Albums 2023: Best so far & what’s to come

This isn’t going to be a particularly comprehensive list, as I’m still mostly listening to either classic albums or ones from the very recent past (so many 2022 albums seem to be on my playlist for the first time this year – I promise I’m not going to do a James Acaster-style Perfect Sound Whatever project, […]

“I Can Hear Music” – Queen

Hot Stats Release date: 13 July 1973 UK chart peak: #32 Running time: 38:46 Singles: Keep Yourself Alive, Liar Perhaps unsurprisingly, given that it was their first album – and it was recorded in less than ideal circumstances – this self-titled debut didn’t make much of an impression on the charts, reaching #52 in Japan […]

“Discovering The Classics” – Aladdin Sane

The VitalsRelease date: 19 April 1973UK chart peak: #1Running time: 41:32Singles: The Jean Genie (#2), Drive-In Saturday (#3) This album was part of Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust era, coming hot on the heels of his breakthrough hit The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, though it didn’t reach number one outside […]

“Discovering The Classics” – The Dark Side Of The Moon

The VitalsRelease date: 1 March 1973UK chart peak: #2Running time: 42:50Singles: Money, Us and Them This album features some of Pink Floyd’s most well known tracks – as well as having one of the most iconic pieces of cover art of all time – and so it’s not a surprise that it reached the number […]

“Discovering The Classics” – Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player

The VitalsRelease date: 26 January 1973UK chart peak: #1Running time: 43:05Singles: Crocodile Rock (#5), Daniel (#4) This album features two of Elton John’s more iconic singles and, though its wordy title may not be as familiar to audiences now, it unsurprisingly managed to reach the number one spot in Australia, Canada, Italy, Norway, Spain […]

“I Can Hear Music” – News of the World

Hot Stats Release date: 28 October 1977 UK chart peak: #4 Running time: 39:10 Singles: We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You (#2), Spread Your Wings (#34), It’s Late A perennial fan favourite, News of the World managed to reach the top 10 in most territories across the world: the Netherlands & France (#1), Germany […]

“I Can Hear Music” – Hot Space

Hot Stats Release date: 21 May 1982 UK chart peak: #4 Running time: 43:29 Singles: Under Pressure (#1), Body Language (#25), Las Palabras de Amor (#17), Calling All Girls, Staying Power, Back Chat (#40) Though it’s often looked back on unfavourably, Hot Space still managed to reach the top 10 in most territories across the […]

#MindTheBand: “I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio” – Scream Above the Sounds

Performance (& Cocktails)Release date: 27 October 2017UK chart peak: #2Running time: 46:29Singles: All In One Night, Caught by the Wind Scream Above the Sounds had a mixed response from critics, but was still a hit with fans. It had a varied international performance, reaching the top ten in three other countries: Ireland (#9), New Zealand […]

#MindTheBand: “I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio” – Pull The Pin

Performance (& Cocktails)Release date: 12 October 2007UK chart peak: #1Running time: 46:25Singles: It Means Nothing (#12), My Friends (#32) Pull The Pin may not have been a hit with the critics, but it was no less popular with fans in the UK, giving the band their fifth consecutive number one album. It performed less well […]

#MindTheBand: “I Wouldn’t Believe Your Radio” – Word Gets Around

Performance (& Cocktails)Release date: 25 August 1997UK chart peak: #6Running time: 42:02Singles: Looks Like Chaplin, Local Boy in the Photograph (original release – #51, re-issue – #14), More Life in a Tramp’s Vest (#33), A Thousand Trees (#22), Traffic (#20) Though Word Gets Around ended up performing incredibly well in the UK, eventually going 3x […]