Seven Songs for the Week #133 - 22nd Oct 25

It feels like there are no surprises anymore. However, I opened Apple Music last Thursday and it suggested that I listen to this new release from Sugar. Initially I thought it was just some other band or rapper using the name Sugar - that happens sometimes. I clicked play, it sounded like Sugar - was it an archive thing? No. Then found out the glorious truth that after 30 years this was new music from Sugar with initial live shows next May.

Copper Blue was an album that came out when I was 18, and all these years later it's still a record I love to listen to. I saw them live at the legendary Sunstroke 1993 gig in Dalymount Park, on a gloriously sunny day. Their return brings me great joy.

Had this CD in the car this week. I like how it's obviously a skeletal Damon voice note where he just fills in the blanks a bit. That's how you write songs, ladies & gentlemen.

Listened to the Streetlife Serenade album this week for the first time in a long time, spurred on from watching the first half of the HBO Billy Joel documentary. The album was better than I recall, and its Apple Music Atmos mix is very good. Still though, when it came down to choosing a track for this playlist, the live Songs In The Attic version of Los Angelenos wins over the studio original by a country mile.

Went through the whole 3CD boxset of the Monkees debut (well, excluding the solo Davy tracks, I just can't) ahead of the Pisces... boxset hitting my doormat. Lots to enjoy. If you haven't been paying attention, well let me tell you that the first eight Monkees albums have been expanded to 30 CDs worth of material over the years. A pleasant way to pass the time.

I was going to put the title track of Discreet Music here, as I had that on while doing some dull laptop work this week. Here's something briefer.

I'll just slot this here.

In The Airplane Over The Sea has gone though Kubler-Ross-style stages of critical reevaluation and fame. Some people didn't like it having its moment in the sun a few years back, but it is a remarkable one-off album. Here's something from the middle of the b-side.