tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post7007862924686948523..comments2024-03-18T10:29:46.055+00:00Comments on Ken Armstrong Writing Stuff: See You for Two out of ThreeKen Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-3874396670915896472022-01-23T19:49:53.127+00:002022-01-23T19:49:53.127+00:00Superb Ken - another slice if life! I was busy swa...Superb Ken - another slice if life! I was busy swapping my first album from some K-tel compilation to Bat out of Hell in Star records in the Five Star arcade 😀MC Somershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14328783977908053326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-47924217550743531722022-01-23T18:29:45.319+00:002022-01-23T18:29:45.319+00:00If I were to compile a Soundtrack of my Life there...If I were to compile a Soundtrack of my Life there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that <i>Bat Out of Hell</i>, the track itself at least, would be there but, like many of my friends over the years, I've long since forgotten how we first met. The single charted in early 1979 and I know where I was then, recently married for the first time, in our own flat and doing well in my career. All in all it was a pretty good time in my life. I was reading a lot of good books, found my poetic voice and, dare I say it? yeah, why not?, happy, maybe, until recently, the happiest I've been in my life. <br /><br />I'm looking at the charts from the time and trying to see what jumps out. Elvis Costello & The Attractions, 'Oliver's Army', Dr Feelgood, 'Milk And Alcohol', Ian Dury & The Blockheads, 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick', Dire Straits, 'Sultans of Swing', hell I've even got a soft spot for Lene Lovich's 'Lucky Number' but what gets me, looking back, is how fleeting Meat Loaf's appearance in the charts was, barely a month. I was done buying singles at that time but I do know at some point in my life I've owned a copy of <i>Bat Out of Hell</i> but none of his subsequent releases and yet I still consider myself a fan, both of him and Steinman. I loved the latter's work with Bonnie Tyler but my favourite album of his has to be <i>Bad for Good</i> especially the track 'Surf's Up' which I once played on repeat (by which I mean I rewound the tape again and again) all the way from Irvine to Motherwell and I've never listened to ANY single track over and over like that.<br /><br />There're tracks that you hear for the first time and you know they're game-changers. 'Anarchy in the UK' was one and I <i>do</i> remember hearing that on the radio for the first time in that flat and wondering what the f-,g- and h- I'd just heard, and I had a similar WTF moment when I first heard 'Autobahn' but not, surprisingly looking back, 'Bat Out of Hell' although to be fair I couldn't tell you where I was when I first listened to The Beatles or David Bowie. I did listen to the whole album a couple of weeks back and it's stood the test of time without a doubt. Sad that he did so much damage to his vocal chords he never got to record <i>Bad for Good</i> himself as had been the plan. It would've been a worthy follow-up. He did end up covering a few tracks and I'll leave you with his version of <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eKCBtcwhRWI" rel="nofollow">'Surf's Up'</a> although I still prefer Steinman's.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-38700082621848024622022-01-23T14:53:01.327+00:002022-01-23T14:53:01.327+00:00Thank you, once again, for a heartening tale that ...Thank you, once again, for a heartening tale that plucked a smile from nowhere again. You always manage to brighten my Sundays.Fleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17747615220445626388noreply@blogger.com