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View Full Version : Album Club 30/11/11. Alan Hull, Pipedream 1973.



Audioman
30-11-2011, 23:04
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XYcNaS0sL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Released in 1973 after the break up of the original Lindisfarne this is by far the late Alan Hull's best Solo Album. This album is full of great songs well played and nicely produced. Mixed and engineered by Roy T Baker. A moderate success at the time it has become widely regarded in subsequent years. BTW the painting used for the cover is 'Le Lampe Philosophique' by R. Magritte.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pipedream-Alan-Hull/dp/B000B5QD5K/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Records-/306/i.html?_nkw=pipedream+alan+hull&_catref=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m1538

http://open.spotify.com/album/6sMr8UHgaomsSIrMzfGshY

Some more information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Hull

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipedream_%28album%29

The Grand Wazoo
30-11-2011, 23:41
This is an interesting choice for me, Paul. I've never heard this album, but have been meaning to make the effort to seek it out.
About 5 or 6 years ago I came across it at a car boot sale on the stall of someone who always had an interesting selection of records & whom I'd often bought from in the past. I bought a few albums & moved on. Later, I thought back to this record & realised that it was odd that in all the years of flicking through 100's of 1000's of mostly second-hand records, I'd never, ever seen it before. I'd have known because it's a rather distinctive sleeve. I went back the next week to see if it was still available, but the seller wasn't there.
Since then, I've seen it quite a few times but never bought it for one reason or another - usually that the condition put the record beyond use. So now, you've given me a great reason to finally hear it.
So thanks a lot & I'll be back to report my verdict!

Rare Bird
01-12-2011, 01:20
http://open.spotify.com/track/5zArfACa4Alu0M938o803x

Audioman
01-12-2011, 09:12
http://open.spotify.com/track/5zArfACa4Alu0M938o803x

Interesting. Good but short cover. Made before Hull Solo version as Affinity split in 1971 ? Alan did use material he wrote pre Lindisfarne on his albums. I believe he wrote most of his best stuff during a period working as a Psychiatric Nurse in the late 60's.

DAVEDWACK
01-12-2011, 13:58
Great LP, worth it just for the superb...."I Hate To See You Cry"

Cheers,

Dave

Thing Fish
01-12-2011, 14:57
Great Choice Paul, lovely piece of songwriting. I had never heard of Alan Hull or this album before.

I really enjoyed listening to it and I will be seeking out a vinyl copy asap.

A well deserved 9/10...:)

Tim
01-12-2011, 16:15
This is a very interesting one for me, I have no idea what it's going to be like, but I do remember the album cover. I shall look forward to it :)

Bazil
01-12-2011, 22:32
Looking forward to hearing this, one of those famous album covers that I'd seen many a time but never got round to investigating.

Rare Bird
02-12-2011, 00:42
Interesting. Good but short cover. Made before Hull Solo version as Affinity split in 1971 ?

Tis an Hull song..

However Affinity still continued after Linda Hoyle & Lynton Naiff departed in early 1971... with Vivienne McAuliffe on vocals (Ex Principle Edwards Magic Theatre) & Dave Watts on Keyz

Welder
03-12-2011, 20:43
Rather a surprise this one. I wasn’t expecting to like it much given I wasn’t a Lindisfarne fan.
I had a quick listen on Spotty and then decided to acquire the album.
Overall I’ve enjoyed listening to this.
There are a couple of duff tracks but overall I thought I found it amusing in places and well conceived.
A couple of things that initially irritated me slightly; there are a couple of tracks were he sounds very Dylanish. Strangely after the first listen this didn’t bother me. There are also a few places where he attempts to sing way outside his capability and runs out of both breath and range.
I think I’ll keep this and will probably listen to some of the tracks again.
I don’t know about excellent throughout but its worth 7 out of 10 I think.

The Grand Wazoo
06-12-2011, 00:21
I've listened to the album in question 5 or 6 times over the week & will be seeking out a copy for myself. It's got one of those sleeves that can only be done justice to with a vinyl copy, so that's what I'll be looking to find.

Good songs well played. Not as folky as one might think. Plenty of humour. One or two really excellent standout tracks - especially for me 'I Hate To See You Cry'.

Thanks a lot for a great choice Paul.

Wilbur
06-12-2011, 02:56
First heard this about 10 years ago and has been a favourite of mine ever since.
My mates brother Kenny Craddock plays keys/co-wrote some of the tracks.
Squire is also worth a listen,Alan Hull was one of the under-rated songwriters of our times.

MartinT
06-12-2011, 06:33
I'd never heard of him or the album. It's quirky and very English, reminds me vaguely of an early Al Stewart in style if not voice. 6/10 by the definitions given.

Audioman
06-12-2011, 08:52
First heard this about 10 years ago and has been a favourite of mine ever since.
My mates brother Kenny Craddock plays keys/co-wrote some of the tracks.
Squire is also worth a listen,Alan Hull was one of the under-rated songwriters of our times.

Kenny was another sad loss to the music industry. Important to Alan Hull, Lindisfarne mkII and Gerry Rafferty output. All round great backing musician. Think Squire is well behind Pipe Dream. Some good songs but lost that folky feel with a more AOR style production.

keiths
06-12-2011, 11:24
I rather like this.

I'd never heard it before (and, oddly, don't recall seeing the cover before either) and have given it 8 out of 10. I'll be keeping a look out for a decent vinyl copy.

Bazil
06-12-2011, 12:25
Back in '73 Saturday mornings were spent thumbing through albums in the record shop and I remember the cover but there was a lot of competition for my couple of quid ,Heavy/Prog/Glam Rock were at their peak so I am afraid this had no chance with me.
I've played it 6 times now and you can tell its from that era and I probably would have really liked it back then but my brain has moved on, although it is quite listenable from the off it doesn't do much for me,I do like the instrumental std 0632 and I hate to see you cry and to echo Keith I might buy it on vinyl if I come across a good copy. 6/10

Marco
06-12-2011, 23:37
Truly superb album of happy-go-lucky folky loveliness. I'd never heard of it or Alan Hull before... If I can't find it on vinyl, I'll happily buy it on CD - awesome stuff! 8 out of 10 for me :cool:

Marco.

Audioman
07-12-2011, 08:44
Truly superb album of happy-go-lucky folky loveliness. I'd never heard of it or Alan Hull before... If I can't find it on vinyl, I'll happily buy it on CD - awesome stuff! 8 out of 10 for me :cool:

Marco.

Marco. Next time you visit Hi-Fi Sound try and conceal your ignorance as Alan Hull is legendry in the North East.:) Best known as joint front man and main songwriter for Lindisfarne. As a big fan of the band I rushed out and purchased this on release. Amazingly I enjoy it much more today than at the time and it is one of those that improve greatly on vinyl with better equipment.

Don't expect to find a dead quiet pressing as Charisma always seemed to suffer from background crackle. Even my mint cared for copy has quite a bit of background noise in places after a number of cleans. However on a 'clean' copy it is not intrusive enough to distract from the fantastic music. There are a lot of copies on Ebay at the moment - stick to pink large mad hatter labels. Glad to introduce quite a few here to this neglected classic.

Paul

aquapiranha
07-12-2011, 09:01
Brilliant Paul. This must have slipped below my radar, but I will be seeking it out. 8/10

Tim
07-12-2011, 11:18
I finally have the time and am going to give this a spin now :)