The Hanging Stars were playing down the road from me six short years ago. A bus ride away from the Centre of Newcastle where I live. In a bar in Gosforth High Street. I was looking forward to seeing them play. Considering inviting a friend down who I've since fallen out with. I seem to have fallen out with a few since then. But I wonder if I'm alone. It seems to be the times.
Anyhow, the gig was cancelled because COVID night was impending. The night from which we haven't yet completely emerged it seems. But The Hanging Stars have hung on in there.Just a Day is their sixth album and there are no evident changes in their signature sound.It's comforting.
This record makes me think of one of the most memorable days of my life. A glorious sunny day in 1984 when my sister and I walked from our lovely three storeyed family home in Teddington. opposite Bushy Park. All the way along Queens Road and across the bridge to Kingston and a record shop which specialised in the Paisley Underground sound and all the ringing American guitar bands that The Melody Maker were championing at the time.
I had a chat with the guy behind the counter and bought Reckoning the second album by R.E.M. I'd been wearing down my copy of Murmur and had high hopes that Reckoning was going to be Murmur Part II. I loved it and wanted the same thing again, an indication of my limitations but I'm proud looking back that my heart and instincts were in exactly the right place. I still play Reckoning every couple of weeks.
Alison and I walked back in the burning, golden sunlight home to 111 Queens Road. I went upstairs and put Reckoning on my record player and found I didn't know what I was listening to. I was slightly nonpluseed. It turned out Reckoning was not Murmur Part 2 as I'd hoped. It was something else. R.E.M. were ahead of the game. Certainly ahead of mine. I was a follower essentially. I probably still am.
Just a Day is not in Reckoning's league. It hedges its bets and gives the listener what they want. What they've learned to expect. I'm actually quite pleased it does. This is a well worn sound forty years and more on. Sixty years since My Tambourine Man.
It's a record for those for whom Gene Clark was their favourite Byrd. Who think Big Star lost the plot rather when Chris Bell flew the coop and still haven't recovered from Gerry Love's departure from Teenage Fanclub.And probably never will. Who go to record shop blow outs on a Saturday morning hoping to chance upon choice New Riders of the Purple Sage, Flying Burrito Brothers and Poco albums in the bargain bin. People like me. This is a great record. For people like me ....
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