Tributes to Norman Barratt

Mike Rimmer has posted an excellent tribute to the late Norman Barratt which can be read by clicking here. Cross Rhythms also have a piece on Barratt's musical legacy which can be found here.

The Barratt Band's first offering Playing in the City was where I first connected with Barratt's work. It remains an album that rewards seeking out. This synopsis is from Christian Bits:

"In the prog era, guitarist Norman Barratt was revered amongst British players for his work with rock band Gravy Train who released a number of albums on the Vertigo label. After getting saved he played with the Alwyn Wall band in the late '70s before forming the Barratt Band in 1981 and recording this landmark album. Produced by Vic Coppersmith who was working with The Jam at the time, what is most surprising here is the way in which keyboards play as much of a role in the overall sound as Barratt's guitar and gritty vocals. Recorded for the fledgling Chapel Lane record label whose studios allowed the label's artists to invest more time in production, the results were stunning at the time."

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Barratt Band - My Spirit's Free.

Memorable Musical Moments Meme

I was tagged by Banksyboy for this meme:

Think of eight memorable musical moments, not necessarily all time favourites, but those when, for example, you felt compelled to wait in the car when listening to this amazing song on the radio because you just had to know who it was by. Or the piece you heard on the tv in a drama that drove you straight onto iTunes to download... (remember once we spent the princely sum of 6s 8d on a vinyl single?!). Optional details for each song give where, why and Spotify or youtube links ...

1. King Crimson's In The Court Of The Crimson King - heard on late night radio in bed under the covers as a child when I was supposed to be asleep. Had to wait 9 minutes + to find out who it was it by. It seemed to go on forever and I was lost inside it. (View)

2. Instantly loved the sound of Norah Jones' Don't Know Why when I chanced to see the video on one of the music channels - pity the rest of the album wasn't quite up to the same standard. (View)

3. Watching The Jam play In The City on Top of the Pops. 60s cool with 70s relevance. (View)

4. I've watched lots of chick flicks with my daughters and have to report that A Walk To Remember is one of the best; genuinely moving, well acted story with a soundtrack by Switchfoot who I'd never heard before watching the film. Dare You To Move is a classic track which all our family still listen to - one of the few songs that we all respond to. (View)

5. Listened to Randy Stonehill's cover of Strong Hand Of Love on a Greenbelt compilation cassette and had to hear more of Mark Heard's wonderful lyrics and music. Heard is aptly celebrated in Bruce Cockburn's Closer To The Light. (View)

6. Came across Buddy & Julie Miller via their cover of Mark Heard's Orphans of God on the Strong Hand Of Love tribute album. (Listen)

7. Wings of Desire either turned me on Nick Cave's music or reinforced that interest - can't remember which. Also loved the opening poem by Peter Handke and was thrilled to hear the version by Van Morrison on The Philosopher's Stone. (Listen)

8. Heard Larry Norman's Sweet Sweet Song Of Salvation on a Key Records compilation then got Upon This Rock followed by the rest of his early Seventies output. Humour, honesty and intelligence combined with great musicianship and tunes. One of a kind. (View)

I tag Philip Ritchie, Sam Norton and Paul Trathen.

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Noah And The Whale - Love Of An Orchestra.