Entertainment For Lively Minds
We Could Send Letters
So sang Roddy Frame on 1983's "High Land Hard Rain". Thanks to Bamber for mentioning it on the 80's album thread I have had it on almost constant rotation ever since. The whole album is of course a wonder of lyricism, musicality and spirit and all from a boy not out of his teens and yet able to tap in to the romance and emotion of life he surely had not yet lived. Imagine a teenage boy writing and playing something like this now, maybe Alex Turner came close, but Roddy's work has something extra. 1983 hardly seems the past but "We Could Send Letters" is a song from another era, could even Roddy have penned something so heart rending in 2011? "We Could Tweet" wouldn't scan, "We Could Send E-mail"? Come on it's 2011 who e-mails? "We Could Do Facebook"? nope that doesn't work either. I suppose the "now generation" don't care for romanticism and sending letters is something of a lost art but it also makes you realise how quickly things change. Less than 30 years have passed and it just seems so dated. I could have done a "Old Fashioned Stuff In Songs" type thread but listening to this gorgeous piece of music that I remember being new as if it were yesterday added to my general feeling of melancholy and I'm not 100% sure what I'm trying to say but take a listen and enjoy the feel, the guitar, the sense of time and place and pure emotion of the song.
Aztec Camera "We Could Send Letters"
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Phenomenal album
and that track has some particularly beautiful guitar on it as well. I'm also a big fan of the Knife album.
Such a shame
That the average person only knows "Somewhere In My Heart"
I remember reading an interview where Frame (tongue in cheek) said that he must have been "pretty cool" to write a songe like "We Could Send Letters" at the age of 16, SIXTEEN FFS!!
Could I also put forward:-
Killermont Street
Song For A Friend
Hymn To The Grace
I love all his albums but "High Land, Hard Rain" will always have a special place in my heart.
Also, anyone who saw him on the "Knife" tour will remember his stunning version of the Van Halen classic "Jump" with full guitar solo.
I was fortunate to catch him again recently in Liverpool and he's still sounding as good as ever and more importantly seems to be enjoying himself as well.
A national treasure indeed.
In another world
Roddy Frame is recognised as a national treasure and High Land is routinely lauded as one of the truly great debuts.
In Paul's world
The above has never been in doubt.
I am in awe of the man.
The Axeman Cometh
Here's Roddy helping out his old mucker Edwyn Collins and demonstrating his "chops" on guitar
(Edwyn Collins, A Girl Like You live)
And, yes, HLHR and YCHYLF were the thrilling soundtrack to a youth spent trying to impress young ladies who, ultimately, were more impressed by those records than they were by me.
In their pomp!
Thanks for the mention Dave...
I was trying to think of something in a similar vein, highlighting obsolete methods of communication in a romanticised manner and strangely enough, this more recent track from the great Roddy's next best album "Surf", was the first thing to spring to mind...
I CAN'T START NOW
"In places we've known, I sit by the payphone,
Then I warm to my theme, with the burn of the Beam,
And build my tower of dimes",
When was the last time you've assembled a load of coins to make a payphone call? I remember scraping together all the silver coins I could muster to make lengthy and long-distance calls to friends and loved ones back in the day. I'm sure no-one does that any more.
I daresay other artists and songs will spring to mind but what harm if this turns into a Lets-Appreciate-Roddy-Frame thread.
Your'e welcome Bamber
it's one of those albums I return to a couple of times a year and it never fails to work it's magic. Lets-Appreciate-Roddy-Frame sounds good to me, "Surf" is beautiful but lacks some of the energy of HLHR, not surprising really but this is gorgeous
Roddy Frame "Over You"
High Land, Hard Rain
For my money the best worst-produced record of all-time. Those songs vs. those syn-drums - aarrggh! Still love it, though...
The same could be said
for Steve McQueen.
I thought back then that Roddy and Paddy would go on to rule the world.
Agreed
- I loved that album back in the 80s, it soundtracked much of my University days. I grew up, moved on and forgot about it. Downloaded it last year, loved it still ... until those drums. They don't half jar, don't they? Funny I (we?) never noticed at the time. Don't think I've listened to it since - it sounds different in my head.
This song knocked me out too...
when it first graced my turntable. Nearly wore my stylus out. I was 26 then and had no idea at the time that this guy was seven years my junior. I was reminded of Mr Frame's lyricism recently when I bought King Creosote's "Diamond Mine". Try "Bats In The Attic", you'll hopefully see what I mean.
http://youtu.be/gAt4sk8znk4
A songwriter ...
... who peaked before he was 24.
Always been a fan
The single version of Walk Out To Winter (not the same as the album version - search it out *whispers* might be available for download here: http://thevinylvillain.blogspot.com/2011/11/saturdays-scottish-single-pa...) is my all time favourite single. Amazing amazing amazing for me.
However I think the problem with Roddy is that, unlike Weller or Costello, he has never had a clear idea of who he wants to be as a songwriter. And so neither have his labels. I'm not sure it's always enough to just be somebody who writes good songs you know? I think his career has suffered a bit because of that. He's certainly as talented as Weller or Costello, just seems to be missing that little edge of fire those two have.
(might want to visit that blog. The 7" version of Walk Out To Winter hasn't been available anywhere else digitally apart from a CD single in the late 80s. The version on the Aztec Camera best of is the album version)
You're right...
...about the single - considerably chunkier, sonically speaking, than the album equivalent. I still have the 7" vinyl somewhere in the basement (slaps self on wrist). Am I wrong in thinking it had some remix or instrumental version on the B-side?
Set The Killing Free
Was the b-side of my copy. Another great song, although no Orchid Girl
Weller
Weller was listening of course. His magpie touch shows through in other perhaps more obvious songs but listen to Shout To The Top two years later next to Pillar To Post.
Can you imagine though
knowing you'd done HLHR before your 20th birthday? Where do you go? Where do you find the inspiration? This didn't even make the album ffs
"Just Like Gold"
Godlike Genius...
I would encourage anyone who buys into the myth that Roddy Frame never reached the heights of High Land, Hard Rain again to check out the Surf album if they haven't already. For me, an avowed worshipper of the early stuff, this album is an equal pinnacle of songwriting - somewhat more low-key than HLHR but equally rewarding.
He's magnificent
I've seen him several times doing his acoustic tour and, again, recently, with a full-on band. There's a triple-whammy of good news with Roddy as his lyrics, his voice and his playing all symbiotically combine to produce a transcendent effect.
His album 'Surf' was wonderful and 'Over You' is a heartbreakingly beautiful and poignant song.
Was just at Amazon, looking for "Surf"...
... based on the many recommendations here, and came across this 5-album box-set (HLHR, Knife, Stray, [the hugely-underrated] Dreamland & Frestonia) for £10.99 inc. postage, hurrah!(other retailers are available etc.)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Original-Album-Aztec-Camera/dp/B0030HG3L0/ref=wl...