Entertainment For Lively Minds
so, what CD should I buy for my dad ?
Posted by simonjones on 1 December 2009 - 3:50pm.
Previous Christmases have seen me buy Nick Drake's "Way to Blue" and a Jose Gonzalez CD. They were well recieved, although his default taste is Nana Mouskouri, Roger Whitaker, Simon&Garfunkle etc. etc. What can I buy which is sufficiently credible, but at the same time in keeping with his taste and age (64)?
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Great 50s jazz comp
With Chris Barber and Acker Bilk etc. It's relatively new, but I can't remember what it's called, but my dad who shares your dad's tastes loved it.
Boaters, Bowlers and Bowties!
Er, my exclamation mark.
Surprisingly enough
A couple of years ago I recommended Lloyd Cole's ANTIDEPRESSANT and MUSIC IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE to a colleague who wanted to know what to buy for her Dad (sounds like similar taste to yours) for christmas. She bought both, and he really liked them, I think they added a dash of contemporary(ish) "cool" to his CD collection.
S&G
He's probably got them all, but the complete recorded works of Simon and Garfunkel goes for a steal these days:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collection-Simon-Garfunkel/dp/B000UMXCTY/ref=sr_...
Any Blue Nile album
My dad loved them as much as I did and he must have been about 64 when their first album came out.
John Martyn
I'd recommend 'Solid Air' by John Martyn for anyone this Christmas
Call me old-fashioned
but maybe you could, you know, ask him what he wants?
He did...
...he wanted a surprise. :-)
Old Fashioned?
Isn't the old-fashioned way to surprise him while the modern way is ask what someone wants as a present.
Could well be
I think you could've caught me out on that one.
I'd try him with
Madeline Peyroux
R2 staples
How about Kate Rusby, Fleet Foxes, even Snow Patrol's greatest hits?
The CD has to be...
'I Dreamed A Dream' by Susan Boyle. A guaranteed winner.
Probably right
Looking at his existing favourites.
so many to choose from
I nominate these as good folk-esque fairly hip young gunslingers:
Adem
Karine Polwart
Gemma Hayes
Kings Of Convenience
Lightspeed Champion
Lisa Hannigan
Nina Nastasia
Panda Bear
Stephen Fretwell
Sufjan Stevens
Tom McRae
Tom Baxter
Tunng
out of all of those I recommend Gemma Hayes, Kings Of Convenience and Tom Baxter the strongest
a spotify playlist for sampling what you think is most suitable:
http://open.spotify.com/user/badger_king/playlist/4B0xXD7na6mtU5R7epbNLX
Tom Baxter's beautiful "Miracle":
Hope that helps!
Richard Hawley
might be a festive winner :-)
Richard Hawley might be the one
after listenning a RH track on the Spotify "word-noughties" list earlier
Richard Hawley works for my old man
I bought him Coles Corner which he stills plays now. The new album is at least as good so that is his present this year.
Whatever you do....
...don't try to "educate" him. Buy what you think he might like rather than what you think he ought to like.
Does he like cricket? If so there's the Duckworth Lewis Method.
Does he like Glen Campbell? If so his recent album "Meet Glen Campbell" is terrific.
Does he like early 60s stuff? If so there's the soundtrack to "Mad Men".
And if he likes Simon & Garfunkel there are all those terrific Paul Simon albums which are every bit as good.
Other examples of every home should have easy listening:
The Best of Charlie Rich.
A Little Touch of Schmilsson In The Night.
The Essential Willie Nelson.
Etc.
Charlie Rich
I agree. Should be in every home.
Here...
here.
Where?
Where? :-)
the trick is to educate without him knowing it.....
....often got in his car to find "Way to blue" in there after his journey down south to visit us. New Glenn Campbell is also a good idea, for sure he won't have bought it, I do remember being subjected to Glenn Campbell in the back of the Triumph Herald, years ago, so much so that now I'm older and my music tastes have matured I have "Rinestone Cowboy" on the iTunes.
Yes, i'd agree
with Duckworth Lewis Method. Bought it for my 66yr old father for his birthday, and he loves it, describes it as a cross between 10cc and Neil Innes!
Easy Listening he might enjoy but not know
I’d suggest The Four King Cousins
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introducing-Four-King-Cousins/dp/B000EWBNFK/ref=...
And Roger Nichols
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Circle-Roger-Nichols-Small-Friends/dp/B001E2N5LY...
Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens
Nothing revolutionary but how about a Louis Jordan compilation, I realised the other day that my copy of "Golden Greats" might actually be my favourite album ever. Or maybe a Nick Lowe album is a bit more modern.
No-one's mentioned RT
And the only reason I'm doing so is because you mention that your dad seems receptive to acoustic folk. The album I'm thinking of is 'Front Parlour Ballads'.
I'd be tempted to mention Marissa Nadler, as well.
Speaking as a dad...
...who is not far short of 64, detests Nana Mouskouri and buys his own Fleet Foxes, Kate Rusby and Louis Jordan thank you very much, I find this thread irritatingly condescending. I think if I were him I'd rather have a record token, if such things still exist. Or socks and hankies.
I hope you haven't really taken exception...
I don't think anyone on the thread is trying to be patronising.
Speaking as someone with a dad who's a bit older than 64 but loves music, books and films - he appreciates all of us going out and trying to think of things to get him, finds tokens dull, and loves surprises...
No, not really...
...although if I was the OP's dad I might be mildly irritated that my Xmas destiny was in the hands of a bunch of young whippersnappers on the Word site. Mind you (he said condescendingly) there's a difference between dads who read Word and dads who don't...
Charlie Rich - Yes, John Martyn - Maybe
I got some feedback yesterday - he liked the Charlie Rich, but wasn't sure on John Martyn
Now then, now then
how's about a little bit of Rosanne Cast and The List?