Gems #039 Shangri-La - the playlist including The Kinks, Stevie Nicks, T. Rex, and more
Gems #039 Shangri-La - the playlist including The Kinks, Stevie Nicks, T. Rex, and more
Classic and new tracks, compiled by Ian Sharp of LP.
Welcome to Gems, my weekly playlist ranging from classic to current tracks. From this week, each playlist is an hour long, giving more room to stretch out with longer tracks. Yes, LPs can play for 60 mins - do you remember those old Pye Records compilations, most notably The Golden Hour of the Kinks? (The album is represented here with the wonderful ‘Shangri-La’ - and happy 80th birthday for yesterday, Ray). Anyway, like that, only without the loss of hi-fi quality.
Gems #039: Shangri-La
The Spotify playlist, and a link to the Apple Music version, follow after the notes.
Side 1
1. Stevie Nicks + Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers 2. David & Romany Gilmour 3. Linda Thompson & The Unthanks 4. Kirsten Hirsh 5. Jane Weaver 6. Riffindots
Side 2
7. T. Rex 8. Alison Moyet 9. Ben Folds 10. Big Big Train 11. The Kinks 12. The Bardic Depths 13. John Greenwood
I would describe many of this week’s songs as ‘beautiful’. I hope you experience the power of music to move your emotions too.
This Gems includes a few artists that have been popular previously. Track two is the second ‘single’ from the new David Gilmour album, out in September and this time features his daughter Romany on lead vocals. Gems #031 featured the original version of ‘Between Two Points’ by The Montgolfier Brothers. The song is just as lovely in Gilmour’s version and has a classic solo that would grace any of his projects over the years.
Linda Thompson wrote some exquisite songs for her new album, and then recruited some stellar singers in the light of her non-functioning voice. There’s no one better than The Unthanks to do justice to ‘Three Shaky Ships’. This is gorgeous.
Some music writers here on Substack are also excellent musicians, and I feature their work when I can. This time it’s Riffendots (
) rocking it up as she loves to do.Ben Folds has featured on some Substack conversation this week, started by
’s appreciation ‘Landed’ as his Alphabet Soup series reached the letter ‘L’. ‘Landed’ is a masterpiece of a gaslighting song, and many other songs on the LP are not far behind.The extended length of Gems allows room for pieces as such this new recording, at the Sweetwater Studios, of ‘Last Eleven’ from the Big Big Train album The Last of Us. If you’re uncertain about prog rock approach this as a moving, deeply felt beautiful song; shades of Genesis around the time of A Trick of the Tail, yet BBT are far more than a Genesis tribute band.
The Bardic Depths are hoping for a few more plays on Spotify to qualify for royalties. Listening to this track will help, and then explore the full album if you like what you hear (it’s also available to buy on Bandcamp).
Video Gem of the Week
The WOMAD section is in video form - a brief look back at the 2023 festival.
Messages and comments are open. I’d love to know which track you enjoyed most this week, and if you think Gems works as a longer album.
LP is back with another dive into the archive early next week.
Enjoy the music,
Ian
Thank you for taking the time to listen to Gems, and read the notes. LP also includes a weekly 5-minute read (a Glimpse) about a classic album, and long-reads for paid subscribers. If you have not yet subscribed please do - paid subs are invested in buying new music and keep me writing, and free subs demonstrate your support for music writing.