The Ghosts That Haunt Me - Crash Test Dummies

Released in 1991 this was CTD debut album. The big hit Superman's Song is a slow funeral dirge, mournfully telling the story of Clark Kent/Superman, as if he had recently died. The central theme is the death of the selfless hero. The song notes that Superman had the power to commit great evil and bring himself unfathomable riches, but instead chose to use his powers for good, while expecting no payment for his deeds.

Tarzan wasn't a ladies' man

He'd just come along and scoop 'em up under his arm

Like that, quick as a cat in the jungle

But Clark Kent now there was a real gent

He would not be caught sittin' around in no

Junglescape, dumb as an ape doing nothing

Supermen never made any money

For saving the world from Solomon Grundy

And sometimes I despair the world will never see

Another man like him

Hey Bob, Supe had a straight job

Even though he could have smashed through any bank

In the United States, he had the strength, but he would not

Folks said his family were all dead

Their planet crumbled but Superman, he forced himself

To carry on, forget Krypton, and keep going

Tarzan was king of the jungle and Lord over all the apes

But he could hardly string together four words: "I Tarzan, You Jane. "

Sometimes when Supe was stopping crimes

I'll bet that he was tempted to just quit and turn his back

On man, join Tarzan in the forest

But he stayed in the city, and kept on changing clothes

In dirty old phonebooths till his work was through

And nothing to do but go on home

Automatic For The People - R.E.M.

Released in 1992 this was R.E.M.'s 8th studio album. It has some great songs on it - Everybody Hurts, Nightswimming, Man On The Moon and my favorite The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite.

The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite was influenced by the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight, both in the title of the song and through the song's opening refrain. The band used The Lion Sleeps Tonight as the B-side to this song. The lyrics are famously easy to mishear. A 2010 survey found that the chorus line "Call me when you try to wake her" was the most misheard lyric in Britain. The most common mishearing of the chorus line is "Calling Jamaica". I always thought it was "Call me a trouble maker"! 

I saw R.E.M. at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre 10 January 1995. I remember the concert well for all the wrong reasons - I was in such a bad mood that night that it took me ages to actually start appreciating that I was at an R.E.M. concert! I will never forget Michael Stipe singing Country Feedback - I couldn't get the song out my head for ages. I really hope I get to see them again one day.

The Joshua Tree - U2

Released in 1987 this album brings back so many memories of high school but mainly Janice Morice & Tracey Dullens! Packed with hits like Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Bullet The Blue Sky and my favorites With Or Without You (would have to be in my top 50 songs of all time) and Running To Stand Still.

It is surprising that U2 have taken this long to feature on my plays of the day. If I had done this 10 years ago they probably would have dominated the first 2 weeks. I love U2's music but I think Bono has slowly driven me insane with his political views. I go to concerts to hear great music and have a fab time - I don't really care to hear about politics.

I have seen U2 twice both at Footy Park first time was the Zoo TV tour 16 November 1993 and it would have to be up there with the best concerts I have ever witnessed. This is the last time Zoo Station has been played live. The second time was the Vertigo tour originally scheduled for 28 March 2006 the concert was resceduled to the 16 November 2006 thirteen years to the day since the last concert.

16 November 1993 - Setlist:

Zoo Station

The Fly

Even Better Than The Real Thing

Mysterious Ways

One / Unchained Melody (snippet)

Until The End Of The World

New Year's Day

Numb

Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World

Hello, Goodbye (snippet) / Angel Of Harlem

Stay (Faraway, So Close!)

Satellite Of Love

Dirty Day

Bullet The Blue Sky

Running To Stand Still / Amazing Grace (snippet)

Where The Streets Have No Name

Pride (In The Name Of Love)

encore(s):

Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car

Congratulations (snippet) / Lemon

With Or Without You

Love Is Blindness

Can't Help Falling In Love

16 November 2006 - Setlist:

City Of Blinding Lights

Vertigo

Elevation

I Will Follow

New Year's Day

Beautiful Day

Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of

Angel Of Harlem

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own

Love And Peace Or Else

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Bullet The Blue Sky

Miss Sarajevo

Pride (In The Name Of Love)

Where The Streets Have No Name

One

Encore:

Zoo Station

The Fly

With Or Without You

Encore 2:

The Saints Are Coming

Desire

Kite

Save Me, San Francisco - Train

Released in 2009 this is my favorite Train album. Hey Soul Sister boasts title of most downloaded iTunes song of 2010. It is also the most played song in Australian radio history!

I absolutely love this album and was quite surprised at all the records it broke in 2010 - amazing what one catchy song can do. So here are the lyrics of Hey Soul Sister:

Hey, hey, hey

Your lipstick stains on the front lobe of my left side brains

I knew I wouldn't forget you, and so I went and let you blow my mind

Your sweet moon beam, the smell of you in every single dream I dream

I knew when we collided, you're the one I have decided who's one of my kind

Hey soul sister, ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo, the way you move ain't fair, you know!

Hey soul sister, I don't want to miss a single thing you do...tonight

Hey, hey,hey

Just in time, I'm so glad you have a one-track mind like me

You gave my life direction, a game show love connection we can't deny

I'm so obsessed, my heart is bound to beat right out my untrimmed chest

I believe in you, like a virgin, you're Madonna, and I'm always gonna wanna blow your mind

Hey soul sister, ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo, the way you move ain't fair, you know!

Hey soul sister, I don't want to miss a single thing you do...tonight

The way you can cut a rug, watching you's the only drug I need

You're so gangsta, I'm so thug, you're the only one I'm dreaming of

You see, I can be myself now finally, in fact there's nothing I can't be

I want the world to see you be with me

Hey soul sister, ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo, the way you move ain't fair, you know!

Hey soul sister, I don't want to miss a single thing you do tonight,

Hey soul sister, I don't want to miss a single thing you do...tonight

Hey, hey,hey

Backspacer - Pearl Jam

Released in 2009 this is Pearl Jam's 9th studio album. Rolling Stone ranked it 11th in the top 25 albums of 2009. My favorite tracks are The Fixer and Just Breathe.

I saw Pearl Jam live at The Adelaide Oval 17 November 2009. What a great night it was for an outdoor concert. 

Set 1

Release

Why Go

Gonna See My Friend

Brain Of J.

In My Tree

Severed Hand

Faithfull

Got Some

Even Flow

Johnny Guitar

Amongst The Waves

I Got Id

Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town

No Way

Unthought Known

Lukin

Blood

Encore 1

Just Breathe

Red Mosquito

Indifference

State Of Love And Trust

The Real Me

The Fixer

Rearviewmirror

Encore 2

Smile

Life Wasted

Alive

Yellow Ledbetter

Diesel and Dust - Midnight Oil

Released in 1987 this was the first time I ever heard of Midnight Oil. In 1989, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it number 13 on their list of the 100 best albums of the 80s.

The rhythm of Beds are Burning is said to be inspired by the noise of their vehicles' wheels on the corrugated dirt roads in the region.

I'm not the worlds biggest Peter Garrett fan but I can admit they have some great songs and what other choice could I make for an album of the day on Australia Day.

New Beginning - Tracy Chapman

Released in 1995 this is Chapman's biggest selling album. I'm surprised it's taken me 25 days to get to a Chapman album because she is one of my favorite artists and I own all 8 of her albums. The biggest hit was Give Me One Reason but my favorites are Smoke and Ashes, At This Point In My Life, Tell It Like It Is and The Promise.

I saw Chapman perform live at The Adelaide Festival Theatre in the mid '90's and I can't wait to see her again. Her voice is just something else and her concert an absolute treat.

Love the chorus of At This Point In My Life:

At this point in my life

I've done so many things wrong I don't know if I can do right

If you put your trust in me I hope I won't let you down

If you give me a chance I'll try

Parachutes- Coldplay

Released in 2000 this was Coldplay's debut album. The hits were Shiver, Trouble, Don't Panic and my all time favorite Coldplay song Yellow. Parachutes is number 12 on the list of the 20 biggest-selling albums of the 21st century in the United Kingdom. 

Useless bit of trivia: The album's cover features a photograph of a globe taken with a disposable Kodak camera. The globe had been purchased from WH Smith for £10. it was featured in the music videos for Shiver and Don't Panic, and also accompanied the band on their tours.

Flight of The Crow - Passenger

Released in 2010 this album was recorded in a single day. Passenger is a UK act, frontman Mike Rosenberg teamed up with a number of Australian artists to record this album and it is bloody brilliant. I only heard this album for the first time last week and from the first song I knew I was going to love it.

The 26-year-old singer/songwriter journeyed across Australia and collaborated with Boy & Bear, Lior, Josh Pyke, Katie Noonan, Kate Miller Heidke, Matt Corby and Jess Chalker to name a few. The album was entirely self-funded by the busking income Rosenberg earned performing on Australia's streets. Flight Of The Crow is the remarkable result of Rosenberg's intrepid journey, and the friendships struck along the way. The album was recorded in Sydney's famous BJB Studios.

Ma'Cheri - Freshlyground

Released in 2007. It's about time I did a South African album. This is their 3rd album but the first one I heard and had to buy it immediately, I now own all 4 of their albums. I love most the songs on this album especially Pot Belly, Gogorilla and Arms of Steel.

It is quite odd that this group were introduced to me by an Australian rather than a South African - thank you to all my South African friends that do not keep me up to date with the music scene - lift your game guys :p

How can you not love the Pot Belly chorus:

Even though I have

Fat thighs

Flabby arms

A pot belly still gives good loving

Watermark - Enya

Released in 1988 Watermark was Enya's breakthrough album, it is considered a seminal example of New Age music, although Enya herself does not consider her work to be of that genre. The major hits off this album were Orinoco Flow and Storms In Africa. The album has sold more than 13 million copies to date.

I have to admit when this was released and I was in high school - I HATED IT!!! Now I listen to it and find it quite relaxing and pleasant. Does that mean I have mellowed with age or have I just got old? Anyhow I enjoy listening to the album and appreciate it for what it is.

The Lonesome Jubilee - John Mellencamp

Released in 1987 this is Mellencamp's 9th of 21 studio albums! It has some big hits on it - Paper In Fire, Check It Out, Cherry Bomb and Rooty Toot Toot.

Mellencamp originally wrote the song as a nursery rhyme for his daughter, Teddi Jo, who had asked her father to use her name in one of his songs. After it was written, Mellencamp and his band turned Rooty Toot Toot into a rock song.

I saw Mellencamp perform at The Adelaide Entertainment Centre 19 Novemeber 2008. I never realised how tiny this man is - his hair is bigger than him! It was a great concert though you forget just how many hits he has had until you sit there and listen to him pump them out.

The Captain - Kasey Chambers

Released in 1999 this was Kasey Chambers debut album. It featured Cry Like A Baby, This Flower and The Captain. A good old South Australian girl how can you not love Kasey Chambers? I have seen Kasey live many times and she herself admits you either love or hate her whining country twang. I have to add the lyrics for This Flower as it's one of the most beautiful songs ever:

Well this flower is my soul

But it's not half of what I owe

I should give you every rose that I ever grew

But take this one here for a start

And you can keep it in your heart

I have everything I need because of you

Well if my life was long enough

to pack up everything I love

I would do just that and give it all to you

But it's impossible to pay

All the things that you gave away

So this flower I give will have to do

All the flowers growing wild

For ten thousand lonely miles

It's not near enough to give you what I should

So I will owe you for a while

Maybe longer than my life

I would give you all the world if I could

Eagles - The Eagles

Released in 1972 (like most amazing things) this was their debut album! Tracks include Take it Easy, Witchy Woman and my all time favorite Eagles song Peaceful Easy Feeling. This is the most recent concert I have been to. On the 22 December 2010 we flew to Melbourne and saw The Eagles at the Rod Laver Arena. Such a great venue for a concert and what a concert it was. I do think their tickets are totally overpriced but regretted not seeing them on their last tour so there was no way I was missing out again. They are one classy outfit and the show just runs so smoothly. If I win the lottery I would like to see them again one day :p

Waking Up The Neighbours - Bryan Adams

Released in 1991 this album has sold over 15 million copies making it Adams biggest selling album. (Everything I Do) I Do It for You was number one on the British charts for a record-breaking sixteen weeks. Other great songs on this album – Can’t Stop This Thing We Started, Thought I’d Died and Gone To Heaven and There Will Never Be Another Tonight.

This album has had much airtime in my house over the past 20 years and it’s hard to believe it’s 20 years!!! This was one of the first 10 cd’s I purchased so will always hold fond memories.

I saw Adams on the 15 February 1992 at The Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Even though I was up in the cheap seats this man rocked that stadium. In fact I don’t know anyone who has stayed on a played as long as he did that night. When he ran out of his own songs he started singing covers and the audience went wild. One great entertainer worth every penny – would see him again in a flash.

Devils & Dust - Bruce Springsteen

Released in 2005 this is my favorite Springsteen. Some of the better tracks are – Reno, All The Way Home, Long Time Comin’, All I’m Thinkin’ About and Devils & Dust. Apparently most songs from this album were written a decade before it was released.

I love the harmonica solo in Devils & Dust. The song tells the story of a troubled American soldier serving presumably in Iraq. Some lyrics from the song:

I got God on my side,

I'm just trying to survive -

What if, what you do to survive

Kills the things you love.

Fear's a powerful thing ...

It’s a bit of a slow depressing album but definitely has it’s place for those days when that’s the kind of thing you want to listen to.

Show Some Emotion - Joan Armatrading

Released on 1977 this is Armatrading’s 4^th album of a long list of 20! I can’t believe how much music this woman has pumped out. It has hits like Show Some Emotion, Kissin’ and A Huggin’ and the absolute classic Willow.

I saw Joan on the 20 November 2008 at The Festival Theatre. It was an interesting night to say the least. I love concerts at The Festival Theatre because it is set up so much better than The Entertainment Centre. Armatrading was the opening act for Bryan Ferry, which fascinated me as I think she is so much more than Ferry. I love Ferry but he is a bit of a one hit wonder.

Armatrading gave a brilliant performance but unfortunately I don’t think Adelaidians really know her music. This became very apparent when she sang one of her greatest hits “Willow” and tried to get the audience to sing the chorus. I think there were about 3 of us belting it out. She was extremely annoyed and at that point decided she had had enough. She sang “Drop the Pilot” and left the stage in a huff. Unfortunately I don’t think we will ever see her back in Adelaide L

Full Moon Fever - Tom Petty

Released in 1989 this was Tom Petty’s first solo album. It has some great tracks on it – Free Fallin’, I Won’t Back Down, Yer So Bad, The Apartment Song and Zombie Zoo.

I bought this album because I loved the scene in Jerry Maguire where Tom Cruise is trying to find a song to sing along to on the radio and he eventually clicks over to “Free Fallin”.

I honestly have not listened to it in ages and listening to it again this morning really enjoyed it. It is such an easy album to listen to the whole way through. 

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

Released in 1970 this album runs for a whole 34 minutes – isn’t it funny how short songs were in the “olden days”. Packed full of hits – Bye Bye Love, The Boxer, Keep The Customer Satisfied, Cecilia and of course Bridge Over Troubled Water. This was the last album they recorded together before their break up in 1970.

I was looking at their discography and find it hard to believe they actually only released 5 albums:

1964       Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.

1966       Sounds of Silence

1966       Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme

1968       Bookends

1970       Bridge over Troubled Water

I never imagined I would ever see these two musicians perform live but on the 30 June 2009 at The Adelaide Entertainment Centre I sat in the second row. What an experience – definitely top 5 concerts of all time for me.

A Song Inside My Head, A Demon In My Bed - Oh Laura

Released in 2007 this is one of my favorite albums. It has some fantastic songs on it like Release Me, Out of Bounds, It Aint Enough, Fine Line and The Mess You Left Behind.

Now I’m sure you’re all thinking never ever heard of this little known Swedish group. Well neither had I but I have this weird way of falling in love with songs on advertisements and then googling them! In 2007 there was a SAAB ad that featured Release Me and that’s how I discovered Oh Laura. I went online and imported the cd immediately. It always fascinates me that a group like this doesn’t take off worldwide because the cd is packed with hits.

I have to add the Release Me lyrics for you ‘cause I just love them:

I am the wilderness locked in a cage

I am a growing force you kept in place

I am a tree reaching for the sun

Please don't hold me down

I am a rolling wave without the motion

A glass of water longing for the ocean

I am an asphalt flower breaking free but you keep stopping me

Release me

I am the rain that's coming down on you

That you shielded yourself from with a roof

I am the fire burning desperately but you're controlling me

Release me

Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys

Released in 1966 it was The Beach Boys 11^th studio album and without a doubt their best work. It has been widely ranked as one of the most influential records ever released in popular music and in 2003, it was ranked number 2 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time beaten by The Beatle’s Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

This album seriously has 14 great tracks on it – Wouldn’t It Be Nice, That’s Not Me, Sloop John B (the first song I learned to play on the guitar), God Only Knows, I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times and Caroline No to name a few.

I went to Melbourne with my sister Lieselle to see Brian Wilson perform the “Pet Sounds Live” tour. It was brilliant but so sad to see what drugs have done to this musical genius!

Sleep Through The Static - Jack Johnson

Released in 2008 this is Johnson’s 4^th studio album. I have all his albums but this is definitely my favorite. The hits were Sleep Through the Static, Hope and my absolute favorite If I Had Eyes. It held the record at iTunes for the album with the most digital downloads in a single day, until Coldplay's Viva la Vida set a new record.

I was first introduced to Johnson when I was working at Burnside Council in 2006, I was nominated to lead a group of 6 in the State Local Government Management Challenge. What a hectic few months that was!!! 2 members of the team were huge Johnson fans and I heard them playing On and On – I was hooked.

Throwing Copper - Live

Released in 1994 but I’m pretty sure I only bought it in 1996. I bought other Live albums but this is definitely the best as I don’t think I have ever listened to the others in their entirety.

This was another album I haven’t listened to in years, I know they play Lightning Crashes a lot on the radio but there are plenty of other great songs like Selling The Drama, All Over You, Pillar Of Davidson and my favorite All Over You.

Saw them perform at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on 10 May 1997 and to be honest I can’t even remember the concert – that can’t be a good sign!

Come Away With Me - Norah Jones

Released in 2002 this album won 8 Grammy Awards including Album of the Year. This is another album I find quite easy to listen to the whole way through without skipping a track. My favorites – Come Away With Me and Don’t Know Why.

I saw Norah Jones at The Adelaide Entertainment Centre 18 March 2005. Great show but you definitely need to be in the right frame of mind for this easy listening music else it could put you to sleep :p