Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, Sting, Beatles - Flere kunstnere - Dream of Blue Turtles, Big world, This years model, 'Blue' - Vinylplade - 1. aftryk - 1973

Four albums for your bidding. I guess the combining theme is: songwriting. Various masters of music present their best: Sting, Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello plus some Liverpudlian lads…


Stings’ Dream of the blue turtles is an absolute must-have album. It started his solo-career, has the most wonderful musicians playing and spanned no less than five hit-singles.

Back in the eighties The Police had superstar-status, but within the band tensions ran high. So much so that Sting decided to quit. Being the talent that he is, he of course started a solo-album. But the first set-up was not to his liking. The Synclavier just got out and the work was very much synthesizer-based.

He took a different corner and choose a jazzy approach. Very courageous of him. He made it easy on himself by incorporating some of the finest players around. The very young Branford Marsalis on sax and clarinet, Kenny Kirkland keyboards, Darryl Jones the bassman and Omar Hakim on drums

That helped! They took the songs to another level. You can hear the fun they had in playing. The album sold many millions, got three Grammy nominations and contained five hit-singles.
The process of recording plus the first concert was filmed as Bring on the night, which was also the title of the following double live-album. Be sure to check the movie out, it is wonderful. You can even see his visit to the hospital wher eone of his many children were born. Actually: three of them also sang on the album.

Joe Jackson already proved himself an artist like no other. Mistaken as a punk in the seventies after Look Sharp he soon showed of his enormous composing talent, writing songs by the bucket full.

Even more remarkable than the writing was the playing. Jackson turned out to be a top arranger, fitting his songs with different jackets for each and every one of his tours. These thus turned out to be incomparable feasts.

Jackson himself was also fond of playing live. Having an audience lifted him and the band to new heights. He desperately wanted to share that experience with all his fans, especially those who were unable to attend.

He already put out a (double) live record but that did not meet his high demands. So, for this outing, Big World, he put himself to the ultimate test. Play the new songs live for an audience and record it in one go. Really. No mixing, adding or subtracting as usual, what you heard is what you got. Also: no shouting, booing or applauding. Everybody had to keep quiet.

It turned out to be one of his best records. Central theme is traveling all over the world. Again, all sorts of styles, but with the highest energy. It has Chinese influences and he even sings a tango.

This was in the beginning of the cd. Since this silvery wonder could hold more music than the average album, Joe played more, he filled the disk to the brim. But he did not want to leave anything out for the masses who could not yet afford al player. Thus, the vinyl version has three sides of music. The fourth remained blank. Joe solves all problems.

And enter Declan McManus, aka elvis Costello. This years model was his second album and, according to many, one of his best ever. It spoawned hits like (I don’t want to go to) Chelsey and Pump it up. It combined craftmanship like the Beatles (he would work with McCartney) with the energy of punk. Produced by another biggie, Nick Lowe, it stands amongst the classics. This is a first pressing!

Fourth record needs no introduction. The blue double album. All the best stuff, from Sgt Pepper to Let it Be. Dutch pressing, wonderful sound. A must-have.





Dream of the blue turtles
Label: A&M
Number: 393 750-1
Format: album
Country: Germany
Released: 1985
Condition sleeve: near mint
Condition vinyl: near mint
Included: extensive lyric sheet


Big World
Label: A&M Records
Number: SP-06021-C
Country: USA
Format: double album, three sides of music
Released: 1986
Condition sleeve: Near mint, cutout
Condition vinyl: near mint
Included: extensive lyric sheet

This years model
Label: Radar Records
Number: RAD 3
Format: album
Country: UK
Released: 1978
Condition sleeve: near mint
Condition vinyl: near mint
Included: original inner sleeve

‘Blue’
Label: Apple
Number: 1A 184-05309/10
Country: Netherlands
Format: double album, gatefold
Released: 1973
Condition sleeve: VG++
Condition vinyl: NM