This week’s album-length playlist with music from artists including World Party, Sheryl Crow, and Keith Richards.
The Gems album playlist—new and classic tracks compiled by Ian Sharp of LP.
Welcome to Gems. Each week I compile a playlist of classics and new tracks. In keeping with the ethos of LP, each playlist is 40–45 minutes long - a sampler album.
Gems. Albums, not algorithms.
Note: Album titles are linked to Amazon (affiliate) where available, and Bandcamp where available (not affiliated).
I’m donating the affiliate income received from Gems #25 to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Side 1 (21 mins)
World Party Put the Message in the Box (from Goodbye Jumbo, 1990)
A few days ago we lost Karl Wallinger. He recorded as World Party and, for a while, being one of The Waterboys (including on the seminal The Whole of the Moon). This is one of his better-known ‘solo’ tracks in his memory.
Sheryl Crow & Peter Gabriel Digging in the Dirt (from Evolution Deluxe, out 29/03/2024)
This is an unexpected cover of the dark Gabriel song from his album Us. It doesn’t stray too far from the original, although Crow’s version is slightly brighter. As she tells it, she didn’t expect Gabriel to contribute, just give his blessing for her version, but he replied to her message with a new vocal. This is only on the deluxe version of her new album; unusually for a bonus track it’s not appended to the end - it’s inserted as track two.
Dim Gray Murals (single, out now)
Oskar Holldorff, one member of Dim Gray, also plays keyboards for Big Big Train. This is our introduction to their forthcoming third album.
Iron & Wine & Fiona Apple All in Good Time (from Light Verse, out 26/04/2024)
Iron & Wine is by American singer-songwriter Sam Beam, whose folk-rock discography stretches back to 2002. This excellent collaboration with Fiona Apple could see him reaching a wider audience - well, let’s hope so.
Hurray for the Riff Raff Hawkmoon (from The Past is Still Alive, out now)
Americana now, from Alynda Segarra’s band. They have described their music as ‘nature punk’; whatever box they prefer to be in, this is a fine song from a band I’m just discovering.
Side 2 (23 mins)
Mary Timony No Thirds (from Untame the Timer, out now)
Side 2 starts with the alternative tunings of singer-songwriter Mary Timony, who is number 93 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 250 best guitarists of all time, compiled in 2023.
T. Bone Burnett feat. Lucias Waiting for You (from The Other Side, out 19/04/2024)
T. Bone Burnett emerged from Bob Dylan’s band in the 1970s and has since become one of the most influential artists across multiple genres. I first (knowingly) encountered him via his extensive work with Elvis Costello. This track is from Burnett’s first solo album in twenty years.
Dead Root Revival Got in Store (from The Controller’s Exam, out now)
Elements of blues, rock, hard rock, and jazz form the work of Dead Root Revival. This track is a good example of their range, all in four minutes. They proudly state their music is recorded and mixed to analogue tape. If you’ve got a good hi-fi, can you hear any difference?
Keith Richards I’m Waiting for the Man (single, out now)
Recorded in honour of Lou Reed’s birthday, and only available on streaming services so far as I can discover, this is a great alternative reading of the classic song.
Joe Walsh Rocky Mountain Way (from The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get, 1973)
The most famous yet not necessarily the best track on the album, which is the subject of my Glimpse next week.
Video Gem of the Week
As I was completing these notes we heard of the passing of Steve Harley. Sad news about an adventurous musician.
I completed reading David Hepworth’s history of the Abbey Road studios yesterday, which includes his account of the arranging and recording of Come Up and See Me, included in this video.
Bonus Track
Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes Going Home
You’ll find this on streaming services, but the more charitable option is to download it for just 99p and donate to the Teenage Cancer Trust and Teen Cancer America (as I wrote at the top, all my affiliate link income from this Gems #25 is also going to the TCT). As well as Mark Knopfler himself, there are many - many, many, many - guitarists in this ten-minute reading of Knopfler’s gorgeous melody. Now the fun starts - who’s making a list of who plays what where on the track?
What did you most enjoy in Gems #25? Did anything not resonate with you? Comments are open to all.
What’s next? A Glimpse of The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get by Joe Walsh, early next week.
Have you seen Mary McCartney's documentary on Abbey Road? It's excellent.
If you’ve not yet heard Hurray For The Riff Raff’s 2017 album The Navigator, it’s fantastic. I rated it my #2 album of the year. Absolutely stunning