Actually it didn’t take much digging.
Despite everything, and Bowie excluded, I’ve tried to keep this place separate from all of tributes and eulogies to all of the oh-so-many losses from the music world so far this year. There are others who are far better at chronicling and commenting on these things than I – in fact, I’ve been feeling a little sorry for halfhearteddude who does a monthly round up of those that have passed on his wonderful site. You can read his post about January 2016 post here. As you can imagine, it takes a while to get through it all. But don’t stop there, look around: he posts some of the most wonderful stuff around, a lot of which is unknown to me (who knew that Yazz’s “The Only Was Is Up” was a cover version? halfhearteddude, that’s who!) His site is littered in little jewels just waiting to be discovered, and he’s kind enough to include enough songs in each post to fit onto your standard CD.
And I am totally with him as to the best Terry Wogan quote, by the way.
Anyway, I thought it would be appropriate for me to soften my stance somewhat. I’m not going to wax lyrical about Maurice White or Colin Vearncombe here; I was shocked and saddened by the losses, as I am with anybody whose records I own, but I don’t consider myself a big enough fan of either to do a good, respectful job of writing about them. Which is not meant to belittle the music they made, but rather my knowledge of their back catalogues.
You know what I’m trying to say: what I knew of these people I liked, and it’s my own stupid fault that I didn’t investigate further, sooner. If I’m not careful, 2016 will turn me into someone that only buys records by people that have died so they can attempt to share in the communal grief.
So, for one time only on this thread, two beautiful records by two sadly missed recent departures, both very different, but both of which are perfect for posting here.
Neither of them need any further comment – we’ll let the records speak for themselves – other than, y’know, good night, sleep well, and thank you:
More soon.
A History of Dubious Taste 