Welcome back to 10 Records in 10 Days. A Facebook chain-turned 10 day blog series. The concept is simple. ”Post an album a day covering your 10 all time favourite albums. What really made an impact and is still on your rotation list, even if only now and then? Post the cover, no need to explain, and nominate a person each day to do the same”.
We’ve been nominated but rather than post without explanation, we thought it would be more fun to provide a little context. That is just the first of the rules we plan to break in this series. We are also not nominating anyone else (if you want to join in, you are more than welcome to do so) and we are also not adhering to any of the other implied rules either.
For the purpose of this series, we’ll be posting in the first person.
Day 10 brings me to the end of this series and an opportunity to break all of the rules, both explicit and implied.
Various – All The Albums
Let’s be honest. There was no way I was ever going to keep this list down to a solid 10 records. There are just far too many that I adore and that mean so much to me that I could never willingly exclude some. In fact, I think I did pretty well just pulling this down to a solid nine records and only going crazy at the end.
Here then are a bunch of other records that have to feature in my list of favourites and those that really made an impact and remain on my rotation list.
Avec Sans – Heartbreak Hi The debut album from one of my favourite bands. I absolutely adore this record, play it regularly and it will forever be special as it marks the first time my name appeared in the liner notes for genuine reasons (i.e. without it being part of a pledgemusic campaign or similar).
John Grant – Queen of Denmark Just a beautiful album that introduced me to the incredible talent, lyricism and raw honesty of John Grant. His music is powerful, emotional and stunning.
Lyla Foy – Mirrors The Sky Another album that is just divine. Foy’s vocals are utterly gorgeous and the arrangements are heavenly. I seemingly hear something new on each listen and it just gets better and better.
Spring Offensive – Young Animal Hearts Another of my favourite bands and an album that I waited years and years for. It turned out to be everything I had hoped and more. That it also marked the end of the band only serves to make it more special.
Lo Fidelity Allstars – How To Operate With A Blown Mind An album I discovered in my late teens and that really fed my love and appreciation for leftfield electronica and big beats. I can’t help thinking of my university days when I listen to this and the assertion from a friend that it was weird, and very me.
Morcheeba – Big Calm Another album from my university days and one that makes me think of a certain group of friends and of a play I was in that another friend had written. Like Moon Safari it is a beautiful laidback and soothing delight. It also, randomly, introduced me to the work of poet Murray Lachlan Young (as he was featured on a special edition version of the album, interviewing the band).
Diana Ross – Diana Ross As a kid I knew Diana Ross for the sparkly campness of “Chain Reaction” and being unable to kick a ball in a straight line at the 1994 World Cup opening ceremony. As an adult I discovered why she was so revered and so important. The cover images of this album alone mark the beginning of her transition from shy, elfin talent, to sequined showstopper. It reawoke my love of motown and soul and has inspired many a session of crate digging at the local second hand record stores.
Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion Part II Part of my musical sponge period and a massive contributor to my my love of attitude fueled, swaggering rock. This was one of those albums that got passed around by my friends and was listened to secretly on walkmans in class.
Roxette – Joyride A stonking pop album from a superb pop band that was released smack bang in the middle of my youthful pop loving phase. They’ve sold billions of albums yet still Roxette seem to be massively underrated. I still love them.
TLC – Crazy Sexy Cool Another record that I associate with friends. This didn’t really feel like a hip hop album to me, more like a super funky pop record. It’s sensual, soulful, sexy and infectious. It’s full of passion and romance as well as hooks that you just cannot escape. Another that I still listen to today and that still sounds as good now as it did back then.
Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi An album that I had by accident. My aunt and uncle gave me a walkman and had clearly tested it with one of my cousin’s C60’s, which they had forgotten to remove. It felt illicit listening to it, especially as I would often sneakily listen after I was supposed to have gone to bed. From the opening synths of “Runaway” and that sliding guitar, I was enthralled. And so it was that I was introduced to hair metal and the early seeds that would become the staple of every wedding I would go to in my adult life. Jumping up and down and shouting along to classic rock. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Alphabet Bands 
Well done – see that you have managed to avoid all the rock and Motown records with which we saturated your formative days!
And no folk rock either – what did we do wrong as parents?
As tempting as it was to have Steeleye Span on the list, they just missed out.
Sorry.