• Following on from the Primal Scream frontman’s brilliantly-received previous release for Ace, ‘Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down’ (accolades included being short-listed for Rough Trade’s compilation of the year), Bobby Gillespie brings us another slice of the music that soundtracks his life. And in this case, it’s his touring life. Drawing on the experience of ‘the way that the noise and clamour of the road can tire you out, wear you down and frazzle your nerves to shattered fragments of jangled exhaustion’, these are the records Bobby turns to for solace, for comfort, for empathy and for resourcefulness. • The compilation features an introduction from the man himself, talking us through his personal choices as though he’s sitting cross-legged on the carpet going through records with you in his lounge. Also long-time cohort of the band, Kris Needs has written extensive liner-notes, serving up an intensive track by track insight and analysis. • Titled after and kicking off with the Willie Nelson track of the same name, ‘I Still Can’t Believe You’re Gone’ leads us through a darker and deeper exploration than its predecessor, featuring Nick Cave’s funereal version of ‘By The Time I Get To Phoenix’ and Ry Cooder’s sparse and beautiful reworking of ‘Dark End Of The Street’. And we get there via such greats as Bob Dylan, JJ Cale, Donnie Fritts, Crazy Horse, Lee Hazlewood, Al Green, Thin Lizzy and so many more. • In Bobby’s own words: ‘These songs are soul savers to soothe frayed and battered nerves and to ease and settle the heart. They work on me like medicine every time. I would like to share this wonderful music that has given me strength, joy and inspiration over the years with you the listener, so that you too might get the same feelings of protection and inspiration that I do whenever I listen to these songs. We're all travellers on some kind of road through this life, and we all need respite from time-to-time - the music on this compilation is soul food of the highest order - I hope you enjoy it.’.
T**C
TC A man of eclectic and impeccable taste
Having had the pleasure to see Primal Scream several times over the past 30 years and to stand fifteen feet away from Bobby Gillespie when Nick Cave thrust the mic to him for an impromptu vocal contribution to a song Nick Cave performed live at the O2 several years back, I always have plenty of time for Bobby Gillespie, whether with his music, in print (read his autobiography) or in his choice of songs for such compilations as this. I always feel the best compilations will have a few familiar tunes, some lesser known songs from well known artists and a handful of new songs (to me anyway). This album is a superb collection of songs, that in the context of aiming to comfort those low, empty feelings that we all experience from time to time (ups and downs of relationships) flows perfectly from one song to the next. How have I overlooked the Al Green and Chi-lites songs? I look forward to a third offering from Bobby Gillespie on the quality Ace label.
T**H
Second volume of Bobby Gillespie's maudlin tear in his beer favourite songs.....
This is the second compilation by Bobby Gillespie for the legendary ACE Records of his favourite broken-hearted ballads and existential blues, pop and soul songs after "Sunday Morning Comin' Down".It is a better selection of tracks than Bobby's first volume but that being said a lot of these songs will be familiar to record collectors of the type who might consider buying this sort of record.Furthermore, whilst most of the selections are rightly considered classic songs, some of the selections do not blend in too well, the most glaring example is the overly-maudlin "The Coldest Day Of My Life" by The Chi-Lites. The couple of post 1980s tracks are also a little uncomfortable in the midst of the overwhelming late-1960s to mid-1970s majority of songs, not because they are bad, they are not, but because of the hugely different production style (with reverb turned to 11 and booming drums).Overall though a very good to excellent compilation with at least 14 superb tracks out of a total of 18, plus I had to smile at Bobby looking thoroughly miserable in the photo on the back cover of the booklet (excellent liner notes by the way) looking for all the world like it had just been taken minutes after his infamous car-crash appearance on the 'This Week' TV show.
W**
Another brilliant Bobby Gillespie collection
Having really enjoyed Bobby Gillespie's previous collection "Sunday Morning Coming Down" , when I saw this CD I had no hesitation in ordering it . I must admit it took a little longer to get into but now I think it's almost as good as the last one , just on a different emotional level that you have to be on to fully appreciate it , and because of that it doesn't fit every mood . But when it does it really hits the spot .One minor gripe is that Bobby should have included the James Carr version of "Dark End Of The Street" (as mentioned in the sleeve notes) as more folks should get to hear one of the all time greatest soul vocal performances . Ry Cooder's instrument version is good and nice to hear , but it's not as essential .
M**T
excellente prestation
vrai choix fait par un vrai connaisseur . Bravo
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