ALL BACK TO MY PLACE Geordie Greep Paul Stanley
THE STARS REVEAL THE SONIC DELIGHTS GUARANTEED TO GET THEM GOING... BLACK MIDI OVERDRIVER STARCHILD, SOUL MAN
What music are you currently grooving to?
Circense by Egberto Gismonti. The brilliant, brilliant, brilliant Brazilian multi-instrumentalist gives you eight dynamite tunes. Despite being almost entirely instrumental, this is a truly absorbing, accessible listen, with even its occasional detours into schmaltz saved by an omnipresent vivacity.
What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album? What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye. Cliché answer but there is no 36 minutes of recorded music I find more enjoyable.
What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it? Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand.
Great song, very well put together.
Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be?
An infinite amount of wonderful artists for an infinite amount of ridiculous fantasies. My answer today would be a no-name musician in one of J.S. Bach’s ensembles. There would be no pressure to do anything spectacular, and no chance for your inadequacy to desecrate the course of music, but you would have a first-hand look at the supreme genius of the art-form and be the only person of the last 275 years to hear his work as it was truly intended. This is not even mentioning the possibility of hearing him improvise on the pipe organ.
What do you sing in the shower? You can’t sing in the shower – it disrupts whatever hypothetical scenario, seminar, argument, treaty, etc is being conducted.
What is your favourite Saturday night record?
Hats by The Blue Nile. A terrific, passionate album featuring some of the best vocal performances I can remember. The final track exemplifies this time of the week.
And your Sunday morning record? Laura Nyro.
New York Tendaberry by
Truly unique songs with a linear, theatrical approach. One of the most striking things about it is a sparseness and sense of dynamics… forget about those hacks from New York, this is the true minimalist music!
What music are you currently grooving to?
I try for some diversity, and the idea of just living in the past isn’t that interesting. I certainly find some of Arianna Grande’s music really good. Allen Stone, an R&B singer, writes some terrific material, Post Malone… and Billie Eilish is terrific.
What, if push comes to shove, is your all-time favourite album? Wow, wow. So so hard. There are so many important albums for me, but I might just grab Sam Cooke Live At The Harlem Square. He is the foundation of so much, so important in the scheme of things.
What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it?
It dates me but it was a 78rpm record. I was probably five years old, and my grandmother walked me miles over a bridge near our home in Manhattan to this little record store, and I bought, on Cadence Records, The Everly Brothers’ Dream. Then, you weren’t just transported by the music, it was the cover and linernotes as well, like a full meal. I bought the first King Crimson record after looking at the cover – “I don’t know what the hell this is, but I have to have it!”
Which musician, other than yourself, have you ever wanted to be? My gosh! So many. It could be Jimmy Page, Jackie Wilson, Rod Stewart, Robert Plant, Steve Marriott, David Ruffin, Pavarotti…
What do you sing in the shower? I don’t often… and I don’t shower on-stage.
What is your favourite Saturday night record?
Depends on what’s going on that night. It might be The Temptations’ Just My Imagination; Hendrix, All Along The Watchtower; Otis, Try A Little Tenderness; Zeppelin, Ramble On…
And your Sunday morning record? I have a compilation of Motown, Philly soul, Chicago soul. I’d have a hearty breakfast with the family and go ride my bike and listen.
“I don’t know what the hell this is, but I have to have it.” PAUL STANLEY