Top tracks from our wonderful supporters - edition #4 - Dave Julian

This regular feature explores the music tastes of our friends, colleagues and supporters. Let’s see what floats Dave's boat.

Greetings

Our new regular feature explores the music tastes of our friends, colleagues and supporters.

Music is our life, and we are really interested in the songs you love. If you'd like to contribute, just mail us!

Without further ado, let’s see what floats Dave’s boat.

Much love

Suzy & Simon

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Dave’s picks

First of all, I’d like to thank Suzy & Simon for giving me this opportunity to select 10 tracks which I have enjoyed throughout my musical journey.

Rather than just presenting some of the great tracks from Hendrix, Floyd, Zeppelin, The Beatles, etc., which would arguably take five minutes, I’ve decided to do things a little differently and select tracks from bands and individuals that you rarely hear played on the radio today.

I was quite fortunate in my early days. I have a brother who is 10 years older than myself and at a very young age in the 60s, I was introduced—or at least found myself—listening to music by bands such as the Animals, Stones, The Who, Spencer Davis, Procol Harum, The Moody Blues, John Mayall, Peter Green, to name a few.

These artists have become legends of music since those early days.

My brother also played in a band in the mid-60s, and I would go with my parents to watch and have my first look at music played live.

I can still remember it now, and I think all of this has influenced the type of music that I’m into and have been all of my life.

#1 | Emerson, Lake & Palmer | Karn Evil 9 – 3rd Impression

When I started senior school, my brother was married and I used to go around his place on a Sunday and have a record morning. On one of those mornings, Keith played me two albums, one was Emerson Lake and Palmer’s (ELP) Pictures at an Exhibition: a game changer for me,

This would be 1971-72, I was blown away by the music, it was fantastic. The sound that Keith Emerson was getting out of his keyboards was amazing, and I still love this album today. Money was tight so pocket money was saved and this album became the first I bought—the collection was on its way.

I became a massive fan of ELP, so for my first selection, I thought of one track which I’ve always liked and you very rarely hear on the radio, certainly nowadays, is Karn Evil 9 - 3rd Impression - the final track on side two of the Brain Salad Surgery Album.

Some great lyrics on this track, see what you think.

The video of this being played at the California Jam is amazing.

#2 | Wishbone Ash | Queen of Torture

My next selection is from another of those Sunday morning sessions and it’s by Wishbone Ash, their first album simply named Wishbone Ash. What a debut album, so many great tracks, this was another one that hit the spot straight away with the trademark twin guitar work of Ted Turner and Andy Powell, the fabulous bass and vocals of Martin Turner, driven by Steve Upton on drums.

This is such a great album, again very difficult to select one track, but I’ve again gone for a track that probably didn’t get much airplay back in the day.

From ‘Wishbone Ash’ – ‘Queen of Torture’ side One track 3 great track, enjoy.

#3 | Blind Faith | Can’t Find My Way Home

At school during 70-75 the majority of people who were into music chose ‘pop music’, however, a small group of us who had older brothers were into rock, blues and progressive music, and as I’ve mentioned, our influences came from their record collections.

My next selection is going to be from the band ‘Blind Faith’. Rick Grech, Ginger Baker Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood—the super group of its time.

I first heard this album courtesy of one of my pals at school. We were ‘round his house one day playing a few records and he got this particular one out from his brother’s collection. We sat there and listened to it and loved it. This track really showcases Steve Winwood’s vocals brilliantly.

From Blind Faith - Can’t Find My Way Home - side one track 2.

Editor’s note: We covered this track back in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Enjoy…

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#4 | Deep Purple | Highway Star

Number four is going to be from the outstanding Deep Purple Made in Japan album, surely one of the greatest live albums of all time and one of the great bands of all time. The track that I’m going to select is Highway Star from side one, track 1.

This track has stood the test of time and is still used as the opener to the band’s gigs today.

#5 | Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band | Ice Cream for Crow.

I first heard Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band on the best music show of all time ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’, wow this show fronted by the great Bob Harris showcased brilliant music.

Around 1974-75 a track was played from Beefheart’s latest album Bluejeans and Moonbeams from the album of the same name. There was something about this track that attracted my attention so I went out and bought the album. I really enjoyed it, a little bit strange but the more I played it the more l seemed to get it. This seemed to follow with a lot of their albums.

I remember buying the album Trout Mask Replica after reading so many great reviews about it, I think particularly John Peel was a big fan. I did eventually buy it and the first time I played it, I couldn’t get my head around what it was all about, there seemed to be a clash of time signatures going on, out of sequence beats, if they’re the right terms to use! I really didn’t know what to make of it at all.

I just didn’t rate, so I parked it up for a few weeks until I decided to give it a few more spins, then it just suddenly seemed to click, and I guess I could see why it was highly rated, diverse, but highly rated.

Beefheart’s music is a bit Marmite, but there is some great music in their back catalogue.

My selection for Track 5 comes from Beefheart’s final studio album, Ice Cream for Crow – the title track, side one, track 1, Ice Cream for Crow

#6 | Free | I’ll be Creepin’

Featuring a Middlesbrough lad who would make good in the music world. Paul Rodgers is, without doubt one of the greatest vocalists to have come out of the UK.

His music with bands Free, Bad Co, collaborations with Queen, and solo work have showcased his vocals since the 60s.

I’ve seen him many times with Bad Co and solo performances, far too young to have seen him with Free. It’s great to see he is going to be inducted into the R&RHF with Bad Co this year……..not that I’m a fan of that establishment!

I’m going to select a track by the band Free.

My selection for Track 6 comes from the album titled Free – Side One, track 1 – I’ll Be Creepin. Great bass line on this track and of course the vocals, Free are probably one of the most underrated bands to come out of the late 60s with stellar tracks such as, The Hunter, Mr Big, Alright Now, My Brother Jake, to name a few.

#7 | Neil Young and Crazy Horse | Like a Hurricane

Neil Young, ok, some folks don’t like this and don’t like that about Neil, but for me he is one of the greatest songwriters and guitarists around, how can you choose just one track?

The first time I saw Neil was with Crazy Horse at Birmingham NEC, 40-plus years ago. In those days, you booked on a coach, ticket included, turned up on the day and time and away you went, the three-hour-plus journey from North Yorkshire was never going to be something to look forward to.

When we arrived at the NEC, before we got off the coach, the driver announced, ‘If you’re not back on the coach by 11 pm we’ll be leaving without you’! Crikey we thought it wasn’t like you could wander off anywhere, it was the gig or bust.

Needless to say, Neil and Crazy Horse were still playing at Midnight and finished their three-and-a-half-hour set something like 12.30. Nobody left the gig early, and our coach was still there waiting for us for that long journey home!

The track I’m going to select is Neil Young & Crazy Horse, from the album Live Rust – side four, track one Like a Hurricane. I need to say no more….

Editor’s note: There doesn’t appear to be video footage of Live Rust, but try this for size!

#8 | The Sensational Alex Harvey Band | The Faith Healer

As I was leaving school in 1975 to join the big outside world of engineering, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band burst into the charts with Delilah and it was a gem of a single covering Tom Jones’ hit of the 60s.

It always makes me smile when I think of the live video that accompanied it, the clothing the band wore, the showmanship, the humour, and their musicianship. But what a frontman Alex Harvey was.

I had to venture into the music, and I’m so glad I did. Some wonderful stuff, no surprise they were the most sought-after live band in the UK at the time. Sadly, like all good things, it all came to an end, but these guys left us with some great music, different, adventurous.

Sadly, I only saw them live after Alex had passed away. Max Maxwell was fronting the band, and doing a jolly fine job, but Alex was a one-off. All the band members moved on to perform in many different bands over the years and it was no surprise these bands were successful in their own right.

I had the pleasure of meeting Zal Cleminson and the late Ted McKenna, great company and chatter, happy memories indeed—Vambo Rool!

The track I’m going to select is The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – from the album Live – side one, track two - The Faith Healer.

#9 | Gary Moore | Empty Rooms

I’ve always been a big fan of Gary Moore from his Colosseum days and especially his solo stuff.

I went to the gig touring the Victims of the Future album at Middlesbrough Town Hall around 1983-84, which sold out. About halfway through there was a power cut. The show went on as Gary brought out his acoustic guitar and entertained everyone until the electrical issue was resolved. He was brilliant and I have to say, sadly missed from the music scene to this day, a fabulous guitar player.

My selection for Track 9 is from the album ‘Victims of the Future’ – side one, track four – Empty Rooms.

#10 | Ozzy Osbourne | Crazy Train

This selection is a tribute to the late great Ozzy Osbourne, what a character, entertainer, frontman.

I remember seeing him on his first solo tour, ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ at Middlesbrough Town Hall 29 th October 1980, what a show, and yes, I still have my ticket.

The band, Lee Kerslake RIP, Randy Rhoads RIP, Bob Daisley and Lindsay Bridgewater on keys: what else can you say about Ozzy that hasn’t already been said? Great memories and the ticket price was £3.00—happy days.

My selection for Track 10 is from the album Blizzard of Ozz – side one, track 2 - Crazy Train

And now two from Suzy and Simon…

Starlite & Campbell

I first saw them at Saltburn Blues Club, which did it for me. I remember Suzy coming around and chatting to everyone before the show, which was a surprise, and I have never seen that before or since. Great touch.

The album that switched me on, so to speak, to the band was Blueberry Pie. A quality record, with some great work going on and deserved more exposure to the music public in my opinion.

Love this album.

Starlite Campbell Band | Walkin’ Out The Door

Fantastic blues number, love that Hammond, great bass lines: a classy opener to the album.

Starlite Campbell Band | Shimmy

Excellent instrumental track, great groove to it. Again, classy Hammond’s and bass, great guitar work driven on by the man on the sticks.