but Holy Love is just blinding. The title track, Give The Poppy to the People and The Streets You Walk Everyday are near perfect and as uplifting as anything I've ever heard.
Is anyone else a fan of Mr Grant, and especially this album?
For those of you with Spotify, and who might be curious, here's a link:
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My Thrawn Glory...
Is that him?
Got it on a scruffy cassette somewhere.
Brilliant album. Know little else about him.
The one and same...
The one and same. Used to be the leader of Love & Money, the Scottish band that had minor hits with Candybar Express, Strange Kind of Love, Jocelyn Square. They started off poppy, then got decidedly less so until dropped. His solo albums have all been solid, but for some reason he stays just below the radar. He should be huge...
Peebles Eastgate Theatre
this coming Friday night - Mr Grant performing solo in a 150 seat theatre - should be great. Saw him at Queen's Hall in Edinburgh late last year and he is terrific live. His 'Strange Flowers' was one of the best albums from last year in my book.
I also am unsure why he has never achieved bigger success - similar to David Ford, I suspect, in that he's possibly a bit too 'stroppy' to play the game.
Strange Flowers has been
Strange Flowers has been doing the miles with me in the hire car. Thought the title track and My Father's Coat were killer.
I've yet to see him live, as I'm a southern softie, but I'm tempted to get up to Glasgow to see one of his shows in June.
Is he a bit stroppy, then?
Let's just say...
that his between song banter, although very funny, is particularly forthright. I'll post here if he says anything more illustrative on Friday but in the past he has indicated that he had little time for record labels/the record industry. I can imagine that he has upset a great many people in his time.
As for David Ford and not playing the game, on his first album, there is a beautiful ballad that builds steadily towards a finale that would have hands waving, mobile screens alight, the crowd singing along heartily etc. at any festival. Ford chose to entitle this wonderful song 'Cheer Up (You Miserable F*ck)'. Probably not going to be championed by Parky, then.
Strange Flowers
was probably my favourite album of 2009 (see http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/your-albums-2009-so-far)
Holy Love- though it is excellent - is a bit downbeat and introspective as an introduction to James's work - I'd recommend Strange Flowers or My Thrawn Glory.
He did a great session with Bob Harris before Christmas on Radio 2, and didn't sound at all stroppy. His diary (he refuses to call it a blog) on his website can come across as a bit curmudgeonly and bloody minded, but I find it quite amusing to read.
Strange Kind of Love - the classic Love and Money album - is about to be re-released in an expanded format, including sleevenotes by the producer, one Gary Katz.
Maybe there's a Word feature on "those who won't play the game" to be done - James Grant and David Ford, any other nominations?
Coincidentally
I played Strange Kind Of Love on 12" yesterday, the family being out for a couple of hours. It's wonderful.
I also loved Friends Again's singles Sunkissed & State Of Art. This should have been a big hit.
Fairly typical diary (not blog) entry from Mr Grant
The final sentence being the most telling one:
Friends Again are doing a
Friends Again are doing a reunion acoustic show in June, up in Glasgow.
I kind of have to agree with his post re. online presence. There's been a lot said of late about the loss of mystique through Twitter, Myspace, blogging, etc, and even though I'm as guilty as the next man for indulging myself on sites of acts I like, I guess a bit of mystery never went amiss. Granted, Lewis Taylor took it a bit too far, but, hey...